Forum Discussion

WTW's avatar
WTW
Explorer
Mar 18, 2019

Hitch weight?

I am in learning fact finding mode. Shopping used and in no hurry. Though I have issues thinking hitch weight. My 2016 Ram Crew toeing capacity 10,200. Cargo 1333. Just me and my wife in truck maybe a small cooler, everything else in TT.
The trailers I like at this time:
2018 202RD 25ft length GVWR 6000# hitch 471#
2014 Passport 25ft GVWR 5440# hitch 495#
My/our favorite:
2016 Jayco WH series M-24rks 29 ft. GVWR 6500# hitch 600#

I plan to use a Weight Distrubution hitch. With that said. What issues am I looking at having a TT with 500 to 600 hitch weight.

I am expierenced pulling boats and pst TT upto 27 ft. Just looking for pros and cons of these set ups, before buying? Mostly flat lands of Florida.

Thanks Tomm
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    Mar 19, 2019
    as pointed out dry hitch weight is usually way under real hitch weight. The dry hitch weight on my trailer was in the low 700lb range. Real hitch weight with batteries, propane, water and all the stuff in trailer is 1450lbs.

    your 600lbs dry could easily top 1000lbs. figure it will go up by the weight of each battery (70lbs each) and 60 lbs for two 30lb full propane tanks. That's 200lbs right off the bat. Stuff on the tongue adds virtually lb for lb. stuff in the pass through close to that.

    And remember a WD hitch does NOT change tongue weight!!!! It just distributes weight from the rear axle of the TV to the TV front axle and trailer axles.
  • wanderingaimles's avatar
    wanderingaimles
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2019
    Those advertised tongue weights are without Batteries, propane and tanks, and with no electric jack, those weights will all go up substantially. For a trailer GVWR around 6000, count on the tongue weight being 700-800.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Mar 18, 2019
    "Cargo 1333", meaning payload, is only 1333? 262 pounds less than my 2015 Tahoe and newer Tahoes are more. Very limiting.
  • WTW's avatar
    WTW
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2019
    Thanks. So I’ll go and look at the door jam sticker for truck axel ratings. That may open another can of worms! ??. Wow so the 605# dry hitch could go to 800# when including WD hitch? Making the Jayco M-24rks an unlikely TT for me. Thanks for the dry weight wet weight % explanation. Something I may never have been told until I asked. Thanks Tomm
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Mar 18, 2019
    Hitch weights you posted are DRY based on DRY trailer weight

    REAL hitch weight will be HIGHER

    Example: 2016 Jayco WH series M-24rks
    DRY weight is 5210# with dry hitch of 605# (11.6%)
    GVWR is 6500# ....11.6%----754# wet tongue weight


    Always figure Dry weight/tongue % and then use that as 'guesstimate' on what Wet tongue would be.
    Real world wet tongue is what you need to match against trucks ratings....most importantly the trucks Axle & Tire ratings

    2016 RAM 1500
    FAWR----3700#
    RAWR----3900#
  • WTW's avatar
    WTW
    Explorer
    Mar 18, 2019
    Even if these TT may not be the one we take home I’d like to know why and why not buy one with a hitch weight around 500? And what weight I should shot for? With an understanding the hitch weight is best to be 10 to 15% of the TT.
    Thanks.
    I am one to over think things. But wish to but once and do it where I don’t dread the towing!
    Thanks

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