Thanks this really help me with a big decision on a purchase that we all most made. I didn't have that worm furzy feeling about it. I have a 2013 F-150 FX4 with the Eco Boost and the trailer we were looking at was to big to haul with the truck. This spread sheet was a big help on proving my point. Thanks a lot for this sheet it will really help on finding the right trailer .
Thank you for all the vids. I am about to buy a travel trailer and you saved me a lot of headaches and possible troubles listening to the seller's pitch! I own a Tacoma V6 and I now know how few options I do have in the trailer market. This a must watch video!
Ian, thank you so very very much for sharing this and other important information. As a new trailer owner, I so wish I had found your channel before buying, they got me good lol. But because of your free info I've gained vital know-how and I wasn't reduced to frustration day drinking! Yay! Thank you ;)
Great timing as I am(for the first time) trailering my m/c this summer to meet a friend then on to NM and points north. I awkwardly had to address truck and trailer procurements (this past spring) on my own. I am now using your posts for QC and some re-engineering
I really like this calculator...best thing I've seen in all of the research I've done. One question I have is whether the weight of the hitch and sway bars should be added to the calculations.
I have watched your towing videos and used the spreadsheets trying to determine a good toy hauler for our bikes. In a recent reply to a question about ramp length you mentioned you have a lifted truck. Will lifts in general affect the towing abilities of the truck. My lift is a 3” coil over conversion.
My spreadsheet says my tow capacity is 4,200, my tongue weight capacity is 462 and my payload capacity is 1,436. And it says I will need a WDH if I am more than 50% of my tongue weight capacity. Question - if what figure is 50% or more than 462? Thanks. p.s. This video and this spreadsheet is so, so, so very good. I wish I had it before I bought my trailer and tow vehicle.
p.s. This video and the spreadsheet are so very, very good. It has given me confidence and peace of mind that my car really does have the towing capacity for my trailer. If only I could find out whether I need a weight distribution hitch ...
Thank you for your very informational videos and the wonderful spreadsheet! You have helped me to understand this immensely. I do have two questions, the first being what does the hitch weight supposed to encompass (i.e. batteries, full propane, pass through cargo)? Also, based on data below from your spread sheet I see that it is basing the hitch weight off the GVWR and in this particular trailer there is over a 2,000lb difference between the dry weight and GVWR of the trailer. I cannot imagine putting anywhere close to 2,237 additional pounds in the trailer to get close to a 7.5k GVWR (not boondocking). Is this something I should adjust to as I would like to purchase a Ford F-150 if I can find one with a payload around 2,100lbs? Thanks again! Dry Weight: 5,263 GVWR: 7,500 Hitch weight: 938 (mfg advertised hitch weight which you mentioned is most likely understated is 671lbs) Weight of Cargo: 100 Est Weight of family: 760 Weight of Hitch: 125 Towing Capacity: 9,000 Tongue Weight Capacity: 1,031 Payload Capacity: 2,115
You'll have no issues if your truck has that much payload as you list here, yes the hitch weight accounts for everything ready to travel, batteries cargo etc
As a complete newbie, I appreciate your time educating us. I watched both videos as you said. I am starting with the idea of having a jeep as my towing vehicle (which one to be decided) and now looking for a compatible trailer. To clarify, on your sheet, the orange [Required Specs of Tow Vehicle] the numbers represent the what my car needs to have at the minimum (preferably more) to handle the camper, correct? So if Towing capacity is 6000lbs on the chart, then I should be looking for this number and above? Same for Tongue and payload? Thanks!)
Is this formula based on hauling the camper full? What if you never travel with water? I feel like it’s overly safe formulas and not accurate unless you figured everything as if all tanks are full? Is this the case?
As with your other two related videos on towing capacity, you've done a fantastic job with this one too. I have an odd question, that I know you cannot answer, but perhaps you can point me in the right direction. The vehicle I'm considering does not have a natively offered engine. It is a 2008 E-350 with a 3.0L Turbo Diesel (van itself in very excellent shape). So any of the numbers in the owner's manual or stickers are not going to be applicable. I do believe the original engine was the 6.0L so those numbers are pretty good, way more than what we would need to pull the smaller trailer we're looking at. However, from what I understand, the 3.0L has more horsepower, but about the same torque. With that said, would there be a significant difference in towing capacity from the original engine and that vehicle combination? Where could I go to find out?
Our Sequoia has a towing capacity of 7400 but adding everything in to your spreadsheet it’s saying we can tow about 2000lbs. Can that be right? If so, we can’t tow anything.
Great info, makes it super easy to figure out a safe towing limit. On my truck, I would be less than 50% TW and a trailer with a 4800 GVWR. But am thinking a WDH would be a good to have anyway, especially one with sway control. Thoughts?
Electric trailer brakes does what? Ya I know, nobody will stick their neck out on this. Why? Nobody knows. It's not rocket science boys. They allow for a greater weight, right? How much? 500 lbs? 1000 lbs? ya, probably about that but you have to know how to set your electric brake so of course it depends on how smart the driver is. Then what? Explain that to the cops? Just too impossible I guess. It's like trying to explain why voting against Donald Trump is a good thing.
Check out my new in depth review of the Jeep Gladiator! ua-cam.com/video/fMOtcX1oXxo/v-deo.html
Thanks this really help me with a big decision on a purchase that we all most made. I didn't have that worm furzy feeling about it. I have a 2013 F-150 FX4 with the Eco Boost and the trailer we were looking at was to big to haul with the truck. This spread sheet was a big help on proving my point. Thanks a lot for this sheet it will really help on finding the right trailer
.
Thank you for all the vids. I am about to buy a travel trailer and you saved me a lot of headaches and possible troubles listening to the seller's pitch! I own a Tacoma V6 and I now know how few options I do have in the trailer market.
This a must watch video!
Ian, thank you so very very much for sharing this and other important information. As a new trailer owner, I so wish I had found your channel before buying, they got me good lol. But because of your free info I've gained vital know-how and I wasn't reduced to frustration day drinking! Yay! Thank you ;)
Great timing as I am(for the first time) trailering my m/c this summer to meet a friend then on to NM and points north. I awkwardly had to address truck and trailer procurements (this past spring) on my own. I am now using your posts for QC and some re-engineering
great
I really like this calculator...best thing I've seen in all of the research I've done. One question I have is whether the weight of the hitch and sway bars should be added to the calculations.
yes, its on line 18
Thank you for sharing this information and your calculation check sheet!
You bet!
Great information thanks please do more.
Thank you so much for this info. I haven't found anything like this so far. Very helpful. Is there a weight distribution anti sway bar you recommend?
My jeep Ren. tow cap is 2000lbs. I can only tow wind. Let alone a teardrop lightweight camper with shower
Thank you SO so much for this!!
How do I enter my own numbers in the calculator? It say view only?
Excellent video! 😎👍🏼
Thank you! Cheers!
If you go to file in google sheets, you just have to select "make a copy." Then it will save it to your drive and then you can edit it.
It took me way too long to figure that out, wish I had seen your comment sooner, lol 🤣
Can you provide us your spreadsheet for your Jeep gladiator?
Thanks for your help 👍
Always welcome
I have watched your towing videos and used the spreadsheets trying to determine a good toy hauler for our bikes. In a recent reply to a question about ramp length you mentioned you have a lifted truck. Will lifts in general affect the towing abilities of the truck. My lift is a 3” coil over conversion.
Where is the calculator located online?
Great information. I don't see the link for the spreadsheet though. Can you direct me?
My spreadsheet says my tow capacity is 4,200, my tongue weight capacity is 462 and my payload capacity is 1,436. And it says I will need a WDH if I am more than 50% of my tongue weight capacity. Question - if what figure is 50% or more than 462? Thanks.
p.s. This video and this spreadsheet is so, so, so very good. I wish I had it before I bought my trailer and tow vehicle.
p.s. This video and the spreadsheet are so very, very good. It has given me confidence and peace of mind that my car really does have the towing capacity for my trailer. If only I could find out whether I need a weight distribution hitch ...
Thank you for your very informational videos and the wonderful spreadsheet! You have helped me to understand this immensely. I do have two questions, the first being what does the hitch weight supposed to encompass (i.e. batteries, full propane, pass through cargo)? Also, based on data below from your spread sheet I see that it is basing the hitch weight off the GVWR and in this particular trailer there is over a 2,000lb difference between the dry weight and GVWR of the trailer. I cannot imagine putting anywhere close to 2,237 additional pounds in the trailer to get close to a 7.5k GVWR (not boondocking). Is this something I should adjust to as I would like to purchase a Ford F-150 if I can find one with a payload around 2,100lbs? Thanks again!
Dry Weight: 5,263
GVWR: 7,500
Hitch weight: 938 (mfg advertised hitch weight which you mentioned is most likely understated is 671lbs)
Weight of Cargo: 100
Est Weight of family: 760
Weight of Hitch: 125
Towing Capacity: 9,000
Tongue Weight Capacity: 1,031
Payload Capacity: 2,115
You'll have no issues if your truck has that much payload as you list here, yes the hitch weight accounts for everything ready to travel, batteries cargo etc
Should the cargo wt (in the truck) include the fuel wt?
As a complete newbie, I appreciate your time educating us. I watched both videos as you said. I am starting with the idea of having a jeep as my towing vehicle (which one to be decided) and now looking for a compatible trailer. To clarify, on your sheet, the orange [Required Specs of Tow Vehicle] the numbers represent the what my car needs to have at the minimum (preferably more) to handle the camper, correct? So if Towing capacity is 6000lbs on the chart, then I should be looking for this number and above? Same for Tongue and payload? Thanks!)
correct
Is this formula based on hauling the camper full? What if you never travel with water? I feel like it’s overly safe formulas and not accurate unless you figured everything as if all tanks are full? Is this the case?
What questions do you have about towing?
Can I tow a Lance 1685 with a Kia Telluride?
Where is the free towing calculator please??
As with your other two related videos on towing capacity, you've done a fantastic job with this one too. I have an odd question, that I know you cannot answer, but perhaps you can point me in the right direction. The vehicle I'm considering does not have a natively offered engine. It is a 2008 E-350 with a 3.0L Turbo Diesel (van itself in very excellent shape). So any of the numbers in the owner's manual or stickers are not going to be applicable. I do believe the original engine was the 6.0L so those numbers are pretty good, way more than what we would need to pull the smaller trailer we're looking at. However, from what I understand, the 3.0L has more horsepower, but about the same torque. With that said, would there be a significant difference in towing capacity from the original engine and that vehicle combination? Where could I go to find out?
Which weight distribution hitches do you recommend?
I have been fine with the equalizer, but many like the anderson
Our Sequoia has a towing capacity of 7400 but adding everything in to your spreadsheet it’s saying we can tow about 2000lbs. Can that be right? If so, we can’t tow anything.
Thanks for the info..
No problem!
Sir Thank U, Thank U, Thank U!
Great info, makes it super easy to figure out a safe towing limit. On my truck, I would be less than 50% TW and a trailer with a 4800 GVWR. But am thinking a WDH would be a good to have anyway, especially one with sway control. Thoughts?
It is always a good idea. Especially for sway.
Not sure what I am missing here with the link. But opens a blank sheet for me. I’m not savvy enough to understand the download/upload note.
HW depends on loading of trailer
I downloaded the spreadsheet and it’s blank. Can you put it up again and I’ll try again?
We're is the link
Is the 12.5% tongue weight value only for travel trailers? Or would it apply to something like a boat trailer as well?
thank you!
No worries!
How do I download your towing calculator spread sheet?
Where is the spreadsheet? The "dummies" video is no longer on UA-cam.
Electric trailer brakes does what? Ya I know, nobody will stick their neck out on this. Why? Nobody knows. It's not rocket science boys. They allow for a greater weight, right? How much? 500 lbs? 1000 lbs? ya, probably about that but you have to know how to set your electric brake so of course it depends on how smart the driver is. Then what? Explain that to the cops? Just too impossible I guess. It's like trying to explain why voting against Donald Trump is a good thing.