The Weight Police Visit My Campsite

[RubenZ]

Sorry, but I saw a Tundra with lots of Rear Sag and its nose pointed to the North Star just pulling a small 8ft trailer with a Golf Kart on it. No Thanks. What the Engine Can Pull vs what the truck SHOULD pull are totally different.

[RubenZ]

Originally Posted by goduc

I'm sure you think all is fine. But I thought the same When I towed a 7300lb TT with an 10 F150 Maxtow. But in reality I was maxed out on GVW and RAWR. Moved on to a Ram 2500 CTD. Night and day. Even w/o the diesel any 3/4 ton will out perform a 1/2 ton.

I now have a 13 Fox Mountain 235 RLS. According to the door sticker the pin is 1385, dry axle is 5860, UVW is 7185. All loaded up the total is 8500lbs. Well under the Rams 12,500 tow rating. But the clincher is the pin weight. I started out at 1385 and as it sits ready to camp its at 1700lbs. In Oregon there are scales on the hwys here and there. Even when they say 'closed' they are still operational. So for giggles I usually pull in. Only takes a couple mins to get weighed. I don't carry any more than the other guy, usually about 11-1300lbs total. The Rams CCC is 2176lbs and the GVW is 9600. Last time across the scales my trucks weight was around 9400lbs. Close to the GVW. So even though I have a 3/4 ton diesel I am still close on GVW. Way under the RAWR, tow rating and GCVWR. It's a give and take with weights. Just because a truck has a high tow rating doesn't mean it can tow it.

Your dry brochure pin is 1046lbs. That goes directly on the trucks GVW and RAWR. Now add another 150lbs for your hitch and your near 1200lbs. According to the Ram site a 1500 Laramie 5.7 only has 1301lbs of payload. You're already near your max payload and you haven't put anything if the front cargo area or in the bedroom yet. Add you and whoever and whatever that goes in the truck and I'm guessing (like you are) that your over the trucks GVW by 4-500lbs and also over the RAWR by 3-500lbs. Your tow rating is 8450 with 3.55's and 9950 with 3.92's. You under your tow rating with either gear choice. So that's good which means the only thing your under is the GCVWR. You don't need a diesel to tow that but IMO a 3/4 is the better choice. If you're happy with the performance then more power to you. You are probably stuck with the 1500 for awhile, but I would look at getting into getting a 3/4 ton if it were me.

People also overlook the Transmissions and TransferCase(if its4x4) and engine and transmission oil coolers etc. Not only that, but just the entire frame setup is bigger on 3/4tons. Theres a reason why a 3/4-1ton truck has big axles as well.

[OldCoot]

It's amazing how people want to spend other folk's money on a new, bigger truck just so they can be loaded less than a lawyer's sticker and not be at the limit. Mind boggling.

As stated before, what is acceptable to one might be totally unacceptable to someone else. Just like politicians argue all the time. That's what makes this such an interesting world. Everyone is different and has an opinion.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

To reply to OP's original question...no, this has never happened to me because I've always used a 3/4 ton gasser for our TT's & diesel for our 5'ver.

At the end of the day, you have to feel comfortable with how you choose to tow BUT regardless of what I do, I always recommend someone to do the math on your setup vs going with what you see other people hauling on the road.

Happy Camping...no matter how you get there!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

To reply to OP's original question...no, this has never happened to me because I've always used a 3/4 ton gasser for our TT's & diesel for our 5'ver.

At the end of the day, you have to feel comfortable with how you choose to tow BUT regardless of what I do, I always recommend someone to do the math on your setup vs going with what you see other people hauling on the road.

Happy Camping...no matter how you get there!

Amen Ragin Cajun to each his own.

[goduc]

I guess when you bring up the term 'weight police' you're just setting yourself up for advice

Some people are just more informed that others.

[force]

Anyone interested in a group buy for some badges that say "FR Weight Police"?

[goduc]

LOL that's good. At least he didn't post over on RV.net

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by force

Anyone interested in a group buy for some badges that say "FR Weight Police"?

Can u violate policy and still be a member?

[force]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Can u violate policy and still be a member?

I'd say that's mandatory lol

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by force

I'd say that's mandatory lol

I'm in!

[another_newfie]

Oh my this one did blow up quickly didn't it... Kind of expected whenever the oil burner owners show up (kidding, kidding)...

FWIW, my 2012 F-150 is 100% stock. My truck was a order, because they are about as rare as hens teeth on the lot. It is a Max Tow / HW payload combo. Numbers wise, it is as high for towing as the F-150 can get. I have not added one single thing to it beyond the hitch (16K Reese manual slider). No revolution pinbox etc either. Just OEM from Prime Time.

I KNOW my weights. In fact I scaled my rig on the very first time out and I've done so a few times since. I am right on my numbers. Not over on any single rating. Not an easy task with a F-150 and a 5'r, but it can be done. Then again I don't carry a rock collection with me.

I am going to add Supersprings, just because. Not necessarily because I 'need' them but because I want them. I am just slightly nose high and I want to account for that.

Having come from an over 7K TT, and my 08 F-150 which I was WAY over on my RAWR (as much as 1000 lb) I can attest to the fact that if you are not careful you can blow your ratings all to h__l.. Now I hauled that TT/F-150 combo all over gods half acre, including to Florida and back and all over Ontario in wintery conditions (we winter camp) and never had a single issue, nor did I ever feel unsafe. However, it was overweight, period.

For me thus far, the conversation piece really has become the Ecoboost and that seems to be universal. Half tonnes and 5'rs are somewhat common around these parts.

[force]

Joking aside, I had an F150 Super Crew, and while I'm generally the kind of guy that will "stretch the limits" on most things, I was surprised as all heck to find I was 200lbs over my RGAWR with my 23SS. And that was w/ hardly anything in the bed (I did have a cap on, which I'd guess at 200lbs)

I'd have never known w/o a visit to the scale. It ended up being one of the contributing factors to my replacing it with a 3/4 ton.

[dcheatwood]

You did the safe and appropriate thing.

[prof_fate]

Originally Posted by CZNEDY

Take a look at the flagstaff 8528rkws, the pin weight is a little over 1,000 lbs. There is a similar model by rockwood too.

Confused... 2013 Forest River Flagstaff 8528RKWS | Al's Trailermart

7300 lbs...dry weight. Listed pin as 970lbs.
A fifth wheel from all I've read should have about 20% on the pin...

7300 dry is 8300 or more loaded to go...20% is over 1600lbs. My 1/2 ton silverado only has a 1550 lb payload (based on 7000gvwr and cat scale of the empty truck).

Figures can lie and liars can figure, I figure some one or the other is going on here.

So, go figure - http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-fw.shtml
and see the lies

[sideout1961]

I'd really like to know what some people are taking with them camping. 1000 to 1500 lbs of cargo is a lot at least to me. I have nothing in my bed and in the camper clothes, food, dishes and some folding chairs and a road trip grill. All though I have seen some guy pull up and unload have their home at the site. So I suppose if you really want to you can stay under weight just depends on what you like to bring with you. I'm more of a bare bones type camper.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by sideout1961

I'd really like to know what some people are taking with them camping. 1000 to 1500 lbs of cargo is a lot at least to me. I have nothing in my bed and in the camper clothes, food, dishes and some folding chairs and a road trip grill. All though I have seen some guy pull up and unload have their home at the site. So I suppose if you really want to you can stay under weight just depends on what you like to bring with you. I'm more of a bare bones type camper.

1000lbs is average user added items.

[sideout1961]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

1000lbs is average user added items.

Well if that's average I'm good

[prof_fate]

I don't think we have a lot and if FR's little yellow sticker on the door is right we're about 900 lbs of 'stuff'.
If you run w/ water or gray/black you can can add another 500lbs.

We dont' take firewood , No genset, plastic dishes, alum pots, no grille.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

1000lbs is average user added items.

I think 1,000 is a little high except for guys like Herk who carries his shop and half his house with him.

We carry a minimum of food, maybe 8-10 gal of fresh water & 3-4 gal in the black tank. Nothing in the bed of the truck except 20 lego blocks, pvc laundry rack and center of tonneau cover. From actual wt, 110# of tools, lube, air compressor, etc in front storage area of trailer. 4 rocking chairs, flagpole & RVQ grill.

Trip to Goshen will be heavier due to 2 cases of adult beverages we normally don't carry, but those are in the pantry at the rear end of the trailer.

We don't have a generator, carry no extra fuel, etc. Truck has 300# cargo which includes wife, dog and myself and a qt. of coffee and a few snacks.