Towing Numbers Review

[3HappyHicks]

Here are my numbers. I would love for someone to check me.

Payload- 1050
Measured tongue weight with scale- 420
Passengers+dogs- 450- A LOT I know

Total= 865- so roughly 120lbs give a little lbs left of payload

Does that mean if I add more weight/cargo/camping gear I have to evenly distribute it between my cargo and my tongue weight? Also watching not to exceed my tow vehicle GVWR of 6500lbs, Front 3200 and Rear-3700 and GVWR of trailer 3700.

If my trailer weight does not exceed 3700lbs can I then evenly distribute more cargo in my trailer?

TIA!!

[Slowmover]

Use 3-Pass Method

1). Cross a CAT SCALE when hitched and rigging taut.

2). Cross again with rigging fully slack

3). Park trailer and cross solo.

All passengers aboard. Loaded for camping. Full fresh water and propane.

Get all three scale tickets. Post.

Pic of axle/wheel/tire limit sticker. (GVWR, etc, don’t mean much).

Hitch rigging should be adjusted so that the TV STEER AXLE WEIGHT is the same in both the First & Third scale tickets. TT should be dead-Level once finished. TV might be down slightly in rear compared to unhitched.

Tire pressure needs to reflect actual load. Neither low nor high, as either reduces performance.

Get the numbers.

[Grit_dog]

Id say it looks like you've done your research and shown that your right around the mfgs reccomended weights. Have fun, go camping!

[goducks10]

How's it tow? If it feels good even though you're close on some numbers then go for it.

[3HappyHicks]

Update-

I went to a weigh station and here are my numbers.

Jeep and Trailer- 8480- max 10,400- still need to add more passengers/dogs(+500)
Trailer Alone- 3500- 90% loaded- Trailer GVWR-3800
Jeep alone- 4980- here's where my additional 500 will go for passengers

Tongue weight- 480- Max allowable for my comfort 550- for hitch 600.

So if all my research and diligence proves correct, I will be good based on numbers with this setup. And I also have a little room for more tongue weight, and an additional 300lbs for trailer GVWR which seems to equal to about what I feel safe for tongue weight.

Thoughts. Suggestions. Ideas. Thanks for all your input!

[blt2ski]

If you go across a freeway DOT scale while open, they will not like it! As noted, they do not care on iota what your manufacture weight warranty ratings are. This are not legal weights. I've been pulled over at 150% of manufacture ratings, I have yet to receive an overweight ticket! As I was below paid for tax weight, and federal bridge law weights that the road was designed to handle. If over those weights, in your case, about 10,000 lbs per axle on truck, 7-8000 lbs for trailer. Are you anywhere close to these totals? IF YOU WERE over these totals, then yes, a cveo can have you unload, move the load around on the rig, such that you are under these engineer design specs.
I've been like another, over warranty/performance ratings. Most of the times, no issues. If loaded incorrectly, under or over ratings, I've ft and was unsafe.
Reality, you can probably add upwards of 1000 lbs to setup, and be safe, fixed.e, have no issues, assuming loaded properly in a balance manner.
Marty

[MitchF150]

Hi Happy.. Just like MFL said, the scale people don't give a hoot about your weight.. If it's CAT scale, you'll have more trouble reading the scale itself (it's placed about 8' off the ground so the truckers can read it from their cab!)

Anyway, even if the State Police pull you over, they won't give a hoot about what your stickers say.. As long as you are not obviously overload and towing an obviously over loaded load, they won't even look your way.

Mitch

[MFL]

The people at the scales are not concerned about RV weights. They will not hassle you, or even advise you, if you are over weight. Pay special attention to your trailer axle wt, and the maximum tire load.

Jerry

[3HappyHicks]

MitchF150- I have hauled the combo a few miles. Admittingly not much. Maybe 75 miles total. But I do feel safe driving it in whole.

Curious do you know if you go weigh and I'm over weight- will they not let me go? Will I have to unload stuff right there?

[3HappyHicks]

troubledwaters- thank you! That's what I needed to know. So basically I feel like I need to load up and go weigh. That's what a lot of other users have said too.

[3HappyHicks]

valhalla360- the 450lbs in the truck is just the people(3) and dogs(2).

That particular tongue weight was not loaded ready to go out. Just partially loaded.

[troubledwaters]

Yes you can add more weight. You can put it all in the trailer if you want. Actually, you can put 1,000 lbs in the trailer and at 12% tongue weight if place right it would only add 120 lbs to your tongue weight (payload on truck).

[valhalla360]

You are probably close enough to not worry too much but might be over the official numbers by a bit.

450lb in the truck is not a lot...did you add in people, cooler, hitch, running boards, any other stuff in the truck or after market add ons.

Is the tongue weight fully loaded to head out? If not figure about 12-15% of that extra weight is on the tongue.

[MitchF150]

Numbers are just figures on paper...

They don't mean you can or can't tow the trailer you have with the vehicle you have..

Really depends on your own tolerances and what you think you can or can't tow with said combo..

Weights are for sure a consideration and you should know your actual weights from an actual scale.

Then once you take that combo out on the road, it's all up to your driving comfort level that really matters.

Some are comfortable being over payload and some are not..

Just gotta figure out what's gonna work for you and go from there.

I've been towing for some 40 years and have been overloaded and not overloaded. Survived each trip but have settled on a combo that works for me and I actually enjoy the trip and when I get to my destination I'm relaxed and can enjoy the time away and actually look forward to the trip home too!

Anyway, good luck with the decision.. We all have had to make it and learn along the way!

Mitch