New Truck - Is My Math Right?

[sliptap]

Hi Everyone,

My wife and I recently purchased a truck for towing. I've been running the numbers to see which RV's we could purchase and would appreciate you spot checking my math.

Here are some base specs for my truck:

• 6600 GVRW
• 1330 Payload
• 8000 Towing Capacity
• GCVWR 13300
• 5270 Truck Curb Weight

It's a 2018 F150 2.7 Ecoboost. I believe payload is my biggest limiter here.

Let's assume 620 lbs of guests (wife/fake kids/dog) and 125 lbs of additional cargo (WDH and 50 lbs gear).

Where I am stuck is calculating the hitch weight. I've read that I should assume 14% of a trailer's GVWR should align with the hitch weight. So if I assume a 4000lb GVWR trailer, then I would just barely be under my payload limits. That would be 560 lb hitch weight (4000*14%). This would assume I am diligent in what goes in the truck as well as not overloading the payload of the trailer.

The math = 1330 - 620 - 125 - 560 = 25lbs.

Am I correct with the hitch assumption? Am I missing anything else? For reference, we've been looking at Coleman Lantern 17B as a potential trailer and I believe that has roughly 3800 GVWR. I think our saving grace could be filling the truck with water at the camp site.

Thank you for any advice!

[Huntindog]

By using 14% for TW, you are being more realisic than many here.
The range is usually 10-15%. With 10% being the absolute minimum to avoid a dangerously sway prone setup. 15% is the general maximum only because that is the limit of what the truck/hitch can handle.

What is unique with TTs is that TW can vary a LOT in the course of a trip. FW gets consumed and ends up in the waste tanks, food the same, clothing moves as it is soiled, propane gets consumed and disappears, and many other items change as well. Some here will say that they use 10%.... well they need to be very careful in doing so.
I recommend using 15%, I am over that, but my truck/hitch can handle more than most.
The closer you get to the 10% minumum, the more critical managing the above items becomes... And in my opinion the more limiting your TT experience will be.
Saying you will always fill the water at the campground means that you are limited in only using campgrounds where water is available... IMO, that is a severe limitation... You may be fine with it... And that is OK, but you need to realize that means no boondocking,,,, ever!

[Grit_dog]

bid_time wrote:
Number one, move that 50 lbs of gear you want to put in the truck to the trailer. At that point it only adds 7 lbs to the tongue weight (14%), giving you 43 more lbs of payload to work with.

ROFLMAO

[JIMNLIN]

If it helps, I also weighed the truck yesterday at a CAT scale. I filled it full of gas and weighed it with me outside of the truck. Here is the actual truck weight:

Steer Axle: 3060 lbs

Drive Axle: 2240 lbs

This is all you need to figure how much weight any truck can safely carry. Your math (3350 minus 2240 lbs = 1110 lbs is your trucks rear axle payload. Your F150 has a very small 3350 RAWR
Was the 2240 lb with everyone and gear in the truck ?? If not don't try and estimate the trucks numbers when you can load it up road ready and then weigh and use those numbers. It may surprise you how occupants in the cab affects axle weights different than you may think. People's weight in the front seat won't all go on a trucks front axle.
The 3350 GAWR is the smallest of any 1/2 ton trucks out here.
The F150 does have around 12-13 different GVWR numbers and ;
3800 RAWR
4050 RAWR
4550 RAWR
4800 RAWR (HDPP)
As you see your looking at a very small TT vs higher rated F150s.

My biggest concern at this point is "how do I estimate which RVs have a trailer hitch weight I can support?" I know this will be an estimate, but I want to be careful I don't overload my truck from the start. Is 14% of the trailers GVWR a safe assumption for purchasing? Or any other advice to estimate this?

I use the trailer mfg dry gross weight numbers...CCC numbers...GVWR numbers. For a trailer that size your not going to carry much like some one with a 30-35' TT or 5th wheel trailer.
A 4000 GVWR trailer may have a 2800 lb dry weight. Now add 700-800 lbs in the trailer = maybe 3500-3600 lbs gross weight.
Using a 10 percent hitch weigh = maybe 360 lbs. These are estimates so I use that type of math for a 5k-6k gvwr trailer.
AS the trailer gets bigger we tend to carry more necessary Junk :B

[Boomerweps]

sliptap wrote:

@Boomerweps - you are correct on the values! My truck has the 53A standard tow package. Max Tow Package is only available for 3.5 ecoboost. Thanks again for the previous advice also.

Yeah, knew about the Max Tow requiring the 3.5EB. I'm happy with my 5.0L with more HP and not much less torque, just comes on at higher RPM. Side note: 5.0 required for snow plow prep package.

FYI, there is/was a paper sticker on the frame under the driver's door. It has a code to define the chassis thickness. The 145" WB with towing package (mine) has the HD (heavy duty) .1" thick metal. There is .087" LD light duty, and .11" HPP heavy Payload package (may be used on the Max Tow?)

[rbpru]

Here are some real world figures.

* 2011 F-150 Max Cargo from door jamb 1411#.
* 2010 Dutchmen Lite 25 ft. TT. Dry weight 5004#. Loaded for the road and across the CAT scales the TT weighs 6200# with about 750# on the tongue.
* That is about 12% on the tongue, the WD hitch is set a touch nose down.

The wife and I plus the dog and camp gear come to about 650#. This puts the truck at its limit. We have no issues towing, the E-boost pulls nicely and we have managed 40,000 mile in about 5 years.

Our trailer weight actually varies with the amount of "stuff" we need from trip to trip. Water, consumables, and gear can vary 200 to 300 lbs.; even more on weekend outings.

We love the rig combo but anything heavier would require a larger truck. Towing at the limit does take a toll on shocks, brakes and tires. Of course not everyone is gong to tow 8000 mile a year across desert and the Rockies.

Good Luck

[bid_time]

Number one, move that 50 lbs of gear you want to put in the truck to the trailer. At that point it only adds 7 lbs to the tongue weight (14%), giving you 43 more lbs of payload to work with.

[Grit_dog]

Merrykalia wrote:
That is the real problem with half ton pickups from ALL the manufacturers. Unless you special order something, most of the trucks sitting on the lots are VERY limited with payload. They look pretty and all the additional "pretties" also eat up your payload numbers.

I would guess and say that 50% of the people out there that purchase their first truck and camper are over their specs. Maybe not grossly overweight, but......

A little knowledge up-front will make you feel better and will make for a better experience.

Except the “payload” and rear axle ratings are also “limited” by factors other than their actual capabilities.
Example, the same axle the OPs truck has is rated higher in a different truck configuration that isn’t limited to 6600gvwr which is a limitation based on other factors than the rear axle’s weight carrying ability.
Or in short, 3400 rawr is stated intentionally low, to fit into the overall light duty truck class.
3800-4000lbs is a standard 1/2 ton rawr and the truck and all of its components will operate as designed with good service life at this weight.
Or think about it practically. Put 4 people in the cab of the truck, avg 150lb theoretical weight. Leaves 500lbs ccc in the bed by the most conservative “numbers” posted.
Does that seem even remotely near the ability of a full size half ton truck?? He!! No. Not even close. That’s more like the rating of a mid size sedan.
OP, don’t obsess over it. Any trailer with 1000lbs or less tongue weight and about 8klbs or less overall weight is right in your trucks wheelhouse.

[TomG2]

Some dealers have tongue scales to check dry tongue weight and help set up hitches. Sherline is a common brand.

[sliptap]

Thank you everyone for jumping in with your support and kind words! My biggest concern at this point is "how do I estimate which RVs have a trailer hitch weight I can support?" I know this will be an estimate, but I want to be careful I don't overload my truck from the start. Is 14% of the trailers GVWR a safe assumption for purchasing? Or any other advice to estimate this?

I would use a scale to weigh after purchase, but not sure I have that option when purchasing.

@Boomerweps - you are correct on the values! My truck has the 53A standard tow package. Max Tow Package is only available for 3.5 ecoboost. Thanks again for the previous advice also.

@Merrykalia - agreed. Hind sight is always 20/20. On the flip side, it REALLY is a nice truck haha.

[Lwiddis]

Sorry. It’s done but you violated the rule...buy or select the TT/5er first, then match a truck to it. My wife’s Equinox has almost as much payload as your truck.

[Boomerweps]

4WD Super cab or supercrew with a 145" WB with 3.73 axle if the ratings GVWR & GTR are the same between 2018 & 2019, using the 2019 towing guide. Got me curious.

[Boomerweps]

Wow! That is complete as I've ever seen on prepurchase weight considerations;) Better than I did.
It appears you verified the factory CC, them 1330, CAT 1300.
I just assume truck cab contents just gets shared front and back. Not like a long airplane, spaceship or submarine where weight location can be extremely critical 😉
Ford has three different "towing packages".
53B just hitch and electrical harness
53A standard Tow Package
53C Max Towing package
Each has different rear axle ratios and I just found out recently, each may have different thickness of metal in the frame.

[Merrykalia]

That is the real problem with half ton pickups from ALL the manufacturers. Unless you special order something, most of the trucks sitting on the lots are VERY limited with payload. They look pretty and all the additional "pretties" also eat up your payload numbers.

I would guess and say that 50% of the people out there that purchase their first truck and camper are over their specs. Maybe not grossly overweight, but......

A little knowledge up-front will make you feel better and will make for a better experience.

[sliptap]

Thank you Jim - really appreciate your quick response!

To clarify, my GVWR and Payload values are from the weight sticker inside of the driver door of the truck. To answer your other questions, the sticker states:

• Payload: 1330 lbs
• 
  GVWR: 6600 lbs
• 
  F GAWR: 3450 lbs
• 
  R GAWR: 3350 lbs

If it helps, I also weighed the truck yesterday at a CAT scale. I filled it full of gas and weighed it with me outside of the truck. Here is the actual truck weight:

• Steer Axle: 3060 lbs
• 
  Drive Axle: 2240 lbs
• 
  Gross: 5300 lbs

So, it looks like my rear axle payload is 3350 - 2240 = 1110 lbs? If my wife and I travel in the front, is most of that weight part of the front axle limit? It's a good thing we aren't chubby because the front axle rating would limit us to roughly 200 lbs each haha.

To answer your last questions, 620 of guests would be me (180 lbs), wife (150 lbs), 2 children at 100 lbs, and a 90 lb dog. Correct on the water - I meant filling the trailer at the camp site, not the truck.

Thanks for walking me through this! I understand that the easiest route is to weight the entire trailer/TV setup. However, I am not sure how to take into account when purchasing a trailer.

[Boomerweps]

Your math is right from the info you have. Actual measured weights are so much better. Use the values from the maker's stickers in driver door frame for max limits.
Loading the truck up as if going camping with people and stuff and getting it CAT (or other) scaled is simplest but you can get the truck weighed empty (if more convenient) and add expected weights from that and be close.
Careful loading and shifting balance in the TT can get your tongue weight where you want it.
I also recommend downloading Ford's Towing Guide for your model year. You can cross reference your truck wheel base, cab type, engine, rear axle ratio, type of factory towing package (if any), and find your factory towing limit.
When I had a lesser tow vehicle, 2008 Ford Explorer V6 with towing package, I cleaned out a lot of excess weight from normally carried stuff from both tow vehicle and trailer to be under my rear gross axle weight rating. Because when CAT Scaled, I was overall within GVWR & GTWR & GCWR, but I was slightly over my TV rear GAWR without the WDH and slightly over my TT GAWR with the WDH!