Terryallan wrote:
RoyBell wrote:
therink wrote:
Is that a Tundra? What does the yellow sticker in the door jamb say the carrying capacity of the truck is? This is important. I believe most Tundras fall short on payload (less than 1400).
What is the gvwr of the trailer? Dry weights mean nothing. The dry tongue weight means nothing.
Most people load at least 1000 lbs of gear into an rv. I have 1800 in mine. This means that the tongue on the trailer if it weighs 7500 loaded will be around 1000 lbs. Ad 75 for hitch, 300 for cap plus add weight for whatever you load into the bed and passengers. I bet you are looking at around 2000 lbs loaded onto that truck. If you think it is squatting now, wait until it is loaded. Air bags do not increase payload on a truck and will not fix it. You need a bigger truck. Your first towing experience loaded will validate my claim.
It is a 2010 Tundra. I did my research before purchasing and this trailer is within the limits of the truck. Payload is rated at 1654 lbs for this model. Tow capacity of 10,300 lbs and hitch is rated to 1300 lbs. Some people say the payload capacity INCLUDES a driver (150lbs), some say otherwise.
I figure at most I will ever have 600lbs of people and dog in the truck (which is a bit strong- 180+130+80+100+50), plus 300 with cap and cargo=900 lbs. That leaves 750 lbs worth of payload (900 lbs if driver is included in payload) I am allowed. I think I may pull the plywood out since I don't really need it now with more storage in the trailer. That should free up about 50-80 lbs plus I can take another 50 lbs of tools out.
As for loading the trailer, I highly doubt I will get 1,000 lbs of gear into it. I am allowed roughly 2,000 lbs but I just don't see ever loading more than 800 lbs. We travel pretty light and most of the weight can be store over the axles or behind the axles anyways. After loading it up this weekend I made sure that anything heavy stayed away from the front. I am not sure if putting weight behind the axles will offset any hitch weight.
Either way I felt it towed fine on the way home. I am just wondering how leveling it out changes any type of driving dynamics. I am right at my payload rating and many tundra owners have stayed that they exceed the payload without any issues. Without looking, I am guessing you drive a 1 ton because most of the "you need a bigger truck" comments come from those people. Am I right?
As for loading the TT heavy to the rear, putting heavy stuff behind the axles. That is NOT a good idea. IF you lighten the tongue weight. You will have sway, and you will not be able to control the TT. Your TT needs to have a minimum of 12% of your trailers weight on the tongue. More is better. And that tongue weight counts against your trucks payload. So if your tongue weight is 850 lb. You will be border line or over.
The only real way to find your actual pay load. Is to weigh it. Take your empty truck to a scale. Weigh it. Subtract that from the GVWR. That is your payload. Want top know how close you are to it. Load the truck ready to camp, and weigh it again with the family, and dog. subtract that from what you had left the first time, and you will know how much you have left for the trailer tongue, remember the hitch weighs in the 75 lb range.
You can do it, but it will be very close. You need to lose the wood, and maybe the cap.
X2!
Stop guessing and take it to the scales.
