dodge v6

blknomad wrote:
My son has a 2015 Dodge 1/2 ton 4wd with v6 gas tow package and 7500 capacity. What is the heaviest travel trailer he should be looking for?

First thing to determine towing capacity is to look at the payload sticker. That determines how much the truck can carry. Next is to take the truck and everything that will be in the truck when towing, and a full tank of gas, to a CAT scale.

There is a white tag on the drivers door or B pillar with GVWR. Subtract from that the gross from the scale ticket. That is your available payload. Subtract 100 pounds. Now divide the balance by 13%. That is the capacity of the trailer that can be towed.

Tongue weight is 10-15%, for a travel trailer it should be around 13% for good handling. 10% on one makes for a squirrely drive, so I use 13% for the baseline.

Keep in mind that a weight distribution hitch can weigh up to 100 pounds and that takes away from payload, which is why I say to subtract 100 pounds.

So lets say you have 900 pounds of payload left, subtract the hitch and divided the 800 by .13. That will tell you that the GVWR of the trailer should be no more than 6154 pounds.