can somebody explain to me this 15 to 25 percent of loaded trailer weight please i must be dense thanks sal
I think that you are reffering to the tongue weight of the trailer...which should be about 15-25% of the total trailer weight waytogo
tounge weight yes but depending on the weight of the trailer thetre is a big difference between 15and 25 and if you are try to stay with the recommened weights it could make a big difference? thanks
It's generally not that specific. You just want to be somewhere in that range, and try not to exceed the weakest link rating. Most people have varied loads from one run to the next, and as long as things don't change dramatically, nobody breaks out the scales. It's not as critical as getting the load-out right on a light plane. However, though experience, you may decide that you like the ballance a litte more one way or the other, and you can certainly try for that each time. I have marks on my trailer where my truggy gets loaded every time I go out (unless something changes dramatically). Never used a scale, just looked at how it set/ballance and where the truck was each time. If it felt funny, I moved it a bit. Now I know where I like it...
Sal, Most people have no clue. Towing weighs vary. The Dealers say anything to sell a trailer. One told me I could tow a 15,000 5ver with my 2500 Dodge. I could tow it, I just couldn't stop it very fast! So I didn't buy it. Figure for a travel trailer that the tounge weight should be 12-15% of the total LOADED trailer weight. For a 5ver figure the PIN weight should be around 20% of the LOADED 5evr weight. You need to weigh your truck with a full tank of gas (diesel) and what ever you are going to have in it (including significant other). Then go from there for the weights. It's nice (but not required) that you know your weights on the trailer also. IF you have an accident and are over GVWR or GCWR and the CHP does the T/C investigation, you can be in trouble. If someone is hurt, you can be in even more trouble. Take the time, pay the 14 or 15 bucks and weigh the trailer and the truck. Try to stay around those weights. If you can't, get a smaller tariler, a bigger truck or don't drive by me. Ed
towing weight thanks ed you were a big help finally, the trailer dry weight is 10060lbs carrying capacity is 2640lbs total 12700lbs trailer pin weight 2300lb my truck says weight with 5ver hitch 15400lbs and truck max hitch weight 2500lbs 20 % 0f 12700 is 2540, but who runs the roads with full waste tanks and water tanks that where i have a problem what do you think thanks again
Sal, I don't know which truck you have, so....If you have a 3/4 ton you are going to be over for those weights. Sounds like you may be close for a 1 ton SRW. Get to a CAT scale, get real weights, you may be more than fine and try it from there. Also there is no "fudge factor" in the newer trucks like the old ones. Now they squeeze everything they can for the "weight rating" so they can say we pull more. Guesstimates for a 3/4 ton truck. GVW 7,800 (weight of truck & wife/fuel/generator/5er hitch) GVWR 9,900 (So I have 2,100 lbs to play with) GCWR 20,000 (Total it is set by size of brakes and other stuff) UVW 10,200 empty (always an optomistic number, they don't include a fridge/AC/propane/water/fuel/bedding/food) CCC 3,800 (stuff you put in the trailer including water) GVWR 14,000 (Maximum you are supposed to have, I have seen people 2000 lbs over on a Toyhauler) You would be over CGVWR (7,800 + 14,000= 21,800) for that size trailer and/or over GVWR (with a pin weight of 3,500 + 7,800 = more than the GVWR) for a 5ver GVWR - GVW = allowable tounge weight (.12 of the trailer weight if you have a WD hitch or .25 for a 5ver pin) GCWR - GVW = TGVWR (your MAXIMUM trailer size) ** abbreviations G=gross V=vehicle W=weight R=rating A=axle T=trailer U=unloaded CCC=combinded Carry capacity That doesn't even start to cover how much each axle is rated for (GAWR) and each tire has a carrying amount by pressure as well as a load rating (hopefully E). Most of that is easy once you get your truck weighed. here's some info from another site: I was chatting with a fellow online about his 2003 Ford Excursion with diesel engine. He said it has a maximum tow capacity of 11,000#. So he thought he could pull a toy hauler trailer that would end up weighing around 10,000#. He takes the truck to a scale and finds out that it weighs 8,100# with him in it and plans on another 500# of family and stuff in the truck, putting him at a total of 8,600#. The truck's GVWR is 9,200#. That leaves only 600# for tongue weight. When you back into the maximum trailer weight for 600# of tongue weight, the absolute maximum would be 6,000#, which is no where near to his dream trailer. The GCWR of 20,000# and a tow rating of 11,000# was very misleading in this case.
towing weight my truck is a 2001 gmc 2500hd duramax /allison trans,short bed ext cab, as per owners manual max trailer weight 15,400 llbs and hitch weight15-20% of trailer weight max of 2500 lbs 5er im looking at is ,with carrying weight 12,700 lbs, hitch weight is 2300lbs, i dont have a hitch in my bed because i have had a travel trailer for 17 years 30ft gvwr 9600 lbs with reese weight distributing hitch . my problem is i dont want to buy a hitch and find out 1 cant pull a 5ver with this truck im going to put firestone airbags on the rear one way or the other, but i want to be able to take it uphills without problems right now it flys up hills thanks Ed sal p.s i weighed my truck full tank fuel , myself and passenger fiberglass torreau cover all kinds of stuff in bed ,it weighted 7300 lbs i have lod rande e tires carry 80psi rear 55psi frt as per door sticker
Very nice post there Shot. While I've never been heavy enough that it concerned me enough to go into that detail, perhaps I have only been lucky, or rather not unlucky enough to cause a problem. I've been hedging around the limits (estimated weights based on rated/specd weights) but never where I felt there was a problem. No doubt, if your going to be towing heavy, particularly if your going to be towing the same heavy config a lot (like an RV) working all the numbers would certainly be the best. Welcome aboard!
Sal, Wow, I didn't know the 2500 Chevy were that high in numbers. I know I wanted to go with a 36ft front living area 5er. It's just the numbers put me over if it was full. BadDog, Thanks. I usually just use a base line guess and estimates, but when it starts to get close, I re-check every thing. I've only been towing for a few years, but in my line of work I've seen a few too many accidents. Good accident investigators can re-build pretty much what happens and how. If it turns out to be partially your fault (If the PCF or primary collision factor points to you or not) if you are over the limits they go after you anyway. I'd hate for that to happen to anyone. Besides, just the accident is bad enuff. Take care and see you around the board. Ed
