How heavy of a trailer can I get?

Shorteelaw wrote:

Ron Gratz wrote:
If you will be using a WDH to restore the TV's front axle to is unhitched load --
the resulting vertical load applied to the TV will be about 80% of the TT's tongue weight.
If the TV's available payload is 900#, the maximum allowable tongue weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 900/0.8 = 1125#.

A likely tongue weight percentage for the loaded TT is about 13%.
This means the maximum allowable TT weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 1125/0.13 = about 8650#.

The above estimate assumes the TV's receiver is rated for at least 1125#.
It also is assumed that the TV's rear GAWR is not exceeded.

Ron

Our WDH max tongue weight is 940.

That is going to put you back into the 6k loaded range on a trailer. No way around it

Here's how I'd look at it if I were you:

You already know from your other thread here that after fuel/hubby/hitch you only have about 1300 pounds of payload available. Since that's before you've loaded you, the kids, the dogs, and etc., I'd reserve at least half that number for this purpose.

That leaves, say, six or seven hundred pounds for tongue weight, which most agree should be at least 10% of total trailer weight for optimum handling. In your case, that number is about seven hundred pounds, meaning a 7,000lb gross trailer, max. As others have pointed out,though, I too think it's unwise to push the outer limits/capacity of any component, so shopping for trailers more in the 6,000 pound-fully-loaded vicinity may be best.

I know this seems paltry next to the 9,000-plus "capacity" of the truck's other features, but as others have said, payload is often the limiter. And you might look at it this way: It seems to me that the vast reserve in horsepower and other capabilities etc. resulting from this much lighter-than-maximum combined tow limit will result in a very pleasurable towing experience.

Shorteelaw wrote:
Our WDH max tongue weight is 940.

If you mean that the receiver's max TW is 940# when using a WDH,
then it appears that, assuming a TW% of 13% --
the maximum allowable loaded trailer weight would be 940/0.13 = 7230#.

It appears the receivers rating is limiting how much trailer you can get.
In your case of 900# available payload, if you do not exceed the receiver's TW rating,
you should be under the GCWR, TV's GVWR, and TV's rear GAWR.

Ron

Shorteelaw wrote:

donn0128 wrote:

Shorteelaw wrote:

I thought the general rule of thumb was adding 1,000 pounds to the dry weight... why would it be 2,000? With it full of water and all our stuff we would never hit 2,000 pounds. Just curious so I can understand.

There is no such a thing as a "general rule" for loading. That is sales hype to sucker you into buying.
Load is what it is. Plane and simple. If I were going to load only a thousand pounds in my fiver 2/3 of the stuff we have on board would have to be left at home.
It is extremely easy to load way more than a thousand pounds in any trailer. Best to make all your decisions based on the trailers GVWR. As long as your under that your going to be happy. Using guesses is going to make for an unhappy tower sooner or later.

I didn't get that from any "sales" person... it was straight from this forum.

Probably from the same people who say it is OK to load to axle ratings, tow overloaded, or tow what ever you want. Smart people always load and tow on the side of caution, not over the edge. But it's your money so go do what you want, just don't come back here and complain about how bad your towing experience is.

Ron Gratz wrote:
If you will be using a WDH to restore the TV's front axle to is unhitched load --
the resulting vertical load applied to the TV will be about 80% of the TT's tongue weight.
If the TV's available payload is 900#, the maximum allowable tongue weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 900/0.8 = 1125#.


Ron

I have never see a rig that works that way, the tonge weight (even for WDH) is measured without the WDH hooked up.

Ron Gratz wrote:
If you will be using a WDH to restore the TV's front axle to is unhitched load --
the resulting vertical load applied to the TV will be about 80% of the TT's tongue weight.
If the TV's available payload is 900#, the maximum allowable tongue weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 900/0.8 = 1125#.

A likely tongue weight percentage for the loaded TT is about 13%.
This means the maximum allowable TT weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 1125/0.13 = about 8650#.

The above estimate assumes the TV's receiver is rated for at least 1125#.
It also is assumed that the TV's rear GAWR is not exceeded.

Ron

Our WDH max tongue weight is 940.

If you will be using a WDH to restore the TV's front axle to is unhitched load --
the resulting vertical load applied to the TV will be about 80% of the TT's tongue weight.
If the TV's available payload is 900#, the maximum allowable tongue weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 900/0.8 = 1125#.

A likely tongue weight percentage for the loaded TT is about 13%.
This means the maximum allowable TT weight, based on TV's GVWR, will be approximately 1125/0.13 = about 8650#.

The above estimate assumes the TV's receiver is rated for at least 1125#.
It also is assumed that the TV's rear GAWR is not exceeded.

Ron

donn0128 wrote:

Shorteelaw wrote:

I thought the general rule of thumb was adding 1,000 pounds to the dry weight... why would it be 2,000? With it full of water and all our stuff we would never hit 2,000 pounds. Just curious so I can understand.

There is no such a thing as a "general rule" for loading. That is sales hype to sucker you into buying.
Load is what it is. Plane and simple. If I were going to load only a thousand pounds in my fiver 2/3 of the stuff we have on board would have to be left at home.
It is extremely easy to load way more than a thousand pounds in any trailer. Best to make all your decisions based on the trailers GVWR. As long as your under that your going to be happy. Using guesses is going to make for an unhappy tower sooner or later.

I didn't get that from any "sales" person... it was straight from this forum.

Shorteelaw wrote:

That's precisely what is confusing me on this. I have found trailers that have a dry hitch weight (yes I am aware that the dry hitch weight will be higher once it is loaded) of 9.5% and others that are 11.5%... none that are 15. So I'm confused on why everyone is saying 15%. Perhaps it happens to be the make/series of TT we are looking at?

That is the dry weight, without water and propane and possibly batteries. On most TT's propane and batteries add 95% of their weight to the tongue.

My advertised TW was 710 for 11%, but in reality its 1250 lbs and 15%.

Shorteelaw wrote:

Our TV is a 2010 Nissan Titan.

I just saw your other thread.

Shorteelaw wrote:
Most times we will have others traveling with us (NOT in our TV) and we plan to load their car with the food and their own stuff, not keep it in our TT while traveling.

That's fine if you always plan to have a 2nd vehicle, but what about when you don't go with a 2nd vehicle?

You may also find that coolers are a PITA, and want to travel with food in the fridge. I know I hate traveling with coolers, but maybe that's just me.

Even other than food you probably wont want to transfer sheets, sleeping bags, towels, clothes, dishes, silverware, pots/pans, cooking utensils, card games, board games, kids toys, pack n play, camping chairs, leveling blocks, hoses, toilet paper, drinks, or anything else that will live in the camper.

Shorteelaw wrote:

I thought the general rule of thumb was adding 1,000 pounds to the dry weight... why would it be 2,000? With it full of water and all our stuff we would never hit 2,000 pounds. Just curious so I can understand.

There is no such a thing as a "general rule" for loading. That is sales hype to sucker you into buying.
Load is what it is. Plane and simple. If I were going to load only a thousand pounds in my fiver 2/3 of the stuff we have on board would have to be left at home.
It is extremely easy to load way more than a thousand pounds in any trailer. Best to make all your decisions based on the trailers GVWR. As long as your under that your going to be happy. Using guesses is going to make for an unhappy tower sooner or later.