Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Toads -> Trailer hitch capacity for toads...
Post Info TOPIC: Trailer hitch capacity for toads...
arcaguy


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 339
Date:
Trailer hitch capacity for toads...
Permalink  

OK guys and gals here's my dilemma.  I will be towing a 2004 Ford F150 HD with a GVWR of 8,200 lbs.  I will have it loaded fairly close to that with a 1,000 lb motorcycle and other stuff.  The coach I'm looking at has a hitch with a capacity of 7,500 lbs for a non-weight distributed hitch and 12,000 with a weight distributed hitch.  My thinking is that I can use the 12,000 capacity as a toad is natively weight distributed as there in minimal tongue weight of around 25 lbs., half of the tow bar weight.  However etrailer tells me that I should use the 7,500 lb. number as I don't have a weight distributing hitch.  I'm thinking this is just them being ultra conservative for liability reasons.  Anyone have any insights here? 



-- Edited by arcaguy on Wednesday 5th of August 2020 06:40:36 AM

__________________
LarryW21


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 786
Date:
Permalink  

You have almost no weight on the hitch, so you can’t “distribute” anything forward or to the rear. Isn’t the “goal” of that limit...no excessive weight bearing down on the hitch? I say 12,000.

__________________

Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
LarryW21


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 786
Date:
Permalink  

Surprised that more comments and opinions haven’t been posted. I was looking forward to reading other thoughts!

__________________

Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.
arcaguy


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 339
Date:
Permalink  

I'll give it a little while longer, folks might chime in.

__________________
Terry and Jo


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5398
Date:
Permalink  

Dave,

I can't answer specifically to your question, but I can give something of an answer.  When we ordered our fifth wheel (yes, capacities will be a lot less), we were informed that the receiver hitch put on at the factory had a "tongue weight" of 300 lbs and that the "towing weight" was 3000 lbs.

I'm presuming that their specification is for the towing weight, so the hitch weight would be totally unimportant in your case.

If I were you, I'd take your question to the manufacturer of your RV and explain your circumstances.  I take it that your hitch is NOT weight distributing, so I'd talk with them about solutions.  Perhaps a change of hitches?

Perhaps they are looking at liability, but if I were you, I would as well.  It's like the old saying for those towing trailers, it is better to have too much truck than not enough. 

Terry



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> Toads -> Trailer hitch capacity for toads...
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us