Hello,Well - I've ended up here looking for impartial(ish) advice after getting thoroughly fed up with salesmen. (No surprise there!) I'm hoping to tow with a Subaru Ascent Premium, 5000 lbs towing, 500 lbs hitch limit, or possibly a Kia Sorento trim with same stats. Every salesman has said "Yeah, no problem," without actually looking anything up. I won't even get into the incorrect details given me, such as the '5500lb' tow limit of a Kia i was assured of by one genius. (No such thing, of course.)So, in my perfect world, I've been looking at a 2019 Jayco Hummingbird 17FD with a GVWR of 3750 lbs and dry hitch weight of of 325 lbs or a 2019 Jayco Jay Flight SLX 7 184bs which as a GVWR of 3950, and a dry hitch weight of 400 lbs. (My inexperienced TT instinct is telling me this second one is too close to the limit.)Am i pushing the limit too much here? R-pods I like are lighter, for example.And one last question. There are very few TT dealers in my town, and only one salesman that was reasonable, patient, and didn't show us trailers we obviously weren't interested in - he sells Jayco. I could buy from further away, many other dealers are approximately 2 hours away, but i assume this is a pain when it comes to warranty issues, advice etc?John

Check some forums on the vehicles and see what other owners have said. Adding an auxiliary transmission cooler is ALWAYS a good idea.If you have never owned a TT, I (and likely others) will tell you to buy a 2-5 year old used one and see what you think of the whole experience. If you like it after 1 or 2 years, you will find out what you don't like about the model/floorplan you choose and what features are important when shopping for a new one.(All RVs devaluate quickly !)

Oh my. Lots of folks are going to comment how it’ll work or won’t. I’m not familiar with the camper or towing with a Kia or suburu. I’m sure it depends how far you will drive and since you’re in Washington I bet there’s mountains. I don’t think you will have a good experience. I towed a 4400 lb camper with a half ton suburban and it wasn’t a great experience. If you like the camper perhaps give it a try and be prepared for a half ton truck someday. Yea salesman just want a sale.

Without getting into the ability of either vehicle to tow 5000 lbs consider the tongue weights. You show DRY tongue weights of 325 for instance. Now add just a single full propane tank and a battery to that tongue. Your over 400. And what other items or people are supposed to be going in the SUV with you? Or if you prefer consider the GVWR of around 5000, The rule of thumb for tongue weight is 10-12% of that so with that you are over 500 lbs. Without knocking either trailer your choices of tow vehicle are very limiting.

Another consideration is how much do you plan to carry in the tow vehicle? All seats filled? The new tow rating standards account for 150lbs for a driver and the same for 1 passenger. Any weight added to the vehicle above 300lbs will reduce your tow rating pound for pound.Towing with a 4 cylinder engine with a CVT (Ascent) is not going to be fun in the mountains at any weight. My coworker tows an Rpod with a Kia Sorento. Lightly loaded with he and his son and he says it struggles to hold highway speeds in the flats.

You need a better tow vehicle. Buy used, because there is no perfect RV. If you want to keep your tow vehicle, think lighter like a tent trailer.

Potential TT owner looking for advice | Good Sam Community

camp-n-family
Explorer
Sep 07, 2018
Another consideration is how much do you plan to carry in the tow vehicle? All seats filled? The new tow rating standards account for 150lbs for a driver and the same for 1 passenger. Any weight added to the vehicle above 300lbs will reduce your tow rating pound for pound.

Towing with a 4 cylinder engine with a CVT (Ascent) is not going to be fun in the mountains at any weight. My coworker tows an Rpod with a Kia Sorento. Lightly loaded with he and his son and he says it struggles to hold highway speeds in the flats.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Sep 07, 2018
Without getting into the ability of either vehicle to tow 5000 lbs consider the tongue weights. You show DRY tongue weights of 325 for instance. Now add just a single full propane tank and a battery to that tongue. Your over 400. And what other items or people are supposed to be going in the SUV with you? Or if you prefer consider the GVWR of around 5000, The rule of thumb for tongue weight is 10-12% of that so with that you are over 500 lbs.
Without knocking either trailer your choices of tow vehicle are very limiting.
stew47
Explorer
Sep 07, 2018
Oh my. Lots of folks are going to comment how it’ll work or won’t. I’m not familiar with the camper or towing with a Kia or suburu. I’m sure it depends how far you will drive and since you’re in Washington I bet there’s mountains. I don’t think you will have a good experience. I towed a 4400 lb camper with a half ton suburban and it wasn’t a great experience. If you like the camper perhaps give it a try and be prepared for a half ton truck someday. Yea salesman just want a sale.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2018
Check some forums on the vehicles and see what other owners have said. Adding an auxiliary transmission cooler is ALWAYS a good idea.

If you have never owned a TT, I (and likely others) will tell you to buy a 2-5 year old used one and see what you think of the whole experience. If you like it after 1 or 2 years, you will find out what you don't like about the model/floorplan you choose and what features are important when shopping for a new one.

(All RVs devaluate quickly !)

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