I was able to get my truck and trailer weighed at an Escapees SmartWeigh location recently. Weights are with full gas tank, full propane tanks, full fresh water tank and empty black & grey tanks.
My truck ratings are:
GVWR ? 10,000
GCWR ? 19,200
GAWR Front ? 4,800
GAWR Rear ? 6100
Payload Capacity ? 2,685
Trailer:
GVWR ? 7,000
GAWR ? 3,500 (each axle)
Weighing Results:
Truck:
GVW ? 9,040 (with trailer)
GVW ? 8,440 (without trailer)
GCW ? 14,940
GAW Front ? 4,050
GAW Rear ? 4,990
Payload ? 1,125 (I calculated this by subtracting 2,685 from 10,000 = truck weight of 7,315. Truck total weight (8,440) less 7,315 = 1125. I think this is valid, but correct me if not.)
Trailer:
GVW ? 5,900
GAW Front ? 2,540
GAW Rear ? 2,760
Calculated tongue weight:
9,040 minus 8,440 = 600
I was very pleased with the results showing all the weights are well below the maximums. The tongue weight is a little low at 10%. I am adding 2 Lifeline AGM batteries to the tongue (66 lbs each) and a new rack to hold the total of 4 batteries. So this will add maybe 225 lbs. Not sure what the metal used in the rack will weigh. If the 225 lbs all goes to tongue weight, this would bring up to 14%.
Now that I know my actual weights, it brings up the question of whether I needed a F250 or could have gotten by with a F150.
I believe I could have found an F150 that would handle these weights, considering the truck itself would weigh less. Also my payload is actually a lot less than I imagined it would be. I don?t expect much change in that weight over time. I think I would be right at the limits with an F150 though? I would like the fact it would be much smaller and would get better gas mileage.
This F250 is a beast! It?s very difficult to park in cities/towns. Also, I?m not sure what is going on with my gas mileage. The first month or so I was getting 14 ? 16 not towing and 11 towing. Then the mileage dropped to 9 mpg towing or not. I changed the air filter and that brought my not towing mpg back to where it was. But towing I?m now getting 8 or 9 mpg. The only other thing I know to try is new spark plugs. A friend also suggested getting a aftermarket chip.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what I might try to get better mileage while towing? My trailer tires are rated for 65 mph. So I don?t drive over about 62 mph.
Oh, another thing I wanted to mention. The first time the truck was weighed the front axle weight was 4290 without trailer and 3850 with trailer. So the hitch wasn?t transferring weight to the front axle. The guy doing the weighing had me adjust the hitch. I have an Equalizer E2. There are six holes on the bracket. The bolts were in the middle 2 holes. He said to drop to the bottom 2 holes. Then re-weighed and got the new axles weights which are above. About 200 lbs moved to the front. Does this seem correct?
My truck ratings are:
GVWR ? 10,000
GCWR ? 19,200
GAWR Front ? 4,800
GAWR Rear ? 6100
Payload Capacity ? 2,685
Trailer:
GVWR ? 7,000
GAWR ? 3,500 (each axle)
Weighing Results:
Truck:
GVW ? 9,040 (with trailer)
GVW ? 8,440 (without trailer)
GCW ? 14,940
GAW Front ? 4,050
GAW Rear ? 4,990
Payload ? 1,125 (I calculated this by subtracting 2,685 from 10,000 = truck weight of 7,315. Truck total weight (8,440) less 7,315 = 1125. I think this is valid, but correct me if not.)
Trailer:
GVW ? 5,900
GAW Front ? 2,540
GAW Rear ? 2,760
Calculated tongue weight:
9,040 minus 8,440 = 600
I was very pleased with the results showing all the weights are well below the maximums. The tongue weight is a little low at 10%. I am adding 2 Lifeline AGM batteries to the tongue (66 lbs each) and a new rack to hold the total of 4 batteries. So this will add maybe 225 lbs. Not sure what the metal used in the rack will weigh. If the 225 lbs all goes to tongue weight, this would bring up to 14%.
Now that I know my actual weights, it brings up the question of whether I needed a F250 or could have gotten by with a F150.
I believe I could have found an F150 that would handle these weights, considering the truck itself would weigh less. Also my payload is actually a lot less than I imagined it would be. I don?t expect much change in that weight over time. I think I would be right at the limits with an F150 though? I would like the fact it would be much smaller and would get better gas mileage.
This F250 is a beast! It?s very difficult to park in cities/towns. Also, I?m not sure what is going on with my gas mileage. The first month or so I was getting 14 ? 16 not towing and 11 towing. Then the mileage dropped to 9 mpg towing or not. I changed the air filter and that brought my not towing mpg back to where it was. But towing I?m now getting 8 or 9 mpg. The only other thing I know to try is new spark plugs. A friend also suggested getting a aftermarket chip.
Any thoughts or suggestions on what I might try to get better mileage while towing? My trailer tires are rated for 65 mph. So I don?t drive over about 62 mph.
Oh, another thing I wanted to mention. The first time the truck was weighed the front axle weight was 4290 without trailer and 3850 with trailer. So the hitch wasn?t transferring weight to the front axle. The guy doing the weighing had me adjust the hitch. I have an Equalizer E2. There are six holes on the bracket. The bolts were in the middle 2 holes. He said to drop to the bottom 2 holes. Then re-weighed and got the new axles weights which are above. About 200 lbs moved to the front. Does this seem correct?