Are My Towing Calculations Correct?

[jeepin95]

I currently have a Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel with a 7,200lbs tow rating and 1,050 payload rating. I'm looking to move to a truck and was looking at an F150 Lariat Powerboost with FX4, Max Tow and some other options. I went and looked at it today to get pictures of the door panel stickers. It lists the max payload as 1,340lbs and GVWR as 7,350lbs. We tow a small Jayco 154BH trailer with our Jeep and have weighed a couple of times at CAT scales to ensure we aren't overloaded. We were a bit under the max rating for the trailer, and were limited by the Payload and rear GAWR...with a 1/4 tank of fresh water that is at the front of the trailer and only the 3 of us (myself, wife, kid) in the Jeep we came right the max for the Jeep.

Using Ford's Spec'ing calculations without having access to some of their internal tools I came up with the following and want to make sure this makes sense.
If I calculate tongue weight from trailer max GVWR of 3,450 * 0.15...
Tongue Weight = 517.5lbs
People = 500lbs (This includes padding for the growing kid and dad passing by the 'dad bod' stage)
+ Tongue Weight + Hitch Weight (100lbs)
= 1,117.5lbs total payload, which leaves us 222.5lbs for additional equipment in the bed of the truck, that doesn't seem like much.

If I use the same math with upgrading to a 5000lbs trailer I'm already over the max hitch weight, and 10lbs over the max payload by 10lbs, so basically we wouldn't really be able to upgrade to a much larger trailer?

Since I haven't yet purchased the truck I can't take it to a CAT and weigh. Does a weight distribution hitch reduce the tongue weight? I don't really want to bump up to a F250, but I would like to be able to at least throw bikes and a few other things in the bed of the truck. It seems like I could probably do that with this trailer, but not with anything much bigger. I'm constantly seeing F150s with much bigger trailers than ours. Of course I don't know all the options on their trucks, but I can at least see that they are SuperCrew F150 FX4 and similar. Are that many people just overloading?

Thanks

Sponsored

 

[daemonic3]

Yes, that many people are overloading (myself included on some trips).

A lot of F150s have much higher payloads, especially the non-powerboost XLT and XL/STX trims. But we're kinda screwed on the powerboost. I knew that going in but this is my last year with both my girls and the one not college age yet only went on a few trips.

With your setup I wouldn't even worry at all based on our GAWRs once you add the WDH. Yes, you definitely should get one (I think the max without a WDH is supposed to be 500# tongue). They make light duty ones for your trailer as well. Plus the WDH itself, only about 2/3 of its own weight will go to the truck, the other 3rd goes to trailer axles.

No, the WDH will not "remove" tongue weight, but it will distribute it across both your axles instead of overloading the rear and lifting the front. If you do a self install, the instructions should guide you with how to measure the wheel well heights before and after the install so you can make adjustments.

The 15% tongue weight you used I would normally think is a little high (mine have been 11-13%) but your trailer is so small that once adding the propane and battery it is probably a larger % of total weight and 15% may be correct. A tongue scale like this (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007REK28M) will take the guesswork out if you want to be certain.

Again, versus my setup I feel like yours will be a breeze to tow and I wouldn't worry at all. Were you already comfortable towing with the jeep?

 

[UGADawg96]

Short story: I have a XLT PB with 1523 payload towing a 6500lb weighed trailer with 500lbs of people. I upgraded to LT tires and added line-x and am really tight without adding any cargo to the truck itself. I wish we had a couple hundred pounds more to spare, but it is what it is. We are at 13% tongue weight (850lbs) and it tows good if we keep it under 70mph. However, I am thinking about adding the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS) system, but still researching.

Long story: https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/first-time-on-cat-scales-with-pb-and-tt.7811/

Hope that helps.

 

[780]

Just curious where you are geting those weights?
Looking at the Jayco site the weights are:

 

[jeepin95]

Were you already comfortable towing with the jeep?

Thank you for the response. Yes, I am more than comfortable towing with the Jeep and will use the same WDH on whatever truck we get. The EcoDiesel pulled great and never experienced any sway of concern. I could feel crosswinds and a big truck passing, but never anything that made me react. I will certainly miss the MPG (16+ towing the trailer, 30+ highway with no trailer) of the Jeep, the turning radius, and addition to just liking Jeeps in general.

I looked back at my series of 4 CAT weighs in a row with the Jeep. With a full fresh tank I was 40# over the Rear GAWR on the Jeep. Dropping that to ~1/3 fresh brought me under. I was still ~200# below the GVWR for the Jeep though and about 160# under the GVWR for the trailer. With a full fresh tank (which is 1/2 way between the axle and tongue) I was at 14% for the tongue weight. I don't usually travel with full water but wanted to for testing.

It seems that the truck would allow us to add our bikes and a few other extra items we weren't carrying before (both weight & space), however we may not be able to do that and move up much in trailer size later on if we decide to do that.

 

[daemonic3]

It seems that the truck would allow us to add our bikes and a few other extra items we weren't carrying before (both weight & space), however we may not be able to do that and move up much in trailer size later on if we decide to do that.

That's right, I have to keep my bed empty and I added a reinforced hitch receiver on the back of my trailer for our (road) bikes. And cargo I put in the trailer over the axles when I had more than myself and the wife as passengers.

Very impressive MPG you had with the Jeep! I seem to get better than most when towing my 2500RL (~10.5mpg lifetime) but I keep it at 60mph to stay comfortable. Seems most do not like to be a slowpoke and it really drops exponentially above 60mph. Curious how you end up with the shorter trailer or if the wind resistance is all front cap shape dominated.

 

[jeepin95]

Seems most do not like to be a slowpoke and it really drops exponentially above 60mph. Curious how you end up with the shorter trailer or if the wind resistance is all front cap shape dominated.

I'll let you know if we move forward on the PB. Our trailer is the "Baja" so it has the axle flip, mostly because we needed that to back into our driveway without hitting so it does ride higher. While there is no way to compare directly, I am curious how the wind load will compare since the cab is a little taller than the Jeep, but the bed is certainly shorter so I'm curious how the wind load would change.

Here in the PNW most of the roads we drove 65 with some 70 stretches. I generally run in the 60-65 range. With no headwind I would hit 70 but not for long stretches. We also try to do the scenic drives vs interstates as much as possible so those tend to be even slower. I like feeling the turbo kick in without the trailer, but am more reserved with the trailer.

My reading makes me believe that there won't be noticeable turbo lag with the PB, sadly I can't test drive one because of the safety recall. They apparently aren't allowed to repair the recall until the truck is sold. I understand why (ensure trucks on the road are repaired first) but it still makes me sad. I'll be test driving a used 2021 Eco just to see how the truck rides.

 

[UGADawg96]

Just curious where you are geting those weights?
Looking at the Jayco site the weights are:

https://www.jayco.com/rvs/travel-trailers/2021-jay-flight-slx-7/154bh/

 

[UGADawg96]

That's right, I have to keep my bed empty and I added a reinforced hitch receiver on the back of my trailer for our (road) bikes. And cargo I put in the trailer over the axles when I had more than myself and the wife as passengers.

Very impressive MPG you had with the Jeep! I seem to get better than most when towing my 2500RL (~10.5mpg lifetime) but I keep it at 60mph to stay comfortable. Seems most do not like to be a slowpoke and it really drops exponentially above 60mph. Curious how you end up with the shorter trailer or if the wind resistance is all front cap shape dominated.

What kind of hitch did you install ?

something like this: https://www.etrailer.com/RV-and-Camper-Hitch/CURT/13703.html ?

or these ?

https://www.amazon.com/Mount-n-Lock-SafetyStruts-Heavy-Bumper-Brackets/dp/B084ZTHPTK/?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/CURT-19100-C...dp/B0007M1ZGE/ref=psdc_15737511_t2_B004C6TZCM

 

[Kidder]

I'll let you know if we move forward on the PB. Our trailer is the "Baja" so it has the axle flip, mostly because we needed that to back into our driveway without hitting so it does ride higher. While there is no way to compare directly, I am curious how the wind load will compare since the cab is a little taller than the Jeep, but the bed is certainly shorter so I'm curious how the wind load would change.

Here in the PNW most of the roads we drove 65 with some 70 stretches. I generally run in the 60-65 range. With no headwind I would hit 70 but not for long stretches. We also try to do the scenic drives vs interstates as much as possible so those tend to be even slower. I like feeling the turbo kick in without the trailer, but am more reserved with the trailer.

My reading makes me believe that there won't be noticeable turbo lag with the PB, sadly I can't test drive one because of the safety recall. They apparently aren't allowed to repair the recall until the truck is sold. I understand why (ensure trucks on the road are repaired first) but it still makes me sad. I'll be test driving a used 2021 Eco just to see how the truck rides.

Have you considered a XLT HDPP (no Powerboost)? It has much higher payload (3/4 ton territory).

 

[780]

Am I missing something? This is a 15' signal axle travel trailer.....

Maybe skip PB if need be?

This is something pretty much any F150 with any trailer package should be able to handle...

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong trailer?
https://www.jayco.com/rvs/travel-trailers/2022-jay-flight-slx-7/154bh/#

I'm still seeing:

 

[jeepin95]

Yes, that is roughly what I have. GVWR is right, the "Baja" drops the cargo down to 669 according to the yellow sticker on the trailer, we don't have any other options beyond the Baja. Loaded for camping with fresh water the CAT scales had the trailer axle at 2920 and a total trailer weight of 3320.

The Jeep came with a Class-IV receiver as part of the tow package or Diesel package I can't remember. I am using an Equal-i-zer WDH with sway control (https://www.equalizerhitch.com/).

 

[UGADawg96]

Am I missing something? This is a 15' signal axle travel trailer.....

Maybe skip PB if need be?

This is something pretty much any F150 with any trailer package should be able to handle...

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong trailer?
https://www.jayco.com/rvs/travel-trailers/2022-jay-flight-slx-7/154bh/#

I'm still seeing:

I don't think he has the 2022 model you linked. I'll defer to the OP.

 

[jeepin95]

Have you considered a XLT HDPP (no Powerboost)? It has much higher payload (3/4 ton territory).

I have, but I want many of the comfort/convenience features on the Lariat. The idea of the PB for the added torque, *maybe* some MPG and the onboard power is what drew me in. Otherwise I would be looking more at diesels.

I'm confident the truck would handle the trailer certainly as is. I just want to make sure that we can add 3 bikes, some extra chairs and a few other things that we weren't able to with the Jeep and not be technically overloaded. I'm also trying to figure out how much room that leaves us to possibly upgrade to a slightly larger trailer in the future. The trailer was intended to be nothing more than a tent replacement with integrated bathroom. Really the only thing that has gotten annoying is we've camped in the rain more so it gets old having to convert the table to a bed.

I have the Jayco 2021 154BH Baja Edition which is basically the specs at that link.

 

[780]

I have, but I want many of the comfort/convenience features on the Lariat. The idea of the PB for the added torque, *maybe* some MPG and the onboard power is what drew me in. Otherwise I would be looking more at diesels.

I'm confident the truck would handle the trailer certainly as is. I just want to make sure that we can add 3 bikes, some extra chairs and a few other things that we weren't able to with the Jeep and not be technically overloaded. I'm also trying to figure out how much room that leaves us to possibly upgrade to a slightly larger trailer in the future. The trailer was intended to be nothing more than a tent replacement with integrated bathroom. Really the only thing that has gotten annoying is we've camped in the rain more so it gets old having to convert the table to a bed.

I have the Jayco 2021 154BH Baja Edition which is basically the specs at that link.

If you are already thinking of upgrading to a larger trailer, if it's not too late, maybe consider a truck with a larger payload.

Sponsored