Question

Sam and Sheila have two teenagers. They are looking at a full-size AWD truck that they can take on a camping trip. Specifications are: 4 occupants 655 lbs, luggage and camper gear 380 lbs, off-road bicycles 175 lbs. If Sam added a trailer with a GTW of 3200 lbs, how much PAYLOAD capacity would they need assuming a 10% tongue load?

a) 1200 lbs
b) 1300 lbs
c) 1400 lbs
d) 1500 lbs

Answer 1

d) 1500 lbs. The truck requires a minimum payload capacity of 1500 lbs when considering the occupants, luggage, gear, bicycles, and the tongue load of the trailer, which is 10% of the trailer's GTW.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the payload capacity needed for Sam and Sheila's AWD truck for their camping trip, we need to consider all the weight they plan to carry including themselves, luggage, camping gear, bicycles, and the added weight of the trailer and its tongue load. A tongue load is typically 10% of the Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), which in this case is a trailer with a GTW of 3200 lbs.

First, we sum up the weight of the passengers and gear:

• 
  
• Occupants: 655 lbs
• 
  
• Luggage and camper gear: 380 lbs
• 
  
• Bicycles: 175 lbs

Next, we calculate the tongue load of the trailer:

10% of 3200 lbs (GTW) = 320 lbs

Now, we add all the weights together:

655 lbs (occupants) + 380 lbs (gear) + 175 lbs (bicycles) + 320 lbs (tongue load) = 1530 lbs

Therefore, the total payload, including the tongue load, should be at least 1530 lbs. Hence, the correct option is (d) 1500 lbs.