Hitch Weight Concerns

[RDCarlson65]

I ordered a 330rsts but am now having concerns about hitch weight. My truck should be able to handle a hitch weight of around 1200 lbs. Looking at the specs of the 330 rsts it has a tongue weight of about 1400lbs. Will that 200 lbs difference damage my truck? Are the water tanks aft of the axle on this model and if full, will they counter balance the weight?

Have I made a huge mistake ordering this trailer?

[Marcm157]

Very open ended question. What Truck do you have? What is its Payload? How is it equipped? The more information you provide, the easier it will be for others to help answer your concerns.

[DocBrown]

The GVWR of that trailer is 11,995. Loaded you could be looking at a tongue weight of more like 1500#. This is a question I think you already know the answer to.

[finalcountdn]

Load you Wife,kids,dog and whatever else you will be carrying in the truck while towing. Find a CAT scale and weigh your truck. Subtract this weight from the GVWR of you truck found on the door sticker. Example: (GVWR)7,000lbs - (CAT scale weight)5,880lbs = (payload available)1,120lbs
You need to subtract 100lbs for the weight distribution hitch that you will have to use.

This link will help you find a CAT scale near you. Other scales will work as well.

https://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator/

[RDCarlson65]

I own a Ram 2500 with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. towing seems well within specs. I went and weighed the truck yesterday with wife, me, and dogs and it came in at 8,840 lbs.

GAWR for front axle is 5,750. GAWR for rear axle is 6,000. Went and weighed axles independantly this morning and the front axle was 5,060 and rear axle was 3,400. So if I went with that, could I add a larger load on the rear even if it went over total GVWR? (Why is the GVWR less than the combined weight of the two GAWR's?)

So the 330RSTS says it has a tongue weight of 1,350 or so, which would put us over by about 200 lbs for GVWR, but still under if just considering GAWR for rear axle.

We have also been looking at another 5th wheel that has a pin weight of just under 1,700 lbs, about 500 lbs over on GVWR, but still under if just considering GAWR for the rear axle.

If we go by GVWR both would be over by some amount. But if we go by GAWR, we would be under.

And these weights don't take into account loading of the trailer.

Also... If the water tanks are behind the wheels, would the full weight have a counter balance effect and actually LOWER the tongue weight?

And yes, I am grasping at straws trying to make this work. My wife has her heart set on one or the other of these trailers, and I really don't want to dissapoint her.

Should I just give up and look for a smaller trailer? (Can't afford a new larger truck)

[colby]

Tongue weight is expected to be 10-15% of the loaded trailer weight. For calculations, 12 or 13% of trailer GVWR is a decent guesstimate before getting actual weights, although to be really conservative, 15% is the number to use. Loading up the trailer heavy on the back end is an invitation to sway (there's a good YouTube video on that - https://youtu.be/i2fkOVHAC8Q).

Safety (yours and others) should always be the first concern. Going over manufacturer's weight ratings may be doable; however, in the course of an accident where someone is injured or killed, insurance may not cover you (I'm not a lawyer, so that is not meant to be any legal advice, that is my own opinion from research and reading).

In my opinion, I would be looking at a different rig, one that is well within the weight limits of the vehicle.

[DocBrown]

Originally Posted by RDCarlson65

So the 330RSTS says it has a tongue weight of 1,350 or so, which would put us over by about 200 lbs for GVWR, but still under if just considering GAWR for rear axle.

And these weights don't take into account loading of the trailer.

That's the point I was trying to make. You keep quoting the 1350# tongue weight. That dry tongue weight. You will never tow at dry weight. The trailer leaves the factory heavier than dry weight due to addition of options, including any mandatory packages. When all is said and done you're looking at a 1500# tongue weight packed and ready to camp.

Don't grasp at straws. Be safe. Do it right. Your wife would even less happy if you were were towing down the road and your hitch breaks. It would not happen right away but over time.

[morleyz]

The CAT scale tongue weight of my 330RSTS came to about 1650lbs on a trailer weight of 11200. I was towing it with a F-250 with a 10K GVWR. We were under payload, axle ratings, tow ratings, GVWR but were actually over the 1500lbs hitch rating.

Your GVWR is lower than the combine GAWR because they cap it at 10K for registration purposes as that is a magic number in many states between non-commercial/commercial truck registration or just a higher registration fee on a heavy duty truck.

I can't provide any legal advice, but personally I would be fine with your setup. Others can and will differ in their opinion. I was happy towing with the F-250 and only upgraded because we wanted different features.

[Rustic Eagle]

RDCarlson65,

Welcome to JOF

The 2020 330RSTS has a "published" UVW of 10,665lbs and GVWR of 11,995lbs. The "as shipped" 2020 330RSTS UVW's come in around 11,000lbs (sampling of yellow sticker's).

IMO with a starting UVW of 11,000lbs a ready-to-camp loaded weight at GVWR (11,995lbs) is a given reality. With the 330RSTS at 40ft long a 13% to 15% loaded tongue weight range would be highly recommended....., thus 11,995lbs gross weight = 1,560lbs to 1,800lb loaded tongue weight range. IMO 15% would be my target.

Your Ram 2500 with a GVWR of 10,000lbs - CAT scale gross weight 8,840lbs = 1,160lbs available payload capacity.

Originally Posted by RDCarlson65

snip.......Should I just give up and look for a smaller trailer?.....snip

I would.

Bob