I have a 2005 F150 145" wheelbase Supercab truck and am considering a new travel trailer. There are no issues with GCWR since the trailer I am looking at - when combined with my truck - gives a combined weight of 12,420 lbs worst case and the truck's GCWR is 15,000 lbs. The trailer total weight is also fine since it would only weigh about 5200 lbs and my truck is rated to tow 9300 lbs.

My concern is with the truck's GVWR. The truck GVWR is 7200 lbs and when loaded for travel it weighs 6620. My understanding is that means I can have a hitch weight up to 7200 - 6620 = 580 lbs. I have been told that I can actually carry a trailer with a higher hitch weight if I use a weight distributing hitch since it will push the hitch weight back on the trailer's axles. It seems to me that a WD hitch would also be distibuting weight up to both the truck's front and rear wheels - and some weight back on the trailer's axles. If so, then I would still have to add in hitch weight when I look at the GVWR of the truck. What is reality? Can I have a hitch weight over 600 lbs when my truck alone weighs 6620 and its GVWR is 7200?

Thanks,
buddy

It was hard to read through your post so I may not understand your question.

Since your loaded truck weighs only 580# less than its max GVWR, 600 # pounds of hitch weight, even if distributed to the front wheels, will exceed your rated GVWR by 20 #.

Now 20 # is insignificant. 5 gallons of fuel will weigh that much. Take some stuff out of the truck and put it in the trailer.

I guess my question basically was whether the WD hitch will transfer hitch weight back to the trailer. That is what the salesman trying to sell me a trailer is claiming. That is why he says I can safely exceed the 580 lb limit I came up with by subtracting my loaded truck from its GVWR. He says the WD hitch will push the excess weight back on the trailer axles.

quote:

Originally posted by buddy:
I guess my question basically was whether the WD hitch will transfer hitch weight back to the trailer. That is what the salesman trying to sell me a trailer is claiming. That is why he says I can safely exceed the 580 lb limit I came up with by subtracting my loaded truck from its GVWR. He says the WD hitch will push the excess weight back on the trailer axles.

Okay ... Yes .. Some of the hitch weight is transfered to the trailer.
It really depends on how much excess weight is being placed on the truck. If it's 6 or 7 hundred pounds, I wouldn't worry. The ratings are not a knife edge kind of limit... like go over rating by one pound and some part of the truck will fail...

Again... How much hitch weight are you thinking of ?

The trailer I am considering has a dry hitch weight of 203 lb and the trailer weighs 3033 lbs dry. If I add about 340 lbs for trailer options and 360 lbs for water and another 1000 lbs for cargo I get a total weight of 4733 lbs which is still below the trailer's GVWR of 5203. My truck's GVWR is 7200 lbs and with us fully loaded to travel it weighs 6620. That leaves 580 lbs of headroom for the additional weight of the hitch. I understand that I should load the trailer so that at least 12% of the trailer weight is on the hitch. That would mean 568 lbs for the trailer's hitch weight and then add another 70 lbs for the weight of the WD hitch and I now have a total hitch weight of 638 which is 58 lbs above my truck's GVWR rating. The trailer dealer claims that all that weight gets distributed back on the trailer's axles so there is no problem. What is the real story?

quote:

Originally posted by buddy:
The trailer dealer claims that all that weight gets distributed back on the trailer's axles so there is no problem. What is the real story?

ALL the hitch weight can't be placed on the trailer wheels. But some is... The weight/force is distributed to the front wheels of the truck (good thing) and to the trailer wheels.

I recommend, you just stay the course. Use a WDH for the trailer stability and control. I would say your setup is appropriate and within the trucks limits. Enjoy the camping.