Trailer weight vs. towing capacity

Terryallan wrote:

However. the yellow sticker weight is the actual weight of the TT as it sits in front of you on the dealer lot. As it was built, with everything you see on it.

The OP asked about dry weight. Dry weight is an empty trailer without options. That is always a lower weight than the "As Shipped" weight on the yellow sticker.

I agree that few people tow their trailer at it's GVWR, but that's a more realistic number than the yellow sticker. But here's the reason the yellow sticker is almost as bad to go by as the fictional dry weight, the only time you will tow the weight of the yellow sticker is the day you drive it off the lot. After that you will be a minimum of 500# over that, and most people are probably going to add 1000# to it.

In most instances what people put in their trailers is going to put them closer to GVWR than Shipped Weight. If you use the GVWR, then you will ALWAYS be right. If you use the "As Shipped" weight, you may be closer to your capacities than you think. In the OPs case, if they get a trailer with a 4500# yellow sticker and add 800# of stuff, now they are at 5300#. Sounds OK, except for the fact that they have an SUV that may only have an 1100# payload. If the tongue is 13% or more, more than half their payload is gone. If they stick with a 4500# GVWR trailer, they'll still have a fighting chance at not using up their payload, and they'll enjoy towing far more.

I can tell you from personal experience, the more margin you leave between your towing capacities and the true weight of your trailer, the more pleasant the towing experience.

Don't forget that the tow rating is also reduced pound for pound by weight added in the vehicle. Ex: you add 1,000lbs of passengers and gear into the tow vehicle it's rating is reduced to 5,000lbs.

I am the opposite of what these people say. I have to know the Yellow sticker dry weight. Why? You need a starting place. The GVWR of a TT means NOTHING to most people. You will NEVER load the TT to that weight unless it is really a low weight.
However. the yellow sticker weight is the actual weight of the TT as it sits in front of you on the dealer lot. As it was built, with everything you see on it.

Say my TV can tow 8000lb. And the yellow sticker weight is 7K. Tells me it is too heavy to start with. On the other hand IF your towing capacity is 6K, and the yellow sticker weight is 4K. You know you can tow the TT once it is loaded. Few people actually add more than 1000lbs for a weekend, or even a week of camping. WE added 600lbs. Which includes ALL our camping gear, and in fact the TT gets lighter every year as we take out things we don't need.

So to answer the OP's question. For a TV with a 6000lb tow cap. Look for a trailer with a yellow sticker weight between 3500, and 4500lbs. Leaves you a good cushion.

Just another hit and run post.

Bruce

Campfire Time wrote:
Ignore dry weight.

Correct and, in reality, disregard the towing rating of your SUV.
Figure what you can tow by using the PAYLOAD rating of your vehicle.

It's all about passengers, gear, the hitch and the loaded tongue load weight....all this needs to be subtracted from the payload rating of your SUV.

Simple answer, go about 4,000-4,500 pounds dry weight. You will make up the extra weight quick when you have full tanks and gear.

Disregard dry weights. Period.

Use a trailer's GVRW, the maximum weight your trailer is designed to hold. The trailer's GVWR should not exceed the tow vehicle's towing capacity.

But that is only 1/2 the equation, the horizontal force. Don't forget to also consider the cargo capacity of your tow vehicle (TV), the vertical force. This will take into account the portion of your trailer supported by the TV, weight of your hitch, people in the TV, full take of fuel, firewood, coolers, etc. Many discussions on RV.NET (and other forums) about calculating that.

One last thought, cargo capacity gets max'd out before towing capacity for most vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Ignore dry weight. That's a fictional number that no one will ever have when ready to camp. For planning use the GVWR, that's the most the trailer can weigh fully loaded. I have twice towed very close to my rated capacities with 2 different rigs. It can be done but there are limitations. I find it far better and more comfortable towing with a healthy margin. I would suggest a TT that has no more than a 4500# GVWR.

What are you towing with? Knowing this can help us make a better recommendation. Not all SUVs with 6k towing capacities are equal.

You also need to know your payload (on the sticker in the driver door). Many SUVs have a low payload, so even though the towing capacity is 6000#, you may not be able to tow a trailer that heavy simply because the combination of tongue weight, passengers, and "stuff" will eat up and go over your payload.