Can I do it?

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 04:20 AM

I am picking up my new v cross tt tomorrow it has a dry weight of 6210 gvwr or 7910 i am towing it with my 2016 ram 1500 5.7 hemi bighorn...my truck has max tow capacity of 8050 i always pack light no water in tanks etc..my payload is 1539

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubysmom

I am picking up my new v cross tt tomorrow it has a dry weight of 6210 gvwr or 7910 i am towing it with my 2016 ram 1500 5.7 hemi bighorn...my truck has max tow capacity of 8050 i always pack light no water in tanks etc..my payload is 1539

Correction payload is 1580 ..gcwr is 13800

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 04:30 AM

Hitch weight is 907

saus · 05-07-2017, 06:57 AM

This is such a common question that more campers need to check before they buy a truck or camper. I would look at the GVWR of your truck posted on the door. Then take the weight of your truck, add the hitch weight plus the stabilizers, etc., add family weight, any cargo weight, and see what this adds up to. If you are still around 20% less than your GVWR of the truck you are safe. Maximum tow capacity isn't all that important. Like I read in a previous thread, your riding lawn mower can pull your trailer down the driveway, but would it be safe going down hill with the family in the truck? Just my opinion and you will probably get a lot others on this. I hope this helps.

oxcamper · 05-07-2017, 07:42 AM

A half ton with your rating should be good to go

saus · 05-07-2017, 08:08 AM

I do not know the exact truck that you have but I looked up the GVWR of a 2016 Ram 1500 Bighorn and it stated that it was 6,945 lbs. It said the truck weighs 5,126 lbs. If you add 1,000 lbs for hitch, stabilizers, etc. and I do not know how big your family is but if you only add 400 lbs for your family and cargo, which is low, that puts you over 6,500 lbs. That is not within 20% of the trucks GVWR. At this point it is up to you but I personally would not do it.

ProCharger · 05-07-2017, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saus

I do not know the exact truck that you have but I looked up the GVWR of a 2016 Ram 1500 Bighorn and it stated that it was 6,945 lbs. It said the truck weighs 5,126 lbs. If you add 1,000 lbs for hitch, stabilizers, etc. and I do not know how big your family is but if you only add 400 lbs for your family and cargo, which is low, that puts you over 6,500 lbs. That is not within 20% of the trucks GVWR. At this point it is up to you but I personally would not do it.

I usually just let these threads go but I still read them.....are you saying he needs to be less than 20% from max GVWR of the truck loaded and ready to go?

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 08:18 AM

I have the quad cab 4x4 and its only 2 of us and our labrador and we carry very little cargo other than clothes blankets and a few outdoor chairs all goes in camper nothing but 2 ppl and a dog in the truck

saus · 05-07-2017, 08:23 AM

20% less than the trucks GVWR would be the best case scenario but we know that this is not always possible. But the closer, the safer. I had to continually run these numbers when we upgraded from our tt to a 5er. a lot of people told me that I could do it with the f-150 that I had and I even saw some doing it. After running all of the numbers, I just couldn't see risking my families safety and we upgraded to an F-250.

saus · 05-07-2017, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubysmom

I have the quad cab 4x4 and its only 2 of us and our labrador and we carry very little cargo other than clothes blankets and a few outdoor chairs all goes in camper nothing but 2 ppl and a dog in the truck

Also remember, the dry weight of your camper is the very bare weight that they give the dealer. You will be adding dishes, blankets, clothes, lawn chairs, etc. This adds weight to the trailer which adds weight to the hitch. Just some more weight issues to consider. Your trailer will never see that dry weight again.

ProCharger · 05-07-2017, 08:37 AM

You can throw that 20% number right out the door. Using the numbers you provided above a GVWR of 6,945 pounds and keeping the weight to 20% less than the trucks GVWR would only allow the truck to be loaded to 5,556 pounds. If that trucks curb weight were 5,126 (which it is most definitely not) that would only allow him 430 pounds of ANYTHING in the truck.

Using the less than 20% GVWR theory I will bet a c-note your 5er is over as well.

Maybe I am not understanding what you mean by within 20% of the GVWR.

I myself would have no problem loading to GVWR, beyond that is up to the individual.

llr · 05-07-2017, 08:41 AM

Try it carefully, with a good hitch setup probably. I have a blue ox sway pro on a F150 and a little heavier than you. I am still debating if I need to upgrade the truck. I did ad LT tires on the rear and it helped some. I still need to get to the scales and probably re-adjust the hitch.
Also where do you go? I wouldn't consider the mountains with either of our setups

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 08:47 AM

Believe me i am going to try it the truck is a beast..cant upgrade right now the ram is my upgrade used to tow hybrid tt with a 06 toyota Tacoma

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 08:48 AM

Unfortunately i do love to go to the mountains guess i need to start loving the flatter land

saus · 05-07-2017, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProCharger

You can throw that 20% number right out the door. Using the numbers you provided above a GVWR of 6,945 pounds and keeping the weight to 20% less than the trucks GVWR would only allow the truck to be loaded to 5,556 pounds. If that trucks curb weight were 5,126 (which it is most definitely not) that would only allow him 430 pounds of ANYTHING in the truck.

Using the less than 20% GVWR theory I will bet a c-note your 5er is over as well.

Maybe I am not understanding what you mean by within 20% of the GVWR.

I myself would have no problem loading to GVWR, beyond that is up to the individual.

personally I am with you. I was just told when I got my 5er that I should try to keep within 20%. Yes I am not completely within that range with my 5er but close. I certainly do not want to say to the OP not to get the tt. Before I got the 5er I pulled our 27 foot tt with an f150 and it did fine. However, when we were on I-95 doing about 60 mph and a truck went by doing 75, we would be pushed quit a bit. My suggestion to the OP is to buy the tt if he feels comfortable and have a great time camping. I am far from an expert and I wish that someone that knows more would chime in and give the OP their expert opinion. So buy the tt and have fun.

rubysmom · 05-07-2017, 09:01 AM

Thank you saus the tt is already bought picking it up tomorrow ..lil nervous about the numbers but we all used to tow more than we should before they came out with standardized testing..helps having confidence in your truck to

saus · 05-07-2017, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubysmom

Thank you saus the tt is already bought picking it up tomorrow ..lil nervous about the numbers but we all used to tow more than we should before they came out with standardized testing..helps having confidence in your truck to

Like I was saying, I did it with our f150 and we had a blast. We have 10 yr old twins and I was just very careful. We also live in Florida so it is very flat. I sure you will love your tt and when the time is right, God willing, you will get your new truck. God bless.

VernDiesel · 05-07-2017, 09:31 AM

Rubysmom, TT GVWR is less than your trucks max tow, you are good to go. Period by the manufacturer. No need to stack up weight guesstimates toward a payload sticker number as many think. There are some caveats though they are that you are not heavily loading your truck bed such as an ATV. 2nd per manufacturer requirement you use a WDH. Set up your WDH with wet TT at a scale first chance you get to redistribute as much weight off the drive axle back to the steer and TT axles. Additionally air bags are a great compliment to the WDH and will improve how she drives & handles the load.

Wet TT below its max GVWR and at minimum empty truck with WDH is designed to not surpass max axle, CVWR, receiver, & GVWR. Naturally load the TV heavily & it's easy to exceed GVWR or worse axle. Key is when you take it to the scale you will actually know where you are at. Last unless in the future you dramatically change what you load its a once & done event and time & $10 well invested toward safety & equipment longevity etc.

BTW fwiw I've driven over 300,000 miles transporting TTs with my RAM 1500 for the manufacturers. Enjoy your TT.

wyo700 · 05-07-2017, 10:03 AM

Get the hitch set up properly and go. Your truck won't have a single issue handling that camper. Have fun and be careful

HeavyPuller · 05-08-2017, 08:45 AM

I went through all the numbers with my TT, 832 IKBS Flagstaff pulling it with 2015 F-150 2.7 liter, turbo. Finally pull the trigger on a F-250 diesel and made my first trip this week. No more tail wagging the dog. What a world of difference. Don't get me wrong I loved that 150 and it's a strong truck. Confidence makes a huge difference. But thinking you'll be okay with your setup. Happy camping..

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