We have all seen the television ads that say that the new pickup can pull 12,000 pounds or more. This is one small step away from false advertising for a number of reasons. The fine print in the commercial says that the truck must have a select group of options to achieve that tow rating. The picture shows a top of the line, leather interior, every option under the sun model truck, but the weight of all those options limits the truck’s towing capacity more than you might think. The base two door truck, with rubber floor mats, basic radio, and few other options probably isn’t what is in your driveway.
There are two weights to be concerned with for the RV you may be considering. The empty weight, which does not include the battery, propane tanks, or anything else, and the Max gross weight, which is the most that the camper is designed to handle.
Looking at the rating of a stripped-down truck, and an empty camper will not result in a towing experience that will be comfortable, safe, or legal. I can spend some time helping unravel the real capacity of the tow vehicle, the weights to be concerned about on the RV, and what your safety margin really is.