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2023 Jayco JAY FEATHER 27BHB

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Beltman

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I just purchased a new 2025 Ram 1500 Big Horn ,3.0 Hurricane 6’4” bed 3.92 gears.
I’m looking at the Jayco but thinking it might be too much tongue weight. They list it at 745. My max cargo is 1525lb my family plus bed cover and hitch is about 925lb thoughts??


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Yep, looks like over payload before you even get in the truck. Look around but from what I’ve seen most TT’s are going to be at least 650 tongue weight
 
Using a weight distribution hitch gets me closer no?


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No, it just distributes the weight around, it doesn't make it disappear.
Weight will be weight.
I think that's right.
Paul B
 
From what I understand it puts 20-30% on the trailer axle


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Im new to towing so im far from an expert but from what I understand the hitch does not take any weight off the tongue.
 
Beltman said:
From what I understand it puts 20-30% on the trailer axle

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I would probably run numbers using 20% to trailer. You're still putting 80% on the truck and just transferring some of the RAW to the steer axle (putting back what was unloaded). Many will say as long as you don't exceed RAWR, you'll be fine. If you are under RAWR, yet over GVWR, that's entirely a judgement call. You still need 10-15% tongue weight for safe towing.

Using a WD you also need to add the weight of the WD setup. Keep in mind the receiver is only rated for 1100.

ikreider said:
Im new to towing so im far from an expert but from what I understand the hitch does not take any weight off the tongue.
Click to expand...

A WD hitch works by leveraging weight (through rotation/torque) away from the rear axle/hitch to BOTH the front axle AND the trailer axles. It actually puts more stress on the hitch and trailer tongue. "Tongue weight" (weight that is exerted downward on the rear axle) is reduced through load transfer but not all is "eliminated."
 
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funny i drive 18 wheelers and know nothing about towing with a pickup lol
this explained alot to me
 
The GVWR is 7600 pounds so I have plenty of room there.


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How about a 2021 Forest River - Cherokee Alpha Wolf
Floorplan: 26DBH-L
Weight 5795
GVWR 76600
Hitch weight 600
Overall length 31 feet


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Beltman said:
I just purchased a new 2025 Ram 1500 Big Horn ,3.0 Hurricane 6’4” bed 3.92 gears.
I’m looking at the Jayco but thinking it might be too much tongue weight. They list it at 745. My max cargo is 1525lb my family plus bed cover and hitch is about 925lb thoughts??


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Click to expand...
you need to look at the empty and gross and tongue weight of the trailer and the towing info of your truck. both on ram and jayco web sites if not on the trailer sticker. don't take the word of people who don't have all the facts. you're not giving enough info
 
Brutal_HO said:
I would probably run numbers using 20% to trailer. You're still putting 80% on the truck and just transferring some of the RAW to the steer axle (putting back what was unloaded). Many will say as long as you don't exceed RAWR, you'll be fine. If you are under RAWR, yet over GVWR, that's entirely a judgement call. You still need 10-15% tongue weight for safe towing.

Using a WD you also need to add the weight of the WD setup. Keep in mind the receiver is only rated for 1100.



A WD hitch works by leveraging weight (through rotation/torque) away from the rear axle/hitch to BOTH the front axle AND the trailer axles. It actually puts more stress on the hitch and trailer tongue. "Tongue weight" (weight that is exerted downward on the rear axle) is reduced through load transfer but not all is "eliminated."
Click to expand...
no such thing as usual payload
 
ram813ltd said:
no such thing as usual payload
Click to expand...

Where did I say that?

For that matter, it's ALL subjective and dynamic. Loads are subject to change/shift at any point. Hard to talk in absolutes when there's missing data...
 
There's a ton of towing threads on this and other forums.
For now the best guidance I'd have is to ignore the trailer manufacturer's stated hitch and dry weights in your calculations.

Instead, use the GVWR as the assumed towed weight, and 11% - 13% of that GVWR as your assumed hitch weight.

Subtract that calculated hitch weight from the above from your payload as stated on the yellow sticker in drivers door jam of your truck.

That figure is the total lbs available for you to put people or cargo in or on the truck (and a weight distribution hitch deducts from this amount as noted below). And usually when we camp, we go with other humans, so if the cab is full of passengers, put as much stuff as possible in the trailer, not the bed/truck.

This is how you stay "within the numbers".

From there, there are things you can do to make the towing experience better, but none of it increases the tow rating.

Most notable among these is a weight distribution hitch, but note - them sucka's are heavy, so you might deduct another 75-100 lbs from the figure you arrive at in Bold above.
 
The advertised tongue weight of the trailers usually include empty propane bottles unless otherwise stated in their brochure. Add 100 lbs to their advertised tongue weight because of 40 lbs or 60 lbs of propane and a battery (about 60 lbs).

A real life example: The advertised tongue weight on my trailer is 720 lbs. The day I took it home (empty) but with 2 full 30 lb propane tanks and a battery it was 850 lbs. Loaded for camping it's between 950 lbs and 1050 lbs. Myself and the gear in my truck weighs about 500 lbs. After all is said and done I have 1300 lbs of available payload. My sticker says 1749 lbs. So I'm under my payload by about 300 lbs. I weighed my truck with a full tank of gas and my hitch installed.
 
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my 28' 4700# travel trailer weighed 6000# when ready for travel. my '19 laramie 4x4 ccsb 5.7 3.92 33 gal weighed 5960# with just me in it so I only had 1140# left for wife and gear and tongue wt. of trailer. trailer tongue wt. was 600#, wife 120#, so I had a few pounds left for firewood and tool kit and extra propane tank in the bed. always best to get everything weighed so you know where you stand.
 
I have a Jayco 261bhs that has a tongue weight of 710 dry. My actual loaded tongue weight is around 1000 give or take, depending on if I have a full water tank. I have added HD springs and Timber Grove airbags. These have allowed me to connect with no rear end squat. I am over my payload of 1601 and the RAWR when loaded. With a weight distribution hitch I am under RAWR but still over payload by almost 400lbs. The truck pulls pretty good but I am still going to upgrade to a 1 ton truck next time. I just got done with a 4700 mile trip. Not advice on what you should do. Just giving you real world numbers and experience.
 
We ended up with a coachman, freedom express 29SE. A Weight safe middleweight hitch. Also Timber Grove air bags. We’re taking our first trip this weekend. 3 Hour Dr. mostly highway. I plan on hitting the first cat scale and getting everything fine tuned I’ll let you know what the numbers are.
 
IMG_7047.jpg
Only 20 lb over GVWR and both axes have plenty of room to spare.


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