Hello,I am a newbie to RVing and planning to buy my first RV. I am also buying a new SUV for my family of 6. I am curious to know your thoughts on towing a travel trailer for the following scneario- Tow vehicle is a SUV with 7500 max towing rating- Tow vehicle has max payload of 1600 lbs- Assuming the 6 passengers together weigh 800 lbs.- That leaves 800 lbs for hitch- At 14% for tongue weight, 800 lbs gives me 800 / 0.14 = 5714 lbs- Assume I have about 1000 lbs as cargo that I will need to put in the trailer.- That gives me maybe 4500 lbs for a dry travel trailer weight (no cargo)- Meaning that 4500 lbs dry trailer weight + 1000 lbs cargo = 5500 lbs GVW of the trailer which is below the 5714 lbs available- Hensley hitch- I am only going to be RVing for a few camping trips a year of a few days each. So a total like 10 days of RVing a yearWhat do you guys think of the above ? Would you feel comfortable using the tow vehicle under such conditions ?thank you !

The max numbers you listed are just that....the Maximum payload and tow rating. That is, properly equipped with bare bones options. You have to look at the particular vehicle to see what those numbers will be. Seems like an awful lot of trailer for an SUV.

Don't forget to include the weight of the hitch itself - 100 lbs or so. So you really only have 800-100=700 lbs. 700/.14 = 5000 lbs trailer weight. 1000 lbs cargo in your trailer, that makes your dry trailer weight max about 4000 lbs.Those are the limits according to the math. It may or may not be a pleasurable ride. If you're going 50 miles a few weekends a year, probably would be okay. If you're going on long trips with a lot of driving time, probably won't be a whole lot of fun driving.As said above, check your actual vehicle numbers, they might be even lower.I can say that I don't ever recall seeing a GLS towing anything in any campground I've ever stayed at. Doesn't mean it can't be done, I just haven't seen it.

Personally, I would buy a 1500 crew cab truck instead of a $75k Merc and use the left over money to buy a nice, used SUV. The truck will pull that size camper with no problem and you would have the everyday SUV that isn’t maxed out towing.But that’s just me.

If I were you I would call the place where you bought the camper from and ask for help there as well. A lot of times they can look all of the info up for you and let you know if it is a good idea to pull that much weight with the type of vehicle you have.

^ why the short wheelbase tow vehicle. clearly budget is there to get a proper vehicle. my f150 and explorer were bought new 9 months apart for around what you are looking to pay combined.......... both seat 4 with lots of room.

Safe to tow ? Mercedes GLS with a 4500 lb travel trailer

17 Replies

outdoorbug
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
truckpro wrote:
If I were you I would call the place where you bought the camper from and ask for help there as well. A lot of times they can look all of the info up for you and let you know if it is a good idea to pull that much weight with the type of vehicle you have.

I am afraid they wont give me an honest opinion since I am trying to buy from them
outdoorbug
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
Jebby14 wrote:
^ why the short wheelbase tow vehicle. clearly budget is there to get a proper vehicle. my f150 and explorer were bought new 9 months apart for around what you are looking to pay combined.......... both seat 4 with lots of room.

I need a good 7 seater SUV for long road trips where I won't be taking the RV trailer with me. I have kids that will start throwing their shoes at me if I take them on a long trip in a cramped SUV.
Jebby14
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
^ why the short wheelbase tow vehicle. clearly budget is there to get a proper vehicle. my f150 and explorer were bought new 9 months apart for around what you are looking to pay combined.......... both seat 4 with lots of room.
truckpro
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
If I were you I would call the place where you bought the camper from and ask for help there as well. A lot of times they can look all of the info up for you and let you know if it is a good idea to pull that much weight with the type of vehicle you have.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Sep 03, 2019
Personally, I would buy a 1500 crew cab truck instead of a $75k Merc and use the left over money to buy a nice, used SUV. The truck will pull that size camper with no problem and you would have the everyday SUV that isn’t maxed out towing.
But that’s just me.
rdhetrick
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
Don't forget to include the weight of the hitch itself - 100 lbs or so. So you really only have 800-100=700 lbs. 700/.14 = 5000 lbs trailer weight. 1000 lbs cargo in your trailer, that makes your dry trailer weight max about 4000 lbs.

Those are the limits according to the math. It may or may not be a pleasurable ride. If you're going 50 miles a few weekends a year, probably would be okay. If you're going on long trips with a lot of driving time, probably won't be a whole lot of fun driving.

As said above, check your actual vehicle numbers, they might be even lower.

I can say that I don't ever recall seeing a GLS towing anything in any campground I've ever stayed at. Doesn't mean it can't be done, I just haven't seen it.
jfkmk
Explorer
Sep 03, 2019
The max numbers you listed are just that....the Maximum payload and tow rating. That is, properly equipped with bare bones options. You have to look at the particular vehicle to see what those numbers will be. Seems like an awful lot of trailer for an SUV.

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Safe to tow ? Mercedes GLS with a 4500 lb travel trailer

17 Replies

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