Will a WDH reduce my hitch weight?

[Rockyminilite]

My first post.
I am seriously considering the purchase of a 2018 Rockwood 2506s, but before I do I need someone to verify it’s something I can safely tow. Please help.

The 2506 (as per the Rockwood sales brochure): UVH is 5109 lbs. I have estimated additional weight: LP and 2 batteries @ 200 lbs; WDH @ 100 lbs; fresh water 43 gallon tank 357 lbs (not that I would tow this full); items that will be placed in the trailer @ 200 lbs. Total trailer weight = 6000 lbs (rounded up). Approximate hitch weight 6000 lbs X .15 = 900 lbs.

I have a 2013 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost 4X4 TV: GAWR in the front is 3750 and 3850 rear. GVWR is 7200 lbs. Now here’s the problem. It has a maximum door-posted payload weight rating of 1350 lbs. Added to the cargo weight would be two people @ 300 lbs and approximately 300 lbs of cargo. That totals 1500 lbs. I’m over.

Question: Would a WDH reduce the payload weight (hitch weight) to safely tow this trailer?

[thebrakeman]

Use 12.5% for your TW estimate. That puts you right at the payload limit.


If, after getting some actual loaded weights, you find you have an actual concern:
1. Put some of that 300 lbs truck cargo in the trailer, such that only a percentage is applied as payload.
2. Fill up with fresh water at the campground.


All-in-all, I think you'll be good. Being this close, I'd hate to avoid a camper you really like, just to be able to haul your own water.


By the way, to protect for the likelihood of bad-tasting water, we often use the fresh tank only for washing dishes, washing hands, and flushing the toilet. We bring along bottled water for drinking.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Rockyminilite

My first post.
I am seriously considering the purchase of a 2018 Rockwood 2506s, but before I do I need someone to verify it’s something I can safely tow. Please help.

Question: Would a WDH reduce the payload weight (hitch weight) to safely tow this trailer?

NO!
It distributes it, it doesn't reduce it.
Your F150 must not have the Max Tow Package nor the HD Payload package.

[Rockyminilite]

Thanks for the reply. No, it has neither one. My solution will be to load the trailer and to reduce payload weight to a minimum.

Not sure why determining tongue weight percentages vary from 10 to 15%. I used 15% just to be safe rather sorry.

[raspivey]

You did right to use 15%...it may well be closer to 12.5%, but you never know. It varies depending on length from wheel to hitch, floorplan, and all kinds of other stuff. While WDH will move some of the tongue weight to the trailer, it's offset by the weight of the hitch..I don't know of anyone who actually counts it. All of your estimates look realistic. That being said and seeing as you're only about 150 lbs over....I agree, don't run with more than about five gallons of water until you get where you're going and move a little cargo to the trailer if possible and you ought to be good. Maybe beef up your rear tires a little and make sure your brake controller is set up correctly and then I wouldn't worry overly much about it.

[Rockyminilite]

Thanks for the reply. I have to use more common sense.

[mawilson]

Your post is missing some data such as the gear ratio, cab, Gross Combined Weight Rating, box size. Guessing from the 2013 tow guide the GCWR is 13,400#. Estimated loaded trailer (1000# cargo swag) is 6100# 12% tongue is ~750#. Swag TV curb weight is 5850# (gvwr - payload). Add 300# of people, move 300# cargo to the trailer and we see something like 6900# GW for the TV plus ~6400# on the trailer. GCW is 13,300#. Assuming you don't exceed the RAWR or the limit of the hitch (check the label), you should be okay. A trip to the scales with a fully loaded TV will help with the numbers. A WDH will typically shift ~25-30% of the tongue to the trailer and front axle but, that has zero effect on the combined weight rating regardless of where the cargo is stowed. You're close on that spec but, not over.

[Rockyminilite]

Thanks. I even understood most of what you said by reading as much as I could from this forum and the internet. You were correct: the GCWR is 13,400. I know the WDH will not change the combined weight but thought it might reduce the load on the hitch. Apparently not.

[Kimber45]

I would tow that trailer all day long with a 1/2 ton truck.

[lbrjet]

I agree with Kimber45. Your truck will be fine.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by thebrakeman

If, after getting some actual loaded weights, you find you have an actual concern:
1. Put some of that 300 lbs truck cargo in the trailer, such that only a percentage is applied as payload.
2. Fill up with fresh water at the campground.

Maybe even put the 300 lbs truck cargo in the back of the trailer.

Larry

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

I agree with Kimber45. Your truck will be fine.

If your not going to tow a 5k pound trailer with a truck prob rated for 10 you might just go get a dually diesel and a pop up.

[dodr33]

I ran the nearly the same weight trailer on nearly the same truck and it pulled good and felt controlled and safe.

I traded for a 2017 f150 because my 2013 had the 3.31 axle so it never ran in a good RPM range when towing and the tranny hunted alot.

[thebrakeman]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Maybe even put the 300 lbs truck cargo in the back of the trailer.

Larry

As long as TW does not get reduced below 10%, fine.

[amblt]

Originally Posted by Rockyminilite

Thanks. I even understood most of what you said by reading as much as I could from this forum and the internet. You were correct: the GCWR is 13,400. I know the WDH will not change the combined weight but thought it might reduce the load on the hitch. Apparently not.

The WDH will redistribute the tongue weight, which is what you are concerned about. If it moves its own weight and a little more back to the trailer, then you have a better chance of meeting your payload requirement.
You are also correct, you don't want to exceed gross for either vehicle, or the max combined weight. Posts 5 and 7 cover that well.

Cheers

[Shamrockthecasbah]

I suspect the real question that you were getting at was: will the WDH help with your payload? And the answer is "yes", especially if you have already included the actual weight of WDH in your payload calculation. The WDH will not change the hitch weight applied to the receiver of the TV, but it will transfer some weight back to the trailer by creating a moment (torque) at the hitch and trailer a-frame. My experience has been that it will transfer about 150 lbs back to the trailer with the setup in my signature.

Most posters on this forum will advise you to include the weight of the WDH in your calculation. That's fine so long as you also deduct the amount transferred back to the trailer. Personally I never count the weight of the hitch because I assume that amount (or more) will be transferred back to the trailer. As others have said, the Cat scale is what tells you what's really going on.

[Rockyminilite]

Yes, I wanted to know if the WDH would reduce the payload and give me the ability to carry a little more. My solution will be to place more in the trailer.

[Bluepill]

Good overview of WDH dynamics:

https://youtu.be/XBZu39pQ8Gg

[Dustyhd]

I also think you will be just fine with the trailer. To answer your question the answer is no. A WD does not change or relocate the mass of the trailer tongue.

First you need to understand the weight and mass are not the same thing. Weight is a force, specifically the force that gravity exerts on an object. Mass is the amount of matter contained in the object. An object has a different weight on earth then it does on the Moon yet it’s mass is the same. So for the sake of explanation I will use the terms correctly.
So a truck alone has a mass distribution of 60/40 then we add the mass of the trailer tongue on the hitch. That additional mass causes the force/weight on the rear axle to increase and the force on the front axle to decrease. The center of gravity of the vehicle shifts rearward.
Now let’s add a WD hitch. So the WD hitch provides an opposing force to gravity on the rear axle and reduces force/weight being applied downward. On the front it increases the downward force higher than that of gravity and the force/weight is now back to its original value. A increase in downward force is also applied at the trailer axles as well. All is good right? But what happens to the mass? The answer to that is the mass and it’s distribution/CG has changed little from before we applied WD. The WD uses a lever to change the forces applied to the axles, the amount of mass it relocates is very little. This why a WD does not change TW.

[youroo]

WOW,were getting into "2:30 AM Campfire Talk Now"! Youroo!!