Transferred weight from trailer

thecatsandi · 11-27-2007, 08:29 PM

My trip to the scales the other day got me thinking. Yeah, I know trouble.

here are the weigths.
Front axle 4780 lbs
Rear Axle 4760 lbs Total for the truck 9540.
Trailer 8680 lbs.
Total 18,220 lbs.

The trucks Gross weight is 10,000 lbs.
There is approximately 1000 lbs transfered from the from rear to the front axle.
So here is the question. Is the tougue weight from the trailer included in the max gross for the truck or can I load the truck to 10,000 lbs and then add the approximate 1000 lbs from the trailer?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Beginner · 11-27-2007, 08:40 PM

OK, now you know the weight on the front and rear axle of the TV. Next you need to know the weight on each of the trailer axles. YOU can position the trailer on the CAT scale so that each individual trailer axle is weighed. You take the four weights (of each axle) and start figuring and adjusting. You are aiming for the same weight on each axle.
To change the weight on the trailer axles you raise and lower the ball.
To change the weight on the axles of the tow vehicle you add or remove links under tension of the spring bars.
Just remember, when you change something everything changes so you have to weigh each axle individually again.
Play with it, you will get it just right. Took me four hours one afternoon.
Beginner

thecatsandi · 11-27-2007, 10:01 PM

Ok,
That was not my question. The trailer axle weghts are close as possible. There may be some variance due to the loading but the trailer is measured level and that should keep the wieght between the axles close. THe traielr weight is goign to change every time I tow. Water level, Grey and black levels, food, and cat supplies. all vary.

bobkelly · 11-27-2007, 10:41 PM

Michelle---My understanding of GVW is it is the total wt that the truck supports/carries and passes to the ground thru the tires. That would include wt on the hitch, along with passengers, misc stuff inside and outside that contributes to the total load that passes thru the truck to the ground.

The data suggests your truck is about maxed out. Did you weigh the truck alone to get a handle on the front and rear axle wt? Ditto the trailer for tongue wt plus axle wts. This elminates any guess work in your analysis.

2airishuman · 11-27-2007, 10:48 PM

nice try cats but no free lunch!

the tongue mass IS part of the payload and is counted against the gvwr...

which is 10k for our trucks.

while the w/d distribution issue is to reload the front axle and balance the f/r axles...

it also keeps us from overloading the rear axle rating...

i think the front axle is about 6000 lb and the rear 6,100 lbs gawr

recently i towed 5,000 miles with the rear axle load about 800lbs greater than the front...

and used up 4-5/32nd MORE rubber from the rear tires....

cheers
2air'

and here is another number (truck limit to confuse u)....

"the combined weights of occupants and cargo should never exceed 2069 lbs"...

now explain that one!

imo (while towing) the gvwr is less critical than the gcwr, which is the limit for EVERYTHING connected and rolling (truck and trailer)

you are still well under that number, which is 23,000 lbs? i think.

my understanding is the trucks brake specifications are matched to the gvwr of 10k,

but the trailer (disc) obviously assist significantly with the combined mass.

Beginner · 11-28-2007, 06:07 AM

"the tongue weight is part of the payload and is counted against the gvwr" from 2airishuman I agree with.
In my case, probally due to the age of the trailer, even though the trailer was LEVEL the axle weights ewere of by more than 300 lbs. I made adjustments to correct the loading.
Thats why my trailer is not exactly level.
Beginner

thecatsandi · 11-28-2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobkelly

Did you weigh the truck alone to get a handle on the front and rear axle wt? Ditto the trailer for tongue wt plus axle wts.

I did not weigh the truck alone. There were too many trucks runing around the stop. I got on and off.

The truck as delivered was 8000 and change. With the cap adn cargo that added about 500 lbs. Add about 1000 for the trailer tongue weight and you have 9500.

thecatsandi · 11-28-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

nice try cats but no free lunch!
you are still well under that number, which is 23,000 lbs? i think.

It is 23,000 for SRW F-250 3.73 rear, diesel 6.0L

thecatsandi · 11-30-2007, 08:17 PM

A little Update.
I was at the dealer her in Boise the other day. I had lots of time on my hands. My engine had an oil eak and it took them four hours to fix it.
I asked the Diesel service manager my question. Same general anwser as here. The tongue weight counts counts the payload.
I asked one the sales men. No clue. He was able to show me a Ford Glossy on towing. It did not say either way. He defered me to a truck specialist. They called later that day.
I asked him my question and he started to recite the glossy. I told him that did not answer my question. I restated and he went and got a bulletin.

His final answer "I would included the tonge weight as payload against the 10,000 GVW for the truck. However, the bulletin says otherwise. You may load the vehicle to 10,000 lbs and as long as the trailer and truck as less than the GCVW you are ok." THis means I can load the truck to 10,000 lbs and as long as my trailer is less than 13,000 lbs I am fine. So I am good either way. Just barely including the tongue weight as cargo and by a lot around 5,000 lbs if I do not.

2airishuman · 11-30-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

...as long as the trailer and truck as less than the GCVW you are ok...

well that's as i suggested at the end of post 4.

thanks for the update. i'd love to see/read that bulletin.

and would really love to be in the room when these guys make up the ratings!

cheers
2air'

also don't forget you still have the AXLE RATINGS and tire ratings to content with...

where was your oil leak?

i had one at the rear glow plug which took 2 tries to fix.

there is a 'known' issue at the turbo hose so they wrongly 'fixed' that first.

of course that didn't correct the leak.

i had to ASK them to use a fluorescent marker and LOOK for the leak.

Foiled Again · 11-30-2007, 08:36 PM

Ever hear this one?
An Expert is a former drip now under pressure.

Or this?
How can you tell if a salesman is lying to you? His lips are moving.

Not trashing dealerships, but (a) staff turnover depletes expertise and more impportantly (b) they are in the business of selling cars and trucks - and the sooner you ruin your current vehicle, the sooner you'll be looking for a new one. They want to help you preserve the longevity of your vehicle because...?

I'll listen to 2Air or Lewster or either Andy when I want decent advice about towing! I tried to install my Prodigy controller yesterday and in spite of the great pictures, etc. couldn't find the effen wiring harness under the dash. Took it back to the dealer today and their service tech said "no problem", stuck his head under the dash and started to sweat. About 5 minutes later he finally found it, curled up WAY UP THERE and hidden unlike in the picture. He and I then reviewed the under the hood stuff - exactly as pictured - and we jointly decided that since I can read, am not color blind, and DO know how to use a soldering iron and what shrinkable wire wraps are I should have no problem. It's too cold to do tonight, so I'll wrap that up in the morning. I'm electing to fish the wiring through the left side fuse box and mount the controller on TOP of the dash rather than under it. I'm a leftie and I could barely reach the controller while driving in the old 'burb. If I ever have to pull the lever to lock up the trailer brakes and pull out of a fishtail, I want to be able to reach it while still keeping my eyes above the steering wheel. I'm a bit worried that the state troopers will think it's a radar detector... I would have to live in the only state where they are illegal! I think I'll use the removable cradle mount Tekonsha supplied so that I can put the controller under the seat or in the glove box when I'm not towing.

Paula

Fyrzowt · 11-30-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Ever hear this one?
An Expert is a former drip now under pressure.

Very similar: An Ex is a "has been", a spurt is a drip under pressure.
Dave

thecatsandi · 11-30-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

well that's as i suggested at the end of post 4.

I will have to re-read #4

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

thanks for the update. i'd love to see/read that bulletin.

If i have time I will take atrip back to the dealer and see if I can get a copy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

also don't forget you still have the AXLE RATINGS and tire ratings to content with...

I will have to lok those up on the door. I had forgotten about those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

where was your oil leak?

crank position sensor.
they did the die job to find it.

2airishuman · 11-30-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

If i have time I will take atrip back to the dealer and see if I can get a copy.

I will have to lok those up on the door. I had forgotten about those.

crank position sensor..they did the die job to find it.

yea the dye is the way they are supposed to do it.

my axle ratings are 6000/6100 lbs frt/rear.

i think the 06s are the same.

getting a copy of the bulletin would be a BIG score, like landing a big ol' fish.

go for it!

2air'