Casita Trailer Calculations

[Myjal]

Hello All,

I've been researching away at getting a Casita trailer and want to be sure I'm calculating the towing weights/payloads/etc all correctly.

Maverick GCVW = 8085 lbs
Maverick GVWR = 5220 lbs
Maverick Curb Weight = 3735 lbs
Maverick Payload = 1485 lbs
Maverick Max Hitch Weight = 400lbs

Casita GVWR = 3500 lbs
Casita Dry Weight = 2480 lbs
Casita "Payload" = 1020 lbs
Casita Hitch Weight = 380lbs

Estimated lbs loaded against the truck payload. Weight of Passengers + Dogs + Gear + Casita Hitch Weight = 1100 lbs

Leftover/Unused Maverick Payload = 385lbs

I take the Maverick Curb Weight + My Payload to equal 4835. Then, I minus that from the GCVW which leaves 3250lbs for towing capacity. Finally, I take 3250 lbs and subtract the dry weight without the tongue weight of the Casita to equal 1150lbs.

So at the end of the day I have ~1150 lbs of weight capacity left to distribute between the Maverick (only 385lbs payload left) and Casita, correct? I just want to be sure as I have yet to factor in bedding, clothes, etc that will sit inside the Casita and if that will be adequate for those last additional items.

Thanks!

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[CajunMick]

Own couple RVs. Told wife NO heavy stuff, in the plates, pots, pans department. Plastic or paper plates. Any cookware for campfire cooking, light wright. If cast iron, smaller better, since cooking only for 2. If bicycles, aluminum frame best. In a nutshell, KISS is the word.

 

[prsncat]

Hello All,

I've been researching away at getting a Casita trailer and want to be sure I'm calculating the towing weights/payloads/etc all correctly.

Maverick GCVW = 8085 lbs
Maverick GVWR = 5220 lbs
Maverick Curb Weight = 3735 lbs
Maverick Payload = 1485 lbs
Maverick Max Hitch Weight = 400lbs

Casita GVWR = 3500 lbs
Casita Dry Weight = 2480 lbs
Casita "Payload" = 1020 lbs
Casita Hitch Weight = 380lbs

Estimated lbs loaded against the truck payload. Weight of Passengers + Dogs + Gear + Casita Hitch Weight = 1100 lbs

Leftover/Unused Maverick Payload = 385lbs

I take the Maverick Curb Weight + My Payload to equal 4835. Then, I minus that from the GCVW which leaves 3250lbs for towing capacity. Finally, I take 3250 lbs and subtract the dry weight without the tongue weight of the Casita to equal 1150lbs.

So at the end of the day I have ~1150 lbs of weight capacity left to distribute between the Maverick (only 385lbs payload left) and Casita, correct? I just want to be sure as I have yet to factor in bedding, clothes, etc that will sit inside the Casita and if that will be adequate for those last additional items.

Thanks!

Those calculations make sense to me. My rule of thumb is to leave about 5% GCVW to spare. Thus, I would try to leave about 400 lbs out of the equation (by taking away the 385 lbs. payload left on the Maverick). Thus, I would distribute 750 lbs or less within the Casita while ensuring this weight won't move during towing (such as under hard braking).

Can you give us an update after you tow for the first time? And provide some pictures?

I am looking into off-road trailers to pull behind my Maverick.

 

[Joe Strummer]

Assuming you have the 4K Tow Package, your calculations are correct. I agree with PRSNCAT that it is advisable to never max out your Payload + Trailer weight.

 

[Okpete]

Hello All,

I've been researching away at getting a Casita trailer and want to be sure I'm calculating the towing weights/payloads/etc all correctly.

Maverick GCVW = 8085 lbs
Maverick GVWR = 5220 lbs
Maverick Curb Weight = 3735 lbs
Maverick Payload = 1485 lbs
Maverick Max Hitch Weight = 400lbs

Casita GVWR = 3500 lbs
Casita Dry Weight = 2480 lbs
Casita "Payload" = 1020 lbs
Casita Hitch Weight = 380lbs

Estimated lbs loaded against the truck payload. Weight of Passengers + Dogs + Gear + Casita Hitch Weight = 1100 lbs

Leftover/Unused Maverick Payload = 385lbs

I take the Maverick Curb Weight + My Payload to equal 4835. Then, I minus that from the GCVW which leaves 3250lbs for towing capacity. Finally, I take 3250 lbs and subtract the dry weight without the tongue weight of the Casita to equal 1150lbs.

So at the end of the day I have ~1150 lbs of weight capacity left to distribute between the Maverick (only 385lbs payload left) and Casita, correct? I just want to be sure as I have yet to factor in bedding, clothes, etc that will sit inside the Casita and if that will be adequate for those last additional items.

Thanks!

Check the casita forums where members weighed on scale. . Rep. at Casita stated 2460 with all options. Members report option adding 300 to 400 pds to dry weight

 

[Myjal]

Those calculations make sense to me. My rule of thumb is to leave about 5% GCVW to spare. Thus, I would try to leave about 400 lbs out of the equation (by taking away the 385 lbs. payload left on the Maverick). Thus, I would distribute 750 lbs or less within the Casita while ensuring this weight won't move during towing (such as under hard braking).

Can you give us an update after you tow for the first time? And provide some pictures?

I am looking into off-road trailers to pull behind my Maverick.

I did mess up the calculations, looks like I'll have ~1150 total lbs because I calculated the hitch weight twice. Anyhow, any thoughts on the hitch weight? Casita said it is 385lbs from the dealer so any additional items I put in the camper could change that (I plan to load most gear toward the rear of the Casita or offset with some water in the tank since it sits in the back).

Worried about going over the max hitch weight but other than that, I agree with leaving the rest of the payload in the Maverick as spare. That would leave me with ~765 total for gear in the Casita, just worried about that damn hitch weight..... otherwise, we are ready to order and I confirmed I could have it as soon as the end of June.

 

[Myjal]

Assuming you have the 4K Tow Package, your calculations are correct. I agree with PRSNCAT that it is advisable to never max out your Payload + Trailer weight.

What are your thoughts on exceeding the hitch weight? 385lbs is what it comes from factory and I'm worried once I add some items into the Casita, we might go over the 400lbs... I do see most Casitas sitting at/around ~425lbs hitch weight (loaded with camp stuff).

 

[Myjal]

Check the casita forums where members weighed on scale. . Rep. at Casita stated 2460 with all options. Members report option adding 300 to 400 pds to dry weight

That is true. Even with that said, I have ~1150lbs of weight to utilize which would drop it down to ~750lbs of leftover weight and if I leave cushion as another member mentioned, I will see about ~365lbs available for gear directly into the Caista with a cushion of ~385lbs if I go over.

 

[Joe Strummer]

I'm not sure you did count it twice (but then again, I'm just doing the calculations in my head).

The Tongue Weight is already included in the Dry Weight of the Trailer. It is used to reduce the Maverick's Payload because it exerts a force on the rear axel. Its only impact is on the Payload of the Truck.

 

[Okpete]

That is true. Even with that said, I have ~1150lbs of weight to utilize which would drop it down to ~750lbs of leftover weight and if I leave cushion as another member mentioned, I will see about ~365lbs available for gear directly into the Caista with a cushion of ~385lbs if I go over.

Hi, info was for helping you, not a criticism. I’ m looking to purchase a Casita. After looking at link on forum, they added tongue weight to trailer. Most loaded for travel were around 3000 to 3100 pds. I tow Nucamp 320 s and truck does really well.

 

[Myjal]

I'm not sure you did count it twice (but then again, I'm just doing the calculations in my head).

The Tongue Weight is already included in the Dry Weight of the Trailer. It is used to reduce the Maverick's Payload because it exerts a force on the rear axel. Its only impact is on the Payload of the Truck.

Yea I was just thinking that it might go above the recommended max tongue weight that Ford has set for 400lbs. Just trying to think if that is something I should absouletly not do and if so, then I may need to look into a different trailer

 

[Joe Strummer]

What are your thoughts on exceeding the hitch weight? 385lbs is what it comes from factory and I'm worried once I add some items into the Casita, we might go over the 400lbs... I do see most Casitas sitting at/around ~425lbs hitch weight (loaded with camp stuff).

The Mav comes with a Class 3 hitch, capable of towing 8,000lbs. The Tongue weight is just reducing the mav's Payload.

 

[Gray Goose]

I did mess up the calculations, looks like I'll have ~1150 total lbs because I calculated the hitch weight twice. Anyhow, any thoughts on the hitch weight? Casita said it is 385lbs from the dealer so any additional items I put in the camper could change that (I plan to load most gear toward the rear of the Casita or offset with some water in the tank since it sits in the back).

Worried about going over the max hitch weight but other than that, I agree with leaving the rest of the payload in the Maverick as spare. That would leave me with ~765 total for gear in the Casita, just worried about that damn hitch weight..... otherwise, we are ready to order and I confirmed I could have it as soon as the end of June.

Do not load more that 40% of the weight behind the axel. This will cause fishtailing and loss of control. If you exceed the hitch weight with the trailer properly loaded, you need a bigger tow vehicle. https://www.curtmfg.com/loading-trailer

 

[TBM]

Here is My 2023 Hybrid pilling our 1985 Uhaul CT-13.
No issues at all, pulls like it’s not even there. The rv is all fiberglass and only 1200lbs dry.

 

[prsncat]

Do not load more that 40% of the weight behind the axel. This will cause fishtailing and loss of control. If you exceed the hitch weight with the trailer properly loaded, you need a bigger tow vehicle. https://www.curtmfg.com/loading-trailer

This is the information I was going to use to answer the questions posed above.

The key is to balance the trailer and not to overload the hitch.

I think, however, that the OP is on the right track and towing a Casita with a conservatively loaded Ecoboost AWD with the 4K Tow Package will work fine.

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