Forum Discussion

samandjohn's avatar
samandjohn
Explorer
Aug 28, 2023

Towing

Hello all, just bought my first new toy hauler. I plan on hauling my side by side in the back. I have weight distribution bars and sway bars on a 2 5/16 hitch. Dry weight is 5262 and GVWR is 7,668. This gives me a cargo weight of 2,406. Side by side weighs 1700 lbs. This is my first toy hauler and want to make sure I’m getting the weight and balance correct. Any suggestions for this new guy would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
  • Why the secrets? Toy hauler make and model is secret. SxS make and model is secret.

    At least with the make and model of the TH, we could see what the manufacturer thinks the empty tongue weight is, which would help some with the advice.

    The toy hauler manufacturer should also provide some guidance on cargo capacity for the toybox area, but again, since that's such a closely guarded secret, that's something else we're left guessing at.

    Reality is probably closer to Grit Dog's comment, and the SxS just fits in the trailer with very little wiggle room. So it boils down to you haul it or you don't.

    Load up and see what happens. It's going to be obvious sitting in the driveway that it's not going to work, and if not there, it will be obvious within a few miles of home. It's not going to feel "just fine" until you're 1000 miles from home, then suddenly become a problem.
  • Samsonsworld wrote:
    The tongue can be offset some with a distribution hitch but too much weight up front will lead too bad handling...same as too much weight on back. I've towed heavy/light, UTVs/ATVs, boats, RVs and you want 10-15% on the tongue. It's a balancing act that may take trial and error.


    More tongue weight is almost always better...so long as you don't overload the truck.

    If the OP has a big diesel dually, he probably get away with 20% and it will tow great (similar reason why 5ers at 20-25% tow great).

    But if he's got a marginal 1/2 ton and the suspension is strung out, he may struggle with 12%.

    But so far, he hasn't told us what he's got, so it's a lot of speculation.
  • Mkirsch, you’re getting too practical again….
    Idk if it’s just human nature or intentional, but you’d think if someone had a serious question like this, they would A. Follow along. And B. At least make an attempt to provide basic valid information for others to use to help them with.

    Instead, the peanut gallery is arguing about whether he has a half ton or a 3/4ton when he could have a Ford Ranger or a F450!
  • PS, not hard to give a half ton enough suspension to pull that trailer regardless of which direction the buggy is loaded. Not even worth discussing almost.
  • valhalla360 wrote:

    More tongue weight is almost always better...so long as you don't overload the truck.


    If you are saying too much weight up front is better than too much weight in the back, I would agree, but even with a 3/4 ton you can raise your front end considerably if you aren't balancing the load.
  • Samsonsworld wrote:
    valhalla360 wrote:

    More tongue weight is almost always better...so long as you don't overload the truck.


    If you are saying too much weight up front is better than too much weight in the back, I would agree, but even with a 3/4 ton you can raise your front end considerably if you aren't balancing the load.

    Not likely at all with the OPs size of trailer. And not even remotely close to removing enough steering axle weight if it’s a diesel.
    Just spent the last 2 years tugging around a much bigger TH with no toys/ballast in the back and no wdh. Estimate tongue weight was 1500lbs easy. That’s how much air it took (psi calculated to lbs of load) in the bags to get the @ss end back up near zero anyways.
    The steering was not light at all.
    Towed like a dream, tracked as good as any bp trailer. The only issue was the speedometer fighting the fuel gauge….and winning!
  • Geez guys, it’s a first time poster, cut him/her some slack. Maybe you could be a little nicer and explain what you need to know and why it matters and quit being a NPA.
  • Grit dog wrote:
    Mkirsch, you’re getting too practical again….


    I'm sorry. I'll try harder next time.
  • nickthehunter wrote:
    Geez guys, it’s a first time poster, cut him/her some slack. Maybe you could be a little nicer and explain what you need to know and why it matters and quit being a NPA.



    You do bring up a valid point. Since the op doesn't seem to answer the questions, anything is possible. Year make model are very basic but still possible. Maybe they chose it because the salesman said they could haul any Sxs in it. Maybe they simply picked a color they liked or maybe it simply was the led lights under the awning. They are customizable via color changes and blinking patterns. All is possible for sure.

    My personal guess is that the op's 1700 lb sxs weight claim is what was based on the sxs, manufacturers web site. Im betting it was a dry curb weight for a base model. Adding wheels and a cage can easily add 300 lbs plus ! let alone stereos, axles, suspension, better seats and 5 point harnesses. The 2023 rzr 4 seat turbo with aftermarket 35's and spare tire carrier, with rzrs light package , weighs in at 2850 lbs wet. Know someone that weiged theirs.

    Irregardless of new to toyhaulers or not, with less then 700 lbs left of max cargo capacity, the op cannot put any camping gear let alone tools or spare parts for that sxs. They'll be at max or over.

    Now as that sxs is more likely a 4x4, prob less critical concerning pulled in vs backed in. Not like a dune buggy or sand rail anyway. They are 2wd and the motor/transaxle combos are the heaviest. A lot of sxs's have a front diff, axles, front drive wheel bearings, radiator/fan combos up front as well plus eps.

    I recently sold my 30' bumper hitch toyhauler. Winched my sand rail in backwards because pulled in it would get squirrly enough to move a 1999 f350 drw diesel! Had and Anderson wdh with sway control that I had purchased for the previous th'er. Worked great up to 8500 lbs that that last one was. This 10500 with 1250lbs tw, I began to suspect it was creating issues. Loosened it up to check and sure enough, it was better w/o it. Now gusting wind is gusting wind and it was at that time I decided to add some better sway bars from hellwig.

    Will be interesting to hear how the op's tows at or over max gvwr with that much weight behind the axles. Especially if they are towing with a half ton. You all would be surprised to know how many people , that drive half ton trucks, don't know that f150 means half ton !!!!! They believe all pick up trucks are the same. I hear this daily for 30 yearsnow.

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