Please help me check my capacity math

librty02 wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
And 760 pounds ISN’T enough.

If he does have 760lbs left over why would that not be enough? How do you come to that conclusion without know his situation? :h

I thought the same thing. Forums can be very helpful but need to filter out helpful from just the noise.
Plus the OP already has used a CAT scale so he's well aware of his cargo numbers

^ theres the real numbers.

bshack wrote:
Here is my TT:

https://www.rvusa.com/rv-guide/2017-keystone-bullet-travel-trailer-floorplan-243bhs-tr29959

My truck:

2020 Toyota Tundra SR5 CrewMax w/5.7 V8 5.5ft bed

https://www.toyota.com/tundra/features/weights_capacities/8261/8272/8275

CAT scale weight - 5860lbs total or 3320lb steer and 2540lb drive

Tire loading sticker - max occupant + cargo 1270lb

GVWR - 7200lb

Hitch:

Equalizer anti sway and weight distribution hitch

I looked at specs on that trailer. 555 lbs is "dry" hitch weight. 4685 is unloaded trailer weight. 6500 is GVWR of the trailer.

Here are some things you're missing:

Average load of dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camp chairs, BBQ equipment, groceries , water, etc is 800 to 1000 lbs. That would make the trailer's loaded weight about 5685 lbs. More, if you're carrying bikes and toys. You should plan for trailers GVWR of 6500.

Average tongue weight is 12 to 13 percent of loaded trailer weight, and it is not a constant number. Tongue weight fluctuates during every trip.

A weight distributing hitch weight 80 to 110 lbs.

The weight of your weight distributing hitch and loaded tongue weight are counted as cargo weight in the truck.

Thirteen percent of 6500 (trailer's GVWR) is 845 lbs. Plus a WDH, would mean the trailer needs to use at lest 945 lbs of your payload.

1270 payload minus 945 tongue / hitch weight = 325 lbs available to carry passengers, luggage, car seats, cargo, etc.

The closer you get to going over max weight, the more unstable / unpleasant your towing will be.

pasta4lnch wrote:
Sorry to hijack w another math question, but if you took the payload capacity from your door sticker minus passenger and in-truck cargo weight: THAT number would need to be higher than roughly 13% of the TT's GVWR?

Short answer YES

Sorry to hijack w another math question, but if you took the payload capacity from your door sticker minus passenger and in-truck cargo weight: THAT number would need to be higher than roughly 13% of the TT's GVWR?

twodownzero wrote:
760 is nowhere near enough, but the actual number is 1,310 minus your tongue weight. 760 pounds should be plenty for passengers and hitch unless you're planning on filling the cab with heavy people. I would be skeptical of that tongue weight number, though. You want to load the tongue as heavy as you can get away with for the most stability.

So, truck is apparently already too heavy by your statement, but you want to load it up as heavy as possible so it will not sway, but you must add a wdh for the weight and anti sway for the sway you just eliminated??
Then what? Unhook it and drive to the dealer for a 3/4 ton to pull a stupid little camping trailer so you can sleep at night?

So, by your math and others', perty much any half ton (save for the super duper payload models) can't even pull a 5klb trailer because once the magical minimum of 13% or whatever it is tongue weight, plus the weight of the univerSALLY required wdh and anti sway, plus passengers/cargo is all added up, the truck is done for?
Flat, busted, illegal, immoral, and downright lewd with toooo much weight!

I'm so glad that more of the world operates in reality and not where you folks do, or it would be impossible to accomplish anything meaningful with any semblance of ease or common sense!


Do any of you weight cop wannabes actually look around without your blinders on and realize that just because you are afraid of your proverbial shadow, or like to impose your "opinion" of what's right even though it's quite contrary to common practice, that maybe, just maybe, everything is not as "critical" as you make it out to be?

This thread, just put the OP into a class 2 or 3 truck, yes a class 3, because "Once you add a diesel and crew cab and options and 4wd to a 3/4 ton, it has the same payload as half tons......"

I'm not certain if I feel more sorry for you all who don't live in reality, or the poor folks that are looking for real advice and don't have the experience to realize that your ridiculous claims are draining their pocketbooks dearly.


I should make a poll and see if the "weight cops" are right wing or left!

you aren't allowing yourself enough tongue weight. also be careful of overloading the trailer to save payload.

760 is nowhere near enough, but the actual number is 1,310 minus your tongue weight. 760 pounds should be plenty for passengers and hitch unless you're planning on filling the cab with heavy people. I would be skeptical of that tongue weight number, though. You want to load the tongue as heavy as you can get away with for the most stability.

760 is more than enough :)

I think I am fine. I will make sure all our stuff is put in the camper and not in the truck when we all are in there while towing.

Thanks!

The L bros, Lwiddis and lawrosa, are basically the pot calling the kettle black.
Lwiddis is hauling just as heavy or heavier trailer with his 1/2 ton and lawrosa is pulling a big trailer with his 14 year old half ton.

bshack, you have zero to worry about with your trailer.
And just like the 1000s of other threads like this, the weighing and calculating of every utensil, roll of TP, how much gas in the tank and whether Fido took a poop at the last rest area or need to account for 1.13 more lbs of payload , is basically a RV based phenomenon that has gone viral with the proliferation of “information” and warnings on the internet.
You’ve done the math, you’re hauling a trailer that is WELL within the limitations of your truck. Due diligence is done. Have fun camping!