Need help with the numbers on the weights and such

[Jbird1311]

Hey all, long time listener, first time caller.

We are looking at buying a TT and I admit I feel overwhelmed with all the numbers floating around in my head. I am a family of 5 and want enough room for everyone to have their space but I'm concerned about my TV and the limits of it. I don't know if I'm shopping too big or if my vehicle can handle the weight. If someone can put it in layman's terms that would help me a lot cause I just can't seem to wrap my head around all the different numbers and acronyms...

I have a 2010 F150 FX 2 sport with the tow package. The engine is a V8 5.4L 3v. I've looked on the 2010 tow rating guide and it has 3 options for the 5.4l. 8400, 9700, or 11300. It appears this is dependent on it being 3.15:1, 3.55:1 or 3.73:1. I don't know what my truck has. When I've researched for it, i only find it to be 3.55 so I'm assuming that's what I have, which would then put me at the 9700lb rating. my GCWR is 7100 it says the combined occupant and cargo weight liming is 1637lbs. I'd say my family weighs 575

Will someone please explain the math I need to do to figure out how heavy of a trailer I can get? I have a hard time keeping the numbers straight and I don't want to buy too big.

Thanks all!!!

[stratcat]

when purchasing have the dealer include the wd hitch at no charge. When we bought our trailer last year that was the deal breaker. the dealer ate the cost and installed on the truck for me at no charge

[Jbird1311]

thanks everyone for the posts. A lot of mixed thoughts from y'all. I will keep y'all posted.

[love2rvcamp]

Jabiird

I think the trailer you posted would be fine with your truck. Add your WDH hitch and be careful what you put in the bed and have fun.

I think you are capable of towing more than a popup or hybrid. I know with the family bunks are a must. I would try and stay dry below 6000.

Mike

[TomG2]

There is one other big factor, though not technically overloaded, I found the Ford 5.4 and Chevrolet 5.3 both provided inadequate performance when towing over 6,000 pounds. Others may have lower expectations.

[Ron_Gratz]

Jbird1311 wrote:
Hey guys, how about this one? It has the unloaded vehicle weight at #5900. Is that too heavy for unloaded?

With options and propane, the "empty weight" of that TT probably would be closer to 6200#.
Let's assume you load fairly heavy (perhaps 1500#) resulting in a loaded TT weight of 7700#.

A tongue weight percentage of 13% would give a loaded TW of 1000#.
You've passed the first hurdle because your receiver is rated for a TW of 1050# when using a WDH.

Since you're paying good money for the WDH, you might as well take advantage of the fact that using a WDH will reduce the amount of vertical load the TT imposes on the TV.
A properly sized and properly adjusted WDH can transfer a load equal to 25% of TW to the TT's axles.
This means the vertical load imposed on the TV by the TT can be equal to about 75% of the TW.

So, using a WDH with a 1000# TW can cause the TT to add only 750# to the TV.
However, you also must add the weight of the WDH (about 100#), so the total load added to the TV would be 850#

Given the sticker "payload" value of 1637# and a TT/WDH imposed load of 850# means you have a remaining payload of 787# to cover the weight of occupants and miscellaneous cargo carried in the TV.

If you can limit the weight of family plus cargo to 787#, your TV should be able to handle a 7700# TT without exceeding GCWR, receiver TW rating, TV GVWR, or rear GAWR.
If you load the TT to, say, 7200#, the tongue weight (at 13%) would be 936#, and the TT/WDH would add a load of 936x0.75 + 100 = 800# to the TV.
Then, the weight of occupants plus cargo would have to be limited to 837#.

It's up to the OP to determine how much weight of occupants and cargo will be added to the TV.
And, it's up to him to decide whether he wants to use the TV to carry as much load as the TV manufacturer says it can.

Ron

[Jbird1311]

Wife and I camped with a borrowed popup this summer and that convinced us that those are way too small for our family.

[TomG2]

Having owned a couple of pickups similar to yours, I would limit total trailer weight to 6,000 pounds. As mentioned several times, this means a dry weight of under 5,000 pounds. Might a hybrid or pop up trailer meet your needs?

[Jbird1311]

lbrjet, you don't think its too heavy? what about krobbe's numbers? not trying to pit one against the other, but this is confusing.

[lbrjet]

Your WDH will transfer about 150-175 lbs of that tongue weight to your trailer axles so your payload hit will be reduced by that amount. As myself and a few other people have stated 6K dry maximum is where you want to be so 5941 is right there.

[Jbird1311]

krobbe,

yah, I guess I was reaching on that one...

[krobbe]

Jbird1311 wrote:
Hey guys, how about this one? It has the unloaded vehicle weight at #5900. Is that too heavy for unloaded?

http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/SuperLite/default.aspx?model=superlite&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4966&RVType=trailers

Well...
5941 + 100(WDH) + 40(propane) + 299(water 36gal*8.3) + 1000(gear/food) = 7380#'s.
That'll give you a payload hit of 960#.(7380 *.13)
960 + 575(family) = 1535# on the truck without any additional weight in the bed.
Do you plan on carrying anything in the truck bed? Are your kids gonna grow? Do you plan on going across country/thru mountains?
Any chance of upgrading to a 250/2500?
I bought my 3/4 truck before I got the TT, with all these things in mind, so my TT choices wouldn't be too limited and I wouldn't have to upgrade later.
Quite often, peoples' experiences on these forums shows that when someone buys too much TT for their TV, they soon get a bigger TV.
After the bigger truck purchase, then they start seeing the things they would've liked in the first place but couldn't get..Like 2nd entry door, bigger bathroom, larger couch, more storage, bunk room instead of bunk beds, etc. Now it's time to upgrade the TT. Oooh... The hit on that is gonna sting! :E

[Jbird1311]

Hey guys, how about this one? It has the unloaded vehicle weight at #5900. Is that too heavy for unloaded?

http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/SuperLite/default.aspx?model=superlite&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4966&RVType=trailers

[APT]

I believe all FX2 F150s came with 3.73 axle, but you can look at another sicker on the driver's door jam for something call an Axle code. That can be decided to 3.15/3.55/3.73. Regardless, you'll be a lot happier towing in the 6k dry range as that goes up to 7000-7500 loaded with a family's gear and 1000 pounds of tongue weight. Family in the cab and a bed full of gear eats up the payload.

I have spent a lot of money on extras to my TT that the $600 WDH doesn't phase me. A WDH is required for your truck anything over 600 pounds of TW and 6000 pounds trailer weight. Besdies that, my experience is that anything over about 400 pounds on a half ton will benefit from a WDH. Your selling dealer will sell and install it. I highly recommend one with integrated sway control like krobbe listed.

[Jbird1311]

Guys, thanks for all the comments. this all definitely opens my eyes to the costs of buying one. its not just a hook it up and away we go thing. I think I will stay to the 6000 limit so I don't have to worry about pulling the load.

Again, thanks!!