Tongue Weight calculating

dadmomh wrote:
Help! As much as I never thought we'd say it, we're looking to move to the dark side with a Rockwood Ultra Lite 2604. We're doing our homework and trying to figure the tongue weight. DH got the info from the dealer with our VIN, but they didn't have tongue weight. Our F-150 Crew Cab is rated at 8000+ - actually they said 8300, but he's sticking with 8000. GCVWR is 13,000+. It's a 5.4 with a 5.31 (?) rear end ....he already put the book away and doesn't want to go and drag it back out, so please don't fuss if he has his numbers transposed or other. We'll be keeping the Equalizer set up. The tongue weight is 739# on the 2604. The GVWR is 6629. I already know that IF and when the time comes, I need to unload a few things....anybody want a Cuisnart Ice Cream Freezer??? How 'bout some other cr.. that we find?? I needed to do this anyway just for ease of getting around. I already unloaded the DO.. Our 23SS is at 5000# on the nose ready to pull out, so I know we won't get to the GVWR, but need to know how to figure the tongue weight.

We/I really, really want to make this change. As much as we LOVE our ROO, age and ability is getting in the way. But, at the same time, don't want to be stupid and have a bad combo. If this works out, there will be a mint condition 23SS on the market with all sorts of little extras thrown in. Help!!!

It 's always surprising to me how much some so-called "Ultralight" trailers weigh!

You don't say what model year 2604 you're looking at, but the 2012 model specs at this link lists gross weight as 6603 pounds, curb as about 5500. The same link gives dry hitch as 603 pounds- that will increase if you add propane tanks, etc. Since optimum tongue weight is considered to be around ten percent of total, I recommend using about 650 pounds of tongue as a planning number for that trailer.

Per your truck's capacity:

Looking at the specs at this Ford link...I don't see a "5.31" rear end...could it be a 3.31 rear axle? That would match up with the 13,000 pound GCWR.

There are some differences in payload given for "crew cab" configurations at that link, but it looks like you have at least 1800 pounds of payload, which is the number from which you must deduct hitch weight. 650 lbs. on the tongue would leave you with well over a thousand pounds for passengers, fuel, cargo, etc, at least in the truck. That seems more than sufficient...and since the trailer itself is well under the recommended tow limit of 8,000 pounds plus, it seems to me that the whole combination should work just fine.