Taking the plunge
Ok.... So my wife and I are buying a TT. We currently own a pop up and have loaned it to some friends this weekend in hopes that they will buy it. My wife has had enough of camping without a bathroo...
Forum Discussion
mbopp wrote:
Not to rain on you parade, but if the kids bring friends I assume it's a crew cab?
Tow capacity is only part of the equation. As others have stated, you'll run out of payload first. Welcome to 1/2-ton towing.
What's the yellow payload sticker say on the truck?
And don't listen to the salesman when he says "Sure, you can tow that." His only interest is making a sale.
Ditto !!!
You need to check your tire / loading sticker (on drivers door pillar) for your cargo capacity. What ever your cargo carrying capacity (payload) is, that is your weight capacity for fuel, occupants, cargo (in the truck), weight distribution hitch, and trailer tongue weight, combined. Payload and tow capacity are eaten up by everything and everybody you put in or on the truck.
Better option -- Weigh the truck and subtract that weight from the truck's GVWR. What is left is available payload. As other have mentioned, you will run out of payload, long before you reach that exaggerated towing capacity.
If Dodge says your truck has 10,000 tow capacity, that is as long as the driver weighs 150 lbs, and he is alone without any cargo. As you load up passengers and cargo, your tow capacity and payload go down.
