What size truck do I need to tow my RV?

What size truck do I need to tow my RV? Confused about what size truck you need to tow your RV? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
Join us as we break down all the towing numbers and demystify the process. From payload capacity to towing capacity, we'll help you understand the essential figures that determine the right truck for your RV. No more guesswork - just clear, expert guidance to get you on the road safely and confidently!
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[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Thanks for joining us for another tech tip Tuesday! Please subscribe and ring the bell for more videos like this one.

[@Pryo1127]

To find any truck stops "Trucker Path" App, I have used that as the holy bible of the road for big rigs stops.

[@johncaruana6406]

Another thing to remember is if you are checking the air pressure, the tires sitting in direct sun light will read higher than those in the shade. I try to check mine the evening before or first thing in the morning before the sun starts shining on the tires

[@CfRlCajunfishRiplips]

Salesman, RV dealers and everyone buying a rv for the first time need to watch this video. Then take a written exam…but that’s in a perfect world. This is a good video.

[@travisg1759]

It would be great to see you take an example truck & trailer and show the numbers & math.

[@joeblow3939]

Next week we talk about the different types of roofs and how to repair them. 😎 Great show. Now everyone back to work.

[@robertnasser9937]

I’ve watched every video I can find on weighing and truck weight and RV weights. I’m glad I went Duelly

[@EarlBalentine]

Great video Todd. Maybe you weighed your rv when you 1st got it but later you have added the 2nd A/C, changed suspension, cargo carrier, chairs on the back of ladder, more tools, more decor in =side the rv. Accessories and upgrades add up over time. Time to get weighed again.

[@jerrydonovan7507]

I weighed my setup a couple of weeks ago at a CAT Scale location in Oregon. Using the app on my phone, I was able to confirm the scale I was at and get my setup weighed and reweighed. After clicking the payment, an email was sent with a PDF containing the 3 axle weighings. Not need to tell an attendant anything or answer any questions. It all worked very well, and all my numbers were about where I expected and within the limits of my setup.

[@jackkennedy3327]

That's the "Weigh my Truck" app for Cat scales, if anyone's wondering

[@waynedanley1190]

Good video Todd. I believe the most overlooked part of being overweight is tire load limits. I personally do not see any way that a loaded triple axle toy hauler can be within tire load limits and axle rating for a single rear wheel pickup.

[@dianerivard1538]

Finally, an easy explanation. Now when I buy my new vehicle I will know how to do it.😊

[@mcoguyaj]

I wanted to get a fifth wheel and everyway I toil myself I could use a Ford F 150 if I got the smaller one i knew that I couldn't. I just couldn't afford a used 250 or didn't want to spend that much so I settled on a Used 150 but if you are looking for a used 150 and need it to tow. Look at the used Lariats, King Ranch or Platinum I looked forever and what I found out is since those models were the higher end of the series people got the max tow package, the off road package, the higher ratio axles, the bigger wheels everything that were options they are on most of those trucks and most of the time price was in line with the XLT's and you get some extra perks too. RV I haven't got it yet but getting a Travel Trailer staying away from the fifth wheels.

[@robmcneill2967]

I agree with you 100% and like the way you explained it. Im not a key board warrior, justan old truck driver with some experience I will say that insurance companies and Lawyers like to get involved with this if there is a accident and the RV / truck / Motorhome, is over weight Or the tow vehicle isnt within legal Towing capacity...just something your not gonna wanta deal with, on top of an accident. There are some state & porvincial rules with licences that ya might look at just to be safe.....safe travel all.

[@kvaillancourt7256]

Really enjoy your videos ... lots of good information. Please correct me if I'm wrong but...to help clarify things for the viewers I would suggest further defining GVWR as "the maximum amount of weight that your particular build of vehicle was engineered to carry by the manufacturer". The same applies to the rear axle...the RAWR is the maximum amount that your rear axle was engineered to carry. Exceed those numbers at your own risk... And see if your insurance company will cover you if you're overloaded I would also note that adding leaf springs or airbags does not increase the amount of weight your vehicle was engineered to carry safely. They merely stiffen the ride and as you implied, those add-ons won't help you stop any faster in an emergency situation... Especially if you're overloaded to begin with. And I'd also mention for those hauling a 5th wheel to make sure they included the weight of their hitch in their calculations.

[@canadiantwig4772]

I think it's best to stay under 80% of your max capacity on all fronts, then you're not stressing your equipment. The traveling public today is entirely different and I'm convinced they're hunting for an insurance cheque. I take 7 weights into consideration. Steer, drives, trailer, gross for the truck, pin wight, gross trailer and gross combined. As you plus and minus items or adjust where you place items for travel affects your weights. Don't be afraid to "weigh your wagon" cat scales are everywhere. :)

[@towgod3096]

That 80% suggestion of yours is excellent advice, especially for those new to towing

[@jaccole]

We use about 60%, but I am a lot anal. Most new RV buyers have never towed a utility trailer to the dump, let alone a 10,000 lb TT/5th wheel. It won’t be long before some young attorney wants to make a name for him(her)self and lots of money and starts lawsuits against RV manufacturers and RV dealers who promote “1/2 ton towable” and recommending the wrong tow vehicle vs the TT/ 5th wheel.

[@mwaynem]

In Oregon the actual scales are always on even if the station is not open. You can pull onto the the scales and get your weights. It's only one pad and you won't get a print out but you can see your weight on the reader board. It doesn't cost anything to do this just don't pull in if the scales are open. I've done this several times over the years and it's very handy.

[@RickandDarcirvadventures]

So do I they are great to have here in Oregon

[@46fd04]

Here is a clear example of my situation; 2019 RAM 2500 Cummins engine GVWR of 9,900 lbs. I have a 32 foot KZ Durango 5th wheel with a GVWR of 9800 lbs. When my trailer is loaded, inc. a full 50 gallon water tank, my truck's weight is 10,700 lbs. I still see many F150's and 1500's pulling trailers much larger than mine. As a former truck driver & bus driver, it is my opinion that half-ton trucks should not be pulling any trailers over 30 feet, because of the weights. Also, FYI, a RAM truck with a Cummins engine loses 500 lbs of payload just because of the diesel engine. It weighs 500 lbs more than the gas-powered Hemi.

[@larrycox6614]

If a person is just starting out, you're in a predicament because how do you figure this stuff out BEFORE you buy either truck or RV? You have to take a SWAG whether what you've got or what you want come close to matching.

[@redcauthen771]

Plugging some fictions numbers would have help you explanation, being a X Truck driver you almost confused me. 😂😂 I’ve seen some states do checks on RV, (Kallie, NM, & Og) a few years back. They where concern about total weights looking at that 26,000 # numbers and the drivers license and air brake endorsements for the big Motor Homes. 😮😮

[@HomegaugeSoftware]

Great video! A lot of valuable information!

[@betterwithrum]

all of this is true, but when we bought our first RV a few months ago we had an SUV... we towed it exactly 3 times before buying a truck. Our SUV met all the specs by the numbers on paper. But going down the highway was a totally different story. I can't agree more, get as much truck as you can afford. We were going to get a 1/2 ton, left with a 3/4 ton, and if I could do it again we'd get a dually 1 ton truck.

[@canadiantwig4772]

Someone's actual cat scale tickets as visuals would help. :) In our case I'm the caboose so my truck is the "shed" lol it sure helps. I still have to figure out weight room for future battery& solar upgrade.

[@patrickstiltner1207]

CAT scales app can keep your weighs on file electronically.

[@newenglandrvadventures]

Not having numbers to look at makes it a bit confusing haha. I can give you my truck specs and trailer specs to math it out. -Truck GVW 7050 -Truck loaded no trailer 6280 -7050-6280=770lbs -max truck towing capacity 7,700lbs at 10% tongue weight. -max truck towing capacity 5,150 at 15% tongue weight

[@Weatherscapes]

Great explanation! So many wrong opinions are swirling about this item. 🙂

[@williamarmstrong9970]

Todd, My truck is short enough to have the steer and drive on pad 1 and camper on pad 2. The second weigh is camper tongue jack on pad 1 and axles on pad 2 for a total weight.

[@vincebotkin1960]

If you have a tandem axle trailer, you can put one axle on the steer scale and the other on the drive scale to see how much weight each axle is carrying.

[@tracyschannel9648]

Thanks for this it is super important!!!! Some state's will pull you over for a weight check, and if your over you get hefty fine maybe worse? This helps us non professional drivers figure this out..

[@robertnasser9937]

What state, I believe they all can do it, also for licensing, 13 states have special licensing for weight. My truck has GVWR of 16000 and a RV GVWR of 16000- over the 24000 limit

[@andypop123]

On our TT we have a 80g fw tank. Because it sits on and behind the rear axle, we travel with it full. The trailer is rated to travel with a full tank, and it actually lightens the tongue weight by 250lbs.

[@johnfleming1476]

I've been using the Curt "better weight" system and appreciate that I don't have to go to a scale.

[@kennethcollins148]

what is that pls?

[@corneliuszellous5864]

clear as Mudd

[@tankertim]

1000 lbs of tools????? I guess I’m RVing wrong! (Love the dig on Rams at the start of the video! 😂😂😂)

[@timj4742]

I use an HDT, Volvo 780 VNL I'm set.

[@freezeframejlp1]

Take weight from a CAT scale with a grain of salt. Had my rig weighed at a rally. Had to take some weight out of the rig. The CAT scale could not be right. Weighted the pickup less than the dry weight of my pickup. KYD has a good spreadsheet to help load ratings. Good info.

[@freezeframejlp1]

@@bobme1ga278 The CAT scaled weighted my pickup less than Ford dry weight. Also said my 5th was less than its dry weight by manufacturer. Right on the weight sheet from CAT it tells you what do if you ticketed for overweight. Not saying they all aren’t right but the one I used I’m questioning. When it say I’m less than dry weights loaded doesn’t add up.

[@GatorsRock0219]

Another great video. For tire pressure, obviously you not only want to check the tires cold but adjust them cold as well. That's why I always carry a VIAIR compressor. Ironically that is adding more weight to the rig, but very smart. I always carry about 3 gallons in my fresh tank when traveling however when I boondock that's a whole other scenario. Need to research locations close to your destination for filling fresh tank as well as factor in that additional that additional time.

[@grayfox9911]

Thanks for the video!

[@WILDEBILL308]

Good explanation. To many have a hard time understanding.

[@boonecountygenerators3052]

13:45 All that talk about clothes and mattresses. Ha! It's the food and beer that really add the weight. 😁

[@vincebotkin1960]

Todd You mentioned tire pressure max at cold. What is the allowable hot pressures?

[@DragonPilot]

The only practical method that one can do the necessary weighing is when heading out for a trip fully loaded. Most of the time there’s no time on departure day to do that. And at the end of a trip? Yeah, right! The other option is to pick a day, fully load up, put fertilizer bags where you wife and kids sit, plus all the other camping gear and head for the scales. Any idea how many people are actually gonna do that? 😂

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

You could use sandbags too 😉

[@IamMugs]

LOL at the Ram guys

[@cajunnathan4586]

Great Info

[@RVUnlimited]

Tips are fire thanks

[@donduerring5214]

If you have a sway bar that you still use that on the scale as mine takes some weight off of the rear axle?

[@jerrytaylor2610]

How about if you have a truck and want to buy a travel trailer? How do you figure out the max weight you can tow? TIA

[@chadkoller7809]

For the tires do you recommend towing with max cold temp?

[@randomspirit]

There's a reason they use x, y, z in algebra. LOL! Uffda, that almost became confusing but I think I understood.

[@valeriechaffins4638]

Should you weigh your rig with your weight distribution bars on or off. I use mine all the time.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

On

[@DirtWireTV]

We weigh once with them on and once with them off to see how much weight is being sent to the truck’s front axle and the trailer axle. If it’s a quiet day at the scale, we just pop the bars off on the scale. We do use the app so there’s no messing around with the intercom. This is especially helpful if you had Camping World set up your WD system and it was adjusted to do absolutely nothing!

[@boonelipsey5393]

I hate to say it. But I wish my car dealer and trailer dealer was more honest about towing capacity. Can you tow a 20 footer with a 1/2 ton. Yeah. Is it safe. Hasn't been my experience. Lance 2075 is pushing my 1/2 ton around. 10 ply tires. Equalizer hitch. Now thinking of air bags. Lots of expense when a 3/4 ton would have been a better suggestion. Especially considering. Who actually stays with a 20 foot trailer. Most people upgrade to a larger TT.

[@ozzie3056]

Seems like a half ton more than adequate for that trailer only 4500 uvw. See how you load up your truck and trailer distribute weight appropriately

[@boonelipsey5393]

@@ozzie3056 Seems like it. But it's not. I guess I should mention that it's a Ram 1/2 ton. The rear suspension is set up for comfort and ride quality. Trailing arms and coil springs. A design they used on 60s luxury cars. Not exactly the best setup for towing regardless of what Ram says. After all they say Etorque is a mild hybrid (not) and a car with fender flares is a wide body. Lol. And 4500 is the base weight without a single option. Add the rear kitchen,awnings,solar,inverter, 3 propane tanks,drawer in front compartment,electric tongue jack,electric stabilizers. And your not at 4500 anymore. Plus about 600 lbs of gear. GVWR 6200 lbs

[@ozzie3056]

@boonelipsey5393 I have a 2019 toyota seqouia limited with conventional coil springs not air suspension. Platinum does. I was getting major sag with my 3500lb trailer. I managed to help the situation with some timberin helper springs which bolt up directly to where the bump stops are located. As well as the equalizer hitch which helped level things out. Seqouia has more than adequate power from the 5.7l rated for 7,200, the payload is not so good at 1200lbs . I plan on upgrading trailer soon. Honestly I might go to a halfton with some adequate payload. I've been looking into the silverado 1500 with the 3.0 diesel. And the max trailering package.

[@boonelipsey5393]

@@ozzie3056Conventional coil? Or conventional leaf? I have heard of the Timberen. Will have to see if they have an application for the Ram.

[@ozzie3056]

@@boonelipsey5393 the sequoia is a suv. It's coil springs

[@josemiguelperezleon5741]

Hello, I have a grand design 315 and I want to remodel, what company do you recommend my friend

[@Joker45678]

Do you need to know the weight on each of the trailer axles? Example, so you aren't putting too much weight on the rear and blowing tires? Or, does the equalizer automatically even the load on both axles?

[@ronmeza6400]

Is it safe to just go 80% of what the owners manual says? For example my 2016 GMC sierra says max trailer weight 9,200lbs. I’m thinking around 7,200lbs gvwr for trailer leaving about 2,000lbs for cargo, passengers, going up hills etc. what do y’all think?

[@USNavyAR5]

Payload capacity is the most important thing. You will exceed payload capacity wayyyyyy before towing capacity. If you're over payload of your tow vehicle you are towing unsafe and illegally. Also on a TT, the optimum hitch weight should be 12 to 15% to prevent trailer sway on towables.

[@fallcityjames1]

What's a good weight difference between the front axle and rear axle?

[@Ellis1127]

😂😂😂😂 “well, not that much!” 😂😂😂

[@wilburtubbs3425]

What do they charge you for doing this weighting😊

[@jaccole]

Tow ratings are determined by using flat bed trailers on a specific course by professional drivers, not with 12’ high RV’s. People forget that alll weights given by manufacturers or obtained at CAT scales are weights sitting still. All weights increase when an RV is bouncing on its ball hitch or king pin. That has to be considered when driving and selecting a tow vehicle. A bouncing weight can easily increase by 50% and in an emergency situation increase by more than that when trying to maneuver or stop that amount of mass. Example: A 1500 lb king pin weight can quickly become over 2000 lbs of force when bouncing. Best to have more truck than you need when you need it.

[@rvlighthouse288]

Is there a differences depending how many days you will be dry camping and need fresh wate

[@redcauthen771]

Get all your water at your last stop before yo head out to the Boonies

[@newamericatowguy3633]

Or you can consult in your owners manual! It will tell you the towing capacity.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So it will give you general information. Different package levels and dealer add one dictate the final GVRW. As a matter of fact a new label must be printed fir any add on over 100 lbs. the owners manual was already printed before the trim and packages were put on.

[@newamericatowguy3633]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Not really but it may give a general idea of the towing capacity of the truck on a bumper pull and a 5th wheel. Mine says 11,000 for a TT and 13,400 for a 5th wheel. Will I max it out when towing? Nope. Will I be cautious and keep it underweight as much as possible? Most definitely!

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

Thank you for the video. Here comes all the F150 keyboard warriors telling y’all how wrong y’all are because Ford told them as long as they can tow it, they are fine. Trailer tongue weight and payload capacity doesn’t matter to them 😂😂

[@dontwantnospam]

That also applies to GMC, Chevy, Ram and Toyota owners. There are too many out there I don't want to be in front of in a quick stop situation. So don't just pick on the F-150 owners. I transport vehicles for several dealers. From my experience, the Ford dealer I move vehicles for has several sales staff (plus 2 managers) who are very familiar with towing requirements and I've seen them tell a customer the vehicle they want is too light for their tow. That has blown some sales but they all said they can go home at night knowing they sold a customer a vehicle that actually will meet their requirements. The Chevy dealer will sell a Volt to tow a 7000lb trailer if you came in and told them that's what you want.

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

@@dontwantnospam It’s a joke, calm down. Obviously you haven’t seen previous videos, or other KZbin videos on towing or seen Facebook pages where a majority of F150 owners think because they can tow anything according to towing capacity but they never consider the other factors.

[@Jumpnroger]

Tow tow tow. Let’s talk about stopping that Rv especially when Rv brakes go out

[@xlxthestalkerxlx6729]

Matf

[@billchesney8949]

What do you have against Ram trucks 😂😂

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

It's a joke! Because I drive one.

[@gr8705]

Just buy a Ford Superduty over the F150. There is not that much difference in price and my 2023 Superduty gets better gas mileage than my 2015 F150 Ecoboost!

[@gringo3009]

Good info!