Community Forums

vandelhearts · 10-21-2019, 08:48 AM

Hi Folks. I have a 2004 Ford F-150 Crew cab shortbed with lift-up Tonneau cover. My TT is 2014 UltraLite 23ft total length, tandom axles, weighs 3800Lbs. carry capacity is 1490Lbs. My question is this? Most of my things that I carry along do not get used until I return to Arizona and set up thru the winter months. So while traveling 1500 miles, is it better for me to store what I can in the bed of my truck and large back seat.. I have most things in those typical storage tubs with lids, or is it better for "ease of towing" to have the tubs stored in my camper while being towed down the highways? So what I am wondering is.. is the weight of these items being stored in the tubs.. BETTER left stored in the truck bed? Does that help any way as like... stress on hitch? less weight being towed behind? less stress on engine by way of more of a bed payload but less towing weight? I don't know.. IF it makes a difference where the items are stored.. in the truck? or the camper? Items are all things that most rv'rs will carry full time.. tools, winter-summer clothes, pots, pans and kitchen items, dvd's, cd's, computer stuff, outdoor items chairs table lighting, sewer, water, generator, boots, coats ect.. it all adds up to weight. Thanks for any input!

SailorSam · 10-21-2019, 09:03 AM

My opinion.

In general, I don't think it will make much difference where you carry the stuff. Biggest impact of moving it to the trailer will be tongue weight. You'll need to be cognizant on where in the trailer you put the stuff and if that over or unders the 10-15% TW range. Changing TW, even inside the recommended range, can significantly impact trailer stability.
With that said, how much inconvenience will it be having the stuff in your trailer? Will you need to move it to use the trailer while using while traveling?

Itchytoe · 10-21-2019, 09:10 AM

It's the same work on your drivetrain either way. It's going to be easier on your truck's suspension for the weight to be in the trailer, but that's going to be harder on your trailer's suspension. When you get where you're going, you'll probably take the truck on errands so I'd want the truck to be clean. I'd rather move things fewer times, so I'd probably travel with everything in the trailer. Just make sure you're not loading the trailer tail heavy or anything like that.

Jay D. · 10-21-2019, 10:19 AM

I think with that truck and trailer combo your not going to have an over weight problem. I would just spread it out between the truck and trailer so that you can get to it easily if and when you want it.
Jay D.

tuffr2 · 10-21-2019, 10:43 AM

Actually I always heard it was better to carry stuff in the truck. I heard this from a farmer so it is as valid as any other guess.

Jshopes81 · 10-21-2019, 11:01 AM

I like stuff where im going to use it. Clothes, food, pots, pans, etc go in the trailer. Anything trailer related goes in the trailer. Tools, bikes, jump box, etc., all go in the pickup. I like to move things as few times as possible.

SmokeyWren · 10-21-2019, 05:46 PM

I don't think it matters as long as

1] you're not overloaded over any of the truck or trailer weight limits (GVWR, GAWRs]
2] you maintain 12% to 14% tongue weight (TW)
3] your trailer is level, front to rear, after all hooked up with the WD hitch properly adjusted
4] your WD hitch is adjusted to result in zero to one-half inch rise in the front fender. More rise means your spring bars are not tight enough. Less than zero rise means your spring bars are too tight.
.

Desert Flyer · 10-21-2019, 08:28 PM

Here is another way to look at these kinds of questions. For towing stability, you need about 12%-13% or 12.5% of the TT weight on the hitch. That is 1/8. So for every 800 lbs you put into the TT, about 100 lbs of it needs to load the hitch (you need to shift th8ngs around to balance your loads in the TT). That is the same thing as putting 100 lbs directly into the bed of your truck and nothing in the TT. So if you need to carry stuff, would you rather put only 100 lbs in your bed, or 800 lbs in your TT?

kdauto · 10-21-2019, 09:03 PM

It's such a light trailer I can't imagine loading stuff in it is a problem. Load it intelligently, properly distributed and you'll be fine as long as you're under limits in all axle and tongue weights.

I HATE hauling fragile and light stuff in the truck bed. With a 5th wheel even moderately heavy stuff can get sucked out at speed. With a TT, you can get some surprising buffeting in the truck bed depending on aerodynamics and setup. If it has a cap or tonneau makes a big difference.