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CRS001's avatar
CRS001
Explorer
Jul 20, 2014

TT on 2010 GMC Acadia

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?
  • I think you should start looking a tad lighter. My so called tow rating is 5000lbs. My camper, ready to camp, is about 4600lbs. Even with the diesel, I am at my limits.
  • I just towed a 17c Jayco with ny 2012 Acadia, tow pacage and all. Trailer weights in loaded at about 3500, it towed well, I had the WD hotch setup to the instructions and kept the front end whereit should be. It towed well and made it up a 15 mile 5000 foot climb, but it was pushing it big time up the mountain, of cousre it was 105 degrees out when we started the climb! I will most likekly get my normal TV back up and running smoothly and not use the Acadia to tow with much. Did it work yes, for long distance, I wouldnt do it, and not with a trailer as big as you are talking about.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.