Hello all wise ones out there! I plan to hit the road full-time next spring. I will drive a fair amount to explore much of this grand country I call home-including some mountain areas (Rv at the park and unhitch is an option) and boondocking on BLM. I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4, Summit with tow package, V8, 5.7L. Max towing 7200lb, max payload 1050lb, GVWR 6800lb.What is the max TT weight I can safely tow? I have my eye on a Dutchman Kodiak 2500rbsl, ship wt 5400, hitch weight 596, cargo max wt 1185. If so, any recommendation on anti-sway bars and WDH? I will need to add trailer auto brake, right? What else?I LOVE my Jeep and really do not want to sell for a truck. Hope this works but if not, what weight do I need to be under? I will need to re-do my TT search options!Thank you, in advance all you kind folks!

Your payload will be your limiting factor. Start with the payload capacity then subtractpassenger weight, items carried in Jeeps weightHitch weight. What you have left is your available tongue weight.When looking at advertised tongue weights remember those are without Batteries, propane and tanks, plus a portion of whatever you put in the forward part of the trailer. Normal tongue weight should be about 12% of the total trailer weight.

Weight while in many cases is the limiting factor, size also comes into play. Start looking at trailers in the 20 foot or under range. Trailers much longer could create a tail wagging the dog situation that you definitely would not like. You need to load your Jeep up like it would be when trqveling, kids, wives, dogs, cats, ice chests, toys etc, and drive acoiss a set of scales. That subtracted from the vehicles GVWR as listed on the drivers door post tag will tell you your net cargo capacity. Remember, any trailers you look at are without anything in them. So disregard the advertised dry or shipping weights. Instead take 12-15% of the trailers GVWR as your worst case tongue weight. Does that number fit under your available payload?

Thanks, KerrlakeRoo-but I'm not sure I follow. If max Jeep payload is 1050 and person, TT hitch wt, sway bar (170+596+100 = 866), that leaves me with available tongue weight of 184? Is this right? Does not take into account Jeep cargo, front TT cargo, propane tanks or batteries...I am missing something?

UntetheredExplorer wrote:I am missing something?Yeah, hitch weight won't be anywhere near 596 lbs. In fact, gross tongue weight will vary according to what you load into the trailer and where but as a general guide should be 13% to 14% of the trailer's gross weight, loaded & ready to camp. You haven't said whether anyone else would be in the Jeep at the time but even with you as just the driver it really doesn't have anywhere near enough payload capacity to be towing the size of trailer you have in mind.

UntetheredExplorer wrote:Thanks, KerrlakeRoo-but I'm not sure I follow. If max Jeep payload is 1050 and person, TT hitch wt, sway bar (170+596+100 = 866), that leaves me with available tongue weight of 184? Is this right? Does not take into account Jeep cargo, front TT cargo, propane tanks or batteries...I am missing something?You have it right, and the battery (50 lbs) propane tanks and fuel (80 lbs) and whatever materials are in the forward part of the trailer still have to be added. You will be right on the edge if you are travelling alone, and many folks do overload to varying degrees with equally varying results. Also you may want to look again at that trailer, you show it as having a 1100 lb ccc, so on that consider the same weights for battery and propane, plus whatever gear/clothing/supplies you intend to load plus water. Is that 1100 lbs enough?Best of luck in your decision process.

What can I tow safely with my TV | Good Sam Community

kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
UntetheredExplorer wrote:
Thanks, KerrlakeRoo-but I'm not sure I follow. If max Jeep payload is 1050 and person, TT hitch wt, sway bar (170+596+100 = 866), that leaves me with available tongue weight of 184? Is this right? Does not take into account Jeep cargo, front TT cargo, propane tanks or batteries...I am missing something?

You have it right, and the battery (50 lbs) propane tanks and fuel (80 lbs) and whatever materials are in the forward part of the trailer still have to be added.
You will be right on the edge if you are travelling alone, and many folks do overload to varying degrees with equally varying results.

Also you may want to look again at that trailer, you show it as having a 1100 lb ccc, so on that consider the same weights for battery and propane, plus whatever gear/clothing/supplies you intend to load plus water. Is that 1100 lbs enough?

Best of luck in your decision process.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
UntetheredExplorer wrote:
I am missing something?

Yeah, hitch weight won't be anywhere near 596 lbs. In fact, gross tongue weight will vary according to what you load into the trailer and where but as a general guide should be 13% to 14% of the trailer's gross weight, loaded & ready to camp. You haven't said whether anyone else would be in the Jeep at the time but even with you as just the driver it really doesn't have anywhere near enough payload capacity to be towing the size of trailer you have in mind.
UntetheredExplo
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
Thanks, KerrlakeRoo-but I'm not sure I follow. If max Jeep payload is 1050 and person, TT hitch wt, sway bar (170+596+100 = 866), that leaves me with available tongue weight of 184? Is this right? Does not take into account Jeep cargo, front TT cargo, propane tanks or batteries...I am missing something?
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2018
Weight while in many cases is the limiting factor, size also comes into play. Start looking at trailers in the 20 foot or under range. Trailers much longer could create a tail wagging the dog situation that you definitely would not like. You need to load your Jeep up like it would be when trqveling, kids, wives, dogs, cats, ice chests, toys etc, and drive acoiss a set of scales. That subtracted from the vehicles GVWR as listed on the drivers door post tag will tell you your net cargo capacity. Remember, any trailers you look at are without anything in them. So disregard the advertised dry or shipping weights. Instead take 12-15% of the trailers GVWR as your worst case tongue weight. Does that number fit under your available payload?
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Aug 03, 2018
Your payload will be your limiting factor.
Start with the payload capacity then subtract
passenger weight,
items carried in Jeeps weight
Hitch weight.
What you have left is your available tongue weight.

When looking at advertised tongue weights remember those are without Batteries, propane and tanks, plus a portion of whatever you put in the forward part of the trailer.

Normal tongue weight should be about 12% of the total trailer weight.

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