Looking for expert advice on TV/RV size and weight

Ladderc06, you can get the specifics of how a weight distributing hitch works here. Basically, weight applied behind the TV rear axle raises causes the front axle to decrease its weight. The truck's frame/suspension acts as a lever with the rear axle as a fulcrum. The goal of WD is to return the amount of weight removes by the TW back to the front axle. This will also apply some amount back to the TT axles, about 20% for typical applications.

600 pounds dry will be more like 800 pounds loaded, but only 650 left on the truck's axles. While I agree that I have never seen a a pickup pull into a campground with an empty bed, the F-150 and many others are towing very well at or a little above its GVWR.

APT wrote:
Many of the late model higher trim level/equipment half tons have under 1200 pounds of payload, and the F-150 is not the lowest for similarly equipped half ton pickups.

Still, just you and wife, maybe 400 pounds. That leaves 700 pounds of TW. Using a WDH means only about 80% of TW goes on the truck's suspension. 5-6k dry should be fine. The truck will tow it very well. Load as much as you can into the TT.

My prior TV was a 2003 Supercrew Lariat. I had about 1250 pounds of payload. It towed very comfortably, if a bit under powered at times.

APT,
Can you explain that 80% thing you mentioned? If I'm understanding this correctly my 600lb hitch weight will weigh 480 on a scale using a WDH? If so then a 600 should be fine because after a battery and some propane I should still be around 600 lbs?

I don't know many people that tow with an empty pickup. Some hitches can eat up nearly 100 pounds of your payload. I had two F-150's and both only had 600-700 payload available after they were loaded to go camping. The scales will tell you what you can do.

If you had the Maxtow you would gain another 400+lbs in payload. Your 7200GVW is the killer. Maxtow GVW is 7650-7700lbs. But you have what you have so your limited on payload. We had a TT that weighed 6189lbs per the TT's shipping sticker. All loaded (just 2 of us) we were at 72-7300lbs with a TW of 900lbs. Granted we had 2 6V batteries on the tongue, so minus 50lbs for one 12V. I supect you could run 10-12% on TW and be around 700-850lbs. But with just 1135lbs to start with the 1st thing to do is subtract you and you wifes weight from 1135. That's what you have to work with. Sucks but that's the life of loaded 1/2 tons.

I guess you could pack really light and be close but that's not really a fun way to go camping. It's way easier to not be on the edge all the time. IMO look at 5000lb dry shipping sticker TT's. You don't want to be so maxed that you can't take an extra box of clean X.

Many of the late model higher trim level/equipment half tons have under 1200 pounds of payload, and the F-150 is not the lowest for similarly equipped half ton pickups.

Still, just you and wife, maybe 400 pounds. That leaves 700 pounds of TW. Using a WDH means only about 80% of TW goes on the truck's suspension. 5-6k dry should be fine. The truck will tow it very well. Load as much as you can into the TT.

My prior TV was a 2003 Supercrew Lariat. I had about 1250 pounds of payload. It towed very comfortably, if a bit under powered at times.

Ladderco6 wrote:
I really appreciate everybody's advice!
APT, Yes, the 1135 lbs is from my yellow sticker. I do have the luxury package. But I also wonder how can it really be that low for a F150. I do need to weight it empty. Once again thank you all for your input!

Yup, weighing it is key. You may be surprised how much you eat into that payload:
What Can I Tow?

I really appreciate everybody's advice!
APT, Yes, the 1135 lbs is from my yellow sticker. I do have the luxury package. But I also wonder how can it really be that low for a F150. I do need to weight it empty. I know that numbers don't lie, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that an F 150 like mine can only haul a 5-600 lb tongue weight. I'm one of those people that want everything to be at or under specified tow rates. Once again thank you all for your input!

Welcome to the forum !

First, note that I do not advise 'sure you can' or 'no you can not' (some times
if it seems really over board) but provide the metrics HOW2 figure it out yourself

Second, decide if you believe in the ratings system or not

If not, then do whatever knowing that any warranty claim and over loaded, that
you will have to either lie or hope they don't find out to deny warranty ***AND***
that the OEM is off the liability hook no matter within or out of warranty period

If yes, then read up and ask questions.

Finally, go out and actually weigh your TV axle by axle, both empty and fully loaded
That is the only way to know where you are in reference to it's ratings

Here is a diagram showing the whole system and yes, ratings is a system and any
one link in this food chain can become the weak link

If just looking for confirmation of what you want to hear...you will get tons
of them...aka 'sure you can'....'been over loaded for decades with no problems'...etc


howmuchcanitow

First, I am no "expert". Is that 1135 number the Payload number on the yellow door sticker? If so, the trailer you mentioned is probably over your max. That 1135 will be reduced by the weight of passengers and other "stuff" you may be hauling, like extra fuel, generator, tonneau cover, hitch, etc. It could easily get down to 600 pounds. Add to that the fact the tongue weight can easily be well over the published 600 pounds, and you can see the problem. Personally, with your truck, I would be looking at trailers with dry weights under 5,000. One "Expert" tip is to get actual weights before spending any money.

The payload does seem low even for a Lux package FX4. This is from the Tire and Loading Sticker?

Still, 6k dry and under 700 pounds dry TW will be good. That will be more like 7k pounds loaded with 650-700 pounds on the truck's suspension with a finely tuned WDH. Get one with integrated sway control like Equl-i-zer 4-pt or Reese Strait Line. Happy camping!