Hitch Weight on Travel Trailer Toy Haulers
The reason for my post is someone could get into trouble or seriously injured because the manufactures claimed hitch weight on a toy hauler isn’t always correct.
The Equal-i-zer manual (available on line) does a good job of explaining how the hitch weight changes as you load a toy hauler.
Since the cargo area is in the back, the axels are placed farther back. So when you load the toy hauler cargo area, your tongue weight never goes below 10% of your GVWR.
Because of this, when you have no load in the cargo area, your TW is considerably over the 10% and can be beyond your tow vehicle maximum TW. In addition, since most of the interior storage is in the kitchen area and the front bed room, if you load this area up (which we will do) this adds weight forward of the axels further increasing the TW.
This is my story.
I have owned several TT & a FW and I wanted to share some information.
I Just purchased a Work and Play 275ULSBS.
The Work and Play brochure says Ultra ½ Ton Towable (don’t believe it).
I have a F150 with a tow capacity of 11,300 LBS. with a maximum hitch weight of 1150 LBS.
I checked the specs and the brochure lists a base weight for the 275 of 7843 LBS. and a hitch weight of 1129 LBS. I assumed (incorrectly) that the hitch weight was with an empty trailer.
Since I ordered some options, I knew this would change these specs. I have an on board generator mounted in the front of the camper. I also order an on board fuel station located behind the axels. I also ordered the queen bed in the cargo area. I thought these weights would balance out some and keep my hitch weight done close to the 1150 I needed.
If not I thought I could add a little weight in the cargo area to balance the load. I picked up the camper, we adjusted the hitch at the dealers lot and I pulled the TH home.
When I got home I weighed the tongue weight at the electric jack foot using a Sherline scale, the weight was 1450LBS!
I thought the 1129 listed hitch weight is dry and I have two 30 LB. propane tanks up front. I also have two batteries up front and I knew that this will increase the tongue weight.
But I didn’t expect 1450 LBS.
So I pulled my ATV into the TH, added 650 LBS. to the back and my tongue weight dropped to 1300 LBS.
So I added 240 LBS of water in the back cargo area and the weight dropped to 1250 LBS.
So I added an additional 160 LBS to the back and the weight dropped to 1150 LBS.
I know the weight at the jack foot will be a little higher than at the ball, but this is easier to measure and close enough for my purposes.
Now when I add weight to the front storage area this TW will go back up.
My point to all of this is the Sherline scale at about $140.00 is a must have item for anyone with a TT or TH.
(I do not work for Sherline and I am not in the RV industry, I am a long time RV owner.)
I do not want to always have 1050 LBS in the back of my TH and I like having more truck than I need, so I am buying a Ram 3500.
Again, my point is if you exced your hitch TW, the hitch could come off.
The Equal-i-zer manual (available on line) does a good job of explaining how the hitch weight changes as you load a toy hauler.
Since the cargo area is in the back, the axels are placed farther back. So when you load the toy hauler cargo area, your tongue weight never goes below 10% of your GVWR.
Because of this, when you have no load in the cargo area, your TW is considerably over the 10% and can be beyond your tow vehicle maximum TW. In addition, since most of the interior storage is in the kitchen area and the front bed room, if you load this area up (which we will do) this adds weight forward of the axels further increasing the TW.
This is my story.
I have owned several TT & a FW and I wanted to share some information.
I Just purchased a Work and Play 275ULSBS.
The Work and Play brochure says Ultra ½ Ton Towable (don’t believe it).
I have a F150 with a tow capacity of 11,300 LBS. with a maximum hitch weight of 1150 LBS.
I checked the specs and the brochure lists a base weight for the 275 of 7843 LBS. and a hitch weight of 1129 LBS. I assumed (incorrectly) that the hitch weight was with an empty trailer.
Since I ordered some options, I knew this would change these specs. I have an on board generator mounted in the front of the camper. I also order an on board fuel station located behind the axels. I also ordered the queen bed in the cargo area. I thought these weights would balance out some and keep my hitch weight done close to the 1150 I needed.
If not I thought I could add a little weight in the cargo area to balance the load. I picked up the camper, we adjusted the hitch at the dealers lot and I pulled the TH home.
When I got home I weighed the tongue weight at the electric jack foot using a Sherline scale, the weight was 1450LBS!
I thought the 1129 listed hitch weight is dry and I have two 30 LB. propane tanks up front. I also have two batteries up front and I knew that this will increase the tongue weight.
But I didn’t expect 1450 LBS.
So I pulled my ATV into the TH, added 650 LBS. to the back and my tongue weight dropped to 1300 LBS.
So I added 240 LBS of water in the back cargo area and the weight dropped to 1250 LBS.
So I added an additional 160 LBS to the back and the weight dropped to 1150 LBS.
I know the weight at the jack foot will be a little higher than at the ball, but this is easier to measure and close enough for my purposes.
Now when I add weight to the front storage area this TW will go back up.
My point to all of this is the Sherline scale at about $140.00 is a must have item for anyone with a TT or TH.
(I do not work for Sherline and I am not in the RV industry, I am a long time RV owner.)
I do not want to always have 1050 LBS in the back of my TH and I like having more truck than I need, so I am buying a Ram 3500.
Again, my point is if you exced your hitch TW, the hitch could come off.
