Please help me figure out your capacity
I'm trying to buy a truck to tow my 5th wheel. I don't want to be one of those idiots trying to tow 20k with a ford ranger or something but I cannot get a clear understanding of how to figure out if ...
Forum Discussion
roadtriptoforever wrote:
So are you saying the total weight doesn't matter? Just the pin weight?
I don't know why this is so confusing to me...
Frequently with a 5th wheel you will run out of payload before you run out of trailer tow rating.
Generally if the pin weight + passengers + hitch and gear is good on payload you should be fine.
The confusing part is that there are several limits and depending on the set up the first limit you hit IS the limit.
The three to check with separate estimates:
GCWR, the total weight of truck, trailer and ALL contents combined.
Truck GVWR, the maximum total weight of the truck including pin and ALL things in the truck. (payload rating)
GRAWR, Gross Rear Axle weight rating. This rating will be on the truck door sticker and is the total weight on the rear axle.
This is why it seems confusing. Reach any of these limits and you are over.
Best is to hitch it all up, load it down and drive to a scale. Have yet to figure out how to do that with a truck and trailer you do not own. So you must estimate.
Think of it like saying you can personally carry 80 pounds. You assume this is a backpack but then find out you need to carry it in your arms. Then you say you can carry 60 pounds. Then you pick the item up and 50 pounds is on one arm and 10 pounds on the other and you just can't do it. The guy asking says you need to make up your mind what you can really carry.
Many have found the Ford 6.0 to be problematic and expensive to fix compared to other brands.
Good luck.
