First Time Travel Trailer Purchaser
Hey! First time to Open Roads Forum. Looking to purchase first travel trailer and hit the roads this spring. Seeking advice on travel trailer purchase. Two people only; wife and me. Pull vehicle: 2017...
Forum Discussion
Ditto !! On forgetting that max tow number. Those are "perfect conditions" calculations. Those perfect conditions do not include aftermarket accessories (bed covers, bed liners, bed cap (could be 2 - 300 lbs) step bars, floor mats, etc), passengers, or cargo of any kind. Every pound of accessories, passengers, pets, or cargo, takes a pound away from your available payload and your max tow capacity.
A few tips and averages that may help in your planning and shopping:
1. Dry (unloaded) weights on travel trailers, only go up. The trailer gains weight (propane and batteries minimum) before the end user takes delivery.
2. Loaded for camping, the trailer will be 800 - 1000 lbs heavier than when it left the dealer lot. Ten to fifteen percent of this weight adds to tongue weight.
3. Tongue weight is not a constant number. It fluctuates during every trip. Depending on location of the holding tanks, in relation to the trailer axles, that fluctuation can be considerable. (My tongue weight can run between 950 and 1200 lbs)
4. Passenger (P) rated tires are not friendly with towing long heavy loads. Their softer sidewalls flex much easier than truck tires. This flexing makes the tow vehicle feel a bit unstable.
5. Check your available payload, subtract the weight of occupants, accessories, cargo, and 100 lbs for a WD hitch. The left over is available for trailer tongue weight. If you divide that number by .13, it will give you a ball park of loaded trailer weight that will put you near your max capacity.
A few tips and averages that may help in your planning and shopping:
1. Dry (unloaded) weights on travel trailers, only go up. The trailer gains weight (propane and batteries minimum) before the end user takes delivery.
2. Loaded for camping, the trailer will be 800 - 1000 lbs heavier than when it left the dealer lot. Ten to fifteen percent of this weight adds to tongue weight.
3. Tongue weight is not a constant number. It fluctuates during every trip. Depending on location of the holding tanks, in relation to the trailer axles, that fluctuation can be considerable. (My tongue weight can run between 950 and 1200 lbs)
4. Passenger (P) rated tires are not friendly with towing long heavy loads. Their softer sidewalls flex much easier than truck tires. This flexing makes the tow vehicle feel a bit unstable.
5. Check your available payload, subtract the weight of occupants, accessories, cargo, and 100 lbs for a WD hitch. The left over is available for trailer tongue weight. If you divide that number by .13, it will give you a ball park of loaded trailer weight that will put you near your max capacity.
