First timer and a "how much weight" question?

[brianosaur]

So I've been doing researching like mad and trying to figure all my weight limits before we purchase our first TT. We are headed to Hershey in two weeks, to their big RV show, and I want to be as prepared as possible. After much reading, I am very cautious about being the highway ahole that overloads his vehicle and puts his family, and others on the road, in danger.

We were going get something in the small ultra light class to tow with our Honda Pilot, and then I figured I should just get my second TT now and just skip the tiny one I'd probably sell in two years anyway.

I also have a Ford e250 van. These are the specs:

GVWR ........... 8600
Curb Wt......... 5336
GVW............. 6336?**
Max Payload..... 3264
Towing Cap...... 6600
GCWR............ 12000
GAWR f ......... 3800
GAWR r ......... 5520
Rear Tire load . 3042ea

I currently only have a step bumper hitch on the van (500lb TW) but will be installing a new Class III/IV hitch to accommodate as needed TW.

**Guessing TV may have 1000 lbs in passenger and cargo.

I have done a few online calculators but get different numbers from different sites.

So, what TT GVWR should I top out at to be safe?

[atwowheelguy]

brianosaur wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
Need to know more so, what year van. Engine, trans, rear gears?

All I know is its a 2006 4.6L V8 with 87k miles on it.

...where would I find the other info you requested?

Uh oh.

11,500 GCWR - 5336 curb wt. - 1000 passengers and cargo = 5164 trailer would put it at its limit

Some suggest to keep the GCW in the 80-85% of GCWR for happy towing.

That would be (11,500 x 0.85) - 5336 - 1000 = 3439 trailer

[brianosaur]

Grit dog wrote:
Need to know more so, what year van. Engine, trans, rear gears?

All I know is its a 2006 4.6L V8 with 87k miles on it.

...where would I find the other info you requested?

[jaycocamprs]

brianosaur wrote:

I also have a Ford e250 van. These are the specs:

GVWR ........... 8600
Curb Wt......... 5336
GVW............. 6336?**
Max Payload..... 3264
Towing Cap...... 6600
GCWR............ 12000
GAWR f ......... 3800
GAWR r ......... 5520
Rear Tire load . 3042ea

**Guessing TV may have 1000 lbs in passenger and cargo.

With gas powered 250/2500 trucks the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is most often the limiting factor, the van should be the same. You state a Curb Wt of 5336 lbs, if this is actual scale weight and you add 1000 lbs. of stuff to a 6000lb trailer you will be slightly over. If you can keep the loaded trailer weight around 5500 then your good. With the E250 if you stay within the 12K GCWR the rest should be alright. The van will handle it just fine, it’s the pulling power you are lacking. How bad this will be depends on where you are. Flat land you will be fine, mountains not so fine. And yes put the biggest transmission cooler you can get on it, it will be cheaper in the long haul.

[burningman]

When you do eventually get yourself a pickup truck, do like you're doing with the trailer: skip the small first one that you'll want to sell soon and go straight to a one ton (350/3500).
For now, you ought to be able to handle a 6000 pound trailer just fine, depending on the quantity of beer in the back of the van.

[BenK]

You need additional information and must do some work. Including weighing your TV fully loaded with people/pets/luggage/ice chest/cargo/etc.

There will be much more on HOW2 dial in your WD Hitch system (and choose one).

Goal there is to have the TV drop to whatever your glove box manual says. Some use weight returned to the front axle, others percentage, and some dimension from static before loading/WD'ing.

The trailer tongue should be level at it's highest pointing...I recommend pointing slightly down

Trailer tongue weight should be in the +12% to 15% of the trailer ACTUAL weight


Comments in red below

brianosaur wrote:
So I've been doing researching like mad and trying to figure all my weight limits before we purchase our first TT. We are headed to Hershey in two weeks, to their big RV show, and I want to be as prepared as possible. After much reading, I am very cautious about being the highway ahole that overloads his vehicle and puts his family, and others on the road, in danger.

We were going get something in the small ultra light class to tow with our Honda Pilot, and then I figured I should just get my second TT now and just skip the tiny one I'd probably sell in two years anyway.

I also have a Ford e250 van. These are the specs:

GVWR ........... 8600

A good rating to have on your list and you will need the trailers GVWR too

Curb Wt......... 5336

Useless, unless you have a stripper model with no options, except for the tow option and this is the "dry" weight of the trailer, but it will also come with a tongue weight number (typically 10% in order to get the highest tow weight for any TV) and is a good indicator of how or the potential of how well the trailer will handle....best to have tongue weight in the +12%-15% of the trailers ACTUAL weight

GVW............. 6336?**

you will need this and load up your TV as if going to tow. Full up with people, pets, cargo, luggage, etc and go out and weigh it

Max Payload..... 3264

A good starting point, as this is the weight as shipped WITH options...but does NOT have the stuff you will load into/onto your TV. Subtract this from the GVWR and it will be more than the listed towing cap (MTWR...max tow weight rating)

Towing Cap...... 6600

see Max Payload comment

GCWR............ 12000

a very good number to have and will be the basis for the simple math to figure your "true" MTWR

GAWR f ......... 3800

A good number to have on your list

GAWR r ......... 5520

A very good number to have on your list and most limiting of all the other RATINGS

Rear Tire load . 3042ea

Ditto above RGAWR

I currently only have a step bumper hitch on the van (500lb TW) but will be installing a new Class III/IV hitch to accommodate as needed TW.

**Guessing TV may have 1000 lbs in passenger and cargo.

Until you load and actually weigh it fully loaded ready to tow...in guessing game

I have done a few online calculators but get different numbers from different sites.

So, what TT GVWR should I top out at to be safe?

Weigh your TV fully loaded ready to go towing and subtract that from the GCWR of your TV and that will tell you the true TT GVW (it's actual weight your TV is now rated to tow

[Grit_dog]

Need to know more so, what year van. Engine, trans, rear gears?
Big difference between an old 5.4 triton V8, 4 speed and high final drive ratio and one with a V10 (if those even were offered in the 250), 5 or 6 speed and low rear gears.

If the former, I'd stay around 5klbs ready to camp. The frame, axle, springs will handle any moderate size TT just fine IMO. It's more about what's providing the go power.

[drsteve]

brianosaur wrote:

bikendan wrote:
In addition to the hitch receiver, you'll need to duplicate the whole factory tow package.
Wiring for brake controller and transmission cooler.
Then install brake controller.

Think the TC is absolutely necessary?

Yes. It's much cheaper than a transmission.

[brianosaur]

bikendan wrote:
In addition to the hitch receiver, you'll need to duplicate the whole factory tow package.
Wiring for brake controller and transmission cooler.
Then install brake controller.

Think the TC is absolutely necessary?

[bikendan]

In addition to the hitch receiver, you'll need to duplicate the whole factory tow package.
Wiring for brake controller and transmission cooler.
Then install brake controller.

[wanderingaimles]

With a cargo cap of 3264, and being a prudent man you have DW and kids in another vehicle, you should have about 2100 lbs available for the INITIAL beer load, your on your own after that.
HEY,,,, this is a 3 day weekend.

[brianosaur]

wanderingaimlessly wrote:

Try to find a TT with a loaded weight under 6000 and have a blast.

Thanks.
Thats kind of where I was leaning.
Was looking online into TT in low 5k's GVW.

wanderingaimlessly wrote:
You said nothing on family size and weights but if we start with a typical family of 4, 550-700lbs will cover most (not all) scenarios. Adjust as needed for your situation. Add for tongue weight 900lbs to be safe, another 125 for the hitch, and you have a total of
1725lbs, again well within the vans limits.

Right now my van is a commercial work van with no back seats. We have several campsites within an hour drive. So, the plan is keeping it local and having wife, kid & the fat arse Labrador Retriever following in the Pilot with the bicycles & kayak.

Prob have firewood, chairs, beer, and a few miscellaneous things (like extra beer) in the van.

In a year or two I will get a king cab pickup 250 or 350.

Don't want to buy a new TT and TV all in one shot 😉

[wanderingaimles]

If you want to get real nit picky you can do the math on every possible scenario. And then ASSUME you can take everything to the limit. To be simpler and to maintain a degree of safety, may I suggest you leave yourself a cushion of 10% on the most basic numbers.
Tow Capacity on van of 6600
Consider that 6000 for a loaded weight and your golden on that catagory.
Cargo cap,,, You said nothing on family size and weights but if we start with a typical family of 4, 550-700lbs will cover most (not all) scenarios. Adjust as needed for your situation. Add for tongue weight 900lbs to be safe, another 125 for the hitch, and you have a total of
1725lbs, again well within the vans limits.

Try to find a TT with a loaded weight under 6000 and have a blast.

[Lwiddis]

"Max Payload..... 3264"

With this payload you will have lots of TT options.

[donn0128]

Load the van like your going camping and get it weighed. Subtract that from the GVWR. Thats how much room you have left over for ancillery stuff and hitch weight.