Forum Discussion

GeoFish's avatar
GeoFish
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014

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.

9 Replies

  • Francesca Knowles wrote:
    I'm a little at sea here...if you knew going in that your truck's TW limit is 1150, why buy a toyhauler with a published dry hitch weight of 1129?

    I'd have thought this would be a major pre-buy consideration, especially since your maximum tongue capacity is stated with the presumption that there's nothing at all in the truck except the driver and perhaps a full tank of gas. Any other gear/passengers' weight must be deducted from that number...


    You are confusing TW limit with gross cargo weight rating. The TW is the weight of the hitch on the ball. The GCWR for my truck is 1928 LBS. The GCWR is the TW, the passengers and cargo in the bed of the truck. The maximum trailer weight is 11,300 LBS.
  • If I would have towed my TH at the 1450 LB. TW, the hitch could have come loose from the truck and someone could have gotten hurt.
    A trailer going down the interstate and coming loose could cause seriors consequences.
    I have insurance, but not that much insurance.
    A friend of mine told me about the TW scale and I feel this is somethhing everyone who ownes a TT or TH should own.
    The variable TW can also be a problem with conventional TT since how they are loaded can effect the TW.
    My last TT had an outside storage area under the floor at the front of the TT. When we go on a trip, like most campers we tend to take too much stuff. This front storage area was loaded to the max. I noticed a big difference when towing this set up. I am sure I had too much TW, but I dident realize this.
  • Um, yeah, TH and half tons do not mix well. Glad you figured that all out! I'm sure you liked your F-150, but the 3500 will be even better!
  • Having more truck is definately the better way to go with a toy hauler. I pulled my XLR with a F150 for several months and it worked ok but I really didn't know how much better it could be until I got the 3/4 ton. Brand doesn't matter IMO, just the stability of stronger suspension and E rated tires make a huge difference.

    As GeoFish pointed out, how you load a TH can alter the handling greatly, especially when near the rating maximums.
  • I went to look up your TH. Ah yup your right.

    Work and Play 275ULSBS toy hauler

    Has a dry TW of 1,129#.

    Here is the bigger kicker you stated, the Ultra is listed on the 2nd line of the product catalog as "1/2 ton towable". That can get a bunch of new folks in trouble fast. Ultra TH Catalog

    I know the new 1/2 ton PU's have a whole lot more get up and go then they use to, but I'm sorry there is only the little model a 21UL I would say is safe towing with a 1/2 ton truck.

    The Work and Play 275ULSBS toy hauler you have is an 11,529# GVWR camper and as you have seen, the TW is very large. I'm an not a proponent of pushing a good 150 or 1500 truck into that danger zone. And I see now that you see it, you are not either.

    Weekend Warrior had some TH's that had the same really high empty TW's. Had a camper bud get into the same issue with his Excursion. Even after the air bags tried to help the weaker rear springs, the 1,250# receiver limit on the later year Excursions was a hurdle there are not may options to over come.

    My camper weighs 9,950# loaded with a 1,600# loaded TW, thus the F350. Fortunately I knew about how this floor plan loads and was prepared for it with the heavier truck.

    What RV manufacturers/dealers should list is an "expected" loaded TW and can your TV handle it? That and what does and average family load that floor plan too and can their TV handle the load? Granted those estimates are not absolutes but there would be far less of selling too much camper for the truck if they did. They are suppose to know their campers better then the customer, right?

    Good luck with your new Dodge, she is a beauty. You will be a happy camper now.

    John
  • I'm a little at sea here...if you knew going in that your truck's TW limit is 1150, why buy a toyhauler with a published dry hitch weight of 1129?

    I'd have thought this would be a major pre-buy consideration, especially since your maximum tongue capacity is stated with the presumption that there's nothing at all in the truck except the driver and perhaps a full tank of gas. Any other gear/passengers' weight must be deducted from that number...

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,151 PostsLatest Activity: Jul 25, 2025