SoundGuy
S Ontario
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Copperhead wrote:See if they have a small scale used for checking tongue weight.
Dry tongue weight is irrelevant, it's gross tongue weight with the trailer fully loaded & ready to camp that the OP wants to figure out as selecting the correctly sized weight distribution system is entirely dependent on that number.
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handye9
Brown City, MI
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SoundGuy wrote:Copperhead wrote:See if they have a small scale used for checking tongue weight.
Dry tongue weight is irrelevant, it's gross tongue weight with the trailer fully loaded & ready to camp that the OP wants to figure out as selecting the correctly sized weight distribution system is entirely dependent on that number.
Ditto on dry tongue weight being irrelevant.
The actual tongue weight will be higher, before it leaves the dealer lot. It will go up more when it gets loaded with dishes, pots and pans, BBQ, camp chairs, bedding, etc. Then it will fluctuate, up and down, during every trip.
Depending on floor plan, loading, and holding tank location (in relation to trailer axles), tongue weight can fluctuate quite a bit. My trailer for example (front kitchen with a galley tank in front end of the trailer, black / grey tanks above the axles, and fresh tank behind the axles) can have tongue weight anywhere between 975 and 1200 lbs. Dry tongue weight was 880 lbs.
Tongue weight not being a constant number the tow vehicle and WD hitch equipment should be sized to handle trailer / tongue weight at their high end.
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rsaylor3
Orlando
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Hey bud, I know a lot of people already explained, but I figured I would give my input as well. I had a 2013 Silverado Crew Cab Z71 with the same options as you listed. I bought a much larger camper than I planned. I ended up with a 2015 Viewfinder Signature 32rlss. It's dry weight is 6,880, but I promise that the CAT scales never showed it to weigh that little. GVWR is 9,455. I towed it with that truck for about 1 1/2 years. Did about 10 trips with it here in Florida and 2 trips to northern Georgia. Cat Scales showed me just under my payload by a couple pounds and that was loading everything into the camper and loading light for the trips. I was under on all numbers accepts rear axle weight rating, where I was just over 100lbs over.
I went with at Sway Pro hitch system from Blue OX. To try and make the towing experience better I went with Load C tires, and changed to Bilstein shocks. After tweaking the readjusting the hitch (the dealer really had it installed and set up incorrectly when I left the dealership) I felt pretty confident in the tow. Never completely comfortable though, and I knew that I was going to upgrade to a 3/4 ton as soon as I could find the right truck and deal.
Like I said, I felt pretty comfortable with the towing. I always kept it under 65mpg, which wasn't too much of a problem, because the engine didn't want to go any faster anyway![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
Having now towed as many trips or more with a 2015 Silverado 2500hd with the duramax, I can honestly say it's a much nicer experience. I would never go back! I am now under all my numbers by a very nice margin. I have a much more confident feel with handling, braking, and overall more relaxed towing experience. I still upgraded the shocks in the new truck to Bilsteins, and I also am a big believer in Torklift stable loads! It's fine without them, but it's incredible with them!
Hey good luck and glad to see your asking questions just like most of is did in the beginning. Be safe and enjoy the trips ahead!
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rbpru
North Central Indiana
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For all the rhetoric the OP should realize that there are as many opinions as reply postings.
From all of this one can understand,
+ The tow vehicle has a cargo capacity rating.
+ The dry weight is usually 1000 to 1200 pounds under the loaded for the road weight and the tongue weight is about 12 to 13 percent of that.
+ Most important, people estimate, scales measure.
I have heard of half tons with as little as 1200 lb cargo capacity and as much as 1900 lbs of cargo capacity. It is up to the individual to determine the specifics of their TT and TV combination.
I hope the OP has gleaned the information needed from the last five pages.
Safe travels.
Twenty six foot 2010 Dutchmen Lite pulled with a 2011 EcoBoost F-150 4x4.
Just right for Grandpa, Grandma and the dog.
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totaldla
NW Oregon
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Payload gets tossed around a lot, but I think it needs a bit more definition.
So what happens if you exceed the door plate ratings? Do you burst into flames?
The only thing I know is that exceeding rear axle ratings wears the axle bearings faster.
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wowens79
Georgia
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Like about every one has mentioned the payload will be eaten up quickly. A lot depends on your family size, and camping style. If you start doing longer trips, taking 2 cars may not be as appealing, an 6-8 hour drive with 2 cars means 2 drivers, it is nice to be able to swap drivers. I do about 80% of the driving, but it is nice when the wife drives for a bit on longer trips
I've got a payload of 1800lbs on my 1500HD, and it gets eaten up quickly. My TT's dry weight is 6300lbs, and loaded is 7500-8000lbs depending on is we carry water and what all we carry. Tongue weight is 1000-1100 lbs. 2 adults, 2 teens, a golden retriever, 4 mountain bikes, 4 kayaks, firewood, and a cooler, and that 1800lbs is used up.
Packing light you should be ok for the short trips, but it will be a much better towing experience with a 3/4 ton truck, My truck is about a 5/8 ton, and it does OK, but a 3/4 ton gasser is on my radar.
2022 Ford F-350 7.3l
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sgfrye
north carolina
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rsaylor3 wrote:Hey bud, I know a lot of people already explained, but I figured I would give my input as well. I had a 2013 Silverado Crew Cab Z71 with the same options as you listed. I bought a much larger camper than I planned. I ended up with a 2015 Viewfinder Signature 32rlss. It's dry weight is 6,880, but I promise that the CAT scales never showed it to weigh that little. GVWR is 9,455. I towed it with that truck for about 1 1/2 years. Did about 10 trips with it here in Florida and 2 trips to northern Georgia. Cat Scales showed me just under my payload by a couple pounds and that was loading everything into the camper and loading light for the trips. I was under on all numbers accepts rear axle weight rating, where I was just over 100lbs over.
I went with at Sway Pro hitch system from Blue OX. To try and make the towing experience better I went with Load C tires, and changed to Bilstein shocks. After tweaking the readjusting the hitch (the dealer really had it installed and set up incorrectly when I left the dealership) I felt pretty confident in the tow. Never completely comfortable though, and I knew that I was going to upgrade to a 3/4 ton as soon as I could find the right truck and deal.
Like I said, I felt pretty comfortable with the towing. I always kept it under 65mpg, which wasn't too much of a problem, because the engine didn't want to go any faster anyway
Having now towed as many trips or more with a 2015 Silverado 2500hd with the duramax, I can honestly say it's a much nicer experience. I would never go back! I am now under all my numbers by a very nice margin. I have a much more confident feel with handling, braking, and overall more relaxed towing experience. I still upgraded the shocks in the new truck to Bilsteins, and I also am a big believer in Torklift stable loads! It's fine without them, but it's incredible with them!
Hey good luck and glad to see your asking questions just like most of is did in the beginning. Be safe and enjoy the trips ahead!
Best post I've read in awhile and pretty much is the same experience I've had with an f150 and f250 on my part. MORE RELAXED TOWING EXPERIENCE MAKES THE WHOLE CAMPING EXPERIENCE MORE ENJOYABLE and that's what it's all about
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rbpru
North Central Indiana
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If you exceed the rating on your TV. you increase wear and tear. In the real world you will often reduce the life of brakes, shock absorber, and is some cases the suspension. That said, anyone that farms or works construction knows that half, three-quarter and one ton are just suggestion.
If you make a few trips a year, a short distance, you would probably never know the difference. If you use it a lot, you either up grade or tolerate the added expense.
If you have ever driven a severely overloaded vehicle, you will not do it often.
However, one person's white knuckle ride, is another's annoying truck and wind buffets.
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Copperhead
Central Iowa
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And there is the issue of functionality. My pickup has to fulfill a number of roles totally unrelated to recreational. But on that note, I prefer dispersed, dry camping. So not only the general stuff, but also extra water in truck bed (50 gal tank with pump), propane tanks, gasoline, gen set, parts and tools, etc. of course, all that not necessary for those that primarily use more modern campgrounds. Even with a 7K trailer, no 1/2 ton is going to be a viable option.
And really, that is where it is at. What one is wanting to do, where they are wanting to do it, how long at a time, etc. One has to factor all the variables.
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SoundGuy
S Ontario
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totaldla wrote:Payload gets tossed around a lot, but I think it needs a bit more definition.
So what happens if you exceed the door plate ratings?
If you're 100 lbs over, nothing ... but if you're consistently 500+ lbs over payload on a 1/2 ton truck you can certainly expect to start seeing drive train issues. It's the raison d'etre for 3/4 and 1 tons. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/tongue.gif "tongue")
I just reviewed my own Trailer Towing Capacity Worksheet - my 2012 Silvy has a GVWR of 7000 lbs and a stickered payload capacity of 1450 lbs. However, after weighing it with a full tank of gas I find it's actual curb weight as it sits ready to be hitched to a trailer is 5600 lbs, leaving a real world payload capacity of just 1400 lbs. Our 19' trailer averages only ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp, yet once I factor in the weight of 2 adults, one BIG dog in the cab, 200 lbs for average cargo load in the truck bed, 90 lbs for weight distribution, plus an average 625 lbs of trailer gross tongue weight I'm only 25 lbs below the truck's maximum payload capacity of 1400 lbs. And this is with a trailer weighing just 4800 lbs. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/eek.gif "eek")
* This post was
edited 01/03/18 06:51pm by SoundGuy *
2012 Silverado 1500 Crew Cab
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