So Confused

[scool191]

I am so confused by all of this.

I am looking to buy a new travel trailer. I drive a 2011 Ford F150 Supercrew V6 3.73. Per Ford the max tow weight is 5700 pounds.

The trailers I'm looking at have a unloaded weight of 4500 pounds. They very in Grvw from 5800-6800.

So can I get these trailers based on UVW? Or should I look at GRVW.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by scool191

I am so confused by all of this.

I am looking to buy a new travel trailer. I drive a 2011 Ford F150 Supercrew V6 3.73. Per Ford the max tow weight is 5700 pounds.

The trailers I'm looking at have a unloaded weight of 4500 pounds. They very in Grvw from 5800-6800.

So can I get these trailers based on UVW? Or should I look at GRVW.

when you say "unloaded weight", are you talking about the yellow sticker weight on the trailer or the bogus brochure/website "dry" weight?

generally, it's a good idea to look at the GVWR, UNLESS the trailer has a huge CCC number.

with only 5700lbs. towing capacity, must not be an Ecoboost v-6.

[scool191]

The websites weight.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by scool191

The websites weight.

that's a bogus number. doesn't include weights of so-called "options" that nearly all trailers have. like: oven, awning, microwave, spare tire, a/c and so on.

NOR does it include the weights of battery, propane, water and cargo.

NO trailer weighs its website weight when it leaves the factory. those website numbers are for a stripped-down version.

look at the trailer's actual yellow sticker weight(older trailers had a white weight sticker).
that's what the trailer weighed when it left the factory, including options. it also should include the weight of propane, since it's a given number.

[scool191]

But what number should I be looking for. I've heard take the dry weight add a thousand is that true?

[davel1971]

yep, adding 1000 to the yellow sticker empty weight will be a close guestimate to your actual towing weight. Don't forget to figure all the people and gear in your truck into the payload.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by davel1971

yep, adding 1000 to the yellow sticker empty weight will be a close guestimate to your actual towing weight. Don't forget to figure all the people and gear in your truck into the payload.

And add for ccc
Hitch weight
Anything installed in truck bed
Any water carried in tanks
Water heater full weight


TURBS

Sabre owners united!

[bikendan]

yellow sticker weight that i mentioned, is a good place to start.
you can start adding weight numbers onto that, like 35lbs. for battery and calculating how much water you want to carry and add those numbers.
then you can figure how much cargo you think you would be taking.
many newbies under-estimate how much cargo they actually end up taking.

but you haven't mentioned more specs on your Ford. which v-6 is it?
bed length, 4x4 or 4x2? i'm assuming factory tow package since it has the 3.73 rear end ratio.

[SKnight]

The yellow sticker is supposed to be the actual weight of that exact unit. Mine for example is 100lbs under the brochure weight.

But generally they're pretty close.

On average you're going to add 1,000lbs to that. Stuff, battery(ies) all add up. I'm at 750 pounds over sticker according to the CAT scales.

So you'll be flirting with the max number, but if you stick to a 4500ish trailer you'll likely be fine.

[prof_fate]

You need to consider a few other things.
Tow ratings are based on GCWR (trailer and truck) loaded less weight of empty truck (no cargo, 150lb driver, 1/2 tank of gas).

So if your truck has a GVWR of 7000 lbs and weights 5400lbs you can carry 1600lbs in the truck (people, pets, hitch, toungue weight, cargo).
Since you want ~10% of the loaded trailer weight on the tongue you'll have about 1100 lbs (or less) for you, wife, kids, dog, cargo...it can go fast.

Now if you can tow 4500 you prolly have a GCWR of 10,200 or there abouts. This assumes 150lb in the truck...me, wife, 2 kids, dog are over 600lbs and the kids keep growing...YMMV of course but that 'extra' 450lbs reduces the towing weight 450lbs.

And certain truck options can reduce it too (read your owners manual, check your options, get your truck weighed)

So that 5700 drops to 5200, allow 1200lbs of cargo/hitch/propane, etc and you should be looking at a trailer with a yellow weight of ~4000.

Been there done that...and others will tell you the truck can handle more. I'm sure it can...BUT...you can kick a soccer ball,right? OK, do that with a 100lb person riding on your shoulders and it's no fun at all trying to kick that ball and not fall down.

Towing over your trucks limits is gonna be like that - no fun, uncomfortable, hard on the truck and on your nerves.

Originally Posted by scool191

I am so confused by all of this.

I am looking to buy a new travel trailer. I drive a 2011 Ford F150 Supercrew V6 3.73. Per Ford the max tow weight is 5700 pounds.

The trailers I'm looking at have a unloaded weight of 4500 pounds. They very in Grvw from 5800-6800.

So can I get these trailers based on UVW? Or should I look at GRVW.

[BamaBob]

Scool191 - here is the official Ford towing guid link. So many factors go into what your GRVW is:

Ford Towing Guides | The Official Site of Ford Vehicles | Ford.com

[bikendan]

just saw that 2011 just had the normal non-Ecoboost 3.7 v-6, so no wonder your towing capacity is only 5700lbs.