What is Included When Calculating Trailer Tongue Weight, 2004 Ford F-150 Lariet 4x4 Supercrew

Question:

I have a receiver hitch that is rated 9000/900 tongue.I will be towing a Keystone hideout 27dbs...gvwr is 7840...hitch of 840 the question is that hitch rating a max or like a curb weight type of rating Do you still have to add the lp tanks and batterys? I was thinking that maybe I should move up to a class 5 hitch. If I do that...is that safe to do...is the factory installed hitch welded on? I am getting kinda of nervous that my tongue weight rating is to low and my hitch weight will be higher than I first thought

asked by: john

Expert Reply:

To calculate tongue weight, you would include everything on and in the trailer, in the bed of the truck, as well as the trailer loaded and ready to tow. Tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight. So with everything loaded on the trailer, including the fuel tanks, battery, cargo, and anything else that is the weight you need to go by. If it totals out to be 8,000 pounds, the tongue weight could potentially be as low as 800 pounds or as high as 1,200 pounds. To reduce tongue weight closer to the 10 percent, you can move some of the load towards the back of the trailer.

To me it sounds like it will be too close for comfort and it will probably be worthwhile to use a hitch with a higher capacity. If your 2004 Ford F-150 is a Heritage series, we have several hitches available with higher capacities, like Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch, # 41920. It has a rating of 10,000 pounds gross trailer weight and 1,000 pounds tongue weight. I have included a link to the installation details and a video showing installation on a similar truck. If you do not have a Heritage series, we do not show a hitch with a higher capacity than what you currently have.

I do not have any specific notes stating that a factory hitch on your model truck is welded on. The only certain way to know is to look underneath the truck and see if it bolted, riveted or welded. Also, be sure to check the owners manual for the specific towing capacities of your truck and avoid exceeding them. I have included a link below that explains, in part, how to calculate tongue weight.

expert reply by: Michael H