2 Q's: Turning Radius & Tongue Weight

SoundGuy wrote:

mkirsch wrote:
Turning radius is useless in all aspects of driving. Can you reference where you were told that it was relevant to towing?

As far as I'm concerned "driving" and "towing" also includes backing my trailer into a campsite ... and that certainly is where turning radius is important.

So please tell me what turning radius I need on my next truck. I sure don't want to get the wrong one.

mkirsch wrote:
Turning radius is useless in all aspects of driving. Can you reference where you were told that it was relevant to towing?

As far as I'm concerned "driving" and "towing" also includes backing my trailer into a campsite ... and that certainly is where turning radius is important.

Turning radius is useless in all aspects of driving. Can you reference where you were told that it was relevant to towing?

Turning radius is calculated by the engineers who design the TV, it's part of the vehicle spec. Look up specs for your TV and you'll find the turning radius.
That number is only useful in comparing how tightly one vehicle turns compared to another, it's not something you can use on the road simply because you don't measure turns before you enter them. Also, your effective turning radius changes while towing. The TV turns the same, but you won't make it through the same tight turn with a trailer behind you.

Yes, TW is added to GCWR and it is a spec worth paying attention to. For example here are the numbers on my TV:
Weight empty 6700
GVWR 8600
Tow rating 12000
GCWR 19000

So if I want to tow 12000 lbs, I subtract that from my GCWR and the truck can only weigh 7000, so basically a full tank and a driver. If want to load my truck to the max with passengers and cargo, subtract 8600 from the 19000 GCWR and that means my max trailer weight can be 10400.

In the real world, the last time I had the rig weighed with the family on board, the truck was 8600, TT was 8700, GCW was 17300. TW on my rig is about 1200.

Every ounce you load on your TV goes to payload except a full tank of fuel and 150 pounds of you...GCW. Don't "skimp" on payload when buying a TV. To me turning radius matters because of where I camp and the roads I want to travel. If you drive interstates, buy fuel only at truck stops and frequent big private RV parks then turning radius won't be that important to you. It is to me.

BUT as your wheelbase shortens, so should the length of your TT. My TV wags my TT. The other way is dangerous.

Of course tongue weight is part of your GCW, it's ALL weight the TV must be capable of handling. It's kinda moot though as with most TVs your payload capacity will be exceeded long before GCW comes anywhere near the vehicle's GCWR.

As for turning radius generally speaking the shorter the wheelbase of the vehicle the tighter will be it's turning radius. As an example, I found it much easier backing my trailer into a campsite with my Avalanche that had a 130" wheelbase than my Silverado which is more than another foot longer. When the front bumper is clearing obstructions by a mere 1/2" the tighter the turning radius the better as far as I'm concerned.