Took the plunge...
We began our homework in 2009 (on this forum no less), got serious about it in 2012 but just didn't pull the trigger in 2013 due to some other considerations. However, we finally did it! Our new 20...
Forum Discussion
Kahuna2 wrote:
Hi,
Can you please tell me how much does your TT weigh? And, what is your truck tow capacity?
Sure thing:
2015 Keystone Bullet 272BHS specs
Shipping weight: 5030
Cargo capacity: 2510
Tongue weight: 540
My 2011 Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew Cab, 5.0L V8 has a max payload of 1800 lbs and max conventional towing trailer weight of 8000 lbs.
Door sticker says 1500 lbs payload left (but counts driver and full fuel). Adding the rest of my passengers and truck cargo, it totals to about 450 lbs.
Assuming 1000 lbs of stuff added to the dry weight of the trailer gives total trailer weight of (approx, always rounding up to be safe) 6100. 13% of 6100 = 793, so call it 800.
Then 450+800=1250, keeping me within margins on payload and overall weight of truck + trailer.
As some have noted on this forum, with a properly configured WDH, one might be able to only count 75% of the 13% tongue weight (so 75% * 13% * 6100 = 595) as being transferred back to the vehicle, in which case the payload calculation becomes 450+595=1045. I do not dispute this type of calculation (especially coming from infinitely more seasoned tow veterans than I am), but I have not seen independent verification of this method, so I am playing it safe and trying to stay within the conservative calculation of the last paragraph. If this "75% of 13% of tongue weight" is true, then that is even better for me.
Didn't mean to give such a longwinded answer, but perhaps outlining my thought process will allow someone to correct me where my thinking is astray and/or help future forum surfers in their calculations.
PS: On our next trip (this weekend), I plan to find some scales and see how well these theoretical numbers match up to real life.
