Max tongue weight
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
Max tongue weight
So I just realized something and am hoping for some input...
The sticker on my stock trailer hitch attached to my '18 F350 says max tongue weight is 1500 lbs.
If I make some tongue weight assumptions then 10% would get me a 15K trailer, 13% an 11.5K trailer, and 15% only a 10K trailer.
Is that thinking correct? Is 1500 lbs low or standard?
I'm going to be looking for a used toy hauler travel trailer in the next few weeks... It looks like the trends for the older trailers are all on the heavier side so I'm imagining finding one that's in the 12K GVWR range and am worried that it may have a 15% tongue weight which would put me over...
Am I thinking about all of this correctly? If so, are there things I can do to be proactive about avoiding being over capacity while trailer shopping?
Thanks everyone
The sticker on my stock trailer hitch attached to my '18 F350 says max tongue weight is 1500 lbs.
If I make some tongue weight assumptions then 10% would get me a 15K trailer, 13% an 11.5K trailer, and 15% only a 10K trailer.
Is that thinking correct? Is 1500 lbs low or standard?
I'm going to be looking for a used toy hauler travel trailer in the next few weeks... It looks like the trends for the older trailers are all on the heavier side so I'm imagining finding one that's in the 12K GVWR range and am worried that it may have a 15% tongue weight which would put me over...
Am I thinking about all of this correctly? If so, are there things I can do to be proactive about avoiding being over capacity while trailer shopping?
Thanks everyone
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,734
Likes: 12,877
From: Wyoming
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a bumper pull toy hauler with a GVWR that is excess of 12,000 lbs. When I was searching for a toy hauler I found that most used ones were 11K or less. There were a couple of new ones that hit 12K. The Northwood Desert Fox 27FS is one example of a 12K trailer. The Highland Ridge RV Highlander HT31RGR is way up there at 13,300 lbs.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 466
Likes: 5
One thing to keep in mind is that 10% tongue weight is the very minimum recommendation. Even with 10% you may get a bit of trailer sway. Many trailers will be in the 12-13% TW range, and a few, even more.
Another thing to keep in mind....and this one caused me issues until I bought a different truck. With Toy Haulers, they are normally fairly heavy on the tongue. Then, when you load up the garage area (depending on how much weight you put in there) you can actually come up light on tongue...enough to be UNDER 10%, and to the point that you actually will have to add weight up front by any means you can. I added all kinds of stuff...and sand t, a barbell weight plate, extra battery, running with a full fresh water tank, etc. And in the end, my truck was over payload capacity....thus a different truck for me.
Thirdly, my F250 had two hitch ratings....one for tongue weight without using a weight distribution hitch, and one for using a Weight Distribution Hitch. I can't remember the numbers for each, but curious if your truck has two ratings on the hitch also. My 2016 F350 Dually is rated for 1900 lbs with a Weight Distribution Hitch.
Another thing to keep in mind....and this one caused me issues until I bought a different truck. With Toy Haulers, they are normally fairly heavy on the tongue. Then, when you load up the garage area (depending on how much weight you put in there) you can actually come up light on tongue...enough to be UNDER 10%, and to the point that you actually will have to add weight up front by any means you can. I added all kinds of stuff...and sand t, a barbell weight plate, extra battery, running with a full fresh water tank, etc. And in the end, my truck was over payload capacity....thus a different truck for me.
Thirdly, my F250 had two hitch ratings....one for tongue weight without using a weight distribution hitch, and one for using a Weight Distribution Hitch. I can't remember the numbers for each, but curious if your truck has two ratings on the hitch also. My 2016 F350 Dually is rated for 1900 lbs with a Weight Distribution Hitch.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a bumper pull toy hauler with a GVWR that is excess of 12,000 lbs. When I was searching for a toy hauler I found that most used ones were 11K or less. There were a couple of new ones that hit 12K. The Northwood Desert Fox 27FS is one example of a 12K trailer. The Highland Ridge RV Highlander HT31RGR is way up there at 13,300 lbs.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
My hitch has a 2 1/2" receiver. I'm curious to know if other people have a higher max tongue weight rating on their hitch...
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
One thing to keep in mind is that 10% tongue weight is the very minimum recommendation. Even with 10% you may get a bit of trailer sway. Many trailers will be in the 12-13% TW range, and a few, even more.
Another thing to keep in mind....and this one caused me issues until I bought a different truck. With Toy Haulers, they are normally fairly heavy on the tongue. Then, when you load up the garage area (depending on how much weight you put in there) you can actually come up light on tongue...enough to be UNDER 10%, and to the point that you actually will have to add weight up front by any means you can. I added all kinds of stuff...and sand t, a barbell weight plate, extra battery, running with a full fresh water tank, etc. And in the end, my truck was over payload capacity....thus a different truck for me.
Thirdly, my F250 had two hitch ratings....one for tongue weight without using a weight distribution hitch, and one for using a Weight Distribution Hitch. I can't remember the numbers for each, but curious if your truck has two ratings on the hitch also. My 2016 F350 Dually is rated for 1900 lbs with a Weight Distribution Hitch.
Another thing to keep in mind....and this one caused me issues until I bought a different truck. With Toy Haulers, they are normally fairly heavy on the tongue. Then, when you load up the garage area (depending on how much weight you put in there) you can actually come up light on tongue...enough to be UNDER 10%, and to the point that you actually will have to add weight up front by any means you can. I added all kinds of stuff...and sand t, a barbell weight plate, extra battery, running with a full fresh water tank, etc. And in the end, my truck was over payload capacity....thus a different truck for me.
Thirdly, my F250 had two hitch ratings....one for tongue weight without using a weight distribution hitch, and one for using a Weight Distribution Hitch. I can't remember the numbers for each, but curious if your truck has two ratings on the hitch also. My 2016 F350 Dually is rated for 1900 lbs with a Weight Distribution Hitch.
Anyway - my hitch actually has the same max tongue weight with or without a WDH - 1500 for both.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 466
Likes: 5
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a bumper pull toy hauler with a GVWR that is excess of 12,000 lbs. When I was searching for a toy hauler I found that most used ones were 11K or less. There were a couple of new ones that hit 12K. The Northwood Desert Fox 27FS is one example of a 12K trailer. The Highland Ridge RV Highlander HT31RGR is way up there at 13,300 lbs.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
My bumper pull toy hauler (see signature for details) is 11K GVWR. However, toy haulers are kind of in a different category than the usual travel trailer. With the garage loaded my tongue weight is just around 940 lbs (empty water tanks). With the garage unloaded the tongue weight gets to be a bit over 1,400 lbs, still well within the rating of my truck, OEM receiver hitch and the weight distributing hitch.
In other words, I think you'll be fine with a bumper pull toy hauler.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
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It looks like if I wanted to go REAL crazy, Reese makes a hitch that gets up to 2700 lbs of tongue weight capacity!
Looking at this: https://www.reese-hitches.com/learni...towing-classes , it looks like my 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 hitch is a Class 5 with middle of the road tongue weight capacity. The website says Class 5 goes up to 1700 lbs but obviously there's higher capacity ones out there. I think I'm overthinking things again... I'm just going to keep this in the back of my mind but at least I have some reassurance that I could get a beefier hitch if I absolutely needed to for only 500 bucks.
Looking at this: https://www.reese-hitches.com/learni...towing-classes , it looks like my 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 hitch is a Class 5 with middle of the road tongue weight capacity. The website says Class 5 goes up to 1700 lbs but obviously there's higher capacity ones out there. I think I'm overthinking things again... I'm just going to keep this in the back of my mind but at least I have some reassurance that I could get a beefier hitch if I absolutely needed to for only 500 bucks.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,515
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From: Sioux Falls Area
I think you are where i would be in your shoes.
get what you want for trailer and upgrade the hitch if needed.
sounds like a simple plan to me.
a bigger problem might be finding a weight distributing hitch that can handle more than 1500 lbs. They are out there, but most I've seen top out at 1500.
get what you want for trailer and upgrade the hitch if needed.
sounds like a simple plan to me.
a bigger problem might be finding a weight distributing hitch that can handle more than 1500 lbs. They are out there, but most I've seen top out at 1500.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,734
Likes: 12,877
From: Wyoming
True. My Andersen 3" shank is rated for only 14K according to their web site. I thought it was 15K.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 466
Likes: 5
I think you are where i would be in your shoes.
get what you want for trailer and upgrade the hitch if needed.
sounds like a simple plan to me.
a bigger problem might be finding a weight distributing hitch that can handle more than 1500 lbs. They are out there, but most I've seen top out at 1500.
get what you want for trailer and upgrade the hitch if needed.
sounds like a simple plan to me.
a bigger problem might be finding a weight distributing hitch that can handle more than 1500 lbs. They are out there, but most I've seen top out at 1500.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
Likes: 72
From: West Virginia
My three inch hitch is rated for 2,100 pounds with or without WDH, though I use the Blue Ox with 2,000 pound bars.
As noted, the Blue Ox is only a 2.5" shank so I have to use a reducer in the receiver. There is nothing to indicate a reduction in capacity using the reducer, though I (and others) have experienced bent pins using the 2" reducer.
As noted, the Blue Ox is only a 2.5" shank so I have to use a reducer in the receiver. There is nothing to indicate a reduction in capacity using the reducer, though I (and others) have experienced bent pins using the 2" reducer.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,762
Likes: 390
From: Oregon
As with a lot of things that's RV related it's going to really depend. While you can figure 10-15% tongue weight, you're not going to really know what it is until you get the trailer, load it, and weigh it. Our trailer has a GVW of 11,300lbs (not a toy hauler). I figured we should be fine. When I took it across the scales, wet weight is 10,000lbs. Turns out tongue weight is closer to 19%. I suspect a full water tank (62gal I believe) is the issue and since we like to dry camp, traveling without water is not going to happen. I need to weigh it without water to see what it is but a hitch upgrade is probably in my future.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 4
As with a lot of things that's RV related it's going to really depend. While you can figure 10-15% tongue weight, you're not going to really know what it is until you get the trailer, load it, and weigh it. Our trailer has a GVW of 11,300lbs (not a toy hauler). I figured we should be fine. When I took it across the scales, wet weight is 10,000lbs. Turns out tongue weight is closer to 19%. I suspect a full water tank (62gal I believe) is the issue and since we like to dry camp, traveling without water is not going to happen. I need to weigh it without water to see what it is but a hitch upgrade is probably in my future.
Tuned
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 376
Likes: 22
From: Ustoned
Mine was over a bit so I went with a Curt 15410 Xtra Duty
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/15410
Weight Carrying Capacity(WC) 17,000 LB
Tongue Weight(TW) 2,550 LB
Weight Distribution(WD) 17,000 LB
Weight Distribution Tongue Weight(WDTW) 2,550 LB
Receiver Tube Size 2"
No more worrying about it.
Griz
https://www.curtmfg.com/part/15410
Weight Carrying Capacity(WC) 17,000 LB
Tongue Weight(TW) 2,550 LB
Weight Distribution(WD) 17,000 LB
Weight Distribution Tongue Weight(WDTW) 2,550 LB
Receiver Tube Size 2"
No more worrying about it.
Griz