As some know I am in the processes of buying a new 27FB, and thought I had done good research that this TT was ok with my TV.
I have a 2011 Tundra 5.7 w/tow package.
This thread
Check EVERYTHING On Your Hitch has caused me to pause and made me re-think how close to max I want to be.
Before I even considered which TT to get I ran some calculations which included data from going to a certified CAT scale with my wife/kid/stuff in the truck.
These calculations (posted below if interested) resulted in a max dry weight TT of
6300# for my TV. (this assumes 1000# of gear/stuff loaded into this TT)
The dry weights I see for the
AS range I am considering are...
5552# 25FB (88% of my max)
5764# 27FB (91% of my max)
Under, but not by much for either, and really no difference between the two.
I know this has been covered, but for me worth opening a discussion...
Am I crazy to think even a 25FB is pushing it?
Some things to note.
a) I can not go smaller, wife has hurt back and we really need the bed size from 25 and up
b) I tend to be a safety nut which translates to me wanting to be safe but not being extreme (e.g. it is not safe getting on the freeway at 30mph, etc), thus always follow speed limits, etc.
c) I am not going to tow, ever, in the snow. We do not do winter sports, never will, my wife is a hot blooded Texan and we both just do not like cold weather so we tend to not travel into those types of environments.
So this is semi-threatening my AS purchase, but it also seems wrong b/c it kind of means you really can not tow anything over a 23FB with a 1/2 ton truck. Also my TV and TT weights will almost be the same, so that in itself seems OK, if it was not how do 1 Tons tow the monster SOB's/Live stock/loads I have seen?
Really?
===== My calculations based on an email thread with a fine gentleman named Ron Gratz over at RV.net =====
First Ron's message
HOW MUCH CAN YOUR TRUCK CARRY/PULL?
The answer to this question depends on several factors -- one of which is how much the truck and contents will weigh when loaded for camping.
Step 1) The best way to determine this is to load the truck approximately as it would be loaded for camping. Have the fuel tank full. If you already have the weight distribution hitch, put it in the truck bed. If you don't have the WDH, add about 100# to the measured load.
Then find a place to get the loaded truck weighed. This can be a CAT Scale or you might find one at a nursery, quarry, trash collection station, feed store, etc. For this weighing, you do not need individual axle loads. The combined weight is sufficient. This weight is the Loaded GVW.
Step 2) Find the Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) for your truck. This can be found in the Owner's Manual for your particular vehicle. Subtract your TV's Loaded GVW from the GCWR. The difference is the first estimate for maximum allowable TT weight. Call this "MaxTT1".
Step 3) Find the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for your truck. This should be printed on the certification label on the driver's door edge or pillar. Subtract the TV's Loaded GVW from the TV's GVWR. The difference is the maximum allowable trailer-induced vertical load which can be carried by the TV. With a properly-adjusted WDH, the vertical load will be approximately 75% of the TT's tongue weight. The first estimate for maximum tongue weight is equal to maximum allowable vertical load divided by 0.75. Call this value "MaxTW1".
Step 4) Look on the truck's receiver and find the maximum tongue weight rating for the "weight distributing" mode. Call this "MaxTW2".
Step 5) The smaller of MaxTW1 and MaxTW2 will be the maximum allowable loaded tongue weight for the TT. Call this "MaxTW".
Step 6) You can estimate the loaded tongue weight will be 13% of the loaded TT weight. This means the second estimate for maximum allowable TT weight will be equal to MaxTW/0.13. Call the result "MaxTT2".
Step 7) The smaller of MaxTT1 and MaxTT2 will be the estimated maximum allowable TT weight. Call this MaxTT. You'll often find that MaxTT is determined by TV GVWR or receiver rating rather than by GCWR.
Step 8) Estimate how much stuff you will load into the TT. Many people find this weight to be about 1000#. Subtract this estimated weight from MaxTT to determine the maximum TT "dry weight" you should be considering.
Step 9) Research your candidate TT's to find the proper value for "dry weight". Do not rely on the nunbers posted on a manufacturer's website or printed in a brochure. Instead, look at an actual TT and find the UVW value on the certification sticker. Or, you sometimes can find an image of the federally-mandated sticker on a dealer's website.
Ron
Second my calculations based off above
2012 Toyota Tundra Crewmax w/tow package
Step 1-2 results...
CATW = 6500#
GCWR = 15200#
thus...
MaxTT1 == 8700#
Step 3 results...x`
GVWR = 7200#
thus...
MaxTW1 = 700# (no WDH)
MaxTW1 = 950# (w/ WDH)
Step 4 results...
MaxTW2 == 1400#
Step 5 results...
MaxTW = 950#
Step 6 results...
MaxTT2 == 7300#
Step 7 results...
MaxTT == 7300#
Step 8 results...
gear ~= 1000#
thus...
NewMaxTT == 6300#