Towing 35' TT with Nissan Armada *pics*
Howdy Gents, I recently purchased a new 2014 Heartland Trail Runner with the intention of using my current TV, which is a 2011 Nissan Armada with the factory "Big Tow Package" (tranny cooler, bigge...
Forum Discussion
When you weighed the Armada, was weight distribution hitch in or on the vehicle? That weight (approximately 100 lbs) also counts as cargo weight.
Average camping load (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camping gear, groceries, BBQ grill, water, etc) weighs 800 - 1000 lbs.
Average loaded tongue weight is 12.5 percent of trailer weight. Depending on loading and tank positions (in relation to trailer axles), your tongue weight could go up to 15 percent. Tongue weight goes up and down on every trip. Groceries and water get used up, holding tanks get filled. Your 900 lb hitch weight is only a ball park figure.
Loaded, your trailer will be in the area of 9000 lbs, with approximately 1100 lbs tongue weight. Possibly more.
Your 9100 lb max tow rating does not include room for passenger or cargo weight. With many manufacturers, it only includes 150 lbs for the driver. Adding people and cargo takes up capacity from both tow capacity and payload.
When you subtract passenger and cargo (car seats, diaper bag, play things, etc) weight, your real world max tow capacity is probably down around 8700 lbs. Possibly lower. It's going to go down a little more, every day that those kids are growing.
Your max tongue weight rating (910 lbs) is what the receiver is rated to carry. That includes the weight distributing hitch and tonge weight. If the dry hitch weight is 900 lbs, you're over on your receiver rating, before you load anythng in the trailer.
I think you're not just a little too close, but, actually going to be over on more than one rating. A new hitch won't fix that.
I used to tow a 33' (7400 lb loaded) TT with a Nissan Titan. Same tow rating, payload, frame, suspension, engine, and drive train as the Armada. Windy days (didn't take much) caused a lot of white knuckle driving.
Average camping load (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, camping gear, groceries, BBQ grill, water, etc) weighs 800 - 1000 lbs.
Average loaded tongue weight is 12.5 percent of trailer weight. Depending on loading and tank positions (in relation to trailer axles), your tongue weight could go up to 15 percent. Tongue weight goes up and down on every trip. Groceries and water get used up, holding tanks get filled. Your 900 lb hitch weight is only a ball park figure.
Loaded, your trailer will be in the area of 9000 lbs, with approximately 1100 lbs tongue weight. Possibly more.
Your 9100 lb max tow rating does not include room for passenger or cargo weight. With many manufacturers, it only includes 150 lbs for the driver. Adding people and cargo takes up capacity from both tow capacity and payload.
When you subtract passenger and cargo (car seats, diaper bag, play things, etc) weight, your real world max tow capacity is probably down around 8700 lbs. Possibly lower. It's going to go down a little more, every day that those kids are growing.
Your max tongue weight rating (910 lbs) is what the receiver is rated to carry. That includes the weight distributing hitch and tonge weight. If the dry hitch weight is 900 lbs, you're over on your receiver rating, before you load anythng in the trailer.
I think you're not just a little too close, but, actually going to be over on more than one rating. A new hitch won't fix that.
I used to tow a 33' (7400 lb loaded) TT with a Nissan Titan. Same tow rating, payload, frame, suspension, engine, and drive train as the Armada. Windy days (didn't take much) caused a lot of white knuckle driving.
