How to determine hitch weight capacity

[MargaretB]

...when nothing in the door-post or the manual even mentions it?

We know the hitch-weight of our TT, but when shopping for a TV, how can you know the maximum hitch weight it can take?

There's nothing in the B-post labels about hitch weight maximum, and there's no mention of it in any of the manuals we're looking at. They all say that the hitch weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the TT, which we already know, and we know how much our hitch weighs, but we're not finding anything about whether or not the TVs we're looking at can handle that weight.

[MargaretB]

otrfun wrote:
You cannot determine how much tongue/hitch weight your truck can support without knowing the payload of your truck. Your tongue/hitch weight must be subtracted from the payload capacity of your truck.

The dealer will probably give you a hard time about it, but I'd suggest weighing your TT (axle & tongue/hitch weight--road ready with all options) before purchase. Not many people do it, but if you have any interest in protecting yourself from a costly, safety related mistake . . .

We understand what has to be subtracted from what, but our issue right now is very simple: HOW DO WE KNOW THE HITCH WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE TRUCK?

We bought the TT four months ago and have weighed everything we could think of. The hitch, with two batteries and two propane tanks, weighs 780#s. All we need to know now, for the trucks we're looking at, is HOW DO WE KNOW THE HITCH WEIGHT CAPACITY OF THE TRUCK?

Thank you.

[MargaretB]

AH64ID wrote:
Wow... sorry OP, many people cannot read your question and answer it. At least you got plenty of answers you didn't want.

What TV are you looking at?

Some list the TW rating of the hitch on the hitch, a few photos's above, and some don't. Other places to look might be the online towing guide for the TV.

I know my OEM hitch didn't have a rating on it, but I found the Class IV receiver ratings in the owners manual and online towing guides.

So without knowing the TV you are looking at the question can't be directly answered...

We were looking at Ram 1500s and Ford F-150s yesterday and found a "new" (300 miles on the odometer) F150 Ecoboost XLT that we like. All the numbers work for us, but we didn't know where to look for the hitch ratings and it's still at the dealer's an hour away, so I've asked the salesman to take a picture of it and send it to me.

I looked for the weight ratings on a label or stamped into what we currently have but there's nothing there. It's a 4" Class 4 hitch, attached to the side frame of the vehicle.

[AH64ID]

Wow... sorry OP, many people cannot read your question and answer it. At least you got plenty of answers you didn't want.

What TV are you looking at?

Some list the TW rating of the hitch on the hitch, a few photos's above, and some don't. Other places to look might be the online towing guide for the TV.

I know my OEM hitch didn't have a rating on it, but I found the Class IV receiver ratings in the owners manual and online towing guides.

So without knowing the TV you are looking at the question can't be directly answered...

[BenK]

I've not read all of the posts...just answering the OP's question

The 'receiver' holds *ALL* of the weight from the hitch to the
trailer tongue. Depending on 'which' hitch...some have most of the hitch
weight on the TV's side of the ball...others on the trailer side
of the ball

If the 'hitch' weight is of concern because it may cross the ratings
line...then your TV is too small for what you want to tow, or your
trailer is too large for the TV you wish to use. Decide which is
more important to you..the TV or the trailer and add safety is in
that mix too

The 'receiver' capacity or rating is listed on the label on the receiver


My Odyssey Mini Van



GMT900 Suburban



My Suburban



Buddies 2500HD

[otrfun]

MargaretB wrote:
Thanks for the advice. We're not concerned about payload. We're concerned about hitch weight. We'll go back today with my iPhone and try to get a picture of the label.

You cannot determine how much tongue/hitch weight your truck can support without knowing the payload of your truck. Your tongue/hitch weight must be subtracted from the payload capacity of your truck. If the weight of the passengers and gear stowed in your truck AND the tongue/hitch weight (added together) exceeds the overall payload capacity of your truck, then you cannot safely tow.

I'm going to assume the 780 lbs. of tongue/hitch weight you previously quoted is the manufacturer's UNLOADED tongue/hitch weight. This figure does NOT include the weight of water, propane tanks, batteries, personal gear, any options (dealer or manufacturer installed), and may or may not even apply to the particular configuration you're purchasing. Bottom line, these manufacturer's tongue/hitch weight specs are notoriously inaccurate, especially for toy haulers.

The dealer will probably give you a hard time about it, but I'd suggest weighing your TT (axle & tongue/hitch weight--road ready with all options) before purchase. Not many people do it, but if you have any interest in protecting yourself from a costly, safety related mistake . . .

[MargaretB]

Thanks for the advice. We're not concerned about payload. We're concerned about hitch weight. We'll go back today with my iPhone and try to get a picture of the label.

[Terryallan]

The truck you mentioned in the other thread, with a 7800 lb GVWR will handle the TT you mentioned with no problems. 7800 lb is very high for a 150 as most 150s are in the 7200lb class. Unless your truck is loaded to the max with options, which you say it isn't. I would bet it has close to 2000 lbs of payload. To have less. The truck would have to weigh empty over 6000lbs. I bet it isn't close to that. Weigh the truck, subtract that weight from the GVWR. that will be your payload.
However 7800 lb GVWR is pretty close to a HD.

As for the receiver itself. Several years ago Ford started rating their receivers to 10% of the max towing capacity of the highest rated 150 for that year. So If the tow cap for that year was 12000 lb. then the hitch is rated for 1200 lb using a WDH.

[APT]

The receiver itselt will have a sticker or stamped ratings. Something like this on my TV:



Based on my research, 2009+ F-150 receivers will have 1050-1200 pounds of TW limit using a WDH.

[MargaretB]

I looked at the sticker - it gives cargo capacity, but not HITCH WEIGHT capacity. What we're concerned about it whether or not the vehicle can handle the 780# our hitch weighs. We know it can handle the trailer itself.

I'll look under the receiver - thanks!

[ib516]

Find this sticker on the driver's door post of the truck:

[jmtandem]

...when nothing in the door-post or the manual even mentions it?

We know the hitch-weight of our TT, but when shopping for a TV, how can you know the maximum hitch weight it can take?

There's nothing in the B-post labels about hitch weight maximum, and there's no mention of it in any of the manuals we're looking at. They all say that the hitch weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the TT, which we already know, and we know how much our hitch weighs, but we're not finding anything about whether or not the TVs we're looking at can handle that weight.

Good for you for doing your homework. Many don't. This value should be well within the payload of the truck, that is a number you can find. But, if you are really concerned then as mentioned above go to the scales and be sure you are at or under the gross weight of the truck with all your stuff, people, dogs, kayaks, tools, fuel, spare parts, firewood, bbq, bicycles, and, or course, the trailer's tongue. If you use a weight distribution hitch it is important to remember that about 20-25 percent of the redistributed weight is transferred back to the trailer's axles/wheels/tires.

[jmtandem]

...when nothing in the door-post or the manual even mentions it?

We know the hitch-weight of our TT, but when shopping for a TV, how can you know the maximum hitch weight it can take?

There's nothing in the B-post labels about hitch weight maximum, and there's no mention of it in any of the manuals we're looking at. They all say that the hitch weight should be 10-15% of the total weight of the TT, which we already know, and we know how much our hitch weighs, but we're not finding anything about whether or not the TVs we're looking at can handle that weight.

Good for you for doing your homework. Many don't. This value should be well within the payload of the truck, that is a number you can find. But, if you are really concerned then as mentioned above go to the scales and be sure you are at or under the gross weight of the truck with all your stuff, people, dogs, kayaks, tools, fuel, spare parts, firewood, bbq, bicycles, and, or course, the trailer's tongue. If you use a weight distribution hitch it is important to remember that about 20-25 percent of the redistributed weight is transferred back to the trailer's axles/wheels/tires.

[Dog_Trainer]

"about hitch weight maximum" That is the question I answered.
So Oregon RIGHT don't yell at me again

[donn0128]

Dog Trainer wrote:
I answered this in your other post. It should be stamped into the the underside of the trucks receiver.

WRONG! That only gives the hitch capacity not the TV'S actual load carrying capacity.
The only sure way to know is via a set of scales and reading the GVWR label on the drivers door post

[Dog_Trainer]

I answered this in your other post. It should be stamped into the the underside of the trucks receiver.