Question about my numbers after CAT Scale

[LJS1211]

So we recently purchased a new to us 2013 Airstream International Serenity 30RB and I'm pulling it with a 2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Z71 with the 6.0 Gas Engine. This trailer is definitely heavier than our previous travel trailer so I decided to stop by a CAT Scale this weekend when we left for our camping trip. We were fully loaded with gas, wife, kids and dogs and in the bed I had our normal gear (bikes, wood, dog gate, chairs and bbq grill). Here are the numbers I got from the scale:

Truck Only:
Steer Axle - 4,240
Drive Axle - 3,700

Truck and Trailer w/ WDH engaged:
Steer Axle - 4,120
Drive Axle - 4,960
Trailer Axel - 6,720

Truck and Trailer w/ WDH unhooked:
Steer Axle - 3,940
Drive Axle - 5,220
Trailer Axle - 6,660

Here is where all my confusion comes in. I used a website I found here on the forum (towingplanner.com) and it returned the following results:
Gross Combined Weight - 15,800
Truck Weight (hitched + WDH engaged - 9,080
Truck Weight (hitched & n0 WDH - 9,160
Truck Weight Only - 7,940
Trailer Weight 7,880
Tongue Weight - 1,220
Tongue Weight % - 15.5%

What do all those number mean? I'm definitely within the range for what my truck can pull but I'm confused if I'm over on Tongue Weight or if I'm over in payload capacity. Also I'm trying to see if my equalizer WDH is setup properly to distribute the weight. I bought the trailer from a friend so we did our best to set up the WDH for my truck but not sure if we are right. I took measurements with and without the trailer connected and the front is within 1/4" and the rear is within 2".

Sorry for the long post but really looking for some expert advice on what I might be missing. Please let me know if there are any other numbers you need me to provide to help determine if my setup looks ok.

Here are the stickers from inside the truck as well.

[Joyman]

There is a sticker inside your driver door that will help you also. Take a pic of it and post it. It has the Axel ratings and the max payload you can carry. Those #'s will be helpful.

There is many ppl on this forum who has the right answers

[djb75]

Could you post your truck's GVWR, GCWR, max tongue weight and front and rear axle ratings? Also, what WD hitch are you using?
I'm still new to all of this, but it doesn't seem like your hitch is distributing much weight for you. Also, it seems like you're much too low in the rear. But I'll gladly defer to the more knowledgeable members and continue to learn.

[Bill M.]

I am not familar with the towing planner and cannot comment on that. Your trailer is putting 1140 lbs onto the truck when hitched with the WD engaged. That means your unhitched tongue weight is just a bit higher than that since some (but not much in this case) of the tongue weight is distributed back to the trailer axle. Tongue weight seems about right for a 30 footer.

To me it looks like you have a very good setup. Do check the axle loads from the door sticker. With that truck I bet you are well under payload also.

One other thing we need to know. Is the trailer level? That is important. If the trailer is not level you need to adjust the drop in the hitch. How does it tow?

Must be a pretty strong truck suspension. And maybe a nice short overhang from the rear axle. But it seems you are transferring about the right amout of weight with the hitch.

[djb75]

It looks like you're well within your axle and payload limits. Sorry - didn't see the stickers before.

[SSquared]

You have a good set of weights from the CAT scale. To answer your questions about whether you are OK on payload, axle and tongue weights, you need to get the manufacturer's ratings for your truck. The ratings vary from truck to truck based on options installed, so don't look for the numbers from the Chevy web site or brochure. Instead, look for a yellow sticker on your driver's door jam. This will have front and rear axle weight ratings (Gross Axle Weight Rating, or GAWR) plus available payload and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). These "ratings" are the numbers set by Chevy that you should not exceed.



The GVWR considers all the weight that is in/on the vehicle: driver, passengers, cargo, fuel, and the tongue weight of the trailer.


It's not a problem if your CAT scale rear axle number in the WDH unhooked case exceeds the rating, because you don't drive down the road that way.



Similarly, you want the sum of the front and rear axle CAT scale numbers to be less than the GVWR for the WDH hooked up case.


Finally, the tongue weight rating is probably not on the yellow sticker. Look for a sticker next to the hitch receiver at the back of your truck.

[djb75]

After a quick web search, it looks like you're in good shape with your tongue weight.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Just an uneducated, uninformed, noe nothing, wild guess....Go Camping.

Bob
🇺🇸

[SYC2Vette]

Originally Posted by SSquared

You have a good set of weights from the CAT scale. ......................

It's not a problem if your CAT scale rear axle number in the WDH unhooked case exceeds the rating, because you don't drive down the road that way. .....

Finally, the tongue weight rating is probably not on the yellow sticker. Look for a sticker next to the hitch receiver at the back of your truck.

Not that there is any problem with this setup although it might be nice to see if OP could easily transfer another 100# to the front axle with WD engaged at a higher setting, I thought that the tongue weight as far as rating was determined without W/D engaged. Or am I confusing tongue weight with rear axle rating and effect of W/D?

[stevegilmore]

Here is a link that explain pretty well what you are asking. You can also go to their site and get a spreadsheet to put all the #'s in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwFLOBrADBs