Clarification on tow capacity

BurbMan wrote:

NevadaMom wrote:
To piggy back on my towing confusion ...

On their website (rvmaxx) two of the TT models I was interested in are advertised as being 20' and 21' feet, yet when I started digging around and looking at reviews, etc, they appear to be longer. Short of taking a tape measure and traveling to the rv lot, how does one know the exact length of TT's?

And if the length isn't accurately stated, is the weight?

Welcome NevadaMom! Regarding length, the model number used to indicated length, but mfrs have gotten away from that. In my case the 280FQS in our model # once upon a time meant 28', but our's really measures 32'. You have to look at the spec sheet for the trailer (easy to find on the mfrs website) to see the actual length. Also note that some mfrs include the tongue length and some you need to add it in. the tongue is the V-shaped part on the front of the trailer that connects to the tow vehicle.

shorteelaw' wrote:
From what I have gathered the tongue weight is the amount of weight put on the truck from the trailer which reduces the payload which is how much weight the actual truck can carry. Extra passengers and cargo within the truck all take from payload too.

Correct!

Here are some quick bullet points:

1. The weight of the trailer is split between the axle(s) and the tongue. The tongue weight is usually 10-15% of the total weight of the trailer, with 13% being average.

2. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the most the Sequoia can weigh. Find that number on the driver's door jamb sticker or in the owners manual.

3. Subtract the weight of the empty vehicle to determine how much additional weight the vehicle can carry, also referrred to as "payload".

4. The "tow rating" of the vehicle is usually a maximum number and assumes that only the driver is aboard the vehicle, Any passengers or extra weight subtract pound-for-pound from this rating.

5. The average family adds 1000 lbs of stuff to the "dry weight" of a trailer. Trailers are weighed when they leave the factory and that weight will appear on a yellow sticker inside on of the kitchen cabinets, usually above or under the sink. The "dry weight" in manufacturers brochure is the base weight of the trailer without options like awning, spare tires, etc. If you are looking at a trailer with an advertised dry weight of 5000 lbs, figure it will weight 6200 lbs after you pack it for camping with clothes, food, pots/pans, etc. Fresh water is extra at 8 lbs/gal.


First thing is to pack the family in the Sequoia and head to a scale. You can find scales at truck stops, moving companies, scrap years, landfills, etc. Just drive on and they charge $7-$10 to tell you how much you weigh.

So I'll make some numbers here to illustrate:

The Sequoia loaded with the family crosses the scales at 6600 lbs. the GVWR sticker on your door says max weight can be 7200. So 7200-6600=600 lbs is available to carry the tongue weight of the trailer.

If the average tongue weight of a loaded trailer is 13%, the 600/.13=4615 total trailer weight. Subtract the 1000 lbs of stuff you added and that gives you a target dry trailer weight of about 3600 lbs.

What I did here was use the weight of the truck to work backwards to estimate what size trailer you can safely tow. So in other words, in this example, if I buy a trailer that weights 3600 lbs dry weight, add 1000 lbs of stuff to it, and 13% of that weight is on the tongue, my Sequoia will be within its weight limits considering both the weight of the trailer and the passengers.

For light trucks and SUVs, if you are within this weight rating for the vehicle, you are guaranteed to be way under the tow rating.

Let me know if this makes sense.

Burbman,
So tell me if I'm correct or not using your explanation....my GVWR is 7,200 and my loaded truck is 6,300. So I have 900 left to carry tongue weight. The tongue weight of TT im looking at is 485 lbs...so thats about 12%....take the 900/12% and I have 7500...minus around 1,000 lbs of stuff in the TT and I can be looking for a TT in the dry
6,500 range? Is that correct?