Calculating TT options for our truck

And IMHO the best that you will do with that truck is one of these with the family your size...

You get all the benefits in a light weight tongue and sleep maximum people...

May be cramped but it will serve its purpose...

The X254 would be my choice with 3 kids as the dinette and couch are a PITA to set up and break down nightly as in the x213.... ( Trust me youll see)

http://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2015-jay-feather/x254/

http://www.jayco.com/products/travel-trailers/2015-jay-feather/x213/

larson101 wrote:
I was hoping to get a little input or "shove" if we are off track. We are trying to find what size tt our truck can tow. I can't get the truck to a weigh station till this weekend, so we are using Google math. :)

2012 Ford 150 supercrew 3.5L V6 Ecoboost and tow package
Three kiddos (10, 7, 4), two adults, and two dogs
GVWR 7200
GCWR 15500
Max loaded trailer weight rating 9600
Max tongue weight rating for our hitch 1000
GVW 5615 (internet) + 790 (rounded up us and the dogs) = 6405
GVW of trailer ?
Trailer tongue ?
Tongue weight % we chose 10%

With these numbers we got that a max trailer weight of 7950 and a max tongue weight of 795.

Look about right? I understand it is all a balance game, but we need a range to start our trailer search.

Thank you for any help or shoves! :)

So I guess that you have a plan to trade in the trailer on one with a lighter hitch weight in 3 years when all the kids have gained 20 pounds each? Or leave the dog at home?

All kidding aside, you really can not load the truck to within 100 pounds of it's GVWR and expect it to perform exactly like it should.

Remember that the weight distribution hitch will come in a box that weights 100 pounds or so.

Your dry hitch weight usually has little to do with the "Wet weight" that includes filling the fresh water tank, closets, and storage compartments. So while a 7,000 pound dry trailer might have a 8,800 GVWR, you can not load all 1,800 pounds into the trailer and still tow it with your truck, you will be going over the weight ratings.

Good luck finding something. I would suggest looking at the Lance lineup. Others might have favorite RV's too.

Fred.

Dont care what the sticker says for payload for the truck...

If you want to know what you can really tow then load the wife and kids up in the truck and get to a cat scale and get the axle weights...( Put some gear in the truck too that you may take with you camping... Grill, bikes, cooler and what not)

Once you get that rear axle weight subtract your sticker rear gross axle rating on your door tag with your weight you got from the scale for your rear axle. That will tell exactly the weight you have left for tongue and determine the size TT you can pull..

If you dont do this you are just guessing period!!!!

1327 as equipped payload - estimated weight of passengers *6.5 for dry weight. Payload is you limit as it is given such that the sum of weight on the axles shall not exceed it.. That includes people, cargo in the bed and cab, and trailer tongue weight.

Don't believe the tongue weight in the advertising brochures. My 590 actually weighs 860 ready to go.

The sticker says the payload is 1327.

Check your door jamb sticker for payload. Minus all people and stuff in the truck and the remainder will be your tounge wt limit. Say you have 1500# minus 700 for ppl and gear leaves 800# for tounge. Tounge is about 13% of trailer so 800/.13 = about 6200# loaded tt.

You can look on the yellow door sticker to get your actual payload rating.
That's the problem with 1/2-tons, especially SCREWs with passengers - you run out of payload real quick.
You'll be close and probably over. You might make a lightweight 25' bunkhouse work.