Hitch weight (tongue)

[Ronnie1972]

Hello, I'm new to towing & the forum, but I've been reading avidly. I thought I'd triple check as to what the hitch weight of a TT does to the trailer.

From what I THINK I understand, basically the issue with the hitch weight is to avoid maxing out your total cargo capacity of the truck, and avoid overloading your axles. Is that correct?

I'm looking at a 08 Keystone Cougar X-Lite 29BHS. 6185 dry weight, 870 hitch weight. I DEFINITELY understand the need to weigh both the truck & the TT thanks to this forum. My concern is the hitch weight is a little high (although the % is still pretty ok). Any advice is appreciated.



Oh forgot to mention, the TV is a 08 5.7L CrewMax. People in the truck would equal about 375 lbs total.

[tomhole]

Should be ok. Expect the trailer to weigh about 7300 lbs loaded for camping with a hitch weight of close to 1000 lbs. The goal is to remain under the GVWR of the truck and not exceed an axle rating. Be careful how much you load in the truck and how much you load in that front pass through storage. I wouldn't carry more than 10 gals of fresh water unless the tank is over the axles (on these floorplans, it's usually in the front pass through storage which can add a lot of hitch weight). You can control your hitch weight with how you load the trailer. I found 12% to be the minimum for my trailer.

Use a good weight distribution hitch set up properly. Use a good brake controller. Enjoy the new trailer, which looks like a nice one, BTW.

Tom



Weight 6230
Carrying Capacity 1570
Hitch 850
Length 32' 6"
Width 8'
Height 10' 11"
Fresh Water 41 gal.
Waste Water 28 gal.
Gray Water 28 gal.
LPG 60
Tire Size 225/75R15D
Rim Size 15 x 6

[quarque]

Ronnie - in addition to Tom's excellent advice I'd second the part about:

get a Weight Distributing Hitch!

This is maybe the most critical part of the equation. Putting 1000 lbs at the back end of your truck will cause many problems without a WDH.

[Ronnie1972]

Thanks guys! Bought it today with the Equalizer on it (or to be installed PDQ). Would Air Bags be a good fit for my application? I'll probably be switching out the tires (since we plan on camping every two or 3 weekends). Will order the P3 in the morning. Appreciate all the help you guys give to all of us.

[Blackdogs]

For future reference, there is a cheap ($100) small tongue weight scale available Sherline products that takes the guesswork out of hooking up your trailer. I use one of these and check my tongue wieght every time I hook up to make sure I am not overloading or under-loading my hitch.

[Ronnie1972]

Thanks. Had planned on ordering one already due to Tom's recommendations on the Sherline. Just ordered it too. SOO many things to buy.

[04DSGTUNDRA]

I would go with helper springs instead of airbags, because if an airbag pops while in tow, you could wreck.

[mkjudge]

Ronnie, I have the exact same setup as you, just bought the TT also.
I have a number of long-time RV friends that are telling me that with the hitch weight, I am way over the capacity. I like you see that it is close, but I think there is sufficient room for error.
I was told by the dealer to put water in the fresh tank for ballast against the hitch if needed although I hate to add unnecessary weight.

[1jeep]

I have a similiar size trailer, actually slightly bigger. Keystone Outback Sydney 32bhds, weighs 8200lbs ready to camp and is 32'. I really doubted the tundra with this much trailer but it has proven me wrong, this is not to say i am not over my cargo capacity.
As stated use a good weight dist setup, brake controller and ditch the "P" tires. I also added a sway bar and air bags.

[harper223]

Here is my setup. With the Reese Dual Cam, no problems at all.

2008 Jayco Jayflight G2, 32BHDS: 8200 pounds I think...







Make sure when your adjusting your weight dist. hitch, when you count your chain links, your front tires for the truck need to be firmly planted. That is, count another chain link, tighten up with the cheater bar, and drive around for a test drive. Also, there really is no need to keep water in the fresh water tank of the trailer unless your boondocking or something.