Towing a TT
What is the optimum % of the tow vehicle maximum limit in towing a TT.I have read percentage of 80% to 50%. I am buying a new truck and I want a reasonable amount of towing excess capability. Thanks.
Forum Discussion
You should also figure out what the max tow rating means. ALA 5% grade at 100F temps, full AC on and not over heating the rig, maintaining at least 35 or 40 mph depending upon the base gvwr of the tow rig? Is that fast enough for you?
minimum 12% grade start and ebrake holding the rig. Is this steep enough for you? I've gone up some 25-35% grade at full gcw and higher in some rigs. mean while a rig that was rated twice another one I owned, did not go up the low 20% grade! So just because you are below the tow rating, does not mean you will get to the end location?
I've pulled over gcwr many times in the past. no bad issues, except when the truck was NOT speced to go up grades I expected it too! The overall best tow rig I had, a 96 GM K3500 SW with a 6.5 td, manual 5 sp. Pulled 30% grade in 1st gear. a bit slow on freeway grades, around 35-40. Worst, a r3500 flat bed, would stall out on a 12-14% grade at 12K lbs, gcwr was 14K lbs. middle, an 05 dually Crew cab dmax. Went up max 24-25% grades at 20K lbs, pulled typical freeway grades in the 50's. BUT, if a 30% grade was in the way of destination......I was SOL! Got to that grade the quickest.....but it still stalled out!
The 6.5 had a 12500 gcwr, the dmax a 23500.
At the end of the day, it all depends!
marty
minimum 12% grade start and ebrake holding the rig. Is this steep enough for you? I've gone up some 25-35% grade at full gcw and higher in some rigs. mean while a rig that was rated twice another one I owned, did not go up the low 20% grade! So just because you are below the tow rating, does not mean you will get to the end location?
I've pulled over gcwr many times in the past. no bad issues, except when the truck was NOT speced to go up grades I expected it too! The overall best tow rig I had, a 96 GM K3500 SW with a 6.5 td, manual 5 sp. Pulled 30% grade in 1st gear. a bit slow on freeway grades, around 35-40. Worst, a r3500 flat bed, would stall out on a 12-14% grade at 12K lbs, gcwr was 14K lbs. middle, an 05 dually Crew cab dmax. Went up max 24-25% grades at 20K lbs, pulled typical freeway grades in the 50's. BUT, if a 30% grade was in the way of destination......I was SOL! Got to that grade the quickest.....but it still stalled out!
The 6.5 had a 12500 gcwr, the dmax a 23500.
At the end of the day, it all depends!
marty
