Trailer weight vs. towing capacity
If my SUV's towing capacity is 6000 pounds, what should be my safe trailer dry weight?
Forum Discussion
TomHaycraft wrote:
Disregard dry weights. Period.
Use a trailer's GVRW ...
This REALLY depends on the trailer, and how you load. My trailer's GVWR is nearly 3000 lbs higher than it's dry weight - and it's a small hybrid without much storage. It'd take a quite a lot of effort to actually hit the GVWR on this trailer (even filling all three water tanks would only get you halfway there, and that's not something most people do). My fully loaded weight is about 2500 lbs lower than the GVWR.
For the OP: If you're not going to pay attention to what you load, give yourself 1000-1500 lbs depending on the size of the trailer. If you are going to be careful, but are still going to load steel-framed camp chairs, corn hole and the like, give yourself 750-1000 lbs. If you're going to be crazy anal about loading (me) you can go with less. If you plan to carry a full freshwater tank, add 500 lbs onto these numbers.
BTW - when picking a trailer keep in mind that short wheelbase, high center-of-gravy SUVs are not all that stable as tow vehicles - you'll likely not be happy if you get a long trailer even if the weight is fine.
