Forum Discussion

jerem0621's avatar
jerem0621
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2015

Answering "How Much" Questions

Sorry for this long and wordy post... I am looking for some feedback on a little project I have been working on today. Kind of a sick day for me... so I have taken the down time to try and be productive.

One of the questions many people ask in the TT, Fiver, and TV's forums is how much can I tow? Really this is two questions in one.... How much you can tow (trailer weight) is directly related to how much can you carry (payload).

I have created some charts, in an effort to help some out with correctly answering, how much can you tow and carry at the same time.

After one arrives at an understanding that their vehicle must not only tow but must also carry the tongue/pin weight... the next question is... how do I know how big of a trailer I can tow without overloading my TV? After all the tow rating is often MUCH higher than how much payload the truck has available.

Now the charts, and I wanted to ask the forum if these make sense.. if they are useful... or should be scrapped?

Basically, you take your available payload and based on the rule of thumb 13% tongue weight for TT's or 25% pin weight for fivers you get an APPROXIMATE max trailer weight... of course if your tow rating is lower than what the chart says is a match for your available payload or your GCWR is lower then the LCD rules in this number games.

Here are the charts

How to calculate available payload



Travel Trailers



Fifth Wheels



Are these useful, worthless, can be improved?

Thanks for the feedback in advanced.

Jeremiah
  • Ron_Gratz's avatar
    Ron_Gratz
    Explorer
    Feb 23, 2015
    blt2ski wrote:
    Ron has a formula that works fairly well, probably 50-75% of the time for how much wt is pulled off the FA depending upon overhang etc. The issue I see with it, is it does not take into account the different spring rates of vehicles. OR if it has a self leveling system. These items in my experience do effect how much wt is taken off the FA. Some times a bit more, some a bit less. IT is a reasonably good start.
    Actually, Ron has a formula which works quite well all the time -- as long as the measurements are properly made.

    If you have scales data and vehicle dimensions which show that load removed from the front axle is dependent on spring rates, please post the information.
    I have many scales data reports which show the formula is equally valid for SUVs and HD trucks.
    Please refer to this post for details.

    Ron
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    Feb 23, 2015
    Ron Gratz wrote:
    blt2ski wrote:
    Ron has a formula that works fairly well, probably 50-75% of the time for how much wt is pulled off the FA depending upon overhang etc. The issue I see with it, is it does not take into account the different spring rates of vehicles. OR if it has a self leveling system. These items in my experience do effect how much wt is taken off the FA. Some times a bit more, some a bit less. IT is a reasonably good start.
    Actually, Ron has a formula which works quite well all the time -- as long as the measurements are properly made.

    If you have scales data and vehicle dimensions which show that load removed from the front axle is dependent on spring rates, please post the information.
    I have many scales data reports which show the formula is equally valid for SUVs and HD trucks.
    Please refer to this post for details.

    Ron


    Thank you both for contributing these details!

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah
  • hawkeye-08's avatar
    hawkeye-08
    Explorer III
    Feb 24, 2015
    Put a disclaimer paragraph to exclude the things that the tables do not work for...

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