Advice for a newbie
I used to backpack and tent camp when younger. the more rustic the better. now im married and would like to get back into but will need some comfort to keep her happy. knowing her needs i want to get ...
Forum Discussion
stimpy774 wrote:
I will be pulling it with a 2007 Jeep grand cherokee with the 5.7l hemi and factory tow package. seems high but specs say it can tow up to 7400lbs. i would like to be well below that. I also would not like to exceed 24' in length. being my first i want to be able to manage it .
I can figure out specifics and floor plans. just the two of us.
so any advice on brands?
Do's and donts for a novice
dealer tricks to avoid
advice on equipment (like must have least 8k btu heater)
whats typical on financing, rate, length of time?
what do you wish you had known your first time out?
You need to look at more than just tow capacity number. You will run out of payload, before you get close to that 7400 lbs.
Tow capacity number is what the vehicle is rated to pull behind it. Keywords here are "pull behind".
Payload (also called Cargo Carrying Capacity) is what the vehicle is rated to carry. This includes everything and everybody in or on the vehicle. This number should be on the sticker on your drivers door post.
With a travel trailer, the vehicle has to carry ten to fifteen percent of the trailer weight. A 7400 lb trailer would have tongue weight between 740 lbs and 1110 lbs. On the high end, your payload would be gone before you get any people in the vehicle.
Average weight of a Weight Distribution hitch, plus sway control, is about 100 lbs. That comes out of your payload.
Average camping load (bedding, dishes, pots and pans, water, groceries, BBQ, tools, camp chairs, etc) is 800 to 1000 lbs.
When showing their trailers, dealers will talk unloaded weights. They may sell you something that is within your capacity, until you load it for camping. Then you are over weight on payload, tow capacity, or both. No body tow an empty trailer.
General rule of thumb: Calculate 80% of your tow capacity (yours would be 5920 lbs), then look at trailers with gross weights that are under your 80% figure. This helps to not exceed payload.
Financing rates and terms vary from one bank to another.
What I wish I had known, first time out: The 80% rule and payload info. I had 9500 lb tow capacity and got talked into an 8000 lb trailer. That 8000 lb trailer had more tongue weight than what my tow vehicle was rated for. Towing on windy days was very unpleasant.
