Weighed My 2.7 PP Towing Setup - Looking for Feedback

[suprasteve]

Hi Everyone,

We just got our first trailer and WDH setup. It was a learning experience to setup, but I think I got it. I did find some differences between what Ford recommends in the towing guide and what the hitch manufacturer recommends... I think ultimately the axle loads tell the real story and I'm hoping I made some good decisions. Hopefully some of you with more experience can guide me or give me a thumbs up.

Really happy I ordered the Payload Package for my 2.7L SCREW XLT; seems like the perfect fit for us.

This was basically a worst-case payload for us in the truck:
- Full of fuel (36 gal. tank)
- Two adults
- Two kids
- Dogs (big one, tiny one)
- Big full cooler, extra case of water
- Two bikes, misc. lighter stuff in the bed.
- Other road trip stuff, some luggage.

Trailer was loaded as it always will be but I was carrying about 500lbs more in the grey and black tanks than I intend to on a regular basis. I'm over the trucks GVWR by a tiny amount but I could have fixed that easily by moving a case of water to the trailer, so not too worried.

How does these numbers look to you? I thought getting near-equal axle distribution on the truck, without going over front or rear GAWR was good...do you agree?

The truck setup tows nicely.

		Rating (Lbs)	Actual Weights (Lbs)	Margin (Lbs)	Distribution	% of Rating Remaining
Truck Max trailer weight rating no cargo		10,100
Truck GCWR		15,400	11,440	3,960		25.7%
Truck Front GAWR		3,525	3,420	105	49.3%	3.0%
Truck Rear GAWR		3,800	3,520	280	50.7%	7.4%
Truck GVWR		6,900	6,940	(40)		-0.6%
Trailer GVWR (total both axles)		5,000	4,500	500		10.0%
Trailer GAWR (Trailer Sticker)		2,500		500		20.0%
Trailer Actual GAWR (Axle Sticker)		3,500		2500		71.4%
Trailer Indiviatual Tire Rating		1,760
Trailer Total Tire Rating		7,040		2,540		36.1%

Loaded, as-weighed:

For reference, before this day, I took a bunch of attempts to adjust the WDH to what I thought was decent...giving me 1/4" compression on the front axle and a little less in the rear; thinking once loaded with cargo I'd have a lot more weight on the rear axle...but these adjustments were done with a near-empty truck and trailer; not what I actually weighed.

Near- Empty Measurements (inches)
	Empty	No WD	Final WD	Delta
Front Fender Arch	37​	37.25​	36.75​	-0.25​
Rear Fender Arch	39.375​	39.875​	39.25​	-0.125​

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[{tpc}]

Did you happen to scale the truck without the trailer attached? Or the trailer by itself?

 

[suprasteve]

Did you happen to scale the truck without the trailer attached? Or the trailer by itself?

Unfortunately, no, just with everything attached.

 

[{tpc}]

Unfortunately, no, just with everything attached.

I think that means you cannot properly calculate Tongue weight, which would play into your payload numbers. What are your payload numbers?

 

[powerboatr]

actually those axle weights are DARN good for the spread on the truck and still leaves a bit of wiggle room.
that means your WD setup is doing what it should and the small differences are really nothing the worry about
you sir get MAJOR props for doing the work and weighing and actually seeing what you have


you see water is a killer , we travel with empty waste tanks and only 1/2 water.
even in our travel trailers an fifth wheel
our bus does not car we have nearly 5k of payload .
but our trailers were often 2k lbs or less so every bit counts

GREAT JOB sir

 

[dhrandy]

Looks really good to me. I need to do this with mine, I'm just always in a hurry. I'm running a Anderson WDH.

 

[{tpc}]

Ya I mean it looks good for sure. The numbers seem to indicate you would not have a payload problem. But without knowing its hard to say, especially after the description of everything you put in it. The picture seems to be of an unloaded truck, at least from the basis of your worst case description.

If I am reading right, the trailer weighs 5000 lbs loaded? Your only giving 10% for the tongue? I had a similar trailer, one I knew was 5000 lbs loaded as I weighed it on the scale by itself, and when I checked tongue weight I was in the 650 range. Creative loading can get that down, but usually those trailers with the big passthrough storage up front, and probably a large storage under the bed, also up front, and the water tank could be up there....sometimes that number shoots up quicker than one thinks.

 

[suprasteve]

The numbers seem to indicate you would not have a payload problem. But without knowing its hard to say, especially after the description of everything you put in it. The picture seems to be of an unloaded truck, at least from the basis of your worst case description.

The worst-case scenario is what was weighed and what the picture shows. Weights were taken upon departure and photo was taken at my destination. The only difference between the scale sheet and the picture is about 6 gallons (23L) of fuel that I burned getting there and I'm not in the driver's seat; so to the naked eye it looked the same when it rolled off the scale.

The truck is totally stock. no levelling kits etc.

If I am reading right, the trailer weighs 5000 lbs loaded?

I don't know I'm going to guess ~5100lbs.

The trailer has a dry weight of 3969lbs with 420lbs of tongue weight.
Across the scales, loaded, the trailer is carrying 4500lbs on its axles (combined). I'd not be surprised if the tongue weight is around 600-650lbs (based on the truck payload numbers, I have an idea). I don't really have a concern with trailer weight distribution; though... just that my WDH is transferring appropriately, and my truck ratings are good... After reading some responses, I think I am hearing these results are all positive:

- I am not over any specific axle weight rating trailer or truck (good for DOT / MTO)
- My truck has near-equal weight distribution between drive and steer (good for stability)
- I still have some GAWR left on the truck (and trailer) should I load things slightly differently. Great to have some extra capacity left in the rear axle, as I would likely add weight in the bed, if anywhere. Just eas easily, I can move some things to the trailer...
- My trailer has >10% tonque weight (I can't prove this; it's estimated, probably closer to 12 or 13%. based how much total truck payload has been consumed) - good for stability.

 

[kevdog0710]

I had that very trailer until October. I upgraded with the kids getting bigger.
Why are you traveling with anything in the black/grey tanks? I'm so anal about weight that I get upset if my water heater has water in it when I tow!

 

[{tpc}]

The worst-case scenario is what was weighed and what the picture shows. Weights were taken upon departure and photo was taken at my destination. The only difference between the scale sheet and the picture is about 6 gallons (23L) of fuel that I burned getting there and I'm not in the driver's seat; so to the naked eye it looked the same when it rolled off the scale.

The truck is totally stock. no levelling kits etc.

My apologies. I was looking for the bikes sticking out of the bed, but couldn't see them.

I don't know I'm going to guess ~5100lbs.

Sounds about right, thats kinda what I figured.

The trailer has a dry weight of 3969lbs with 420lbs of tongue weight.

If this numbers are from the trailer brochure, they are fictional at best.

- My trailer has >10% tonque weight (I can't prove this; it's estimated, probably closer to 12 or 13%. based how much total truck payload has been consumed) - good for stability.

Well its definitely not 420 lbs, at least I'd wager a strong amount against that.

I am still wondering what your payload sticker is? Also, look under the hitch on the truck and there should be a label from Ford showing Max Tongue Weight. Now your never going to be over that, or shouldn't be but its a good number to keep in mind.

So its 650+lets say 100 for the WDH. That's 750, Lets say 50 lbs for 2 child bicyles, 40 lbs for the extra case of water. 20 lbs for luggage, 50 lbs for the big cooler, 60 lbs for the big dog, 30 lbs for the little dog.

So thats 1000 lbs of payload plus 2 adults, and 2 kids. You could easily be at 1500 (if you were my family hahaha) or 1300, given the rest of the numbers. All sound good to me, assuming the payload sticker is more than that. Even if I was a little over, I probably wouldn't sweat it, but thats a personal decision one has to make for ones own self, right?

My trailer is larger and heavier than yours and the tongue weight iirc is right around 900-950 I think, its been a minute since I checked it. But I never bring anything but sewer hoses in the bed, unless I need the genny which weighs 100 lbs. And that stays home 99 of 100 trips lol. It won't put me over, we just don't boondock. I like to know I have some payload wiggle room in the truck in case I need it for something else. When we bring our bikes, which are fairly heavy, they go inside the trailer to eat some of that CCC we aren't using up in there, added benefit of that is it takes a little off the tongue and payload numbers of the truck.

Please don't take my post as being negative. You asked for feedback, so I am giving it. After driving myself crazy with numbers and measurements over the years, I have to have an outlet for this info haha.

 

[suprasteve]

I had that very trailer until October. I upgraded with the kids getting bigger.
Why are you traveling with anything in the black/grey tanks? I'm so anal about weight that I get upset if my water heater has water in it when I tow!

The hot water heater failed and leaked in our house. It was a few days before I could get a new one installed, so we used the trailer for showers, filling up the grey tank.

Black tank had something in it; not sure how much, as I don't think the sensors were accurate. I used a tank flush chemical and addeda bit of water; the goal of dumping everything once we arrived at the campground.

How did you like the trailer?

 

[kevdog0710]

The hot water heater failed and leaked in our house. It was a few days before I could get a new one installed, so we used the trailer for showers, filling up the grey tank.

Black tank had something in it; not sure how much, as I don't think the sensors were accurate. I used a tank flush chemical and addeda bit of water; the goal of dumping everything once we arrived at the campground.

How did you like the trailer?

The trailer was awesome, never an issue. It was a 2018 we purchased new. I wanted to keep it, but the wife had some good logic to upgrade.
We have 4.5 years of awesome family memories with it, good luck with yours!
The picture is from the day we took delivery.

 

[suprasteve]

If this numbers are from the trailer brochure, they are fictional at best.

Well its definitely not 420 lbs, at least I'd wager a strong amount against that.

agreed for sure.

I am still wondering what your payload sticker is?

1609lbs
Photos of 2021 XLT Payload Stickers! - Page 8 - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans
There are several items that would consume this, before loading up for camping:
- Spray in line-X bedliner (40-70lbs)
- MX4 Bed Cover (62lbs)
- Fender liners, mudflaps.
- WD hitch (115lbs!?!?), other stuff adds up fast as you mentioned..

I think the rest of your math lines up with my assumptions. All kind of a moot point though, cause we have the end result...

Payload capacity = GVWR - Curb Weight (GVW when new)

Because I know the truck's steer and drive axles added up to 6940lbs and the GVWR is 6900lbs... I'm 40lbs over. so 1609 + 40lbs...I know the total payload in the truck must be 1649lbs; including my fat ass, hitch weight, mudflaps and whatever dirt is stuck on the frame.

I think we're in agreement... if you do the math on I put in the truck, I gotta be in the area of around 650lbs tongue weight.

No offense taken and I am glad you are taking the time to consider the post, and help talk through this.[/QUOTE]

 

[Buyer2021]

I agree that you lack data to know for certain your trailer tongue weight bias, but also agree that all indications are you're safely above the 10% minimum bias desired to inherently minimize sway initiation. Just keep that in mind if / as you tweak your loading over time.

IF you have a convenient opportunity on another fully-loaded trip to make three CAT Scale passes ...

• Loaded truck alone
• loaded truck + trailer with WDH disengaged
• loaded truck + trailer with WDH engaged

... you'll have the data to draw a 'complete picture' including actual tongue weight bias and the effect of WDH engagement in terms of pounds; IMO the main value of that is to know how much cushion you have on the tongue-weight bias to guide subsequent 'intuitive' weight distribution changes.

Good job on the setup, IMO - you recognize the slight GVWR exceedance, but your 'sag' measurements indicate you've done a good job with overall load distribution.

Mainly IMO, you get kudos for being aware of the various factors contributing to relaxed towing and taking the steps (e.g. CAT Scale check, sag measurements) to ensure your rig is as optimally configured as is practical.


Nice rig, Happy Trailering!

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