Can I tow this?
I am in the market for a travel trailer and have my eye on a 29 foot used Hi-Lo Classic. I have a 2007 Chevy Avalanche to tow it with, but I have the feeling it's not man enough for the job. I have...
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DancherBoi wrote:
Sticker is here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzL3hFPFNjGqTmpENzMwX1F2VUk/edit?usp=sharing
That's not quite the same sticker. There should be one almost identical to what APT posted. We're specifically looking for one that reads, "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XX kg or YY lbs."
It's that sticker that tells you what *this* specific vehicle's payload capacity is. Then from that, you subtract the portion of the driver's weight that is over 150 pounds (e.g. I'm 265, so I subtract 115 lbs.), passengers, gear, hitch, etc.
That's the number that you typically will run out of long before you hit the others as you found with your math alone:
DancherBoi wrote:
The sad part is, that means I can only accommodate 474 pounds of hitch weight...ever. At 20% of trailer weight, my maximum total trailer weight is 2370. Not sure what I can trailer with that?
You're incorrect that tongue weight is 20%. That's way higher than I've ever heard (except for empty toy haulers because they account for weight behind the axles). "Usual" is 10%-15%. But, the picture isn't much better. With 474 pounds remaining, you're looking at trailer weights from 4,740 down to 3,160 pounds.
My in-laws found the exact same situation with their 4Runner. "7,000 pound towing capabilities" and they'd be lucky to tow 4,000 pounds with it without exceeding GVWR.
I think you're doing everything right. About the only thing that I might suggest is that you actually load up your Avy like you were going camping (with all passengers) and go hit a scale somewhere. Find out your REAL loaded weight and then subtract that from your GVWR.
What Can I tow?
