What is "Dry weight?"

Gdetrailer wrote:

ECones wrote:
Thanks for all the excellent input.

The truck is an Access cab with the 4.7L V-8. It's got a 2" receiver and trailer plug, but I suspect it does not have the two package. I need to get it by the dealership and let them tell me. The book lists the 5500 towing capacity for the V-8 and no tow package.

The books tend to list the max you can tow with the BASE model of that vehicle with no options.

If you can locate the data plate on your vehicle you should find Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and each unladen axle weight (add those together) or it could list your vehicles unladen weight.

If you can not find an unladen weight then take your vehicle to the scales and get it weighed.

Subtract the unladen weight from the GVWR weight and the result is the max cargo your vehicle can carry.

Subtract the driver, passenger(s) weights and any other personal gear weight from the cargo weight.

The leftover cargo weight is what you have for the TONGUE weight.

Yep, the tongue of the trailer is considered as cargo on the tow vehicle.

Tongue weight must be 10% to 15% of the TRAILER weight.

So, if you have a trailer which weighs 5,000 lbs then the tongue weight must be 500 lbs to 750 lbs.

You will need to make sure you have enough cargo weight for the trailer tongue.

Your WD will also ADD weight to the tongue so you will need to figure that into your picture..

I have the same TV, and yes, the manual lists the capacities by engine type, body style and available equipment such as tow package. Your other points are very good advice, although when weighing, you should have a full tank of gas.

I'm not sure that "dry weight" has a standard definiton. I guess it's supposed to mean the way the RV comes to the dealer without any fluids or "options". But do any really come without batteries, a propane tank or AC? Not sure but I'm guessing it could be misleading?

ECones wrote:
Thanks for all the excellent input.

The truck is an Access cab with the 4.7L V-8. It's got a 2" receiver and trailer plug, but I suspect it does not have the two package. I need to get it by the dealership and let them tell me. The book lists the 5500 towing capacity for the V-8 and no tow package.

The books tend to list the max you can tow with the BASE model of that vehicle with no options.

If you can locate the data plate on your vehicle you should find Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and each unladen axle weight (add those together) or it could list your vehicles unladen weight.

If you can not find an unladen weight then take your vehicle to the scales and get it weighed.

Subtract the unladen weight from the GVWR weight and the result is the max cargo your vehicle can carry.

Subtract the driver, passenger(s) weights and any other personal gear weight from the cargo weight.

The leftover cargo weight is what you have for the TONGUE weight.

Yep, the tongue of the trailer is considered as cargo on the tow vehicle.

Tongue weight must be 10% to 15% of the TRAILER weight.

So, if you have a trailer which weighs 5,000 lbs then the tongue weight must be 500 lbs to 750 lbs.

You will need to make sure you have enough cargo weight for the trailer tongue.

Your WD will also ADD weight to the tongue so you will need to figure that into your picture..

Ron Gratz wrote:

flash82 wrote:
That yellow sticker represents a more accurate weight of that particular trailer when it left the factory, not including the propane or any dealer installed items.

According to the following, the weight of propane must be included.

49 CFR 571-110 - paragraph S4.3.5 states:

"---If the vehicle is a recreation vehicle trailer and is equipped with a propane supply, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the vehicle's unloaded vehicle weight.---"

If the weight of dealer installed items exceeds the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100#, a corrected sticker must be provided.

Ron

Trailers don't have propane tanks like driveable RVs. They have removable cylinders.

Could the CFR be worded wrong? As I can see it, with that little difference in wording, manufacturers can skirt around it.

If it's got a 2" receiver and trailer plug, then you most likely DO have the tow package, which includes transmission cooler. Did you look at the door sticker? Going by the dealership won't hurt, but they may try talking you into a new one!

Thanks for all the excellent input.

The truck is an Access cab with the 4.7L V-8. It's got a 2" receiver and trailer plug, but I suspect it does not have the two package. I need to get it by the dealership and let them tell me. The book lists the 5500 towing capacity for the V-8 and no tow package.

My trailers brochure dry weight is about the same as the yellow sticker dry weight (spare tire option!). keep in mind the CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity) of some trailers is very high, mine for instance is 4100lbs! so going by the GVWR of the trailer is pointless as I will never carry more than 2k lbs of "stuff". I always recommend adding 12-1500 lbs to the dry weight, less if it is just a couple or you have a smaller trailer. Now you also have to watch as some trailers have a low CCC, I`ve seen some as low as 400 lbs!

It will take some time and research before it all starts to make sense.

Good luck!

You can look in your manual and get the breakdowns for towing capacity by options including which engine you have. Payload info is also on the door sticker. You don't state which engine you have, or if you have the tow package, or if it is an access cab or regular cab. Also, are your tires OEM or better?

As stated above, you will not likely have 5500 lbs towing capacity. That number is before vehicle options, passengers (except 150 lb driver), pets and gear in the vehicle. You will be even more limited by payload. As mentioned above, best thing to do is load the truck up with passengers, pets and any gear that will be in it when towing. Then head to a scale and weigh it with a full tank of fuel (weigh each axle separately so you can see how much room you have on your rear axle as well). Take the total scaled weight of your truck and subtract it from your trucks gcwr to get your adjusted towing capacity. Take the total scaled weight of your truck and subtract it from your trucks gvwr to get your available payload. Take your scaled rear axle weight and subtract it from your trucks gross rawr to see how much room us,available on your axle. Your loaded tt weights should be less than these numbers. The tongue weight must be subtracted from your payload (and be less than room available on rawr). The overall trailer weight must be less than adjusted towing capacity. Your tongue weight and trailer weights must also be within your hitch specs.

Now when looking at the trailer, know that you will never tow a dry or unloAded tt. Most tend to add 1000-1500 lbs of cargo weight to a tt (think dishes, toiletries, chairs, wood, etc as it all adds up very quickly). Being as you do not yet know exactly how much weight you will add to your tt, it is safest to do all calculations using tt gvwr. The loaded tongue weight should be 13-15% of the loAded tt weight. Again in your case figure 13-15% of tt gvwr for a safety margin.

Without knowing your payload, I can't help you with specific numbers. I can tell you that you will likely need a trailer with a gvwr under 3500 lbs depending on where your actual scaled weights and payload numbers fall. I'm guessing this as hitch weight limits tend to be around 10% of towing capacity, so 10% would be 550 lbs. A 3500 lb tt could potentially have a tongue weight of 525 lbs. You are likely within range for something along the lines of a CasitA or scamp or a pop up. Good luck with your search.

Huntindog wrote:
You will get many answers as until recently, there were no standards.
I forget exactly when it started, but any TT with the yellow sticker has a weight that should be accurate. Any new one will be this way.
Now the bad news. Yout TV tow rating is reduced pound for pound by whatever you put in it, So your 5500# rating is not what you have to work with. The only way to know for sure is to load it up for a trip, and weigh it.

X2. Dry weights are useless and tow ratings aren't much better. If you want to KNOW what you have to work with weigh the TV and get your remaining payload. To do that load the TV with everyone and everything you'll carry on a trip and weigh it. Subtract that from your TV GVWR for the usable payload.