Truck vs trailer weight

[Quiroule]

We are planning on buying a Flagstaff 26FKBS trailer which weight 6,836 pounds dry.
My truck weight 7,050 pounds and is rated at 13,200 pounds for trailer weight.

A friend tells me that this set-up would be unsafe as the trailer weight is to close to the truck weight and that will make hard to control in an emergency.

What do-you think?

Thanks.

[Cost4133]

Payload plays a big factor, but it seems like you are well within your weights and capability. And dry weight is not loaded camping weight.

The truck does not always weigh more than the trailer. In fact its pretty common for the trailer to outweigh the truck.

[Steve52]

The weight of the truck isn't always a determining factor. Most 5th wheel trailers outweigh their tow vehicles by a considerable amount. Load capacity of the tow vehicle is very important as is a proper hitch setup. A properly equipped 1/2 ton should be adequate for that trailer. However, the larger brakes, stiffer suspension and higher capacity tires of a 3/4 ton truck might make for a more comfortable towing experience.
I tow that same trailer with a '17 Chevy 2500HD Gasser. CAT Scale weights are: Truck 7,350, Trailer 7,420. Tongue weight 1,130. I use a Reese Dual Cam hitch.
I previously towed this trailer with a Ford 1/2 ton 3.5 EcoBoost and it was adequate for the job.

However, the heavier Chevy made a day/night difference towing in windy conditions, heavy truck traffic and just generally felt better "planted" going down the road.

[moose074]

I disagree with your friend I might be in the minority but I will try to explain why.
1) my current set up in my signature my 5th wheel has listed dry weight of 12k my trucks listed curb weight is 7k, putting my trailer 5k over the weight of the truck but I am within payload and towing capacity of my truck.
2) I estimate that most half ton trucks weigh between 5k and 6k depending on engine, cab configuration, accessories and aluminum body vs sheet metal. Let’s assume the AVERAGE payload is 1400 pounds. Substrate 400 for two passengers leaving 1000 pounds for the remaining payload. If you assume 15% tongue weight ( it’s on the high side I know) then you could have a trailer weight of around 6350, if you went with 12% tongue weight then your looking at over 7k total ( not dry weight). So using payload the trailer still weighs more than the truck.
3) Tow capacity which companies have to actually follow standards on and no they don’t use the little areo dynamic trailer to cheat they are required certain frontal area the higher the weight., but that’s for another argument. A quick search and quick average of all 1/2 ton trucks puts the tow capacity around 8k ( non turbo v-6 included) Again the trl weight allowed by manufacturers is greater than the weight of the truck. The test is conducted n steep grades and includes stops and starts
4) The more bling the heavier the truck but less payload meaning the lighter truck will be rated to haul more than the heavier truck. Meaning in theory increasing the weight difference between the truck a large amount. Remember payload will be the key the smaller the payload the smaller the trailer

[yukongold]

Originally Posted by Quiroule

A friend tells me that this set-up would be unsafe as the trailer weight is to close to the truck weight and that will make hard to control in an emergency.

Tell that to all the over-the-road truckers who pull 60,000 to 80,000 pound trailers with their 25,000 pound tractors every day on nearly every road anywhere in the world.

[GFD47]

Yukongold x2. Before I saw that comment it is exactly what I was going to add as I was reading through the post.
If your friend was anywhere close to correct the pickup truck manufacturers would never document the towing capacities they do for fear of continual lawsuits. Example, my F350 diesel has a curb weight of 7,486 lbs and a towing capacity of 22,000, nearly 3 times its curb weight.

[JimMorrell]

Ridiculous! Your friend isn't very knowledgeable. My F-150 has a 9,300 tow rating and I pull a 32', 7,400# (dry) trailer throughout the northern Sierra with no trouble at all.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Quiroule

We are planning on buying a Flagstaff 26FKBS trailer which weight 6,836 pounds dry.
My truck weight 7,050 pounds and is rated at 13,200 pounds for trailer weight.

A friend tells me that this set-up would be unsafe as the trailer weight is to close to the truck weight and that will make hard to control in an emergency.

What do-you think?

Thanks.

It's not as simple as that. There are many other factors more important than truck weight.
First, your truck will never get near that 13,200 number and that rating is only for a base spec version of your truck. But you have no information about your truck, in your profile so I'm only guessing.
Second, payload capacity/rear end ratio/engine size and other things are more important factors.
You need to post more information on your truck and what kind of weights will be in the truck.
Because of the front kitchen, that trailer will have a heavy loaded tongue weight. If you have a half ton, that loaded tongue weight could exceed the hitch receiver's max amount.

[Boomerweps]

Simple. Ask about his towing experience.

[Quiroule]

The maximum Hitch weight of my truck is 1,320 ponds. Axel ratio 3.55. Max load 1,859 pounds.
I have had a fifth wheel for the last 10 years without any problem.
Thanks everyone.

[SailorSam20500]

Interesting that your version is 1000 lbs heavier than my 2017. Anyway, I've pulled mine all over the country with an F150 with plenty of bling - platinum trim. Fully loaded our trailer comes in at 7K lbs.

[OscarsMom2]

We have a 2020 Rockwood Ultra Lite 2608BS that, I think, is a twin of the Flagstaff you are considering. We towed it on it’s maiden voyage with our 2012 Ford F-150 Eco-boost. The thing you need to double check is not the towing capacity, but the cargo capacity. Our F-150 had a cargo capacity of only1658 lbs. When I weighed the tongue of our trailer, it was 1000 lbs. This left very little capacity for passengers, pets, and miscellaneous items in the truck bed. We also hit one stretch of highway where we experienced severe sway. Most of the trip we were only able to travel a maximum of about 55 mph to feel safe. When we got home, we ordered a 2021 Ford F-250 and a ProPride hitch. I want to feel safe when driving.

[walleyewizard]

Originally Posted by yukongold

Tell that to all the over-the-road truckers who pull 60,000 to 80,000 pound trailers with their 25,000 pound tractors every day on nearly every road anywhere in the world.

80,000# is gross combined weight and the average tractor would usually weight in at approximately 17, to 20,000#

[GFD47]

Yukongold isn't that far off. I live in WA and here the maximum legal gross weight is 105,500 lbs. The 105.5k truckers pull their loads with the same weight tractors as the 80k truckers do.

[larry2c]

I own a 2015 F150 (so not an aluminum body) and it's fairly well blinged out for a FX4. It weighs in at 6000# with my but in the driver's seat. Just wondering, is the 7000# number for the newer generation trucks very common?

[SailorSam20500]

Originally Posted by larry2c

I own a 2015 F150 (so not an aluminum body) and it's fairly well blinged out for a FX4. It weighs in at 6000# with my but in the driver's seat. Just wondering, is the 7000# number for the newer generation trucks very common?

I had RVSEF do a 4 wheel weighing on my 2016 F150, Platinum trim, 4X4, Crew Cab, Moonroof, and off road package, this was an aluminum body. Me, DW, camping stuff came in at 6,950.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by SailorSam20500

I had RVSEF do a 4 wheel weighing on my 2016 F150, Platinum trim, 4X4, Crew Cab, Moonroof, and off road package, this was an aluminum body. Me, DW, camping stuff came in at 6,950.

This can be deceiving if I were to add just me and my wife that’s 530 pounds. That doesn’t even account for the weight of “ camping stuff”. Not to be argumentative but 6950 isn’t the weight of your truck it’s the weight of a loaded truck

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by Quiroule

We are planning on buying a Flagstaff 26FKBS trailer which weight 6,836 pounds dry.
My truck weight 7,050 pounds and is rated at 13,200 pounds for trailer weight.

A friend tells me that this set-up would be unsafe as the trailer weight is to close to the truck weight and that will make hard to control in an emergency.

What do-you think?

Thanks.

Add the truck GVWR to the trailer GVWR. Compare that total to the truck manufacturers GCWR.

[Quiroule]

Thank-you all for your help

[TitanMike]

With a proper WDH and properly adjusted brake controller you should have no issues.

Just pay attention to how much "stuff" you load up (and where you load it) as it can all add up to surprising weights.

I'd see if I could find a scale and see how much your truck actually weighs and then subtract that from the spec'd GVW. That will take into the usual variables due to options and if you include passenger(s) and pets, even better.