Boat tongue weight calculation

Is this links math correct? 5-6% tounge weight for a dual axel trailer? I may be able to keep my truck if I wanted a 6500lb boat + 1300lb trailer????

Edit - Trying to stay under my 1260 payload rating and carry my family of 4 on decent length trips. I realize my payload is really 1265 minus my yellow sticker (66lbs) minus my mods. I'll need to weigh my truck, but do you count tires and rims or just what's on your frame?

https://www.shorelandr.com/pages/pf_trstep3.htm

 

Boats are typically recommended at 6-10% tongue depending on fuel load (fuel tanks are typically in the stern)

calculate payload of your truck by finding the published gvw in the door jamb of the truck and then subtracting your actual weight at the scales.

Any weight added takes away from payload. So for that trailer you’d be 470- 780 lbs of tongue weight.

 

We have a resident @AZBoatHauler that may be of some assistance 1UP

 

Ha - thanks @RdKing.
On a tandem axle trailer, your tongue weight should be well under 10%. As described in your link, the true tongue weight will depend on how the trailer is setup and how the boat is loaded.

Safest bet will be to hit a truck scale that can weigh your front, rear, and trailer axle weights separately. Run through it hitched and unhitched and it will tell you everything you need to know.

I think on paper you’ll pass - just will depend on the terrain if it will be a comfortable drive. You seem to get a little more leeway with boats since they are usually more aerodynamic than a travel trailer or car hauler. My boat is about 6,000 lbs loaded and ready for the lake and I go through some nasty 8% grades without any issues. My advice is to keep it in S4 when in hilly terrain and don’t smoke the brakes going down a grade - let the drivetrain hold you back.

Edit to add - don’t worry about trying to tally the weight you’re carrying - just hit the scale and compare your loaded hitch truck weight (steer and drive axles) to your GVWR.

 

Thanks for the input!

Out of curiosity since I have seen your posts giving others sage boating advice, a Sea Ray 250 SDX OB and the family for trips to different lakes around the East Coast (max 10hr drive one way) in your opinion is a safe and manageable endeavor or realistically do I have an ill suited truck for that purpose?

 

IMO, it is pushing it but probably doable where you're at. From what I know about the East Coast (which is almost nothing) it is relatively flat?? so maintaining a safe speed and ability to stop should be okay. I would definitely make a strong effort to tow with the fuel as low as possible which takes some planning ahead. You will probably want air bags to take care of squat - I've avoided this so far but that is a lot more boat. I wouldn't tow over 65MPH under any circumstance and make sure your boat trailer is well maintained. I always carry a bottle jack, 4-way, and complete spare hub with bearings extra grease and the hand tools to change. Probably overkill but being stranded in the desert is dangerous and the thought of leaving my boat on the side of the highway somewhere makes me

The real challenge with regard to staying under GVWR comes in trying to pack for a week long trip... How much stuff will you need and where will it go? How much does your family weigh? Pets? Coolers? Anything that can be safely packed into the boat should be to keep lbs off the Tundra. I know I've been over GVWR for at least a few miles (after loading with fuel and ice) and lived to tell about it... The fact you're considering all this and asking the questions knowing you'll be maxed out if it works tells me you'll be a cautious driver that realizes the vehicle behaves differently when loaded to 100% capacity - its the people out there that don't think or ask any questions that we all have to worry about.

https://youtu.be/pGjrSkYmun8

 

@AZBoatHauler

Thanks for the sound advice. I really appreciate it and it makes a difference hearing from others. I think I'll stick with shopping a 3/4 ton if my 1-2 year boat plan pans out.

I have also seen that video, crazy he'd accept so much risk for a boat ride.