Help checking weights

[Stormrider151]

I finally got the opportunity to get my rig weighed. Which is great except it all is Greek to me. The best I can figure is I'm just over on my rear axle and at tad light on the front axle. The trailer is way below it's 8200 Lb max weight so I don't see any problem there. My tongue weight is a little low at 620 lbs on my sherline scale. I only made two passes at the scale and learned that lunch time is NOT the best time to move around a truck stop.
My truck is a 2012 F150 with max tow useing a Reese dual cam hitch. For those of you Guru's out there the documentation is be low. Thanks for the help
The trailer is a 2016 EverLite 232 RBS.

[tbln930]

I talked to Ford towing and used the towing calculator when I bought my current TT and TV. My TT is about 9110# loaded and I have a F150 2014 Eco Max tow. I am nearly at a 20% safety factor on all numbers except payload. It pulls very well. I would need a TV upgrade if I went to a 5er of nearly any size because of the rear axle and payload load factor and heavy tongue weight.

My max payload is just under 1700 lbs sticker and my tongue weight is 890 (the 312 has two slides in the very rear that must lower the tongue weight a bit). That is only about 750 lbs max for passengers and gear. My wife and I weigh 300lbs so about 450 for gear in the back including a 100 lb lid. When we load it up we can get within 100 lbs of that limit. Ford has repeatedly told me that is no problem at all. They have a significant safety margin built in on the newer trucks but stay very near or below the limit. Obviously it must be the max tow config and HD adds about 500 lbs to the limit. Probably still not enough for much of a fifth wheel but plenty for a large TT.

Travel Trailer Weight Calculator

[GreenImp]

Originally Posted by Stormrider151

The best I can figure is I'm just over on my rear axle and at tad light on the front axle.

Originally Posted by Stormrider151

My tongue weight is a little low at 620 lbs on my sherline scale.

Your ideas/assumptions are correct.


Just FYI....Note that with the trailer unhooked you were over on your front axle by 110lbs which is more than the amount you were over on the rear axle when hooked up.


Are you looking for advice/suggestions on how to proceed or were you simply looking for clarification on the numbers?

[tbln930]

Your truck unhooked weighs 7100 lbs? What are you carrying?

[Stormrider151]

Originally Posted by GreenImp

Your ideas/assumptions are correct.


Just FYI....Note that with the trailer unhooked you were over on your front axle by 110lbs which is more than the amount you were over on the rear axle when hooked up.


Are you looking for advice/suggestions on how to proceed or were you simply looking for clarification on the numbers?

Just clarification that I'm reading this correctly. The rig sits level and handles great. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't grossly off anywhere especially the rear axle.

[Stormrider151]

Originally Posted by tbln930

Your truck unhooked weighs 7100 lbs? What are you carrying?

We were loaded for camping. I put stuff in it I don't normally carry on a regular basis so the weights would still apply in case I did want to bring those things along. The truck is an FX4 but is optioned to that of a Lariat.

[tbln930]

That is pretty maxed in the TV axle weight wise. The WDH distribution looks good. I have not had mine (TV) loaded like that yet but my TT is a good bit heavier. ;-) I feel more comfortable with my TT and significant load towing after working with Ford towing folks and the dealer tow expert together when we upgraded to the 312. Both were concurrent in the recommendations and made me feel good about loading the payload/axle weights to max. We have about 3000 miles on our rig now with much of it in the Ozarks this year. I am really pleased the way it tows and my wife often drives.

What gain do you run on the trailer brake?

[Stormrider151]

It depends on the weather. Dry pavement 7.0. If it's raining I back it down to 6.0 to 6.5. Sliding tires don't do any good for stopping. I saw a utility trailer push a 1 ton through an intersection and it's tires were locked on wet pavement.

[tbln930]

Yikes.

btw- when I weighed just my truck back six months ago camping loaded it is was 6343# w/o adding the tongue weight onto it. Wife and I in it.

[ependydad]

I plugged your numbers into my Towing Planner/Actual Weights tool. Generally, with a travel trailer, you want to get 3 weights to get a true feel of tongue weight.

Here's how your numbers shake out:


Looks like you're close to maxed out on the front axle.

Looks like you're 60 lbs. over the rear axle ratings.

Looks like you're 170 lbs. over the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the truck itself.

I don't see what your gross combined weight rating (GCWR) is to know where you stand.

So basically, you're maxed out and over ratings but not by much.

[Stormrider151]

Thanks for doing that. That really gives me a good idea as to where I stand. I forgot the GCWR which is 17100 lbs according to the owners manual. Getting under the overage on the rear axle is an easy fix. I just need to move a few things to the trailer and that should get me there. I appreciate everyone's input. Now I know there won't be any bigger trailers in my future. We really like this one and as soon as I finish rebuilding it, it really will be nice.

[thebrakeman]

This is very confusing. The goal of a WDH is to return all lost weight to the front axle. That is, your front axle with WDH engaged, should be at or near the front axle with no trailer attached. From that perspective, you need to transfer another 160 lbs (3860-3700). This would also reduce your rear axle weight into, or at least closer to spec.

But getting the front to 3860 would put you over the front GAWR by 110 lbs (3860-3750). Why are you so far over your front GAWR without the trailer? You either have very heavy front passengers, or you are putting something extremely heavy at the front of the bed.

Perhaps you need to get the truck weight without the trailer, and without any cargo or passengers. That is the condition you should be comparing to. Usually, front weight is not affected so much by a little cargo, but you're seems to be the exception.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by thebrakeman

This is very confusing. The goal of a WDH is to return all lost weight to the front axle. That is, your front axle with WDH engaged, should be at or near the front axle with no trailer attached. From that perspective, you need to transfer another 160 lbs (3860-3700). This would also reduce your rear axle weight into, or at least closer to spec.

But getting the front to 3860 would put you over the front GAWR by 110 lbs (3860-3750). Why are you so far over your front GAWR without the trailer? You either have very heavy front passengers, or you are putting something extremely heavy at the front of the bed.

Perhaps you need to get the truck weight without the trailer, and without any cargo or passengers. That is the condition you should be comparing to. Usually, front weight is not affected so much by a little cargo, but you're seems to be the exception.

Yeah, something isn't right. His sticker shows a payload of like 1,700 lbs, but his "empty" weight is within 550 lbs of GVWR.

Wonder if the scales are jacked up. Is there a minimum weight?


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[tbln930]

That is what I pointed out early on. Something is way too heavy with the truck alone weight in the front. Maybe the scale is off? I hug the payload with my truck, gear, passengers, and tongue weight but nothing close to that. I have nearly the same payload.

[Stormrider151]

I don't know if this helps or not but here is the truck.

[Stormrider151]

The grill guard is contributing some. But it is not heavy. Maybe 50 or 60 lbs and that may be stretching it. DW and I are not skinny but not grossly over weight. I do carry a tool bag, fire extinguisher, a small air pump and my camping tools at the front of the bed. I would not think this would create a severely over loaded front end. But maybe it does. I don't think the scales are off. CAT is pretty meticulous about their scales at least that's my understanding. I don't know. That's why I posted the question to you guy's.

[325BH]

I would get the truck weighed again... without any tools or passengers at a different scale. Gotta figure this out before trying to figure the trailer.


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