How Many Pounds Are We Pulling
In researching Hitch Capacity here, most of those discussions focus on tongue weight. I would like to have some estimate of how many pounds of pressure is exerted when pulling a toad or trailer. I ...
Forum Discussion
if you're flat towing the vehicle the tongue weight on the hitch is negligible. the more important consideration is the total weight of the vehicle and whether that is too much weight for the the GCWR, the hitch or your towbar.
in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:
- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH (defined as the sum of the actual weights on each axle) as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)
- the weight rating of your tow bar
- the weight rating of your hitch
this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.
in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:
- the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH (defined as the sum of the actual weights on each axle) as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)
- the weight rating of your tow bar
- the weight rating of your hitch
this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.
