Towing 3800lb TT- Highlander-Pathfinder?
I am looking at buying a Pop up tent (Rockwood) that has gross weight capacity of 3800 lbs. (dry weight 3000 lbs). I am thinking of a Pathfinder or Highlander, which both list 5,000 lbs capacity. Do...
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The initials for a pop up are PUP - lol! You shouldn't have any problem towing a PUP with either of these vehicles, esp. if the gross is 3800 lb., and b/c it's a PUP, not a TT (has nearly no frontal area issues when towing).
Frontal area refers to the amount of surface area of the front of the trailer, especially the parts that stick up above and to the sides of your tow vehicle. It creates incredible wind drag - picture dragging a sail into the wind, rather than with it. The greater the frontal area, the more it impacts your towing ability. That's why some of the really small TTs are only 6-7 ft. wide, rather than the standard 8 feet wide, and why they're shorter. A highwall PUP would have a greater frontal area than a regular PUP (this is why popupcamping asked you about this).
You may need a mini weight distribution hitch, but I'd hook up with a regular hitch first to see if you actually need it (your dealer can check this for you). My Pathfinder sags a little with my Aliner (tows like a PUP), which weighs probably 2500 lb. loaded, but not enough to need a WDH (weight distribution hitch). When we had a PUP, I had a regular hitch, but had a sway bar added b/c I was towing with a vehicle towing near its max.
You might want to register with the Popup Explorer website. There's a great bunch of folks on it with a wealth of knowledge regarding PUPs.
Frontal area refers to the amount of surface area of the front of the trailer, especially the parts that stick up above and to the sides of your tow vehicle. It creates incredible wind drag - picture dragging a sail into the wind, rather than with it. The greater the frontal area, the more it impacts your towing ability. That's why some of the really small TTs are only 6-7 ft. wide, rather than the standard 8 feet wide, and why they're shorter. A highwall PUP would have a greater frontal area than a regular PUP (this is why popupcamping asked you about this).
You may need a mini weight distribution hitch, but I'd hook up with a regular hitch first to see if you actually need it (your dealer can check this for you). My Pathfinder sags a little with my Aliner (tows like a PUP), which weighs probably 2500 lb. loaded, but not enough to need a WDH (weight distribution hitch). When we had a PUP, I had a regular hitch, but had a sway bar added b/c I was towing with a vehicle towing near its max.
You might want to register with the Popup Explorer website. There's a great bunch of folks on it with a wealth of knowledge regarding PUPs.
