Making sense of Tow #'s
Looking at buying my first truck and need some help with Towing. We're planning to get an RV in a year or 2 and I want it to do it right the first time! Looking at a 2011 F150 Supercrew Ecoboost w...
Forum Discussion
Only 12.3 % get it right the first time .
For your first trailer buy a new-used directly from the owner and not a dealer .
The owner will throw in all of the little RV gadgets that he paid full retail for .
Most first time tt buyers are sellers by the 4th year .
They may not camp as often as they thought .
Or they may decide they bought too much trailer for their tow vehicle .
So the depreciation hit is less if they bought used , not new .
A longer trailer is a longer lever centered on its axles .
The lighter the tow vehicle the more the lever can move the tow vehicle .
Commercial trucks have their axles at each end of the trailer .
But not travel trailers .
Hence the need for a heavier tow vehicle if you choose to tow a longer lever .
We got it right on our 4th try .
3 /4 ton diesel 9200# gvw pickup towing a 21 TT ( OAL = 24' actual) that is 7280 # GVW but actual 5300 # on the axles .
We use 987# tongue weight for sure fire anti sway .
Every pound behind the TT axle is uncontrolled weight and wants to move you .
Each pound between the TT axle and the TV hitch is controlled weight and wants to follow your 9200# gvw TV.
For your first trailer buy a new-used directly from the owner and not a dealer .
The owner will throw in all of the little RV gadgets that he paid full retail for .
Most first time tt buyers are sellers by the 4th year .
They may not camp as often as they thought .
Or they may decide they bought too much trailer for their tow vehicle .
So the depreciation hit is less if they bought used , not new .
A longer trailer is a longer lever centered on its axles .
The lighter the tow vehicle the more the lever can move the tow vehicle .
Commercial trucks have their axles at each end of the trailer .
But not travel trailers .
Hence the need for a heavier tow vehicle if you choose to tow a longer lever .
We got it right on our 4th try .
3 /4 ton diesel 9200# gvw pickup towing a 21 TT ( OAL = 24' actual) that is 7280 # GVW but actual 5300 # on the axles .
We use 987# tongue weight for sure fire anti sway .
Every pound behind the TT axle is uncontrolled weight and wants to move you .
Each pound between the TT axle and the TV hitch is controlled weight and wants to follow your 9200# gvw TV.
