2015 EL Limited HD Tow Package Help

[coolzzy]

3.5 plus the 3.73 is the ideal combination for daily driving and towing. Plenty of power when towing on premium fuel (albeit at the expense of fuel mileage in the 8-10 range) and seldom if ever downshifts on the highway, even when towing. I tow at my max GVWR on the trailer when I tow, due to full water tanks most of the time, and 900lbs tongue weight, plus 2 adults, 2 teenagers and a tweenager plus paddle boards and firewood in the truck. I know I'm probably 300 pounds over payload rating but with my WDH set correctly and only doing it 10 times per summer, I'm ok with it. If you're planning on pulling a heavy RV full time with an expedition, get a different vehicle, but 90% of the time it's just a grocery getter.

 

[Mario Rinaldi]

Attached is my results from using a calculator from my 3 weights at the CAT scale across from the RV center. I weigh about 220 and my dad was with me and weighs about 220.

Interestingly enough the manufacturer's listed dry weight is MORE than the trailer weight given here.... I had 2 full propane tanks and a battery on the tongue.

This is a 282qbxl salem cruise ultra lite camper.

The wife and kids weigh about as much as my dad.. leaves me a scant 260lb of additional payload / tongue weight.

Probably will be over once we have our 4th and final kid and they all make it to an avg of 50 lbs.. only on 3rd pregnancy now.

View attachment 36713

Bear with me here, I am learning how this works. If this is for a 2015 EL don't you start with a 9,200 lbs limit (2WD) or 9,100 lbs (4WD) and then subtract 6,180 for the camper, then subtract 660-150 lbs for 6 people less the 150 lbs they assume, doesn't that leave you more like 2,410 lbs (4WD) ? Wait, I see, it's the truck's GCWR that you are nearly exceeding. So people have to watch their vehicle'a GCWR (~ dead weight of everything), GVWR (tow vehicle + TV contents + tongue weight) and the max tow limit (towed weight + stuff in the tow vehicle) ... ? Three things to check ?

Please correct me where I am making mistakes. I am trying to better understand all of this.
Thanks !

 

[JasonH]

Bear with me here, I am learning how this works. If this is for a 2015 EL don't you start with a 9,200 lbs limit (2WD) or 9,100 lbs (4WD) and then subtract 6,180 for the camper, then subtract 660-150 lbs for 6 people less the 150 lbs they assume, doesn't that leave you more like 2,410 lbs (4WD) ? Wait, I see, it's the truck's GCWR that you are nearly exceeding. So people have to watch their vehicle'a GCWR (~ dead weight of everything), GVWR (tow vehicle + TV contents + tongue weight) and the max tow limit (towed weight + stuff in the tow vehicle) ... ? Three things to check ?

Please correct me where I am making mistakes. I am trying to better understand all of this.
Thanks !

Start with the payload, as that is usually the limiting factor. It's on the yellow sticker on the driver side door. The calculation is Max Payload - (at least 10% of the trailer weight + hitch + passengers/cargo). For example, for a 7K trailer it would be 1500 (max payload) - (700 (trailer) + 100 (WDH) + 500 (passengers & cargo)) = 200 pounds left.

Once you determine that you have not exceeded the payload limitation, you should be in the clear. These measurements should be taken with the camper loaded. I pulled my trailer home from California to Texas empty and had to make substantial adjustments after we began putting things in the trailer. The next step is to distribute the weight between the front and rear axles using a WDH. The axle limits are also on the yellow door sticker.