I am a RVing newbie and would appreciate some towing advice. We recently purchased a 2010 Surveyor SV251 that we have just towed for the first time on a 500 miles R/T shake down cruise. The route was mostly flat, and I was able to tow with no obvious problems. However, after reading some threads about insufficient tow vehicles, I am concerned that there may be something I'm not aware of. I am towing the SV251 with a 2009 Ford F150 Lariat with a 5.4 liter V8 with towing package (not the max towing pkg.). I am using an EZ Lift WD hitch. I have tried to use one of those online calculators to figure out whether I have enough truck to haul the SV251 but each time the result tells me that I am overloading my tow vehicle. I hope that is due to my not using the calculator correctly. So this past week I took my rig to a commercial CAT scale and weighed it. The scales showed that my truck, loaded for camping (half tank of fuel at the time of weighing), weighs 6840 lbs. and the SV251 with groceries, clothes, dishes, etc. on board and with empty water tanks weighs 4240 lbs. That comes to a combined weight of 11080 lbs. So my question is whether my Lariat is up to the job. I would appreciate your feedback and/or suggestions.
I think you should have no problem with your trailer. Its fairly light and I'd think that truck's GCWR would be well over 11,000, but you're doing the right thing in checking.
To start, what does the truck's door sticker say is the max tow cap and max payload and what's the manual say for the GCWR for your F-150?
Triguy - My truck's GCWR is 14,900, but I seem to read everywhere that Ford and most other truck manufacturers are greatly exaggerating their numbers. The Lariat sticker says the maximum trailer tow capacity is 9500 lbs. However, I don't know where to find the maximum payload. The Lariat's GVWR is 7100 lbs. Is that the same as the maximum payload?
You find your payload by weighing your truck before you're loaded for camping and subtracting that from the 7100 GVWR. That would tell how much you can load in the truck which includes people, gear, full tank of gas and hitch. Then what's left over will give you your truck's available tongue weight capacity.
You mentioned your truck's weight as 6840. Was that loaded, ready to camp and with the trailer hooked up? If so then you would be 260 lbs under your trucks GVWR.
Triguy - My truck's GCWR is 14,900, but I seem to read everywhere that Ford and most other truck manufacturers are greatly exaggerating their numbers. The Lariat sticker says the maximum trailer tow capacity is 9500 lbs. However, I don't know where to find the maximum payload. The Lariat's GVWR is 7100 lbs. Is that the same as the maximum payload?
You are referring to the new standards. As an example, my TV is a 2008 Toyota Sequoia 4WD 5.7L. The sticker and manual that came with the car says my towing cap is 9250, but the new standard called SAE J2807 brings that to a more reasonable 7300lbs. The plan is for manufacturers to begin adhering to the standard testing process by 2013.
Your listed 9500lbs may or may not change.
So, here are the TV specs according to Edmunds:
Curb weight 5314
GVWR 7100
GCWR 14900
Towing Cap 9500
Cargo Cap 1760
Here are your loaded trailer's specs:
loaded weight 4240
Tongue weight at 15% 636
The loaded weight of the trailer is under the TV's GVWR and is good.
The tongue weight at a max of 15% of loaded trailer weight is also good and leaves you with 1124lbs for people and cargo in the truck. You might not have a tongue weight as high as 15% (10-15% is the range you want to shoot for with closer to 15% usually providing a better towing experience).
You can see that you have plenty of room in your GCW, as well (14900-5314-4240-1760=3586 remaining even assuming you fully loaded up that truck's payload).
You could go further and check the weights for both TV axles but I don't think its necessary. You are good to go my friend.
Oops! I forgot to mention that my Lariat is a Supercrew with the 5.5 ft. bed, 20 inch wheels, and 3.55 gearing. The formula "mtnguy" suggested I consult shows my truck having a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 7100 lbs., Gross Curb Weight Rating of 14,900 lbs., and Maximum Conventional Hitch Trailer Tow Capacity of 9500 lbs. As mentioned in my original inquiry, the scales show my truck (loaded for camping) with trailer attached (also loaded for camping but with empty water tanks) weighing 6840 lbs. My trailer alone weighed 4240 lbs. The combined weight of the entire rig is 11080 lbs.
Triguy - Thanks again. You guys know your stuff, and I appreciate all the help. Incidentially, I think the SV 251 may well have been discontinued. That seems s shame because we really like it. Though it doesn't have a slide which, I assume, saves some weight, yet it is still quite spacious, especially since only two of us occupy it on our trips. We particularly like the fact that the SV251 has doors on either side of the centrally located bathroom. The doors allow my night owl wife to stay up watching TV with the lights on while the old man saws log in a nice dark, closed off bedroom with a full queen size bed. Makes for improved marital bliss.
Oops! I forgot to mention that my Lariat is a Supercrew with the 5.5 ft. bed, 20 inch wheels, and 3.55 gearing. The formula "mtnguy" suggested I consult shows my truck having a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 7100 lbs., Gross Curb Weight Rating of 14,900 lbs., and Maximum Conventional Hitch Trailer Tow Capacity of 9500 lbs. As mentioned in my original inquiry, the scales show my truck (loaded for camping) with trailer attached (also loaded for camping but with empty water tanks) weighing 6840 lbs. My trailer alone weighed 4240 lbs. The combined weight of the entire rig is 11080 lbs.
1st of all, I like that layout !!! I would have seriously considered that if it would have been available when I bought mine. Must have only been made for a year or 2.
My SV 263 has been discontinued, also.
I don't think the statement "my trailer alone weighs 4240 lbs." is quite accurate. If you didn't unhook at the scales, then that is the weight on the axles. The true weight would also include the hitch weight that is supported by the truck, which is the reason you truck seems so heavy.
Regardless, you have done your homework and it seems you are well within the stats of your truck. Now, put some road under your tires.
Happy Camping
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
And my education continues (thankfully). Mtnguy - you have solved another mystery for me. You're right, I didn't unhitch when I was on the scales. I had wondered why my truck weighed so much and my TT so little. Regardless, I am delighted that I appear to be well within my truck's capabilities and do intend to put some road under my tires as you suggest.
You are probably close the RAWR (the rear axle weight rating). Probably nothing to be concerned with, but worth checking since you already have all the data. You will find the rating for your truck on the yellow door sticker drivers side and compare to your rear axle weight on yout CAT ticket.
Your truck should handle this trailer with NO problems.
You are probably close the RAWR (the rear axle weight rating). Probably nothing to be concerned with, but worth checking since you already have all the data. You will find the rating for your truck on the yellow door sticker drivers side and compare to your rear axle weight on yout CAT ticket.
Your truck should handle this trailer with NO problems.
If the WDH is setup correctly, then the RAWR should not be a problem. If I don't use a WDH on my truck (F150), then the rear axle is right at the maximum (3850 lbs.). With the WDH used, I am almost 500 lbs. under the maximum.
__________________
Chap , DW Joy, and Fur Baby Sango
2017 F350 Lariat CCSB, SRW, 4x4, 6.7 PS
2017 Grand Design Reflection 337RLS
I think my WD hitch is set up correctly. I did the before and after hitch up measurements at the wheel wells, and I am (according to EZ Lift instructions) within the recommended specs. The rear axle rating for my Lariat is 4000 lbs., so based on what you guys have said thus far, I assume I am okay.
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