Tongue Weight problem

One last thing to worry about: Jayco may not do this, but StarCraft certainly did on my AR-One 15 hybrid -- factory tires are uber-cheap Chinese ST 13" tires that were barely rated for a loaded camper. I'm Mr. Safety (ie a Big Coward) so I gladly moved up to 14" Yokohama Light Truck tires, and now I tow with a silly unconcerned grin on my face.

vivaster wrote:
I'm in Everett, but I usually camp north to beaches and south to Oregon. We have beautiful beaches up here.

Well, then welcome from a hybrid owner on Camano Island!

I'm in Everett, but I usually camp north to beaches and south to Oregon. We have beautiful beaches up here.

I put everything back on the tongue and plugged in the brake controller to my brothers Nissan Titan and took it on the freeway yesterday. Its like night and day towing with a half ton. I also hooked up the wdh. I wouldn't tow with anything less. No sway, great pickup and go and didn't even feel it back there when braking. I'm definitely going to get a half ton truck to tow with.

I skipped the idea of trying it with the minivan, it has a lot of miles and I don't want to ruin the tranny.

vivaster wrote:
I removed both tanks, battery and the spare tire w/support bracket off the tongue yesterday. Yes, the spare is mounted on the tongue (I will move it to the rear bumper). I weighed it with a bathroom scale and I'm at 385 lbs and the trailer is still unloaded. I'm hesitant with how accurate the scale is though because it only goes up to 395 lbs, so I called the local rv shop and they said they can weigh it for me also. I will take it up there this next week.

I tried towing it with my Saturn using a wdh and it towed really well. Very stable on streets up to 50mph at night with almost no traffic so far. I have not tried it on the freeway or with it loaded yet. I definitely feel it back there, but not bad so far.

This is just a test so others who want to tow with a small suv should really think about it. I don't think I would take this out fully loaded. Once fully loaded with gear, food, people and all the goodies it would be over the weight limits. This was a test with just me, the suv and the trailer. Oh yeah, forgot to add another 50 lbs or so for the wdh.

I will try tomorrow with a 2003 Honda Odyssey with factory tow package and rear airbags. I will test the stability of this setup and validate others claims of towing one of these with minivans.

Oh yeah, I emailed Jayco about their claimed tongue weight. They told me that the weight is with both lp tanks and battery.

I see you claim PNW as home - where are you planning on towing this camper?

I removed both tanks, battery and the spare tire w/support bracket off the tongue yesterday. Yes, the spare is mounted on the tongue (I will move it to the rear bumper). I weighed it with a bathroom scale and I'm at 385 lbs and the trailer is still unloaded. I'm hesitant with how accurate the scale is though because it only goes up to 395 lbs, so I called the local rv shop and they said they can weigh it for me also. I will take it up there this next week.

I tried towing it with my Saturn using a wdh and it towed really well. Very stable on streets up to 50mph at night with almost no traffic so far. I have not tried it on the freeway or with it loaded yet. I definitely feel it back there, but not bad so far.

This is just a test so others who want to tow with a small suv should really think about it. I don't think I would take this out fully loaded. Once fully loaded with gear, food, people and all the goodies it would be over the weight limits. This was a test with just me, the suv and the trailer. Oh yeah, forgot to add another 50 lbs or so for the wdh.

I will try tomorrow with a 2003 Honda Odyssey with factory tow package and rear airbags. I will test the stability of this setup and validate others claims of towing one of these with minivans.

Oh yeah, I emailed Jayco about their claimed tongue weight. They told me that the weight is with both lp tanks and battery.

handye9 wrote:
Your owners manual (link) says, your max tow weight rating is calculated with a driver only. The weight of any optional equipment, cargo, and passengers, must be subtracted from that number.

Advertised weights on that trailer are 2850 UVW, 465 hitch weight, 650 cargo capacity (equals 3500 GVW). With dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camp chairs, BBQ, water, groceries, etc, you will easily hit the 3500 lb GVW on the trailer. One passenger in the Vue, would put it's tow capacity below this trailer weight.

downtheroad wrote:
Remember...the tongue weight number you posted is probably the "dry" weight...
When loaded up trip ready, that number will go up a good bit.

Check the PAYLOAD rating for your tow vehicle and start subtracting the weight of the passengers (except the driver), all the gear loaded in the vehicle, the hitch weight, and the LOADED tongue weight of the trailer....

This way, you can see if you have enough left over payload.

Thanks for posting the manual, on page 4-45 is clear that the driver HAS to be added to the TW, "SO DRIVER NEEDS TO BE ADDED IN THE WEIGHT" I could not find anything on the MAX tow, what page did you see that?


I've seen people post that you do not include the driver and have yet to see any proof that you exclude the driver!

TT

Congrats on the purchase, your going to really love it!

Thanks luckyscroller, I used to have an expedition to tow with, but it had too many problems. I will save for a few years to get a good used 1/2 ton Silverado. I really like these trucks. I'm so psyched right now. I'm going to pickup the Jayco trailer in an hour. I have my brothers Titan to tow it home with. I will post some pics when I get it home.

This is a great thread, and handled very well by everyone. Thank you vivaster for accepting the facts presented politely. Most of the time when situations arise like yours, one will ask the questions you've asked, and then get all smug for receiving the truth. I wish there were more people like you that understand that sometimes things just don't work out as one hopes.

Ok, ok I get it. Not the answer I'm looking for, but the truth hurts. Looks like I will have to get a more rugged tow vehicle. I decided to get the trailer anyways. Going to pick it up this wednesday. Lucky for me my brother has a Nissan Titan as his extra vehicle so I can use that to tow with until I buy my own. He has a small PUP, so we will switch vehicles if we go together.

Thanks everyone who replied, thats what you are here for. To make sure we all have fun and be safe.