I have a 2010 FWD GMC Acadia w/ factory installed towing package rated for 5200#. A dealer has got me considering buying a 24ft Passport Ultra Lite wi a factory weight 4100#. He is saying that 1000# buffer for loading is common and normally not reached. He says the TV shouldn't have any issues towing in any conditions. If I buy this my first trip is Chicago to Seattle. Any feedback on either the TT and TV match or the trip?

Sounds about right but have you considered the load inside the TV.

IMHO front wheel drive vehicles are not made for towing. Been there done that and learned my lesson.It's typical for a salesman to sell you and he is going to tell you anything to make the sale. Also been there done that and it won't happen again.If you go ahead you will find out fairly quickly that the the weights quoted are not going to be reality, by the time you load the camper, add all the stuff your going to put in the TV, people pets etc.You will probably be well over your TVs capacity.

FWIW... We've got the same vehicle (but AWD), and I've towed about #4000 (enclosed 12' trailer with a couple bikes, gear, etc) and it was about all the car could handle. The Acadia is a heavy vehicle and the V6 just isn't enough to handle what you're looking at towing. That and gas mileage SUUUUUUCKS!!!! If you're towing that camper you're not leaving yourself much left over in payload and residual weight. Again, just my opinion.

Not the same vehicle, and RWD to boot, but we had a V6 SUV with which we towed a shorter, lighter HTT than the trailer you're considering. It struggled bigtime in 20 mph headwinds across the plains; we didn't dare take it over mountains. Ended up buying a much more capable tow vehicle. Sorry, I agree with the others here so far - too much trailer for your TV.

IMO it would be a mistake and you would regret it. 4100 lb dry weight means very close to 5000 once you add water, battery, propane, and camping gear (cookware, clothing, food, towels, etc). And I'd be willing to bet that the hitch weight will wind up between 600 and 700 lb. This is the killer, because your hitch is probably rated for 500 lb max. And you still need to add a weight distribution device, which will weigh another 75 to 100 lb. You don't want to ruin your suspension or, worse yet, have the hitch receiver rip off and send your new trailer careening across traffic.You're better off looking at something with dry weight under 3200-3300 lb, with dry hitch weight of no more than 350 lb. And even then you will need to be careful and weigh your trailer tongue to make sure you aren't loading the front too heavy. Been there and done that; I towed a 3200 lb. Rockwood 2304s for a couple of seasons, and I bent a rear spring on my Mercury Mountaineer (600 lb hitch wt rating), so what does that tell you about how heavy those trailer tongues can get? My latest rig has been a Toyota Highlander (5000/500 rating) and 16' KZ Escape 14RB (2200 lb dry) but the real-life hitch weight varied from 360 to 400 lb depending on the fresh water tank contents.

TT on 2010 GMC Acadia | Good Sam Community

big_murph_279
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
My Dad has a 2010 Traverse with the factory tow package. It is also a FWD only model. He bought a KZ 16' TT with a dry weight of 3000lb. It did better than I thought it would but the FWD was a problem on hills or uneven pavement(last 20' before stop light where the road has all the ripples in it). It would spin if you took off like normal. It did well when in tow haul and seemed to drive well at speed. They took it to the mountains without any problems.
MitchF150
Explorer III
Jul 21, 2014
Just remember that the "tow rating" is based on a vehicle that has no additional passengers or stuff loaded in it and also assumes you won't exceed the vehicles other weight limits either.. I imagine you will be taking a passenger and some stuff along..

So, you can't load the vehicle to the gills and still expect to tow something even close to it's "tow rating"... ;)

My 22' trailer had a 'dry weight' of around #3400.. It now weighs every bit of it's #5000 GVWR and then some..

My guess is the trailer you have in mind probably has a GVWR of over #6000 and while it's true you might not ever get it to that weight, but let me know how the wife feels about having a ton of storage space and NOT being able to use it.... ;)

Ever take a look at your home closet if you share it with your wife.... ;) After 12 years with the same trailer, every nook and cranny is stuffed with something! :) (I'm just as guilty of stuffing it with stuff too, so it's not all the wife.. :) )

Good luck!

Mitch
CRS001
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
Thanks for the help and saving me from making a big mistake. I appreciate it.
Bagger97
Explorer
Jul 22, 2014
IMHO there are much better quality trailers than Keystones out there. Keep looking
hddecker
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
CRS001 wrote:
Thanks for the help and saving me from making a big mistake. I appreciate it.

Your welcome, we all would love to see you in a camper, but we also want you to be safe and enjoy the lifestyle.
xteacher
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
Glad you decided not to buy the TT - too much trailer for your vehicle. I just bought a Starcraft AR-ONE 14RB (16.5 ft., 2506 dry weight, 7 ft. wide) to tow behind my 2010 Pathfinder (6000 lb. tow limit, V6 4L engine), and it tows fine, but I wouldn't want to tow much more with it. A TT is like driving a sail into the wind. You have to take account the frontal area creating drag, not just the weight and length of the trailer.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Jul 23, 2014
i have been towing trailers for over 20 years: boats,flat bed, utility, 14,000lb concession, campers, dual wave runner trailers. I never used an improper tool or marginal tool for each application.

scariest was towing the 14,000lb trailer up a snowy hill and losing traction. 26,000lbs of pucker facter sliding backwards down a hill.

Forum Discussion

TT on 2010 GMC Acadia

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Flat towing 2018 GMC Acadia

GMC TPMS

GMC Sierra EV Denali

GMC Sierra EV

Antifreeze in transmission 2010 Duramax??