3LittleDucks wrote:
I'm helping a friend trailer shop, they will be towing with a F150 4x2, rated at 9600lbs. Will soon be a family of 5.
They're looking at 25-26' trailers, dry around 4500, gvwr around 6500. Too much?
Your friends need to go through a process similar to the following:
1) Estimate how much the TT will weigh when loaded for camping.
For example, a TT which is 4500# "dry" might have a loaded weight of 5500#.
2) Estimate the TT's loaded tongue weight which should be around 13% of the TT's loaded weight.
For example, a 5500# TT might have a TW of about 700#.
When using a properly sized and properly adjusted WDH, the vertical load transferred to the TV will be equal to about 75-85% of TW, depending on how much load gets transferred to the TT's axles.
Lets assume the TT-induced load is 550#.
3) Look at the TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION sticker on the driver's door edge or pillar.
Find the maximum allowable weight for Occupants and Cargo.
Subtract the estimated TT-induced load from the TV's max allowable payload.
The remainder is the amount of payload capacity available for weight of occupants, items added to TV after delivery, cargo carried in/on TV, plus about 100# for the WDH.
4) Your friends will have to decide if the remaining payload capacity is great enough to meet their needs.
Ron
