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bsmith95610's avatar
bsmith95610
Explorer
May 12, 2016

Towing Load Question

Hello,

I’m looking at buying a used trailer for going camping with the family this year possibly a hybrid trailer since they’re light weight. I’ve never owned a trailer before so I have a few questions on how much my truck should be able to tow. I currently have a 2006 Toyota Tundra double cab 4x4 which is not quite a ½ ton truck since the Tundra’s became a half ton truck on the 2007 model. I’ve looked online a bit on how much I should be able to tow but have a few questions. Any feedback on this would be much appreciated as I am not sure about my calculations or understanding of how this should work. I called the dealer and they did not know what the GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) is for my truck so I tried figuring out the below instead.

When I look on the sticker on the door of my truck it says the below.
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating): 6600lbs

When I look on cargurus.com they say the maximum cargo & towing payload would be 1,635lbs. I’m assuming they got that from the GVWR of 6600 – the vehicle weight of 4,965 which equals 1,635lbs.
If that is correct then if a trailer weighs 5,000lbs loaded would that mean 10-15% of that weight would be on the tongue I’ll say 15 which would equal 750lbs. Then if I had three adults with combined weights of 500lbs that would be 1,635 – 750 – 500 = 385lbs left over for storage and other items. I’ve heard I should have a 10% buffer so I’m not at the max GVWR of 6600lbs which would be 660lbs so I would be over that limit.

So if I took the GVWR of 6600 and took of 10 % of that then I would be at 5940 then if I subtracted the vehicle weight of 4,965 that would be 975 then if I had three adults with combined weights of 500lbs that would take me to 475lbs which would mean the maximum trailer weight I would want fully loaded would be 3,000lbs since 15% of 3,000lbs is 450lbs which would bring me in at 25lbs under capacity. Does this make sense? I don’t think they have trailers that light as far as I know most of the trailers might be 3,000lbs unloaded at the lightest end but loaded I would assume it would add another 1,000lbs or so.

I’m basically just trying to find out what weight I should not go over for pulling a trailer. Thanks for the help it’s much appreciated.

Thanks

13 Replies

  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    May 14, 2016
    You do not have to keep the GVWR of the trailer under 5000 pounds or even 6600 pounds. Around 4000-4300 pounds dry I think will still be comfortable for you as most people tend to add about 1000 pounds when loaded for a long weekend.

    The real problem is when the RV salesman says you can tow up to 6600 pounds dry!
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Nomad
    May 13, 2016
    That salesman has no idea what he is talking about. I would bet a case of beer that he has never towed a travel trailer or 5th wheel before either.:R

    Good decision not to listen to him.
    Barney
  • bsmith95610's avatar
    bsmith95610
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    So I just went down to a RV dealer looking at a couple of used RVs. The salesman told me if your trucks GVWR is 6600 then you can get any trailer that has a GVWR up to 6600. I'm going to listed to you guys and not go over 5000 lbs though since I know I should never trust a salesman!
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    bsmith95610 wrote:
    Ok I just went out to my truck and saw the yellow sticker so it said "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1421 lbs). That being said would my below calculation be accurate then?

    Since the maximum weight of cargo for my truck shouldn't exceed 1421 lbs then if a trailer weighs 5,000 lbs loaded would that mean 10-15% of that weight would be on the tongue I’ll say 15 which would equal 750lbs. Then if I had three adults with combined weights of 500 lbs that would be 1,421 – 750 – 500 = 171 lbs left over for storage and other items.

    That being said it sounds like I would still be able to tow a 5,000 lb loaded trailer at the maximum but should probably looks at loaded trailers in the 4,000 - 5,000 lb range. Does that sound right?


    You were able to do what many still cannot figure out. They say it's too confusing etc, etc. Nice job
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    Using 15 percent of loaded TW is a good estimate. Likely, you'll be closer to 10 percent on the TV axles when using a WDH. But most people also underestimate the weight of stuff they throw in the truck bed.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    May 13, 2016
    Yes, you are figuring right. The number on door is the one to go by, as it is for your specific truck. To know a closer number, would require loading all people and gear, full of fuel, and weigh the truck. Now whatever number you have should be subtracted from the trucks GVWR. That will be what you have left for WDH, and tongue weight.

    Jerry
  • bsmith95610's avatar
    bsmith95610
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    Ok I just went out to my truck and saw the yellow sticker so it said "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1421 lbs). That being said would my below calculation be accurate then?

    Since the maximum weight of cargo for my truck shouldn't exceed 1421 lbs then if a trailer weighs 5,000 lbs loaded would that mean 10-15% of that weight would be on the tongue I’ll say 15 which would equal 750lbs. Then if I had three adults with combined weights of 500 lbs that would be 1,421 – 750 – 500 = 171 lbs left over for storage and other items.

    That being said it sounds like I would still be able to tow a 5,000 lb loaded trailer at the maximum but should probably looks at loaded trailers in the 4,000 - 5,000 lb range. Does that sound right?
  • BarneyS's avatar
    BarneyS
    Nomad
    May 13, 2016
    Shal36 wrote:

    Serious question.

    If the GVWR is listed and the actual weight of the vehicle is known by way of certified scale measurement, why would one use the payload figure instead of subtracting the known weight from the GVWR? I would assume payload figures are provided because most folks will not go out and weigh their vehicle and then do their own math. Payload figures seem to be a way to make this easy for the typical vehicle owner but empirically derived numbers would seem to be more precise and would tell you Exact payload for your specific vehicle.

    Your assumption about payload figures is probably correct but keep in mine those are max limits not actual weight figures.

    To answer your question, one would NOT "use the payload figure instead of subtracting the known weight from the GVWR?". People should use the actual known weight figures if they have them instead of using the printed payload figures.
    Barney
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    You as equipped payload is listed on the Tire and Loading sticker on driver's door or door jam under Maximum combined weight of occupants and cargo. I think sticking close to 4000 pounds dry would be a good idea.
  • Shal36's avatar
    Shal36
    Explorer
    May 13, 2016
    nickthehunter wrote:

    There should be a yellow payload sticker on the door of your truck, it will say something like "the weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed ________". That is the number that you should be using instead of the "1635".


    Serious question.

    If the GVWR is listed and the actual weight of the vehicle is known by way of certified scale measurement, why would one use the payload figure instead of subtracting the known weight from the GVWR? I would assume payload figures are provided because most folks will not go out and weigh their vehicle and then do their own math. Payload figures seem to be a way to make this easy for the typical vehicle owner but empirically derived numbers would seem to be more precise and would tell you Exact payload for your specific vehicle.

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