I have tried to work through all of these acronyms and numbers. It is just swirling in my head. I finally couldn't stand it anymore, so I hooked my trailer up and went to the scales with my truck and camper loaded (we are camping this week-end. Here are the facts:Truck = 2010 F150 Supercrew 5.4L 3.55 limited slip, tow package (7200# GVWR package)Front GAWR - 3750; Rear GAWR - 3850Tire Load says capacity 1409 lbs.Book Tow limit = 9600 lbsCamper = Sticker says Dry weight = 6400 lbs; carrying capacity = 1500 lbs. (total 7900 lbs?)Numbers at the scales:Front wheels = 3280 lbsrear wheels = (6960 - 3280)= 3680 lbs?Truck + Camper = 13,500Truck unhitched + WDH + bikes, etc = 6260Camper = 13,500 - 6260 = 7240 lbs.My interpretation:1. Towing is fine because a) the trailer is loaded at 7240 and the trailer max is 7900 and b) the trailer is loaded at 7240 and I can tow up to 9600.2. Truck hooked up is 6960 lbs...that only leaves me with 240lbs cargo capacity??Is that right? What does the sticker on the door mean when it says max weight in the pick-up is 1409 lbs???HELP!!!!

Take a deep breath.What is your trucks weight loaded ready to travel minus trailer?What is your combo scaled weight ready to travel?Are these numbers under or over your trucks GVWR/ GCWR?

donn0128 wrote:Take a deep breath.What is your trucks weight loaded ready to travel minus trailer? Truck alone was 6260What is your combo scaled weight ready to travel? 13,500Are these numbers under or over your trucks GVWR/ GCWR? That's my question...I have so many numbers, not sure which one goes with which...

sgrizzle wrote:Camper = Sticker says Dry weight = 6400 lbs; carrying capacity = 1500 lbs. (total 7900 lbs?) What does the sticker on the door mean when it says max weight in the pick-up is 1409 lbs???I guess they think 1409 is pretty close to 1500.

2oldman wrote:sgrizzle wrote:Camper = Sticker says Dry weight = 6400 lbs; carrying capacity = 1500 lbs. (total 7900 lbs?) What does the sticker on the door mean when it says max weight in the pick-up is 1409 lbs???I guess they think 1409 is pretty close to 1500.The 1409 number was with the tire rating sticker on my truck door...

donn0128 wrote:Take a deep breath.What is your trucks weight loaded ready to travel minus trailer?What is your combo scaled weight ready to travel?Are these numbers under or over your trucks GVWR/ GCWR?First should be less than GVWRSecond needs to be less than GCWRAll should be under each components GVWR

GVWR/PAYLOAD/GCWR = MASS CONFUSION | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

Jet_A-1
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
bikendan wrote:
yep, 1/2 ton owners are really unaware of how limiting their payload numbers affect towing heavier trailers.
often the trailer's weight is well within the truck's towing capacity but the truck's payload number is where the problem is.

this is especially true when someone wants to tow a 5th wheel with their 1/2 ton truck.

You got that right! I thought I was doing pretty good but according to my trip to the scales, not as good as I thought.

My truck says:

front axle: 3748-lb (1700kg)
rear axle: 3849-lb (1746kg)
GCWR: 14500-lb (6577kg)
max trailer weight: 8700-lb (3946kg)

my TT's tag says it weighs 6820-lb (3094kg) dry

And the trip to the scales shows:

front axle: 3263-lb (1480kg)
rear axle: 4806-lb (2180kg)
trailer weighs (with wdh attached): 7583-lb (3440kg)
total weight: 15,653-lb (7100kg)

So you see a couple of things real quick:

I need to adjust my wdh - but I doubt I can move 956 pounds fore and/or aft

more importantly I'm well over my GCWR - by about 1150 lb!!!

Looks like a 3/4 ton something or other is in my future.
bikendan
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
yep, 1/2 ton owners are really unaware of how limiting their payload numbers affect towing heavier trailers.
often the trailer's weight is well within the truck's towing capacity but the truck's payload number is where the problem is.

this is especially true when someone wants to tow a 5th wheel with their 1/2 ton truck.
TomG2
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
sgrizzle wrote:
Thanks, the frustrating thing is that it tows so nicely. My truck does not even look "stressed" at all! It isn't squatting, it isn't pushed down in the rear, the front end isn't tilted high...how can we be maxed out??

You should be happy, not frustrated. Put another 500-1,000 pounds in the bed of the truck if you really want to feel frustrated and appreciative of things like payload ratings.
sgrizzle
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
JIMNLIN wrote:
sgrizzle wrote:
Thanks, the frustrating thing is that it tows so nicely. My truck does not even look "stressed" at all! It isn't squatting, it isn't pushed down in the rear, the front end isn't tilted high...how can we be maxed out??

Being under the trucks axle/tire load rating and under the trucks tow rating it should tow well. Its certainly not over stressed.

Another good match. Simply go camping and enjoy your camper.

That's what I was leaning towards...both truck axles are under their max, by quite a bit...there are so many factors to look at. Again, I appreciate everyone's help!
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2013
sgrizzle wrote:
Thanks, the frustrating thing is that it tows so nicely. My truck does not even look "stressed" at all! It isn't squatting, it isn't pushed down in the rear, the front end isn't tilted high...how can we be maxed out??

Being under the trucks axle/tire load rating and under the trucks tow rating it should tow well. Its certainly not over stressed.

Another good match. Simply go camping and enjoy your camper.
sgrizzle
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
Thanks, the frustrating thing is that it tows so nicely. My truck does not even look "stressed" at all! It isn't squatting, it isn't pushed down in the rear, the front end isn't tilted high...how can we be maxed out??
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
You have done a nice job already of getting the information you really need. You have just discovered the "real" limitation of your 1/2 ton pick up is payload, that tow ratings are pretty much meaningless for RV's, and that you maxxed out your capability with this trailer as it sat. Now you want have to come back later and ask "can I tow this?" JK. Not all 1/2 ton PU's are created equal and some have much more capability when properly equipped.
sgrizzle
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
No, just the "truck unhitched" weight of 6260.
Truck "hooked to camper" weight of 6960.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback, it is helping to clarify the numbers...
APT
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
sgrizzle wrote:
Would my "hitch weight" be the 700lb difference between my "hitched to the trailer" weight and my "unhitched" weight of my truck?

Not quite.

It takes 3 passes at a scale to get TW and understand how well the WDH is adjusted.

Truck alone
Truck plus trailer without WD bars
Truck plus trailer with WD bars

Your TW is higher than 700 pounds. The WDH puts a little weight back on the TT axles, about 20% in my experience with a properly adjusted WDH.

Do you have the individual axle weights of the truck alone?
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 23, 2013
yes