Looking for advice
Hello fellow campers I have a question that I am hoping some can help me with and share there knowledge and experience in. I have a travel trailer its a 2018 Puma 43 feet in length and weighs about 82...
Forum Discussion
The marketing hype about this truck can carry up to XXXXX lbs and tow up to XXXXX lbs, only applies to the stripped down version they used to do their calculations, and it does not include passengers, pets, aftermarket accessories, or cargo of any kind.
Based on axles, tires, power train, drive train, suspension, cab configuration, and installed options, every truck (doesn't matter if it is 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton, etc) has it's own towing capacity and payload. When it comes to towing travel trailers, payload is actually more important than that mythical towing capacity number.
Look at your tire / loading sticker (on drivers door post) for a "max occupant / cargo weight"and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). That is your specific truck's capacity to carry everything and everybody in it or on it. That includes the weight of a WD hitch and trailer tongue weight.
Load your truck with people and camping gear that would normally be in it for a camping trip. Take it to a scale and weigh it. Subtract that weight from the GVWR. The left over is available for carrying the WD hitch (80 - 100 lbs) and tongue weight.
When loaded for camping, your trailer will be somewhere around 9300 lbs, with tongue weight around 1200 lbs. Note: Tongue weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Mine fluctuates as much as 200 lbs.
Adding suspension enhancements may help with comfort and appearance, but, they do nothing to increase any ratings.
Based on axles, tires, power train, drive train, suspension, cab configuration, and installed options, every truck (doesn't matter if it is 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton, etc) has it's own towing capacity and payload. When it comes to towing travel trailers, payload is actually more important than that mythical towing capacity number.
Look at your tire / loading sticker (on drivers door post) for a "max occupant / cargo weight"and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). That is your specific truck's capacity to carry everything and everybody in it or on it. That includes the weight of a WD hitch and trailer tongue weight.
Load your truck with people and camping gear that would normally be in it for a camping trip. Take it to a scale and weigh it. Subtract that weight from the GVWR. The left over is available for carrying the WD hitch (80 - 100 lbs) and tongue weight.
When loaded for camping, your trailer will be somewhere around 9300 lbs, with tongue weight around 1200 lbs. Note: Tongue weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Mine fluctuates as much as 200 lbs.
Adding suspension enhancements may help with comfort and appearance, but, they do nothing to increase any ratings.
