Weight calculations for dummies

You need to weigh the entire truck at once. The front and rear axles can be on separate scale pads but still need to be weighed simultaneously. A quick search www.catscale.com shows there to be catscales in Tacoma off I-5 @ exit 135 and exit 136. There is also one in Sumner on 136th ave and one in northbend at I-90 and exit 34. You can also look for local grain stores and try local dump stations. I can tell you the weights on my 2009 f250 diesel long bed, crew cab 4x4 are front axle is 5200 lbs, rear axle is 3260, gross weight (rear axle plus front axle) is 8460 lbs. Yours will probably differ some.

This might help you understand how to calculate the weights.

anaro wrote:
You need to know more about your trucks capabilities than just my truck can tow x lbs. (I learned this the hard way). Most TV are limited by their payload. To find out your TVs true towing capacities then you need to go weigh it. Load the tv up with all occupants, pets, and cargo that will be in it when towing plus a full tank of fuel and then go weigh it at a local scale (www.catscale.com). Weigh each axle on a separate scale pad so it will give you a breakdown of front and rear axle weights individually and a total weight. Take the total weight and subtract it from your Trucks gvwr to get your available payload. Take the scaled Truck weight and subtract it from your Truck gcwr to get your adjusted towng capacity.

Now understand you will never tow an unloaded or dry trailer. Those numbers are somewhat irrelevant. You can either add the amount of weight of cargo you will tow to the dry weight (this is heavier than you think as most add 1000-1500 lb of gear) or simply use the tt gvwr to do your calculations. (for your purposes do all weight calculations using TT gvwr). Next understand that the tt loaded tongue weight needs to be subtracted from your available payload. The loaded tongue weight is typically 13-15% of the loaded tt weight. The dry tongue weight doesn't even include propane or battery. Also anything placed in the trailer in front of the axles will add to your tongue weight. For your purposes 13-15% of the TT gvwr will be an easier calculation to figure out.

An example here (totally made up numbers from fictional vehicle).... curb weight on scale loaded with passengers and gear: 8500 lbs. TV gvwr 10000 lbs. you have 1500 lbs available payload for a loaded tongue weight. On the fictional trailer, there is a dry weight of 5700 lbs and gvwr of 7700 lbs. Said trailer actually scales in at 7000 lbs loaded. 15% of the loaded (7000 lbs) weight is 1050 lbs. Fictional truck may also have a door sticker that says occupants not to exceed 1700 lbs but with pets, passengers and gear you are down to 1500 lbs available payload.

Hope this helps you clear things up some.