Towing a medium-sized load

[MD Sledhead]

I recently bought a new aluminum utility trailer with a 7000 GVWR. The trailer is a Sure-Trac 7x15 tandem.
I wanted to see how much firewood I could put on the trailer without overloading it - So I ran across the CAT scales (loaded and empty). I'm running a 2024 Limited with air suspension.



Loaded


Unloaded


1. I was pleasantly surprised how balanced the truck is with a load - I knew my 2014 pulled different loads very well (this is why)
2. I figure the tongue weight was around 700 lbs (give or take)
3. I had a few hundred lbs to go before I was overloaded (curb weight of trailer is 1485)

Yes, it pulls it very well... I only had to go about 20 miles with this load, most of it interstate, all uphill (over 1000' feet elevation gain). This section of our interstate is where I was told Ford comes to test their transmissions. I was a bit surprised the transmission wanted to shift into 4th... I personally think the tow/haul is too quick to do that with the 3.92.

Finally - Cutting, splitting, loading/hauling, and unloading/stacking nearly 5000 lbs of firewood is a lot of work for a Saturday.

 

[OC455]

Weight adds up with the wood. I do a lot myself. I got slab wood one time and they used a front end loader and put 6 or 7 loads in a high side 14ft dump trailer I borrowed from my brother. I had a weigh safe hitch on it and it read 1300lbs on the tongue weight scale. So probably 12 or 13k on the back to include the trailer.

 

[NikNak]

Get the weigh safe hitch. It’s basically tongue load confirmation insurance.

 

[tron67j]

It is nice to see actual numbers in a thread, thanks for doing that. Just in general and not commenting on this set up, this is a good lesson for all the postings that ask if it is okay to overload as we can see how the weight over the front wheels goes down, especially when a WDH isn't used. The front brakes of a vehicle contribute more to stopping, plus steering of course happens in the front axle. Not in this case, but overloading a truck at the hitch, while the truck may be able to pull the weight, can impact safe operation. Proper weight plus correctly loading a trailer is important.