Short bed is about 4600#, long bed is about 4700# curb weight.

 

Ford doesn't publish the dry weight as it varies with the different options. Besides that you do not need it. Use the GVWR and GCWR and do the math. What you need to do it load up your truck in its towing configuration and weigh it. Subtract that weight from the GVWR to see if you have sufficient reserve for the passengers and tongue weight of the trailer. Then you need the tongue and trailer weight.

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wtf? I remember hittin the scales with the lift kit and tires, clockin at 5500# or higher.

 

Ford does publish Base Curb Weight in the Truck Source book, but that includes no options or passengers, just standard options, all fluids, and a full tank of gas.. Then it publishes the weight of each option. For example, my truck has a base curb weight of 5481lbs. A the scale last week my truck weighed in at 6080lbs. Subtract 230 lbs for me, and my truck weighs in at about 5850, with roughly half a tank of gas. I would have 369lbs of options and accessories. Subtract 5850 from 7200 and you get 1350lbs. The sticker on the door lists my truck's payload at 1425lbs, so I must have added 75 - 100lbs of options and misc cargo.

I was surprised that my truck weighed in over 6000lbs with just me in it.

 

Ford no longer publishes the specs for the 1997 MY. They did not start including the base curb weight in their publications until the 2005 MY.

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Weighed the truck, 5060 lbs, quarter tank of gas. Weighed the 2 together and subtract truck weight, trailer weighs 4000 lbs full of water. With a bathroom scale and some blocks and a bit of math, I calculate tongue weight to be between 700 and 800 pounds. Just a bit much for the bumper. Now looking for a torsion bar setup !

 

800 lbs is a lot of weight. You should try moving the load in the trailer further back behind the wheels to reduce the tongue weight. Don't forget the total weight capacity of your truck is reduced by the tongue weight. Ie: a GVWR of 6200 - (5060 + 800) = 340 lbs. How much does the other 3/4 of a tank of gas weigh? Don't forget passengers and luggage.

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Question : If you use a WD setup, do you eliminate some of the weight on the tongue, or is it still counted in the vehicle's gvwr ? I suspect the torsion bars simply transfer tongue weight to the front axle of the vehicle for levelling purposes.....

Denis ;-)

 

A weight distribution system spreads the weight along all the axles. Including the trailer. Experts recommend the tongue weight be between 10 to 15% of the trailer weight. So your tongue weight should be be 400 to 600 lbs. I would fix that first. Here is some interesting reading; http://www.sherline.com/lmbook.htm#refrn9

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If you put more than 500# on the tongue with the factory hitch, you need WD.

 

Bought the WD setup tonight and will be setting it up on the following evenings after work. I'll try to weigh the truck and trailer, axle by axle on the local woodlot scale, if it's quiet. I'll have a better idea what I've got, and how to adjust it for weight / axle and ride.

Thank you all for your suggestions and information, you've been a great help.

Denis ;-)

 

It sounds like you are completely new to towing. There are lots of good articles and helpful people on http://www.rv.net/forum/
Have a look around there at some of the how-to articles for calculating weights, setting up weight distribution, etc.
800lb tongue weight doesn't seem far off for a camping trailer. Depending on the location of the water/propane tanks they can be a little nose heavy when loaded up, but it will help handling.

 

More like, completely new to towing a camper, been pulling a boat & other stuff for ever. Tried the WD last night, rides like a dream ! Only drops 1 - 1 1/2 " at the rear bumper when hooked up, headlight aim is close to perfect, and I now notice the rear of the truck doesn't bounce like it did without the WD.

Read JMC's link about towing, very informative. Will get to the other tonight. Thanks again !