I thought maybe you math geniuses could help me out with my questions?TV = '12 Ram 1500, Hemi, 3.92 gears, 6800 GVWR, 1219 lb payload, GAWR 3900 lbs (front and rear), GCWR 15,500 TT = '13 Salem 26TBUD 815 lb hitch weight and 5730 dry weight (dealer specs)Tow Vehicle (no trailer)TV weight 6140, GAWR Front 3540, GAWR Rear 2600Payload = GVWR 6800 - TV weight 6140 = 660 of payload of additional payloadTravel Trailer weighed while connected to TVTT weight 6180TV and TT combined TV weight 7840 (GAWR Front 3500, GAWR Rear 4340) + TT weight 6180 = GCWR 14,020Payload = GVWR 6800 - TV weight (with TT) 7840 = -1040 of payloadHitch weight is 815 and the equalizer hitch is 88 lbs = 903 lbs added to the rear axles. GAWR Rear 2600 + Hitch weight 815 lbs + Equalizer weight 88 lbs = 3503 lbs a 837 lb difference from 4340.If hitch weight is 10-12% of trailer weight, to get 815 lbs it is approx 13.2% of 6180 lbs. Does this seem correct? If my calculations are correct I am alright except for the overloaded payload. I thought the Equalizer would apply more weight to the front of the vehicle and also to the TT axles therefore reducing the weight on the rear axles. Since the front axle weight was reduced by 40 lbs do I have the Equalizer hitch setup wrong? Do I need to adjust it to distribute the weight a little more evenly? Please don't post that I don't have any concern for my family's safety or tell me to upgrade to a 2500 or 3500 series. I am making the best I can with what I have and most of our trips are within an hour of driving. You can tell me if my calculations are completely wrong :SThanks for any input!

I think your fine, sure it could be better but there's nothing dangerous there.Remember that a lot of the limits put on by manufacturers are for warranty purposes so even IF you were a little over it isn't that big of deal. It's not like there's a line in the sand where disaster looms on the other side.Don't worry and have fun.

You're at the limits and I personally would be ok with this set up as long as it drives solid on the road. Its not payload I would worry about in this case, its the numbers its derived from I would watch. Gross weights and axles. Thus, I would crank up the WDH to take some weight off the rear axle. Its real easy and might actually improve drivability too. Pay the few bucks for a re-weigh and see how much it takes to get the WDH working as it should. You'll feel better about it, trust me!

It looks like your WDH is adjusted pretty well for restoring front axle weight it unhitched amount.However, your rear axle weight is up 1740 pounds with WD so your actual TW is over 2000 pounds. Something seems off with your measurements. Did you get a measurement without the EQ bars just tongue on ball too? If the measurements are correct, only you can decide if being over GVWR by 1000 pounds is acceptable. Rear axle is also likely exceeded at 4340 vs. the rating at something around 3800 pounds.

Okay, I could be wrong here, but your trailer weighs 7880 lbs.(tv # with tt - tv # + tt #) 7840 - 6140 + 6180And a lot of the weight seems to be up front as that is 20% hitch weight.I'm thinking your tt is overloaded. Loose some of the stuff, move some towards the back, and the hitch weight will go down, lowering the overage of your payload.

RinconVTR - I thought about adjusting it but thought I would see what you all had to say before I did it! APT - The measurements were with the equalizer fully hooked up. I have not weighed it just tongue on ball. dahkota - Straight off the scale sheet has front axle at 3500, rear axle at 4340 and trailer axles at 6180. That has the TV at 7840 while connected to the trailer. The 6140 weight was just truck, full tank of gas and family. A dumb question, if the GAWR is 3900 lb per axle, does that make the rear axles have a total of 7800 lbs and my 4340 is well under it?One thing I just remembered is that I have the Timbrens on there to help with the sag of the rear end. Could that have anything to do with it?

Finally weighed the TV and TT together... ugh | Good Sam Community

66 Replies

Terryallan
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2014
According to how I understand your weights. You are only 1040lb OVER weight. Yeah. You are good to go.
BiggD
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
RinconVTR - I thought about adjusting it but thought I would see what you all had to say before I did it!

APT - The measurements were with the equalizer fully hooked up. I have not weighed it just tongue on ball.

dahkota - Straight off the scale sheet has front axle at 3500, rear axle at 4340 and trailer axles at 6180. That has the TV at 7840 while connected to the trailer. The 6140 weight was just truck, full tank of gas and family.

A dumb question, if the GAWR is 3900 lb per axle, does that make the rear axles have a total of 7800 lbs and my 4340 is well under it?

One thing I just remembered is that I have the Timbrens on there to help with the sag of the rear end. Could that have anything to do with it?
dahkota
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
Okay, I could be wrong here, but your trailer weighs 7880 lbs.
(tv # with tt - tv # + tt #) 7840 - 6140 + 6180
And a lot of the weight seems to be up front as that is 20% hitch weight.
I'm thinking your tt is overloaded. Loose some of the stuff, move some towards the back, and the hitch weight will go down, lowering the overage of your payload.
APT
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
It looks like your WDH is adjusted pretty well for restoring front axle weight it unhitched amount.

However, your rear axle weight is up 1740 pounds with WD so your actual TW is over 2000 pounds. Something seems off with your measurements. Did you get a measurement without the EQ bars just tongue on ball too? If the measurements are correct, only you can decide if being over GVWR by 1000 pounds is acceptable. Rear axle is also likely exceeded at 4340 vs. the rating at something around 3800 pounds.
RinconVTR
Explorer
Aug 24, 2014
You're at the limits and I personally would be ok with this set up as long as it drives solid on the road.

Its not payload I would worry about in this case, its the numbers its derived from I would watch. Gross weights and axles.

Thus, I would crank up the WDH to take some weight off the rear axle. Its real easy and might actually improve drivability too. Pay the few bucks for a re-weigh and see how much it takes to get the WDH working as it should. You'll feel better about it, trust me!
ScottG
Nomad
Aug 24, 2014
I think your fine, sure it could be better but there's nothing dangerous there.
Remember that a lot of the limits put on by manufacturers are for warranty purposes so even IF you were a little over it isn't that big of deal. It's not like there's a line in the sand where disaster looms on the other side.
Don't worry and have fun.

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Finally weighed the TV and TT together... ugh

66 Replies

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