Buying first travel trailer...need advice
We are looking into getting our first travel trailer to upgrade from our popup trailer. I have two young kids and want to make sure I am being cautious. The trailer we are considering is a 2007 Flee...
Forum Discussion
Depending on how the truck and trailer are loaded, you could be pushing the limits on the truck.
Your 8500 lb "advertised" tow capacity, allows for weight of the driver only. It does not allow for weight from aftermarket accessories (bed liners, bed caps, undercoating, etc), passengers, pets, or cargo. As these things are added, your available payload and max tow capacity are going down, pound for pound. If for example, you have a fiberglass bed cap, bed liner, and family that have a combined weight of 800 lbs, your max tow capacity would be 7700 lbs., and your available payload would be reduced by 800 lbs. Your weight distributing hitch would take another 100 lbs.
You're probably not going to load that trailer to its max weight, but, it would not be unusual to load it with about 1000 lbs. That would put the trailer at about 6600 lbs loaded, with tongue weight in the area of 850 lbs. Add 100 lbs for the WD hitch and this is about what your truck will need to carry.
Load your truck with family and cargo as if you were going camping, then go to a scale and weigh it. Subtract that weight, from your trucks GVWR, and see if you have enough capacity left to carry another 950 lbs. Leave your self some cushion.
Your 8500 lb "advertised" tow capacity, allows for weight of the driver only. It does not allow for weight from aftermarket accessories (bed liners, bed caps, undercoating, etc), passengers, pets, or cargo. As these things are added, your available payload and max tow capacity are going down, pound for pound. If for example, you have a fiberglass bed cap, bed liner, and family that have a combined weight of 800 lbs, your max tow capacity would be 7700 lbs., and your available payload would be reduced by 800 lbs. Your weight distributing hitch would take another 100 lbs.
You're probably not going to load that trailer to its max weight, but, it would not be unusual to load it with about 1000 lbs. That would put the trailer at about 6600 lbs loaded, with tongue weight in the area of 850 lbs. Add 100 lbs for the WD hitch and this is about what your truck will need to carry.
Load your truck with family and cargo as if you were going camping, then go to a scale and weigh it. Subtract that weight, from your trucks GVWR, and see if you have enough capacity left to carry another 950 lbs. Leave your self some cushion.
