How do I figure out hitch weight?

Hello, I have been reading all the threads I can, but still so confused on hitch weight.

We have a 2016 Tundra Crewmax. Here are the stickers from our truck.



I believe we can tow 10,000 lbs, but I am so confused in how to figure out hitch weight.

We are interested in towing a Cougar Half Ton 33RLI

8,690 lb weight
1,215 lb hitch weight

or an Outback 328RL

8,791 lb weight
1,075 lb hitch weight

Are these too much for our truck?

I appreciate your help.

 

So your total payload is 1240lbs, as indicated on the top right of the yellow sticker. so anything you add to the truck will decrease that number. If you add 100lbs worth of running boards you’ll be down to 1140 lbs. Or, if you add 4 250lb linebackers, you would would only have 240lbs of payload left. The hitch weight counts against payload in the same way. So if you have 1215lb hitch weight you have 25lbs left of vehicle payload. The other trailer with 1075lb hitch weight leaves you with 165lbs of payload.

The trailers you’re looking at would subtract nearly all of your payload so you couldn’t put anything else in the truck, not even a passenger and be within your payload numbers.

 

Hmm, okay. Apparently, we have been exceeding it with our current trailer by a couple of hundreds of pounds.

I had no clue it was so little considering it has extra tow stuff on it.

That is frustrating.

Thank you for your help.

 

Not even a driver...

 

I believe 4wd crewmax Tundras are rated for around 8900# towing. The 10k number is for regular cab long beds. Those campers you’re looking at are 3/4 ton territory regardless of what the mfr claims. My camper is pushing all of the limits at 29’ and 7200#. I’m likely over payload when we roll out to the lake.

 

Also consider the numbers are mostly a guideline. There are many variables that must be considered. I pull my 27' LOADED so I know damn well it is well over what the sicker recommends. Some will disagree because they believe a pound over the sticker number will put you on the side of the road. That is not true. I pull well overweight here in South Texas costal region. I can do that simply because there are no hills really. Even when I do encounter inclines, I hardly know that heavy trailer is attached. Now if I was running through Colorado hill country I'd probably be trading in for a 3/4 ton.

Consider your travel area, your driving style, your speed, and other factors that play a part.

Additionally I installed a bluetooth OBD reader so I can monitor my transmission temperatures AND I installed a transmission cooler. I would not even attempt to pull what I pull without a transmission cooler and I can surely see the difference in the towing temps.

 

Thank you for all of your replies. Based on this info, my husband agreed to upgrade our truck so we can get the trailer we prefer since we will basically be living in it 6 months out of the year.

 

3/4 ton gasser GMC would be my pick. Or, if towing that thing a lot for any real distance, a diesel would make sense.

 

Why not a 1 ton?

 

Oh the stuff you pack when you go on an extended trip. One would seldom pack a breadmaker for a weekend getaway. We go for 7 months at a time and it get challenging to pack everything you want to take.

 

You've never met my wife's parents.

 

My wife and I talk about this all the time…..whether you go for a night or a week you end up taking the same amount of stuff. The only thing that really changes is how much food and clothes you bring. We just purchased our sixth camper - a 2017 rpod rp180. For the last few years we would rent a camper and the loading / unloading became a ridiculous endeavor. Grill, propane tank, utensils, screen house, canopy, hoses, leveling blocks, wheel chocks, etc etc etc……..now that we have purchased ours, we can store everything we need in the camper and just hook up and go! It’s so much easier now.

 

That's the way to do it. We are gradually getting duplicates for many items to leave in the camper.