Towing trailer and small scooter

Loaded up to camp, your hitch weight will be 400 to 450lb. (The dry hitch weight is only valid when towing empty home from the dealer)
Add up everything you're carrying in truck: 450(tongue) + 60(gen) + 300(scooter) = 810.
Subtract from cargo capacity:1360 - 810 = 550.
550lb is what is available for passengers and any other stuff.
Definitely get a weight distribution hitch to transfer some of the 450# tongue weight to the TV front axle and back to the TT axles. Otherwise, your truck's front axle will be too light and steering will be unsafe.

Hitch Weight
UVW
GVWR
CCC
Exterior Length
Exterior Height
Exterior Width
Fresh Water
Gray Water
Black Water
Awning Size





17FQ
298 lbs.
2731 lbs.
3518 lbs.
770 lbs.
21' 4"
9' 8"
88"
33 gal.
25 gal.
25 gal.
10 ft

MFL wrote:
Well Joe, if it were me, I'd save the money on the air bags, and invest in a WDH. I think this would do much more good, by returning some of the weight back to the front end.

Like mentioned above, I'm guessing your tongue weight is much more than 250 lbs. Even a 21' pup would have that much or more tongue weight.

I think if you used a WDH, your vehicle would handle better/safer, and adding the 300 lb scooter would not be an issue.

Happy travels,
Jerry

X 2

Well Joe, if it were me, I'd save the money on the air bags, and invest in a WDH. I think this would do much more good, by returning some of the weight back to the front end.

Like mentioned above, I'm guessing your tongue weight is much more than 250 lbs. Even a 21' pup would have that much or more tongue weight.

I think if you used a WDH, your vehicle would handle better/safer, and adding the 300 lb scooter would not be an issue.

Happy travels,
Jerry

You will have trailer tongue weight and added payload (scooter) on the rear axle and tires.
That might be a weight rating issue if you are running 'P' rated tires .
You will need to know the rear axle rating as well .

Check videos on 'how to set up a WD hitch' on youtube or at e-trailer.
They show you how to take correct measurements of your trailer and the TV (tow vehicle). You should do this with with all your stuff loaded up incl. the scooter . Don't forget, you will adding passenger and driver weight.

Once you do that, you might see that weight has been removed off the front axle of your TV and you might not like the way it handles decreasing vehicle control.
Both the TT and the TV should ride level. It might be time for you to buy a WD hitch.
Go to a scale and weigh everything (learn how to do that axle by axle , there are many tutorials on the subject).

I'll bet your tongue weight is more than 250# on a 21 TT . I think you might be surprised when you go to a scale. MY tongue weight on my 5x12 utility trailer is 250#. I use my own tongue weight scale to measure weights.

Thanks, Just me and the wife, no weight dist hitch, Carrying a 60 lb genny.. Don't know what the tongue weight is but prob around 250 .I am adding the air bags just to ease the load on the rear springs .. also some clothes cooking utensils, not loaded down all that much. I think it will be Ok just seeking some experience and knowledge on this . I think the cargo cap for a 1500 avalanche is 1363 lbs. towing the trailer is about 3200, scooter 295 I guess.Thx

You are not giving enough info for anyone to help. Are you using a WDH? How many people, and how much gear is also in the truck? What is the hitch weight of the trailer? If truck is not already at its max payload, I don't think the scooter would make that much difference.

If the trucks rear is sagging to the point of having to add air bags, while using a WDH, you may be over loaded already. If this is the case, best not add the scooter. The air bags will not help your RAWR, or tire rating.

Like I said, just not enough info.

Jerry