How Much Can You ACTUALLY Tow? • What Size Truck Do I Need??

Confused or just plain lost trying to figure out what you can tow or what size truck you need to pull a trailer you're looking at? In this video I'll break down all these crazy towing terms, show you how these numbers work with and against one another, and teach you how to determine both what your vehicle can tow as well as what size trailer is appropriate for your truck!

00:00 Welcome!
00:17 Low Budget Examples
00:43 Trailer Weight Definitions
02:33 Truck Weight Definitions
04:38 GCW & Tow Ratings
06:25 Truck & Trailer Together
08:34 Airbags??
09:11 Empty vs. Loaded Hitch Weight
12:19 Two Sample Pairings
13:08 Quick Towing vs. Payload
13:24 SUBSCRIBE NOW to catch future videos!!

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[JoshtheRVNerd]

*CRAP! I apparently misspoke once along the way - a record low for me! 😂*

Your towing capacity is not “GCWR-GVWR” but rather *GCWR-Vehicle Curb Weight*

Sorry about that!!

[paulm]

So much math😭 convinced to just get a 1 ton dually and just assume it'll work😂

[rene-Slater]

Everyone should have to watch this before towing!

[rayhester]

Truck driver here who pulls doubles & triples. I'm very pleased to see you explaining things so very well. Fantastic job Mr Nerd.

[patmcgann]

You and Dolly did a great job of demonstrating the concepts that a lot of people struggle with. Well done Josh!

[jaccole]

Finally, Finally, Finally someone has told the truth about 1/2 ton vehicle towing. Thank you! A must watch. Great explanation. Also, the info about airbags. Excellent!

[docholiday]

Coming from a teacher of 36 years, I must say this: Josh, you are a great teacher. Your ability to take a complex concept and break it down to the simplest and easy to understand terms. One thing that I learned over the years about towing trailers is cargo capacity is the ultimate limitation (in most cases). Sir, you nailed it, and likely saved lives in this video. This video should be required viewing for individuals new to rv'ing.

[DailyDriver.]

THIS is the Most important rv video on YouTube ! Thank you Josh !

[slyzuhRS]

Like I've said before ( I think?) Working in the state park system and seeing it first hand, especially with the popularity growth of new campers I saw sooo many vehicle/camper setups WAY over loaded, and not by a little but by A LOT! We need more people in the industry to brute force this valuable information into newbies heads, and not some of these "salesmans" that just want the cash $$$ TO ALL THE NEWBIES THAT SEE THIS VIDEO/COMMENT PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH TO KEEP YOU SAFE AND OTHERS AROUND ON THE ROAD! Great video Josh

[dougmorgan]

A friend told us, buy the trailer first, then buy your truck. Truer words were never spoken! We originally ordered a 11, 000 GVW trailer and had a Ford F150. Our salesman said "that'll work great". Thanks heavens I did some research, traded the F150 into a F350 and have never been happier. Don't talk to the salesperson about your setup...talk to the people in the back that actually do the hitches and installations!

[diverdownaz]

You are incredible. This finally answered questions I have been trying to understand for way too long.

[Trucker]

I love that y’all do this because you are keeping people off the road that are over loaded, and may not be experience at towing an RV.

[didibolter]

I shared this video with my husband's cell phone, I'm no good with numbers!

[chadblomquist]

I went to look at a trailer and as we walked across the lot we were talking about my truck and weights. I told him this specific trailer model was going to cut things close on payload capacity so I'd have to be really careful about what I took with me in the truck and where I put weight in the TT. He looked me in the eye and said that a good weight-distribution hitch would "remove all of the tongue weight". I rolled my eyes, turned around and got back in my truck -- either he was straight up lying to me, or he so woefully ignorant I didn't want to do business with him.
Thanks for this break down and for being a good person, Nerd 🤓. I had this conversation with my brother-in-law when he was excited about 5th wheels that were advertised by the manufacturer as "HT" of even had the words "half ton" in the product name, but if you look at the numbers they almost never are actually half-ton towable unless the truck is bare-bones and the only vehicle occupant is a 5' pixie. Much of the RV industry will happily lie to you to make a sale which I find very frustrating. The world needs more Josh.

[manelson]

This is the SMARTEST towing information on RV's that I have ever seen! Thank you. It put a LOT MORE good info in front of the customer. Thank you for putting SAFETY FIRST.

[diverm]

Josh, you did an amazing job here. 10/10
This will be the video to share with every one new and old to rving.
Thanks for cutting threw the crap and helping us comprehend this.

[kirsten.mogensen]

This video should be REQUIRED watching for everyone who tows a camper. I am constantly sharing this video in the various FB groups I'm in because of the newbie questions being asked and the VERY bad advice being given!

[FOne_Fan]

I've entered the RV market as someone who never has owned a truck. Thanks for the informative and easy to follow video. I now feel confident I'll choose the right RV that is safe to tow.

[TravelWithTheHs]

As a 30 year ASE master tech WELL DONE Josh. I couldnt have said it more clearly and with any sence then that. I hope I can use this for thos so called "well ive been doing it for year without a problem" people!!!!

[B.A.S.]

Very good on explaining the weight stuff.
One thing people can do is go to a large truck scale (Cat Scale) at truck stops and weight there tow vehicle fuel of gas but completely empty. Then after the pickup there trailer go back and weight the combination of the 2 before they load things up. This will give them a idea of how much they can load up with. Anyone can use the Cat Scales at truck stops. It's $7.00 the 1st weigh and $2.00 for a reweigh as long as you reweigh at the same scale you did the 1st weight at.