How long a camper can I (should I) tow?
I have a new 2014 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi (8 speed) with approximately 9000lbs tow capacity. Looking to buy a travel trailer and trying to understand what is a safe camper length for this vehicle. I would...
Forum Discussion
Terryallan wrote:If the WDH is adjusted to transfer load to the TT's axles, you will not have the full tongue weight acting on the receiver.
That's not how it works. Even though weight is transferred with the WDH. 100% of the tongue weight still counts toward the payload of the truck. So if you start with 1000lb of tongue weight on the ball. No matter how you adjust the hitch. You will still have 1000lb on the ball. That dirt bike is still being carried by the truck
The load acting on the TV will be equal to tongue weight MINUS the amount of load transferred to the TT.
A properly-sized and properly-adjusted WDH can transfer a load equal to about 20% of the TW to the TT's axles.
The load transferred to the TV would be equal to about 80% of the TW.
Only the amount of load which is actually transferred to the TV counts toward the TV's payload.
This fact can be shown (and has been shown many times) by weighing the TV hitched with no WD applied and then weighing the TV hitched with WD applied.
Ron
