Trackrig wrote:
I went to the Vibe website, but I'm not sure I got to exactly the right page? In the web address, there was the #4559, if that was the trailer model #, I missed it.
Anyway on the the lightest trailers I did find, the 6502, 6503 & 6504, their shipping weights are all below the 3,500# mark, but remember the shipping weight means the trailer is completely / totaly empty. No clothes, food, water, pots & pans, toilet paper, laptop, propane, lawn chairs, a case of beer, etc. Of these three, the 6502 weighs 3,164# which leaves you only 336# that you can add to it before hitting the 3,500# mark.
The 6502 was the one I wanted, because of the counter space, the bathroom, the side dinette, and the bed. I also like the way it is in a V shape, that must help a lot with gas mileage! I know for a fact that I don't have 336 pounds worth of stuff. Maybe 150 at the most. Would it make any difference if I kept this stuff in my Escape instead? Like just piled into the way back part?
When I wrote the above paragraph, I skipped over the 6501 model because the gross weight on it was 4,070#s. It's interesting to look at it because its GVW is higher than the other three because it's cargo capacity is twice the other three. BUT, it's shipping weight is only 2,789#s. Usually a trailer with a higher GVW and a higher carrying capacity is built heavier to carry the additional load and therefore the shipping weight is also higher. This should be looked at a little further.
I'm still a little confused about the GVWR, i've read about it and from what I understand it just means the total amount the trailer can carry...right? But I was told thats the number you should go by, not the weight of the actual trailer itself. But I don't understand why because I would not be adding the maximum weight, so I dont like having to go by that number. Especially if I put most of my stuff in the back of my car instead.
Another item for you to look at on the Escape is how much weight can the rear end handle? All of these trailers have a 310 to 340# hitch weight. With a weight distribution hitch with sway control and the reciever with the trailer hitch weight will probably put 500# on the rear of the Escape. That plus whatever weight you put in the rear of the Escape should also be looked at.
I have never found this information when researching what my Escape can tow, they only tell you what it can tow fully equipped, not specifically the rear end. How do you even figure that out? And wouldn't it change anyway if you had a towing package put on?
