Hello,

I own a 2019 F150 XLT SCREW with 6.5 bed. Payload is 1880 lbs.
I added a CG1000 cargo glide (150 lbs) and an ARE canopy (200 lbs).
Now, wife suggested to consider a trailer to go camping.
It will not be off grid type camping. We often go to beach within 3 hours drive from home.
We typically go to beach for a weekend once every other weekend.
Once we get their we will hook up at the camp spot, disconnect the trailer and drive to site seeing. Not the off grid type.

I just did a rough payload calculation. Please check if I have missed anything.
Two small kids, wife, me and the dog weigh 800 lbs total.
I will have some stuff in the bed: water, camp chairs, cooler with food and drinks. I can also put all in the trailer.
My question is that what size of camping trailer can I tow? How much tongue weight can I take?
If I put all the cargo in the trailer, I have this much payload left for the tongue weight: 1880-150(cargo glide)-200(canopy)-800(passenger)=730 lbs.
If there is some stuff in the bed (300 lbs), I have this much left for the tognue weight: 1800-150(cargo glide)-200(canopy)-800(passenger)-cargo(300)=430 lbs.
So if my math is right, I should shop for trailers weight less than 4300 lbs.
I know having cargo in the bed and towing a trailer is the job for a 3/4 ton truck. Just trying to do my research here.
Did I miss anything? My kids will grow so I should leave some margin.
Thanks for your help.

 

That would be 4300 lbs fully loaded, or an empty weight in the neighborhood of 3000 lbs. That might also be a little light on the tongue weight (only 10%). A little safer would be 12% tongue weight, which would be 3600 lbs fully loaded trailer. Ditch the topper, cargo glide and/or the kids and you could go to town.

Just kidding about the kids.

 

LOL about the kids.
What does the HDPP package offer? Just stiffer springs and heavier duty tires?
My truck doesn't come with the HDPP but I can add those two things easily.

 

Still wont legally be allowed to tow more.

so HDPP is different front coils, different rear springs, thicker frame, heavier duty tires and wheels, heavier duty rear axle, etc. you can come close to it with upgrades but again legally it doesnt change anything.

 

A weight distributing hitch will transfer weight from the rear to the front axle. If set up correctly, you can select a bigger trailer. Use a truck scale to make sure the WDH hitch is set up correctly.

 

Put the stuff from the bed in the trailer. Go for a trailer <6-7k GVWR, since you can set yourself up to have 700lb tongue. That’ll buy a decent trailer.

You will need a WDH, but just because it helps balance the load won’t buy you any more capacity.

There are lots of smaller twin axle bunk house trailers that would fit what you are after. They’d be a place to sleep and most hanging out would be outside the trailer / at a small dinette.

There are also pop up trailer or hard sided trailers with pop out cloth bed areas that would also work.

Well done researching yourself vice trusting an RV salesman.

 

Well said. Thank you.

 

You asked for calculation for total Gross Combined Weight Rating
Look at your owner manual pages 306/307.
For your model, find what your engine is.
Match your rear gear ratio.
Look at the last colum for max combined weight for truck and trailer/with All loads added in.
You max load in your truck minus the max load listed.
That is your allowed tow weight for both combined.
Then you should consider the distribution in the cab, the truck bed and the receiver weight and balance accordingly after considering the trailer weight you can use.
You have family aboard so don't take chances, do it right.
Will the truck pull heavier weights, sure but not safely and still be within the Law if you were ever pulled into a weigh station, for example...
Good luck.

 

They give you 150lbs for driver and full tank in that calculation on the door post. So include your weight minus 150. If you run at 1/2 tank or as much as you can drive between rest room
stops your have even more capacity. Run the trailer with empty tanks (just a little water) and get most of the heavy groceries when you arrive at your destination and you
are even better off. Haul any heavy items in the trailer over the axels to reduce cargo weight or tongue weight.

 

Load the truck with everyone and everything you take camping.

Weigh the truck.

Please dont try to estimate your weight.