New and trying to learn
Hi....we are a family of 6, just getting started camping (also new to this forum, came across it on a google search). We are hoping to tow with a 2013 Ford Explorer that has a tow package on it. We ...
Forum Discussion
WDH= weight distribution hitch. It is a hitch system: when you place the tongue of a trailer on the ball (jack retracted all the way), the tw on the ball causes weight to be removed from the front axle, and increase the weight on the rear axle on top of the tw. By using the bars of a wdh, it moves some (up to all) of the weight back to the front axle.
Example: if you weighed a truck (no trailer): front axle weight 3000lbs, rear 2800lbs. Hook a trailer up without the wd bars, and the front axle may only weigh 2500lbs now due to the teeter totter effect. Hooking the wd bars up can restore up to the 500lbs that was "lost" from the front axle by adjusting the hitch head. The amount (usually a percentage) will be stated in your owners manual as to how much weight (25%, 50%, 100% or a range) to restore to the front axle.
As for that Bullet 230 BHS, IMO it is to large of a trailer at almost 4500lbs DRY. Once you load the trailer with food, clothes, bedding, etc, you will be over the 5klb tow rating, if that is what your Explorer is rated for.
Look in the owners manual to find the tow rating, and the gcwr or gcvwr- combined weight of truck and trailer.
Usually the tow rating is based on one passenger in the vehicle with no cargo, until the "standardized tow ratings" were used which is just recently that now includes 2 passengers (driver + passenger).
Example gcvwr= 16000lbs, tow rating=9500lbs, gvwr=9500
Loaded, ready to camp with all passengers and cargo the truck weighs 7500lbs, which only leaves 8500lbs for the trailer, loaded ready to camp.
It sounds like you have enough payload for a trailer!!! Figuring on the high side: family- 600lbs, cargo- 150lbs, wdh- 100lbs, that leave about 750lbs for the loaded, ready to camp tw!!!
Post back with the other numbers, and we can go from there!
Example: if you weighed a truck (no trailer): front axle weight 3000lbs, rear 2800lbs. Hook a trailer up without the wd bars, and the front axle may only weigh 2500lbs now due to the teeter totter effect. Hooking the wd bars up can restore up to the 500lbs that was "lost" from the front axle by adjusting the hitch head. The amount (usually a percentage) will be stated in your owners manual as to how much weight (25%, 50%, 100% or a range) to restore to the front axle.
As for that Bullet 230 BHS, IMO it is to large of a trailer at almost 4500lbs DRY. Once you load the trailer with food, clothes, bedding, etc, you will be over the 5klb tow rating, if that is what your Explorer is rated for.
Look in the owners manual to find the tow rating, and the gcwr or gcvwr- combined weight of truck and trailer.
Usually the tow rating is based on one passenger in the vehicle with no cargo, until the "standardized tow ratings" were used which is just recently that now includes 2 passengers (driver + passenger).
Example gcvwr= 16000lbs, tow rating=9500lbs, gvwr=9500
Loaded, ready to camp with all passengers and cargo the truck weighs 7500lbs, which only leaves 8500lbs for the trailer, loaded ready to camp.
It sounds like you have enough payload for a trailer!!! Figuring on the high side: family- 600lbs, cargo- 150lbs, wdh- 100lbs, that leave about 750lbs for the loaded, ready to camp tw!!!
Post back with the other numbers, and we can go from there!
