TV questions for new trailer

[WestTexas]

I have a new Solaire 307QBDSK with a dry hitch weight of 835, total dry weight of 5960, and a GVWR of 8835. These weights do not reflect the eclipse package which adds 250#.

My first TV is a 2004 Silverado C2500HD (6.0L). It shows a max trailer weight of 10,000# and max tongue weight of 1,500#. The Chevy pickup is what I plan to use almost all of the time with the exception of when I carry along any of my kid's friends when we need more seating.

My 2nd TV is a Ford expedition EL(5.4L). My owners manual shows a max trailer weight of 8,950# and a max tongue weight of 910#.

My questions are:
1) can I safely tow with the expedition?
2) if I can tow with the expedition, would it be a good idea to add a hitch like the Hensley or Propride. I'm concerned about adding to the tongue weight which seems to me to be my limiting factor.

If we don't pull with the expedition we can take 2 cars. Not ideal but if it's safer I'm willing to do that.

Other details: we don't carry any water but we do have the trailer packed pretty full. We bring bikes, etc in the truck too.

Sorry for the long post. I appreciate any feedback I can get.

[grhodes50]

You would be cutting it close. You are correct about the tongue weight being your limiting factor. The Expidtion's 910 lb rating does not include the weight of the people and gear you will be loading. All of that will subtract from the rating other than a 150 lb driver.
The hitches you mentioned are excellent, but they will not increase the rating.

[WestTexas]

Thanks. I really appreciate it.

If tongue weight is my issue then would I be making it worse by going with one of those hitches?

The reason I ask is that I would get one of those hitches only if I decide to never tow with the expedition.

[grhodes50]

I'm not sure, but I bet they weigh more than say an Equalizer or Reece Dual Cam brand.....and yes the added weight would take away from the tongue weight rating.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by grhodes50

You would be cutting it close. You are correct about the tongue weight being your limiting factor. The Expidtion's 910 lb rating does not include the weight of the people and gear you will be loading. All of that will subtract from the rating other than a 150 lb driver. The hitches you mentioned are excellent, but they will not increase the rating.

Actually, from what I read of my owners manual, only the tow rating includes a 150 pound driver. The cargo carrying capacity doesn't include such a provision. The 910 pounds of carrying capacity would be reduced by the entire driver's weight.

[grhodes50]

It probably does vary from one manufacturer to another, but most that I know of the GVWR includes 1/4 tank of gas and a 150 lb driver in a striped down model. The weight of all vehicle options plus added cargo and people (including more than a 150 lb driver) is subtracted.
The only way to know for sure the acurate ratings of your personal vehicle is to weigh it....unloaded....loaded for camping...hitched up and unhitched.

[WestTexas]

Good info.

You're probably right that I should visit the scales. I've never done that but sure makes sense.

[tanddc]

A couple of issues here with the information given:

1) Driver weight does not have anything to do with tongue weight. Tongue weight is tongue weight. Driver weight does come off of tow ratings for trucks however most (if not all) Ford SUV's do not make that distinction.

2) GCWR is just that. There is no 150 lbs factor involved. It is what you weight on the scales. I think you are confusing it with curb weight.

OP I think you need to find your cargo rating on your Expy and then load her up. That is going to be your limiting factor (provided you stay within your TT's GVWR

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by WestTexas

Good info.

You're probably right that I should visit the scales. I've never done that but sure makes sense.

Getting weighed is more scary than it is hard. For a travel trailer, you should get 3 weights:
1) Truck and trailer w/ WDH "engaged"
2) Truck and trailer w/ WDH "not activated" (i.e. just ball on hitch)
3) Truck only

From there, you can start to crunch the numbers of how much actual tongue weight that you have. You can then start to plan for how much payload you need for towing with either tow vehicle.

See if this helps:
How To Weigh a Travel Trailer

[WestTexas]

Thanks again.

[dsrace]

just with the info provided your really cutting it close to the limits, it's up to you but i wouldn't with the expedition. if you decide your with in the limit i would definately use a hensly or pro pride hitch!! if that 5.4 ltre is older than '08 you might want to check the forums for spark plug , exhaust manifold, coil issues.

[dsrace]

there is even a used ProPride 3g hitch for sale in the classified section on this forum

[bitNine]

I'd say the moment you have to start adding or subtracting the weight of individual adults to be within limits, the tow vehicle isn't sufficient. The tow vehicle should be able to pull all your weight when fully loaded, and still have some weight capacity to spare.

[WestTexas]

I'm looking at a 2008 toyota tundra crewmax on Craigslist. It mentions having the towing package with 10,400# towing capacity but I'm not sure about the max tongue weight. I've asked the seller for the spec but haven't heard back yet.

Anyone know how I could look that up? Does someone have that handy?

It's fairly important since my trailer has a high tongue weight.

[Ford Idaho]

https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&t...owing+capacity

[campingwilliamsons]

With the Toyota, your problem will be both tongue weight and Payload. The 2008 Tundra Crewmax I used to drive had a ~1400 lbs payload and 1000lb hitch capacity. I am guessing your trailer loaded and ready for the road will be close to the 1000lbs if not over. Add the weight of the WDH hitch head and you are closer to 1050 or 1100. Now subtract that from the payload, along with anything you have in the truck, the people (everyone, even the driver) and you can see where you will be.

I loved my Tundra CrewMax, the back seat was huge; the kids and my hunting buddies loved it. When we were towing our trailer (we were about 850lbs TW loaded) with the truck cap (250lbs) our gear and people (~600lbs) and we were always over the payload. The truck handled it fine, but I was always concerned about it. Plus, the 5.7L made all the power and torque at 4000+ rpm, so it was always wanting to down shift and keep the rpms up. Despite being designed to do it, I was never all that happy with 3rd/4th gear, 4200 rpm whenever we hit any hill and tried to maintain 60mph.

[WestTexas]

Thanks. Does your hitch capacity change if you have a class 5 hitch?

This one has a class 5.

[campingwilliamsons]

Not on the Tundra. All of the 2008 Tundras with the tow package came with a Class IV, but the design uses a class V hitch pin. If it really is a Class V, it will be aftermarket and have a 2.5" receiver. Either way, the suspension and the rear axle rating limits the tongue weight, not the hitch rating.

[WestTexas]

Thanks. Just traded emails with the seller and he said the same thing. Limit will be total payload on rear axle. He's going to check the specs for sure. He just installed new shocks too.

If we have 815# starting tongue weight and add kids, hitch, and payload we will end up pretty close to the 1,300 # (which we will verify) but it seems doable. I'm more comfortable with that than the expedition.

I'll still pull it with the Chevy 2500hd most of the tome( will "borrow" from my teenage son).

This all will free my wife to buy a people mover, meaning suburban etc, without worrying about pulling the trailer with it.

[campingwilliamsons]

It will be better than the Exp for sure.