Forum Discussion

penguin149's avatar
penguin149
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013

Hitch weight on Hybrid trailers?

I've been looking for a 20ft +/- TT to tow with my 2012 Nissan Frontier. 4.0L V6. The max tongue weight is 630#, max trailer weight is 6300# and payload is 1485#. Lately, I've been checking out hybrids and the hitch weight on 3500# trailers is around 500#! Does that sound right? That seems high compared to the non-hybrids I have seen. 500# of tongue weight along with the family pushes me over 1000# in the truck plus whatever I may put in the bed.

How concerned should I be to get so close to the max tongue weight, and in turn, max payload?

Thanks for any input or advice.
  • Chuck_Gail's avatar
    Chuck_Gail
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2013
    Note a WDH DOES NOT CHANGE THE TONGUE WEIGHT REQUIREMENT. It just helps keep TV front end from pointing to sky. A good WDH includes sway control, like Equalizer or Reese Dual Cam.

    Tongue weight should be between 13% to 15% of the FULLY LOADED TT weight.
  • Berky's avatar
    Berky
    Explorer
    Jun 25, 2013
    penguin149 wrote:
    I've been looking for a 20ft +/- TT to tow with my 2012 Nissan Frontier. 4.0L V6. The max tongue weight is 630#, max trailer weight is 6300# and payload is 1485#. Lately, I've been checking out hybrids and the hitch weight on 3500# trailers is around 500#! Does that sound right? That seems high compared to the non-hybrids I have seen. 500# of tongue weight along with the family pushes me over 1000# in the truck plus whatever I may put in the bed.

    How concerned should I be to get so close to the max tongue weight, and in turn, max payload?

    Thanks for any input or advice.

    You should be OK as far as payload goes. Just don't load the truck bed up like Jed Clampett did.

    You'll be a lot closer on tongue weight, so a weight distributing hitch makes good sense.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    That's around 14% which is normal. 12 to 15% is the suggested range for best balance.
  • wmoses's avatar
    wmoses
    Explorer
    Jun 24, 2013
    My hybrid's tongue weight is 600# weighed ready for camping. This on an RV that has a GVWR of 3500#.

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