Typical "gear weight"

Cicch95 wrote:
Now I am somewhat confused.......The hitch weight given on an RV's spec is based on the GVWR, correct? So, that is fully loaded with gear, propane, batteries, etc.....

Hardly. Published "hitch weight" is the trailer's dry hitch weight as it sits at the factory ready to be shipped to the dealer and is not even remotely close to what the trailer's actual gross tongue weight will average once the trailer is loaded with gear and ready to camp. You want that gross tongue weight to average somewhere around 13% to 14% of the trailer's gross weight, irrespective of what's it's GVWR may be. If we assume this particular trailer's GVW is ~ 6100 lbs then by definition it's gross tongue weight should land somewhere around 800 lbs. Subtract that from the truck's actual real world payload capacity and what you have left has to accommodate the weight of everyone and all cargo in the truck.

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No, the hitch weight is the dry hitch weight, before anything is loaded. If you take the dry weight of 5,117, and add 1,000 to 1,200 lbs for stuff, you get a loaded weight of about 6,100 - 6,200 lbs as SoundGuy pointed out. That will give you a tongue weight of about 800 lbs ±. That is the approx tongue weight fully loaded with gear, propane, batteries, etc...

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Now I am somewhat confused.......The hitch weight given on an RV's spec is based on the GVWR, correct? So, that is fully loaded with gear, propane, batteries, etc.....

troubledwaters wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
Add up what your family weighs and subtract that from the 1390 lbs. Now subtract the 660 lbs that the tongue weighs from that. Now subtract another 100 lbs for the WDH. Thats what you have left for tongue weight items like a battery (50lbs), propane (40 lbs) and any gear that will go in the truck or in front of the TT axles. Lets say 200 lbs. Just for speculation purposes it looks like you would have a TW of around 950 lbs.

1390
-950
=440lbs. So you have in theory less than 440lbs for family and all the stuff that won't fit in the TT that will go in the truck. Looks too close for me.

A 6660 lbs GVWR trailer is going to have a tongue weight of about 800 lbs. About 150 lbs less than your estimate.
OP I would say 1,200 lbs in a 25' trailer would be pretty close. Really depends on if you are hauling 350 lbs of water or not.

His dry TW is 660lbs.
Add;
50lbs battery
40lbs propane
100lbs WDH
=860lbs of weight that goes on the rear axle. I would think that he would add another 90 lbs ahead of the front axle.
Anyway we spin it it's pushing his 1390lb CCC. Even at that if he's added running boards or some tools or whatever he's more than likely got less than 1390lbs to start with.

goducks10 wrote:
Add up what your family weighs and subtract that from the 1390 lbs. Now subtract the 660 lbs that the tongue weighs from that. Now subtract another 100 lbs for the WDH. Thats what you have left for tongue weight items like a battery (50lbs), propane (40 lbs) and any gear that will go in the truck or in front of the TT axles. Lets say 200 lbs. Just for speculation purposes it looks like you would have a TW of around 950 lbs.

1390
-950
=440lbs. So you have in theory less than 440lbs for family and all the stuff that won't fit in the TT that will go in the truck. Looks too close for me.

A 6660 lbs GVWR trailer is going to have a tongue weight of about 800 lbs. About 150 lbs less than your estimate.
OP I would say 1,200 lbs in a 25' trailer would be pretty close. Really depends on if you are hauling 350 lbs of water or not.

We carry about 650 pounds of "gear". Yes we did weight it, all paper and plastic except for cookware. It all depends on where in the trailer you put the gear. It may add to the tongue weight or it may subtract from your tongue weight. It also depends on other factors like your water tank. Do you travel empty or full and where in the trailer is your water tank located. Just don't get too light on the tongue or your will not like the towing experience. It also depends on the the hitch, some are better than others.

I also think it make a huge difference in where you go. If you are going 50 miles down the road to the local campground 5 or 6 times a year then towing at your vehicle's max or even a little over in not going to be a problem. If you plan on traveling cross country once or twice a year on trips on 2,000 or more miles then it will get old really fast and your tow vehicle will suffer.

My opinion, for what it's worth.

Weight of my HTT dry was aprox 2.900 according to the local truck stop. With everything I need for camping including full water tank and food the weight was 3.490. I am sure we have gained weight since that time.

Add up what your family weighs and subtract that from the 1390 lbs. Now subtract the 660 lbs that the tongue weighs from that. Now subtract another 100 lbs for the WDH. Thats what you have left for tongue weight items like a battery (50lbs), propane (40 lbs) and any gear that will go in the truck or in front of the TT axles. Lets say 200 lbs. Just for speculation purposes it looks like you would have a TW of around 950 lbs.

1390
-950
=440lbs. So you have in theory less than 440lbs for family and all the stuff that won't fit in the TT that will go in the truck. Looks too close for me.

It is really hard to give a typical gear weight. Some people like us came from popups or tents, and we tend to travel lite, as most of our stuff is compact, and lite. We only carry what we need, or use. We carry less than 1000lbs. In truth it is around 650. And we have plenty of stuff.

However. Some want to carry the same stuff, they have in the house, and tool shed at home. Things they will never use, But just in case, and as they started with a TT, or 5er. don't get the compact, lite stuff. I have a friend who's camper is stiffed to the gills with things he doesn't even know he has. And yes. He carries way more than 1000lbs.
so you see. It is all relative.