Ron Gratz wrote:
3LittleDucks wrote:
I'm helping a friend trailer shop, they will be towing with a F150 4x2, rated at 9600lbs. Will soon be a family of 5.
They're looking at 25-26' trailers, dry around 4500, gvwr around 6500. Too much?
Your friends need to go through a process similar to the following:
1) Estimate how much the TT will weigh when loaded for camping.
For example, a TT which is 4500# "dry" might have a loaded weight of 5500#.
2) Estimate the TT's loaded tongue weight which should be around 13% of the TT's loaded weight.
For example, a 5500# TT might have a TW of about 700#.
When using a properly sized and properly adjusted WDH, the vertical load transferred to the TV will be equal to about 75-85% of TW, depending on how much load gets transferred to the TT's axles.
Lets assume the TT-induced load is 550#.
3) Look at the TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION sticker on the driver's door edge or pillar.
Find the maximum allowable weight for Occupants and Cargo.
Subtract the estimated TT-induced load from the TV's max allowable payload.
The remainder is the amount of payload capacity available for weight of occupants, items added to TV after delivery, cargo carried in/on TV, plus about 100# for the WDH.
4) Your friends will have to decide if the remaining payload capacity is great enough to meet their needs.
Ron
Absolutely perfect post. Bottom line it's all about payload on the 1/2 tons. My F150 will tow 9,000#'s easy. Problem is I run out of payload at 1199#. Your friends will run out of payload way before they hit max trailer weight.
