onelove
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Hi:
I took my 2002 Ford F-150 extended cab and 1997 22-foot Starcraft Shimera travel trailer to the local scale recently. Below are the weights:
Tow vehicle only (camper not attached): 5,340 lbs
Tow vehicle only on scale (camper attached): 6,000 lbs
Tow vehicle & camper on scale: 9,940 lbs
Subtracting the 5,340 pound weight of tow vehicle only from the 9,940 pounds of both the tow vehicle and camper shows me the camper weighs 4,600 pounds.
The difference of subtracting the 5,340 pounds of the tow vehicle only weight from the 6,000 pounds of the tow vehicle only on scale but with camper attached is 660 pounds.
Is the 660 pounds the tongue weight?
If so, is the 600/6,000 Equalizer hitch sufficient or should I go with the 1,000/10,000 hitch?
Thanks.
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Wishin
Grand Rapids, MI
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Were you using a weight distribution hitch with the W/D bars functioning when you got the scale readings?
If you were then your tounge weight will be higher than what you calculated because the W/D hitch will transfer some of the tounge weight back to the trailer axles.
If you were not using any W/D then the tounge weight is accurate other than the W/D hitch parts will add to your tounge weight.
Was the trailer loaded for camping? If not then that can increase your tounge weight as well. Either way your tounge weight is above 600 lbs so you really can't go with the 600/6,000 hitch.
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Cosworth
Winter Park
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Your trailer weighs 4600 lbs. You do not need a weight distributor until you reach 5000 lbs. 660 lbs. of tongue weight is obviously over the 600 lb rating of your hitch by 60 lbs. ASSuming the trailer was loaded for camping, simply shift some weight from the front to the back of the trailer. There are a million variables that can be considered but it appears from your concern of your weights you have a very good understanding of safe trailering.
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onelove
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Hi:
Camper is actually 24 feet, not 22 as stated in initial posting. The camper was completely empty and battery removed from tongue but two 30 pound propane tanks near full. The manufacture stated weight is 4,500 pounds.
No equalizer hitch installed. Just trying to determine if I need one. I pulled the camper approximately 200 miles and sway was never an issue. I was just curious if I should get a weight distribution hitch for weight distributing aspects. At some point, I'll load up the camper and go back to the scale. This is my first travel trailer.
Thanks
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ramblemutt
Mountains of Utah-7000'
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All the technical stuff aside and assuming you're interested in safety and comfort of towing, get yourself a 1K/10K equalizer....it will be $ well spent.
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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Go with the #1000/#10,000... That will give you a little "fudge" room if you decide to load more cargo and/or you upgrade to a larger rig at some point in the future... Anytime you hang #500-#600 on the rear of the truck, your going to adversely effect truck handling and you DO need weight distribution...
Les
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john b
anywhere USA!
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ramblemutt wrote:All the technical stuff aside and assuming you're interested in safety and comfort of towing, get yourself a 1K/10K equalizer....it will be $ well spent.
You will not be doing anything wrong using a "equalizer brand" with this setup,quite contrary avoiding unnecesary problems for a reasonable price & more safety also...you will have a good sway control!IMHO
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shorthair
vancouver, wa. usa.
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Your # of 660# is correct & I agree with LAdams that a hitch in the range of 1,000# would add a lot to my comfort level if it was me towing.
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LarryJM
NoVa
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LAdams wrote:Go with the #1000/#10,000... That will give you a little "fudge" room if you decide to load more cargo and/or you upgrade to a larger rig at some point in the future... Anytime you hang #500-#600 on the rear of the truck, your going to adversely effect truck handling and you DO need weight distribution...
Les
In general I completely agree with the cargo issue, but with my current vehicle with it's almost 4K+ cargo capacity, I have found even when the rear axle is loaded to it's max 6K and at the 9.5K GVWR wt. for he overall van the squat is minimal and the handling is better the more wt. on the rear. Now my TV is a little unique being a 1T cargo based diesel van, but these are my experiences just for information. BTW the pic in my signature is when I had the dealer set up my Equal-i-zer and was on our first trip out when I had that 6K rear load and that slight "squat" in that pic is now gone after I readjusted things based on a more typical load in my Van when towing.
Larry
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onelove
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The 1,000/10,000 hitch it is. Thanks
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