Hitch Weight

[gatormanpc]

Is the listed tongue hitch weight empty? Or do the account for the propane tanks and batteries

[rsdata]

generally empty... but the published tongue wt is only an estimate... plus or minus depending on trailer loading of your goods in front or behind the axle...

generally will be higher weight after adding propane tanks and battery(s) which may then be offset by adding bike racks, etc to the rear...

[bikendan]

Not batteries as the they are dealer-installed items on towables.
Does include the propane tanks. Used to not include propane weight but I believe that changed a few years ago.

[aufinger]

According to the most recent Forest River Travel Trailer Owners Manual (PDF), "The weight of fully filled propane containers is considered part of the weight of the RV before it is loaded with cargo and is not considered part of the disposable cargo load." Their on-line interactive manual states: "The weight of fully filled propane containers is considered part of the weight of the RV before it is loaded with cargo and is not considered part of the disposable cargo load."

I have to think that when FR determines the tongue weight for a camper, it's with full propane tanks on the camper. Larry G.

[lbrjet]

That's a pretty big assumption. RV makers want to market the lowest TW possible. Anything is possible though. I do know that my marketed 820 in reality is 1050.

[The_Rhino]

On the sticker, our TT is 6500 empty w/empty tongue of 650 so they can advertise it as "Half Ton Towable"... However, ready-to-camp we're over 8,000 w/loaded tongue of 1200 (15% of weight on hitch). Add our family of 5 & 1 dog & we have a payload of 1900 before adding any other gear in the PU bed...

So, IMO, most TT's that are "Half Ton Towable" can be brought home from the dealer (empty) w/average 1/2 ton truck but once you start adding family members & their gear you start running out of payload room w/most 1/2 tons...

[gatormanpc]

The reason I was wondering, I've got a hitch head and it has a scale on it and it's at 1400lbs +- and my hitch weight is 954 on paper. That's a pretty big difference when they tried to sell me a 1000lb hitch but I got a 1400lb instead. Glad I did.