Loading gear question

[wkc22fb]

We're headed out on our first extended stay trip and goodness is there a lot of gear to take! List includes bicycles, fishing gear, grill and charcoal, Coleman stove, that's just what's in the truck. TT has a weeks worth of clothes for two, lounge chairs, tool pouch, 2 pcs of cast iron cookware and that's really the bulk of heavy gear in it. We'll buy food at destination. Anyway, if I remember correctly by past posts, shouldn't you put as much weight in the TT instead of towing vehicle? My TT tongue weight is very light for the most part.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by wkc22fb

snip........ Anyway, if I remember correctly by past posts, shouldn't you put as much weight in the TT instead of towing vehicle? My TT tongue weight is very light for the most part.

As far as where to place the cargo (TV or TT), it all depends on your personal loading habits. Moving cargo weight between the TV and TT would require knowing what your actual loaded weights are and how they compare to your TV/TT specified weight limits. The loaded tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the loaded TT weight.

IMO since you are loading heavier than you normally do for your extended trip, I would take your loaded TV/TT combination to a CAT scale which will provide you with all the data you will need to confirm cargo placement, tongue weight, and WDH adjustment (if required). In most cases folks are surprised how much weight they are carrying.

CAT scale how to: http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthrea...igh-Your-tt-tv

Bob

[VicS1950]

Not that RE needs my support... Going to a scale is very good advice. Otherwise it is just guesswork.

I would add that within your tow vehicle limitations and setup, tongue weight favoring heavy is better than too light. So maybe pack weight forward in the trailer loading rather than most weight aft. Almost nothing makes any trailer more skittish than too little tongue weight.

I prefer extra stuff in my tow vehicle rather than loading up a trailer whether it is a TT or a boat. As with everything, that is within reason. FWIW. vic

[certified106]

In my opinion going to the scales is completely dependant on the truck/trailer combo.... There is probably no way I could pack enough gear in my camper and or truck to get it over any of it's rated capacity's. On your rig I couldn't venture a guess just because F150's have such varying tow capacities. At first glance over your list of stuff we leave all of that in the camper at all times whether we are going for 1 night or 7.

If you are worried about your weights I would just run to a scale as was suggested above and then you can have some peace of mind.

I hope you have a great trip!! The count down is on for my family and in 6 days we are out of here for a week of fishing at Lake Erie!

[wkc22fb]

Good advice y'all. I'll hit a scale while headed south tomorrow. Thinking out loud here, I don't think there's any way I've loaded 1,800lbs of cargo on this 22' TT. Quiet frankly the heaviest item in the TT are chairs and clothes. I'm very curious though about total weight and this is best heaviest scenario I'll have.

[certified106]

Once you weigh everything let us know what it was, curious minds want to know.

[Rustic Eagle]

If you can, report back and let us know what you find out at the CAT scale..., always interesting to see how the loaded weights stack up with different TV/TT combinations.

Originally Posted by wkc22fb

snip....... Thinking out loud here, I don't think there's any way I've loaded 1,800lbs of cargo on this 22' TT.....snip

If the 1,800lb cargo capacity is based on the TT's Yellow Ship Weight Sticker, good chance you should be fine....., assuming you don't travel with a full tank of fresh water. At least you will find out if the TT's cargo is placed correctly so that your loaded tongue weight falls within the recommended range which will optimize your TV handling characteristics.

Bob

[wkc22fb]

Will do Rustic but just found out the scales I wanna use are closed, will have to research another within reason.

[Rustic Eagle]

If you open the "How To" link I provided in my prior reply, there is another link that identifies the locations of all CAT scales. If there isn't a scale close to your home base, I'm sure you will run across one during your trip.

Bob