Confused at Camping World

NCMODELA wrote:
I went in today to camping world in colfax, NC and was completely confused when I left. I have a Yukon XL 1500, 8400lb max tow. The person told me I could tow anything 8400lbs-1600lbs = 6800lbs(approx 20%). They showed me trailers from 5200lbs to 6400lbs. We almost left with one.

I was on this site under the travel trailer section asking what I could tow with this vehicle and they said I need to weigh the vehicle with everything in it, and the difference from the GVWR is what my max tounge weight can be. The person at camper world never said any of this. On top of this, them forum people were estimating the tounge weight at 12% of the GVWR of the trailer (this was 7700, tounge weight at 12% is 924, reported tounge weight from dealer is 675). Going this route the 6400 lb trailer they were showing me was too much weight for me.

I am completely confused. Why are people using two different formulas to calculate what i can tow?

Can anybody clarify this to me?

Thanks
Bill

I can't imagine anyone using GVWR to calculate anything let alone the tounge weight of a trailer. GVW maybe but not GVWR. Maybe there was a miscomunication. Rule of thumb, just like with when buying a truck, the bigger the GVWR the better. It is a rating not a weight. The trick is to find a trailer with a realistically loaded weight (GVW) that your tow vehicle will handle. Start with dry weights, talk to experienced RVers that know how much they pack and try and estimate realistic tounge weights and GVW's. Looking for trailers with low GVWR's is going to take you out of a lot of high quality trailers. For example, two 25 foot trailers side by side, each weighing 6500 pounds, one has a GVWR of 7700 pounds and the other has a GVWR of 10,000 pounds. Remember, both weigh the same. Which one do you choose. Which one do you think has bigger brakes, axles, frames etc. Your call.

Good luck in your search and welcome to the forum.