Towing/Truck Newbie Trying to Understand

Triton318 wrote:
Here's a formula I've run across several times: Tow Vehicle GCWR - Tow Vehicle GVW = the Maximum GVWR for the trailer.

The TV doesn't care about the TT's GVWR. It's the TT GVW that matters. IOW, the TV doesn't care how much the TT can weigh -- the TV only cares about how much the TT will weigh when you get it loaded.

Now, I don't have the GVW for my vehicle, because I haven't weighed it. This is the actual weight of the vehicle, fully loaded. However, shouldn't I be able to substitute GVWR for GVW, since the GVW should be less than or equal to the GVWR?

If I do that: 11,500 - 6,050 = 5,450. So, if I don't exceed the truck's GVWR, I should be able to pull a trailer weighing up to 5,450 lbs (fully loaded)? Is this correct?

No, some of the TT's weight, approximately 10% when using a WDH, is carried by the TV and is included in the GVWR. In your case, the GCWR might allow for a TT weighing about 6000#. However, the maximum allowable trailer weight often is determined by how much load the TV can carry rather than how much it can pull.

Also, I'm confused about this: Ford says the maximum loaded trailer weight is 7,100. But 11,500 - 6,050 = 5,450. Shouldn't the maximum loaded trailer weight be 5,450?

A GCWR of 11,500 and a published "max trailer weight" of 7100# implies that the TV's published curb weight is 11500-7100 = 4400#. Curb weight is the weight of a vehicle with no optional equipment installed.

Your TV might weigh closer to 4800# without passengers and cargo. If so, you would have a remaining payload capacity of 6050-4800 = 1250 available to carry the weight of passengers and cargo plus the WDH weighing about 100#. If passengers and cargo weigh, say, 600#, the remaining payload capacity available for vertical load imposed by the TT would be 1250-600-100 = 550#.

A properly-adjusted WDH causes a load equal to about 75% of TW to be added to the TV. This means the maximum TW could be 550/0.75 = 730#. Assuming a TW% of 12.5% gives a maximum TT weight of 730/0.125 = 5800#.

The assumed unhitched TV GVW (including WDH) of 5500# plus the assumed max TT weight of 5800# gives a GCW of 11,300#. So, for this example, the TV's GVWR rules -- but not by much.

So, depending on actual weight of the loaded TV, the maximum allowable loaded TT weight might be determined by GCWR -- or, it might be determined by the TV's GVWR.
You also might be close to exceeding the TV's rear GAWR.

Since you already have the TV, you should load the TV approximately as it would be loaded for a camping trip. Then find a scales where you can measure both the front and rear axle weights for your loaded TV. This will give you a proper basis for determining how much trailer you can tow.

Ron