Here are my numbers without actually weighing the rig yet. I keep my ARE shell on the truck and my aluminum toolbox with a few things in. May remove the tool box to reduce weight, but it's not much. I also guess at 1000 pounds miscelaneous in the TT which is the average of what I have heard. The truck is a 2000 4x4 Lariat with 5.4, 17" factory rims, 3.55 LS and the 6500 GVWR (tow package). GCWR = 12500.

Amazing how fast you can max out one of these trucks. I am over on truck weight and a little over the GCWR.....

Should I removed the camper shell to reduce truck weight and lose the air break for the TT?

Description Weight
Tow Vehicle Specifications
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 6,500
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) 12,500
Curb Weight (Empty Weight) 5,400
Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity 1,100
Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) 7,700
Tow Vehicle Options, Cargo, Passengers
Driver 230
Passengers 310
Fuel (gas 6.2 lb/gal, diesel 7.0 lb/gal) 149
Hitch 40
Other ( ) 500
Weight Added (Total) 1,229
New Tow Vehicle Weights w/o Trailer
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight - Total) 6,629
Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) 4,803
Trailer Specifications
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 7,550
Axle Weight 4,253
Hitch Weight 550
Weight Calculated (Total) 4,803
Hitch (Pin) Weight % 11%
Trailer Options, Cargo, Accessories
Fresh Water (8.35 lb/gal) 0
Gray Water No. 1 0
Gray Water No. 2 0
Black Water 0
Water in water heater 0
Water in accumulator 0
Propane (4.22 lb/gal) 127
Batteries 20
Generator 0
Other ( ) 1,000
Weight Added (Total) 1,147
Calculated Trailer Weights
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) 5,950
Optional Hitch (Pin) % Adjustment (Note 4) 11%
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) 5,269
Hitch (Pin) Weight 681
Reserve Trailer Cargo Capacity 1,600
New Tow Vehicle Weights w/ Trailer
GVW w/ Trailer (Total) 7,310
Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity -810
GCW w/ Trailer (Gross Combined Weight) 12,579
Reserve Towing Capacity -79

I don't plan on towing across country, but a 500-600 mile run to Florida is possible and maybe some NC mountains. Thanks for any input or comments!

hr

 

Hello Harleyrider,
You surely did put a lot of time in on the numbers and now you are at the same place as me. Maxed out. I ran the numbers too but finally took the whole mess horses and all to a truck scale and got the bad news in writing. 12,400lbs GCVW. The good part was getting weights for each axel so I could put the right pressure in the tires. I tow a gooseneck that is not very high and has a tapered nose so I'm not pushing as much air as you and of course no shell (goose in the bed you know) but I had to go to 4.56 gears to get some reserve power so I could drag this mess into the mountains where all the good horse trails are. Being maxed out has its perils but I stay at 55, relax and get 10-11 mpg round trip. I would remove any and all extra weight and not worry about the air brake. When I leave out 1 horse (1000lbs+/-) it makes a big difference on the hills. Just my experience for what it's worth.

 

Your truck probably weighs 200 pounds less as my SuperCrew is around 5400. Keep the cap for aerodynamics/fuel comsumption.

You're still over, and you know it. Drive carefully and save some money for a bigger truck.

 

You can save the weight on the gas in the truck, as that should be included in the trucks 'curb weight'.

I'd say you are going to be pretty close to those weights, even not having weighed the rig yet... To be sure, you should pull it across some scales just for piece of mind... If you have a Flying J truck stop near by, they have axle scales and as long as there is not a long line of semis, you should feel comfortable to pull in and get weighed... Cost's about $8.00. Get each axle weighed too.

I'm just a 'tad' over my GVWR (#6250), but about a ton under GCWR when all hitched up. No cap, but a tonneau cover, so I push a bit more air, but it does very well, even in the mountains. You might want to consider real water and trans temp gauges to keep tabs on things... I find them the best indicators of how hard the truck is really working.

Mitch