Hitch weight

RedRocket204 wrote:

Capeteacher wrote:
I am being as cautious as I can, asking a lot of questions which sometimes confuses things more. Thanks

Ask away until it really sinks in. You might get a salty response or two but the important thing is you won't have made a costly mistake on a TT purchase.

You are doing the right thing by turning to those who have experience and nothing to gain. But as always, take the responses and obtain an 'average' as some responses might be somewhat off-base. You'll generally see a trend towards reality... as confusing as it might seem at first. Also consider that some might have experience in a slightly different respect from the next.

Just remember that no one, not a single person on this forum was born with RV towing knowledge, they too had to learn it.

Thanks for the boost of confidence. I am trying to digest the information 1 piece at a time until I understand it then try putting it all together. I still don't plan on buying till next year. I may be able to get to the Hersey RV show in PA in Sept, which is a big show, to see the trailers in person..I've narrowed my search down to so far.

Lance 1575, length 20', GVWR 3700, hitch 225
Gulf Stream Vintage, length 20', GVWR 3900, hitch 290
Rock wood Geo-Pro 19FSB, length 20', GVWR 3800, hitch 378
K-Z Escape Mini M181SS, length 20'11", GVWR 3500, hitch 310
Flagstaff Micro-lite 19FSB, length 20'4", GVWR 3942, hitch 442

Any comments or suggestions?

Capeteacher wrote:

So the weight on he hitch varies depending on where the cargo is stored and the WD hitch weight. Ok got that, thanks. How do I use this info to determine what TT to buy?

See the reply just above your question by Beemerphile1 for the answer.
Barney

handye9 wrote:

Capeteacher wrote:
I was talking with a friend about some of the TT I am interested in. I told him the Xterra has a 500lb hitch limit and I was looking for TT with a low weight so that when the WD hitch is attached and battery and propane are added the weight is still under the limit.
He said the hitch weight listed already adds in battery and propane. Agree or disagree.

As you can see, your results are about 50/50. Some manufacturers include that weight, some don't. You really can't count on dry hitch weight being accurate, or, even close when loaded for camping.

As for true hitch weights, there are other factors (in addition to propane and batteries) that need to be considered.

1. The weight of the weight distribution hitch itself, adds 80 to 100 lbs of dead weight on the vehicle's hitch receiver, and counts as cargo weight against the vehicle's available payload. If the receiver is stamped 500 / 5000 lbs max, part of that is used up by the weight distributing hitch itself.

2. True hitch weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Different things get loaded in different places, groceries get loaded and used up, and holding tanks, depending on their location (in relation to the trailer axles) and fluid levels, can add or subtract considerable hitch weight.

My travel trailer had an advertised "dry" hitch weight of 880 lbs. My fresh tank is behind the axles, black and grey tanks are directly above the axles, and I have a galley tank in front of the axles. Water in the fresh tank takes hitch weight away. Water in the galley tank adds hitch weight. During any given trip, my actual hitch weight can fluctuate between 975 and 1200 lbs. With the weight of the WD hitch, my receiver is actually carrying 1075 to 1300 lbs.

So the weight on he hitch varies depending on where the cargo is stored and the WD hitch weight. Ok got that, thanks. How do I use this info to determine what TT to buy?

Ignore all the dry weight numbers. Figure that the trailer will have 12 to 15 percent of the trailers GVWR on the tongue when loaded for camping.

"I know some may say it was close enough,"

Not me Bailor. Trading was the safe choice.

Capeteacher wrote:
I was talking with a friend about some of the TT I am interested in. I told him the Xterra has a 500lb hitch limit and I was looking for TT with a low weight so that when the WD hitch is attached and battery and propane are added the weight is still under the limit.
He said the hitch weight listed already adds in battery and propane. Agree or disagree.

FMVSS 571.110 section S4.3.5 for RV trailers shows regulations that say; (snipped for length) 571.110 FMVSS clicky

**The weight of cargo should never exceed XXX kilograms or XXX pounds”**

Then farther on down says;
** If the vehicle is a recreation vehicle trailer and is equipped with a propane supply, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the vehicle's unloaded vehicle weight.**

Batterys/water/100 lb tool boxes/etc IMO are considered cargo and not included in the trailers dry weights on the label.
I didn't read the whole thing so those who are interested might want to read farther.

Capeteacher wrote:
I was talking with a friend about some of the TT I am interested in. I told him the Xterra has a 500lb hitch limit and I was looking for TT with a low weight so that when the WD hitch is attached and battery and propane are added the weight is still under the limit.
He said the hitch weight listed already adds in battery and propane. Agree or disagree.

As you can see, your results are about 50/50. Some manufacturers include that weight, some don't. You really can't count on dry hitch weight being accurate, or, even close when loaded for camping.

As for true hitch weights, there are other factors (in addition to propane and batteries) that need to be considered.

1. The weight of the weight distribution hitch itself, adds 80 to 100 lbs of dead weight on the vehicle's hitch receiver, and counts as cargo weight against the vehicle's available payload. If the receiver is stamped 500 / 5000 lbs max, part of that is used up by the weight distributing hitch itself.

2. True hitch weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Different things get loaded in different places, groceries get loaded and used up, and holding tanks, depending on their location (in relation to the trailer axles) and fluid levels, can add or subtract considerable hitch weight.

My travel trailer had an advertised "dry" hitch weight of 880 lbs. My fresh tank is behind the axles, black and grey tanks are directly above the axles, and I have a galley tank in front of the axles. Water in the fresh tank takes hitch weight away. Water in the galley tank adds hitch weight. During any given trip, my actual hitch weight can fluctuate between 975 and 1200 lbs. With the weight of the WD hitch, my receiver is actually carrying 1075 to 1300 lbs.

Here is my experience.

The TT manufacturer's spec sheet for my specific unit which came with the manuals said Hitch Weight was 412lbs. I had 2 20lb propane tanks, and 2 batteries. When I weighed the tongue it weighed 700lbs. This was ready to camp with the exception of any water in any of the tanks. It also did not include the 80lbs of WDH.

Total weight without any water was 775lbs or 55lbs over the hitch rating.

My Dodge Durango had a maximum hitch capacity of 720lbs because of its uni-body construction. Some vehicles hitch tow ratings increase when WDH is used. This was not the case with mine when I talked to customer service at Dodge.

As safety is very important to me with a family, I traded my Durango for a tow vehicle I knew would safely handle all the weights associated with my TT.

I know some may say it was close enough, but I'd rather have a reasonable safety margin than be on the edge.

I would recommend weighing the hitch to make sure it is within the safety margin for your tow vehicle.

Good Luck

Capeteacher wrote:
I am being as cautious as I can, asking a lot of questions which sometimes confuses things more. Thanks

Ask away until it really sinks in. You might get a salty response or two but the important thing is you won't have made a costly mistake on a TT purchase.

You are doing the right thing by turning to those who have experience and nothing to gain. But as always, take the responses and obtain an 'average' as some responses might be somewhat off-base. You'll generally see a trend towards reality... as confusing as it might seem at first. Also consider that some might have experience in a slightly different respect from the next.

Just remember that no one, not a single person on this forum was born with RV towing knowledge, they too had to learn it.

"Storing stuff in the front of the trailer will increase hitch weight, correct?"

Oh boy. Do some reading on trailering basics. Think wheelbarrow. Put stuff near handle, you lift move. Put stuff over wheel or in front, you lift less.