New to TT, Bit timid to tow ...?

CraigJConrad wrote:
DiskDoctr: We are looking at new 2014 vehicles. We had considered "gently used", but that when these are 2-3 year olds with under 30K miles, you only save $2-3K, so I'd prefer a new one (warranty, etc) for that small difference. The numbers I quoted above are for the 2014 models.

????: Please forgive my being "slow" or perhaps just too anal about it, but if I can play back what I think everyone is telling me ... The real issue on limits is the "payload" force, not the pulling force, per se. To determine this, I would add up all of the weight that is carried in the TV itself, then add the weight that the TT puts on the hitch, and this must be less than the TV's GVWR limit. If that understanding is correct, then does the following make sense?

TV Content
--4 Adult Passengers.......600#
--Full Tank Gas............120#
--Packed Stuff in car......150#
===============================
..............SUB-TOTAL....870#

Using Toyota 4Runner
--TV GVWR................ 6300#
--TV Curb Weight........ -4675#
--TV Installed Options... -400# (est)
--TV Content............. -870#
===============================
--Avail for Hitch Weight. 1155# <<<<<<<


Using Nissan Pathfinder
--TV GVWR................ 5986#
--TV Curb Weight........ -4168#
--TV Installed Options... -400# (est)
--TV Content............. -870#
===============================
--Avail for Hitch Weight.. 548# <<<<<<<

Am I on the right track? If so, then the 4Runner would allow for much more hitch weight, and would *seem* to be able to handle eithe of the TT's I identified. Of course, this is only working on the "hard, cold numbers", not soft considerations such as whether it will handle well in wind gusts, etc.

Also, for my edification, doesn't "tongue weight" change as the incline of the road changes? Ie, the downward component of the gravitational force would change and therefore the tongue weight be increased/decreased on hills?

I'd appreciate any/all critique of the above calculations -- thanks!!

Craig

Your thinking now about how to calculate payload is correct, but you have a mathematical error.

Using Toyota 4Runner
--TV GVWR................ 6300#
--TV Curb Weight........ -4675#
--TV Installed Options... -400# (est)
--TV Content............. -870#
===============================
--Avail for Hitch Weight. 355# <<<<<<< ONLY 355 LBS, not 1155LBS

Yes, tongue weight will go up and down as you are headed up hill and down hill, but I would not worry about that. It is not a huge change.

While it is true as you are finding out, you will be payload limited with many vehicles, you still need to stay within your vehicle towing limits as well. You can't throw that out the window. Add up the trailer, the trailer contents, the vehicle, and vehicle contents and you can't let that exceed the GCWR of the vehicle. It is true you will likely exceed the payload first, so starting there is the right thing to do.

Since your estimate of tow vehicle options is just a guess, it would be a good idea to go to a dealer lot and look at the payload sticker on some vehicles you are actually considering buying to see what the actual payload available is. This number will consider the options on that exact vehicle from the factory (still need to add dealer accessories). Your 400 lb estimate may be excessive. Plus, only one model of 4Runner has a 6300 lb GVWR, others are only 6100lbs.

4Runner spec's