Recommended Weight Distribution System When Getting Close To Tow Vehicles Weight Limit

Question:

Hi. I have a 35 ft long Trailer/Camper, dry weight is 7,125, but when loaded, probably gets into 8,500 lbs easy. Should I be towing this long and heavy of a trailer with Toyota Tundra Double Cab Short bed 4x4, V8, 5.7L engine? Says towing capacity is 9,700 lbs, but payload is 1,380 lbs only. My concerns are payload, added passengers, cargo in truck bed, tongue weight, etc... Feel like i am exceeding limits. Also, length of a trailer compared to 1/2 ton truck. Whats your opinions.

asked by: Hans

Helpful Expert Reply:

The best way to determine if your Tundra can tow a particular trailer (This is the best way but not necessarily the easiest) is to load the vehicle just as it will be loaded when taking it on a trip with the trailer and weigh it on a commercial scale.

Once you have its loaded weight find the Tundra's gross combined weight rating (GCWR) on its spec sheet inside the driver's side door. Subtract the weight of the loaded vehicle from the GCWR. What you are left with is the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow with the vehicle loaded.

In this case weight distribution (WD) systems are recommended if your trailer weight is more than 50 percent of your vehicle's weight. A WD system will help evenly distribute the weight evenly. This will result in a smooth, level ride, as well as the ability to tow at the maximum capacity of your hitch. If you are not exceeding the payload limits of your vehicle (passengers and cargo), the following solution will work very well to produce a safe tow.

A weight distribution hitch will have 2 weight ratings, the gross trailer weight and the tongue weight. Gross trailer weight (GTW) refers to the (fully loaded) weight of the fully loaded trailer in its actual towing condition. Tongue Weight (TW) refers to the tongue weight of your trailer plus the weight of the cargo that sits behind the rear axle of your vehicle. Typically GTW is about 10 to 15 percent of GTW.

I have a help article attached that show you how to determine actual TW, if you need a TW scale, I recommend # e99044.

Since you believe that your fully loaded trailer weight is 8500lbs, that means your have a TW anywhere between 850 and 1275 pounds. I recommend # C17501 which is rated to handle tongue up to 1500lbs and will evenly distribute weight over axles of tow vehicle and trailer for improved stability and control.

If your TW is under 1000lbs I recommend the Curt TruTrack Weight Distribution System w/ Sway Control # C17500.