Help with the towing math

RobWNY wrote:
I wasn't aware that the wheels on Heartland trailers were closer to the hitch than on most trailers. That does make sense why the tongue weight advertised would be lower though. Interestingly, earlier today I was reading about manufacturers towing limits. It seems there isn't any real standard that's adhered to. The SAE J2807 truck towing standard is meant to be able to compare apples to apples with different trucks towing and cargo limits but Gm, Ford and Dodge don't adhere to the standard so it's more of a PR thing to "one-up" the competitor. They all say they will be adhering to the standard but as of now they don't. The numbers they list aren't really accurate. They could very well be inflated. So if trailer specs aren't accurate and tow vehicle specs aren't accurate, how does anyone use formulas to know if their tow vehicle is within the limits? Just because a truck has the power to tow something, doesn't mean it's safe to do so. I think there's a whole lot more that has to be known. For instance, you could have heavy duty shocks and springs, plenty of engine, really sturdy frame and brakes and rotors that aren't big enough to handle the weight they have to stop. That would make the tow vehicle unsafe. I can see where there are thousands of people with all kinds of trailers that think their tow vehicle is safe and it really isn't. Scary thought!

I don't think I've ever driven any truck that couldn't meet the J2807 standard, it's pretty mild.
Just because this is a new standard, it doesn't reflect anything on the accuracy of weight ratings. The weight ratings are calculated by the mfg. to insure the safety and reliability of the vehicle. The same intention is used by trailer mfgs.
BTW, the tow vehicle's braking system is engineered to stop (safely) the weight of the vehicle and it's cargo, not towed weight. That role is taken up by the trailer's braking system.