New to RV'ing, need a new vehicle
Hey all, So we are looking into getting into camping a bit more and hoping to buy a travel trailer. First step we need to upgrade our vehicle since I'll be using this vehicle as a daily driver I ...
Forum Discussion
The problem with your plan is the 4-5 people plus gear in the vehicle. That’s what those vehicles are designed to carry while not towing. Once you add all that weight to the vehicle you lose most of the towing capability. Your payload (found on tire rating sticker on drivers door) will be mostly taken up with passengers and gear leaving little to nothing left for the tongue weight of the trailer. Only exception would be if 3 of your passengers were small lightweight children. Might be doable now but you will quickly outgrow your vehicle.
New vehicle tow ratings are calculated with allowances for one 150lbs driver and one 150lbs passenger. Any other weight added to the vehicle reduces your tow rating pound for pound. Those trailers once loaded with gear will exceed your loaded vehicle tow rating.
The trailers you list at 3300lbs are brochure dry weights, not what you will be towing. They don’t include options, propane, water in tanks or any of your “stuff”. Trailers delivered to dealers are usually several hundred pounds heavier than the brochure weights. Add your stuff for 5 people and you’ll be 4500lbs+. For stability trailers should have ~12% of its loaded weight on the tongue. That’s at least 540lbs. That weight counts towards your tow vehicles payload and will exceed the hitch receiver rating for those vehicles. Most manufacturers calculate the max hitch weight as 10% of the tow rating (500lbs for a 5k tow rating).
New vehicle tow ratings are calculated with allowances for one 150lbs driver and one 150lbs passenger. Any other weight added to the vehicle reduces your tow rating pound for pound. Those trailers once loaded with gear will exceed your loaded vehicle tow rating.
The trailers you list at 3300lbs are brochure dry weights, not what you will be towing. They don’t include options, propane, water in tanks or any of your “stuff”. Trailers delivered to dealers are usually several hundred pounds heavier than the brochure weights. Add your stuff for 5 people and you’ll be 4500lbs+. For stability trailers should have ~12% of its loaded weight on the tongue. That’s at least 540lbs. That weight counts towards your tow vehicles payload and will exceed the hitch receiver rating for those vehicles. Most manufacturers calculate the max hitch weight as 10% of the tow rating (500lbs for a 5k tow rating).
