New tow vehicle, new WDH set-up

[jrminiquad]

Hi there - recently purchased a new truck to haul our Cherokee 27RR. We have been pulling it with a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.7 Hemi. Although it was was over on payload, it did a fairly decent job of towing, except for the time we drove it from NE Ohio to the Carolinas, where it struggled on 77 through the mountains.

I weighed our fully loaded trailer and it looks like I need to transfer a bit more weight to the truck. I am still fairly new at setting this up and was hoping I can run it past anyone who will take a look at it. Spec's are:

2017 Ford F150 Lariat with 3.5 EB, 3.55 axle, 4X4
Payload is 1,670, GCWR is 16,900, towing capacity is 11,500#
Using a Husky Centerline hitch good up to 1,200# tongue weight

First weigh-in with WDH:
steer axle, 3380 Rear axle, 3340, trailer axle 7740.

2nd weigh-in with WDH arms off:
steer axle, 3060 Rear axle, 3840 trailer axle, 7580

truck only weights:
steer axle, 3440 Rear axle, 2480

Calculator results:

GCW: 14,460
Truck weight w/ WDH: 6,720
Truck weight w/o WDH: 6,900
Truck weight: 5,920
Camper weight: 8,560
Tongue weight: 980
Tongue weight %: 11.4%
Individual axle weights: 3,870
Tire weights: 1,935

27RR GCWR: 7,934

I am using the same WDH settings as when it was on my Dodge. I believe if I raise the brackets on the trailer tongue a bit it will take more weight off of trailer and put it on truck. I originally had it raised by one hole, but really had to jack the trailer tongue to get the bars on and off.

Sorry for the length of the post, what are your thoughts?

[lbrjet]

Your truck weights look good to me. Are you saying your trailer is overloaded?

[clarkbre]

I would honestly leave it and see how it runs. The stock vs WDH front axle weight is so close that even moving the perches up one hole may not make a ton of difference. Looking at the floorplan, I would try to travel with the tanks as empty as possible as they are likely at or in front of the axles. No matter what, a full tank will add noticeable weight.

[jrminiquad]

The only thing that bothered me was the calculator results had the trailer weight at 8560 and my sticker on trailer for GVWR is 7934.

I did put two spare tires in the back of the toy hauler that I could move to the bed of the truck.

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by jrminiquad

The only thing that bothered me was the calculator results had the trailer weight at 8560 and my sticker on trailer for GVWR is 7934.

I did put two spare tires in the back of the toy hauler that I could move to the bed of the truck.

the tires would solve about 180 of the overage weight.

Did you have water in the FW tank? If so, you could drop some of that to lower weight to get closer to the 7936.

If you have 40 gallons of FW that would drop 320 lbs that would leave you another 126 lbs to move from the trailer to the truck bed.

[jrminiquad]

Only had a few gallons in the FW tank to get by until we got to our race.

I am going to put the two spares and a 2-1/2 ton floor jack and move them to truck bed and basement. We re weigh on way home.

[jrminiquad]

I put the two spare tires in the bed of the truck, and placed the floor jack in the basement at the front of the trailer. It added 175 LBS. to the tongue weight, which is right about what I guessed all three would weigh.

When I went back through the scale, it actually increased my trailer weight by 185 LBS. It towed fine either way. Will probably go back to keeping the spares and jack in the garage area behind the axles.

I guess my main question is, should I read my trailer axle weight from the scale as my actual trailer weight, or the calculator results for trailer weight when comparing to the trailer's GCWR?

[thebrakeman]

Trailer weight equals axle weight(s) plus TW, when NOT hooked up to the tow vehicle.
The Trailer GVWR is the maximum weight of the trailer, standing by itself, with the tow vehicle supporting none of that weight. If you want to calculate that TW, because you aren't able or willing to measure TW directly, just be sure you understand the math.


Any calculations for TW should be taken from truck and trailer scale readings WITHOUT WDH bars engaged.

[jrminiquad]

Thanks for the reply. I did make my three passes: w/ WDH, w/o WDH, and truck only.

My trailer weight w/o WDH was 7,580#, compared to 7,740# with it engaged.

So 7,580# plus the calculated tongue weight of 980# is the calculated trailer weight of 8,560. That is the number I should be comparing to the sticker GVWR.

Guess I better look at tossing a few things out.

[windsurfdog]

What is the GAWR for each of your axles?

[jrminiquad]

There are 3,500# axles on there. I am guessing that Forest River figures the 7,934 LB. GVWR minus 10% tongue weight = 7,141 LBS. is close enough for them.
Would have liked to see 5,200 LB. axles on a toy hauler of that length/weight.

[windsurfdog]

Sounds like your GAW is the biggest limiting factor. Traveling down the road (i.e., measurement 1), your combined axle weight is 7740. With a total GAWR of 7000 for both, I'd say you are overweight while rolling down the road in normal towing mode.

[jrminiquad]

I did just find some specs on the 27RR that says:

Gross Axle Weight Rating, Front: 4,988 LBS.
Gross Axle Weight Rating, Rear: 4,988 LBS.

I think I still have 7 LBS. of crap in a 5 LB. bag, might have to pick and choose some things to go from the toy hauler.

[windsurfdog]

Originally Posted by jrminiquad

I did just find some specs on the 27RR that says:

Gross Axle Weight Rating, Front: 4,988 LBS.
Gross Axle Weight Rating, Rear: 4,988 LBS.

I think I still have 7 LBS. of crap in a 5 LB. bag, might have to pick and choose some things to go from the toy hauler.

Did those GAWR come from the label on the trailer? If so, looks like you are fine with GAW for the trailer.

What is the GVWR listed on the sticker for your TV?

[jrminiquad]

Checked my axle weights on the actual sticker tonight and they are both at 3500 Lbs.

At that rating Forest River is assuming you have at least 12% on the tongue to be at or below the trailer's GVWR.

Nothing left to do but to find some things to toss out of the toy hauler. Thanks for everyone's input.