Maximum Tow Weight For SUV

The trailer I was considering is a 2009 STARCRAFT TRAVEL STAR 18RB.

This is the manufacturers weight info:

Dry: 2490
Payload: 711
Hitch: 262
GVWR: 3500

Thanks for the help and the information.

I'm driving a 2010 Lexus RX350 with the factory tow prep package. I am considering trading in for something that can tow more so I have more layout/size options in the trailer.

I'm very happy with my SUV so I wanted to see what type of trailer was reasonable to tow prior to trading in and finding the right trailer.

One thing, I am not sure that it is mentioned, is maximum frontal area of a trailer. It is one thing towing a 3500lb utility trailer of mulch or 3500 boat, but pulling a 3500 box on wheels is a big drag. With my trailer, I have to pull downhill on the interstates...the same hills that have runaway truck ramps on the bottom.

I would look into a popup, a teardrop, or a fiberglass egg trailer.
Good luck and happy camping.

Personally, I would not be pleased with any high walled trailer with a tow vehicle that had 3500 pound tow rating.

bus25682 wrote:
I'm in the process of buying my first trailer and have read that I should be sure to leave a buffer between the weight of the trailer and the max towing weight of the vehicle.

I have an SUV rated for 3,500lbs and am looking at 16-18' trailers in the range of 2,800 to 3,200lbs dry.

What would be the max dry weight I should consider?

you're making one of the top two newbie mistakes, using "dry" weights.

you probably have a CUV, not a SUV. CUV's, along with minivans, will usually have the typical 3500lbs. towing capacity.
those "dry" weights are for a stripped down trailer without the normal things trailers come with: oven, a/c, spare tire, microwave and so on.
so you can often find the actual weight of the trailer, when it leaves the factory, is actually 300-400lbs. more than the "dry" weight.

what vehicle are you talking about and does it have the factory tow package. and have you checked the owners manual for frontal area limit? many vehicles with the 3500lbs. capacity, have a frontal area limit that a trailer will exceed. the Ford Escape is one example.

rexlion wrote:
The more important issue will be the maximum hitch weight allowed for your SUV, probably 350 lbs. Figure that most trailers' tongues in that size range will weigh about 100 lbs more than the quoted dry hitch weight by the time you add the LP tank, battery, and normal cargo. So you're looking for a TT with a max dry hitch of 250 lbs. That means your TT will probably have to weigh no more than about 2000 to 2400 lbs.

Have a look at the Escape (of Chilliwack, BC) 17 foot trailer. http://escapetrailer.com/trailers/the-17-foot-escape/ Not sure how much bed space you need, but this should tow nicely behind your SUV. I know several folks towing this with a Toyota Rav4.

Another possibility is a Taylor Coach trailer. They will have more frontal area than the rounded Escape, but I've heard that the Taylors are well made and you can see from their specs that they are lightweight plus light on the hitch.

The Safari Alto might be a good one, too, but I can't find their hitch weights so not sure.

The more important issue will be the maximum hitch weight allowed for your SUV, probably 350 lbs. Figure that most trailers' tongues in that size range will weigh about 100 lbs more than the quoted dry hitch weight by the time you add the LP tank, battery, and normal cargo. So you're looking for a TT with a max dry hitch of 250 lbs. That means your TT will probably have to weigh no more than about 2000 to 2400 lbs.

Have a look at the Escape (of Chilliwack, BC) 17 foot trailer. http://escapetrailer.com/trailers/the-17-foot-escape/ Not sure how much bed space you need, but this should tow nicely behind your SUV. I know several folks towing this with a Toyota Rav4.

Another possibility is a Taylor Coach trailer. They will have more frontal area than the rounded Escape, but I've heard that the Taylors are well made and you can see from their specs that they are lightweight plus light on the hitch.

Another thing you will be told.

You will likely run out of "payload" capacity before you run out of towing capacity.

What you can Carry & what you Pull are two different things.

I have a 3,600 lb tow rating. What I found was the smaller single axle trailer can have a pretty high tongue weight. You likely have a 350 lb max tongue weight receiver hitch.

Basically, you are limited like I am to pop ups, A-Liners, small KZ sportsman's, and fiberglass egg trailers. 2400-2600 lbs dry was what I was looking for before deciding my family needs more trailer.

Good luck in your search.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Never consider the dry weight. Instead focus on the gross weight (GVWR) of the trailer, which, in your case, is the 3500 pound rating your SUV can handle. If you can find a suitable trailer that is less than 3500 GVWR then you should be OK.