General Question on Size
We are new to RVing, we just bought our first Travel Trailer. We did tons of research before buying. But, you don't know what you don't know and you don't know what to ask if you just don't know. S...
Forum Discussion
rexlion wrote:
You need to take your rig to a CAT scale. Weigh the truck and weigh the trailer. Also find out the hitch weight. Actual numbers count the most.
Ultimately, this is the be best option.
I did a quick online check and it shows you have a payload of 1500lb.
- At 7800lb, you are likely looking at a 900-1000lb hitch weight on the truck. Ideal is 12-15%. Too low tends to induce sway. (837lb you quoted is presumably the empty hitch weight...add carto and it goes up)
- Add 100lb for the hitch.
- Add any other bolt on stuff (Cadillacs love to add stuff, so likely somewhere on the order of 300lb)
- Add the weight of the people in the truck (Assume family of 3 with average weight of 150lb...for 450lb)
- Add any other cargo in the truck, coolers, fire wood, bikes, etc.. (say 300lb)
So that will have you at around 2000lb used out of a 1500lb payload. With a 420hp engine, you have plenty of pull. Your suspension is overloaded (which doesn't help with sway). If you are swaying, you do have a serious problem with the tow setup. A WDH will help some but may be masking other issues.
Since you have the truck and trailer, no need to estimate. Load up as if you are going on a trip and take it to the nearest truck stop with a CAT scale. Google youtube before you go to see how it works. There are typically 3 pads at the scale. You want the front and rear axles of the truck on separate pads and the trailer axles on the 3rd pad. You will do 3 weighs:
- First measure with the trailer hooked up and WDH in operation.
- Second, disconnect the torsion bars from the WDH and do a reweigh.
- Finally, disconnect the trailer and weigh the truck
The prices may vary a little but typically $14 for the initial weigh and $2.50 for each reweigh. This will give you the real weights and allow you to determine the actual hitch weights and percentage hitch weight. On the weight stickers (truck and trailer) there are gross and axle weight limits. The hitch also has a limit.
Bring those back and I'll give you 100-1 odds, you are overweight on at least some of the numbers.
