Too much trailer for my TV?

PUCampin wrote:
Too much trailer for that TV. Period.

It sounds like you have some experience towing, but as it relates to a 1/2t SUV, here is why this will be a problem.

We also have an 07 Expy EL, and also a family of 5 plus an aunt that often tags along. Our tire and loading sticker states a maximum of all passengers and cargo not to exceed 1675lbs. This is the real number for our exact equipment combination, yours may vary slightly depending on equipment but will be close. The 6 of us plus strollers, car seats, and misc kid stuff weighs right around 850lbs (and increasing as kids get bigger) So 1675 - 850 = 825lbs left for tongue weigh.

Since TT tongue weight is 13-15%, divide 825lbs by 0.14 = 5892lbs. That is for a LOADED TT. If you take 7 or 8 people, this number drops even more. Even if you reduce people enough to fully use the 900lb max receiver rating, that is still only a loaded TT of 900 / 0.14 = 6428lbs loaded. 1/2t SUVs are designed to haul lots of people OR lots of stuff but not necessarily both at the same time. Other SUVs like Tahoe, Sequoia have less payload capacity, so with 6 people loaded their available tongue weight is even less and this surprises a lot of people. 6000-6500 fully loaded TT seems to be the max sweet spot for the Expy.

So what happend to my 9000lb to rating??? Well, flat deck trailers and boats typically have only 10% tongue weight, because they do not have as much air resistance, and are thus more stable. Soooo 900lbs receiver / 0.10 = 9000lbs See how it works :) A 9000lb boat or flat deck is NOTHING LIKE a 9000lbs TT. But you will NEVER hear this at a RV dealer.

The TT you are proposing will in reality be close to 1000lbs before you add one thing exceeding both the hitch rating, the maximum passenger and cargo rating, and likely the rear axle rating. All before you put anything in it. Then add propane, batteries, bedding, anything in that nice pass through storage, all adding to tongue weight.

I will also add at this point, the rear axle and cargo rating of the expy is suspension component limited. Some trucks are artifically limited by the tires (i.e. the rear axle limit is the exact sum of the 2 tires which was mush lower than the axle itself) In these cases simply adding better tires. I have had our Expy maxed out with a load of ceramic tile, it DEFINATELY let me know, I had to drive carefully.

So if you have your hearts set on that awesome bunk-house, you will have to find a 3/4t SUV, Van, or truck. It will not be safe behind any 1/2t SUV or truck.

Good luck to you!

This is the most concise example of why 1/2T trucks/SUVs will never meet their towing capacities as rated by the manufacturers. Kudos!
And I should add, the 6000-6500lb TT quoted is spot on with my experience. Both calculations and real life weights. This response should be a sticky all by itself.