Skillett wrote:
TTGWR 5335 lbs
Tongue wt 0.12 %12
640.2
TT unloaded wt 4135
Misc wt items 1200
5335
Hitch rating says max 600# and 6000# max tow without a weight distribution system. Plan on WDS anyway.
I set this up on a spreadsheet for ease.
Some have posted that I should not use the trailer empty to begin from. But I have to start somewhere. So I worked with gross trailer backwards and used 12% for tongue wt.
Will weigh my truck with full gas tank and give curb weight. The owner's manual says I can pull 7800#,but now I don't want to. That's more than truck gross weight.
Thanks for all the responses, each post makes me think and look at different approaches.
Keep in mind, proper stowing of gear will help out. You won't be piling all your stuff in the front. (I hope.) The trailer axles and brakes will supplement the truck. I personally would want a heavier truck for windy days. Years ago, I towed cars on flatbed trailers with an S-10 pickup with a 2.8 V-6 and 5 speed manual transmission. It looked like a small dog chased by a Great Dane. Letting the trailer brakes do the work made all the difference. Now, had I tried to go through the mountains, I may have had trouble.
On the other hand, I drove a truck for a living years ago. Some of the stuff I drove in the early 70's would be laughed off the road today. The engine only turns the gears. Your gearing is what is important. I don't see your rear end axle ratio listed. If you have 3.73 or better gears, you can probably tow the rig. If you have shorter gears, like 3.21 or even in the 2.49 range, you are going to have undue strain and really regret trying to pull that much weight.
Your axle ratio will probably be in one of several places. Inside the drivers door jamb or on the specification sheet under the hood or in the glove box. This will show all the options your truck has, including axle ratio.