Bobbyg2013
Apr 03, 2015Explorer
"test drive"
Before I purchase a TT I want to hook it up to my truck and take it on a short drive on a freeway to see how it handles, etc. Do you think a dealer would allow me to do this?
Gdetrailer wrote:Bobbyg2013 wrote:
Before I purchase a TT I want to hook it up to my truck and take it on a short drive on a freeway to see how it handles, etc. Do you think a dealer would allow me to do this?
Hmm.. let me take a guess.. You are looking at trailers too heavy and long for your vehicle..
Perhaps you need to stop a moment, and think about your request..
Dealer doesn't know you.
Dealer paid money for the trailer on the lot, plus interest and insurance costs and you want to take it for a joy ride around the block..
Dealer is taking a huge gamble that the trailer will show back up in one piece and completly new condition so if you back out of the deal they can sell it to the next potential customer at new price..
You might find a dealer that may be willing but I would guess that more often than not your request will be turned down..
Now, as to the real reason you feel you need to test drive.. STOP.
You need to find out just how much you can tow and keep it within that number.
First mistake is using the supposed max towing numbers in the vehicle brochures.. Those numbers are based on a BASE model vehicle (IE no options and accessories..
The real way to find out what you can tow is to find the PAYLOAD of your vehicle.
The tongue of the trailer becomes payload of the tow vehicle..
Newer vehicles have a tire and loading sticker on the driverside door post. This will list the absolute max payload the vehicle can carry, older vehicles which do not have that label will have a VIN sticker which should list the unladen weight and the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).. Subtract the unladen weight from the GVWR and the result is the payload.
Now you simply subtract driver, passenger(s), fuel and any other personal gear from the payload.. The result is what you have left for tongue weight.
Example, a vehicle with 1,500 lb payload, driver and one passenger for 300 lbs leaves you 1,200 lbs payload.
25 gallons of fuel will weigh about 200 lbs which leaves you with 1,000 lbs.
you also want to take a gen, several bikes, cooler with ice and refreshments and perhaps some firewood for good measure.. we will say about 200 lbs which leaves you with 800 lbs.
Weight Dist hitch will also use some of your payload and we will sya about 100 lbs which now leaves you 700 lbs.
Now we know in this example there is a max of 700 lbs payload, but how do we figure out the total trailer weight that the vehicle can tow you ask..
Simple, we know the tongue must weigh 10% to 15% with 12%-15% being ideal..
We work backwards using the max payload to figure out the max trailer weight for the available vehicle payload.
700 lbs at 10% is 7,000 lbs
700 lbs at 15% is 4,666 lbs
So in our example the MAX trailer weight should not exceed 4,666 lbs.
Please note.. The "dry" or empty weight of the trailer MUST be LESS than what we calculated!
NO ONE GOES CAMPING WITH A EMPTY TRAILER..
As long as you keep within the payload of your vehicle there is no real good reason to test drive the trailer combination..
Gdetrailer wrote:
Sticker DOES NOT STATE that it includes fuel..
I know, I have a truck WITH that sticker.
itguy08 wrote:Gdetrailer wrote:
First mistake is using the supposed max towing numbers in the vehicle brochures.. Those numbers are based on a BASE model vehicle (IE no options and accessories..
It all depends. My F150 Supercrew Lariat, 4x4, Max Tow has 1800 lbs of payload. Very close to the 11,300 that they advertise. At 10% that's 1130 lbs of tongue wright, totally doable with a driver and passenger.25 gallons of fuel will weigh about 200 lbs which leaves you with 1,000 lbs.
Available payload on the sticker assumes a full tank of fuel.
Its all great advice - you need to run the #'s and see where you are at. A properly optioned truck will do what the brochure says. Problem is that they are few and far between.
Gdetrailer wrote:
First mistake is using the supposed max towing numbers in the vehicle brochures.. Those numbers are based on a BASE model vehicle (IE no options and accessories..
25 gallons of fuel will weigh about 200 lbs which leaves you with 1,000 lbs.
Bobbyg2013 wrote:
Before I purchase a TT I want to hook it up to my truck and take it on a short drive on a freeway to see how it handles, etc. Do you think a dealer would allow me to do this?