The first thing you need to do is to load up the trailer exactly like you might do when going camping....everything that you would normally take.....water in the fresh water tank if you do that, grill, chairs, whatever. Next, load the truck up exactly like it would be when you go camping....driver and passenger(s), extra stuff that you normally take...tools, firewood, whatever you put either IN or ON the truck....and head off to the nearest CAT scale location. When you get there, you want to do three weigh tickets.
1. Truck and trailer with the W.D. bars hooked up just like when you go camping...then get a weight ticket. Do NOT move the truck/trailer from that location......
2. Disconnect the W.D. hitch system so that you still have it being weighed, just not affecting the distribution of that weight. Get another weigh ticket.
3. Pull off the scales and disconnect the trailer from the truck (make sure to chock the trailer wheels) and drive the truck back on the scale. Tell the clerk that you want to reweigh just the truck. Get that weight and go get all three scale tickets and hook your trailer back up. It's important to make sure that during the weighing process that you keep everyone (passengers, pets, whoever) in the truck so that you get accurate weights. When that is all done, you now will be able to tell exactly what you have in the way of weight and where it is at.....front axle of the truck, rear axle of the truck and axle or axles of the trailer.

Here is a link to a great website that has a worksheet to help you with the number....

RV Safety|RV Towing Calculator|Tow Ratings|GCWR

When this page loads, look up at the top of the page and click the title "4 Step Weight Safety Plan" and follow the instructions therein. It's a good idea to have your weight rating numbers handy and do the "worksheet" first before trying to put in the numbers for the calculator.

If you are getting your payload number (1850 lbs) from the yellow/white sticker on the door post, that will be pretty accurate, but weighing the truck will be even more so. The trailer that you have should be putting about 1100 lbs, give or take a bit, of tongue weight on the truck. Add another 75 lbs or so for a good W.D. hitch and you are getting close to 1200 lb of your available 1850. And remember, with a 2016 truck, that payload number may not include the weight of the driver.....as it did in years past. Ford changed that at some point in time, so check to make sure. The payload rating does however, include a full tank of fuel. You can see how adding the weight of the driver, passenger(s), tools, firewood, grill, luggage, whatever, can quickly get you to the payload capacity of the truck.

If you are over the payload, after doing the CAT scale and calculation worksheet, there is nothing you can do to that truck to legally increase the payload capacity of the yellow/white sticker on the vehicle. Lots of folks will add air bags, helper springs, yada, yada, yada, but none of those things actually increase payload capacity of the truck...from a legal standpoint......but that is an entire different topic, and one that will swing wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other.

Hope this info helps.

 

<div style="text-align:left;">Thank you for the great information! We are planning a trip to the scale after we get the camper out of storage, but we had no idea how to weigh it properly. This info is very helpful! The tongue weight max of for this truck is 1040 with a WD hitch, so that's another concern. However, I'm pretty confident that the trailer doesn't actually weigh 8250. I guess I'll find out though! </div>

 

I stopped at a truck scales with my 09 F150 and enclosed 20' car trailer. The combo towed great on 3 cross country trips towing but the scales identified the weight on the rear axle of my truck was over by 100 lbs (car in trailer and tools etc in bed of truck). I moved the car back a foot and the truck was now 100 lbs under. NO difference in how it drove but I didn't want to drive at the limit. I ended up upgrading to a 2017 F350 and don't have any concerns now

 

The biggest thing I have to watch out for with my EB & 7500 GVWR travel trailer combo is going over the Rear Axle Weight Rating (4,050 Lb) for my truck. I tend to fill the front of my trailer with to much crap or put to much crap or the bed of the truck and occasionally have to put myself in check. I also have a camper shell that takes roughly 200 lbs of payload right off the rear axle. With the f-150 , it is completely capable of towing that much weight safely, however the weight will need to be over the axle's of the trailer, not in the bed of the truck or the front of the trailer.

The sales people weren't necessarily lying to you, the truck, + you + trailer all fall in the trucks guidelines; however, I doubt the question was framed to include an extra 3 to 4 people and an additional 500-1,000 lbs of stuff.

If you can live with those parameters, with a little work you it will be fine. However if you want to load your family, + 500 to 1000lbs in the back of the truck and have the trailer storage compartment as full as it will go, it will be an issue. You could technically overload a diesel f-250plantinum's payload (2,100ish) with the same trailer combo with all of the weight being on the tongue or back of the truck.

Just be mindful that your near Cadillac's ride is a trade off with the amount of payload it can handle at any one time. Load all the extras over the axles of the trailer and enjoy.

Good luck.

 

 

 

Once you've taken it through the CAT scales with your typical load of cargo, gear, beer and passengers, you'll know if you need to be concerned or not. You'll also be able to use that information to fine-tune your WDH adjustment if needed. Even if the weigh slip says everything is perfect, that peace of mind is very valuable and will make future trips less stressful.

 

My sticker says 1692#s - We are sitting about 150lbs under that when fully loaded and underway. My 2016 w/3.5EB tows like a champ. GVWR of RV is 8800lbs. Tongue us 900lbs but remember, the WD hitch spreads that out when properly set up. Truck carry's about 2/3rds of that and the rest is transferred to the trailer. I would not be comfortable with anything heavier. You need to plan for downhill grades and keep it under control as the engine braking on the EB is pretty poor. This is my daily driver so.....i need to keep it a few more years. When the 2020 SD's come out, looking to go with an F250 Gasser with the 4.30 gears. The F150 has been a great tow vehicle for us and is a solid option for towing / daily driver use. It's very capable when you are within it's listed capabilities.



Pulls like a champ - Airstream FC30