new to the forum and soon to RVing.. and have a question...

[The_German]

My wife and I consider buying a 2016 Coachmen catalina 293rldsle and one of my biggest problems, whenever we look at such an investment, is that I search the internet for reviews of the model and manufacturer. Most of the time, as people tend to share more negative experience than positive, this gets me back to the point where I am not sure if this model/manufacturer is the right decision...

Long story short - does anybody have positive experience with Coachmen TT (2014 or newer) or is their quality really as far down the drain as the reviews on the internet made me believe?

The other open question is in regards to the towing capacity of our 2007 Infiniti QX56. It can handle up to 9000lbs, the Catalina weights 7800lbs empty with up to 2000lbs added on. Understood that this will be - considering we only travel with 2 adults and 3 dogs - the upper limit of what we should to. Any concerns with this configuration from the more experienced RVers?

[mileshuff]

With most any product there will be more people talking about problems than people with no problems. When people have issues with a product they tend to write about it to find solutions. When people have no issues they generally do not write about it unless someone asks.

[frankdamp]

I'm always amused by all the gloom and doom about towing capacity of passenger vehicles. My aunt and uncle were TT users for the best part of 30 years, and members of the UK's "Caravan Club". I went with them and my cousins many times. Six people in the car and a 20'TT on the hitch.

The car was an Austin Cambridge,with a 1.5L 4-banger (about 50 HP on a good day). We weren't the fastest rig on the road and steep hills were a challenge, but they did well over 40,000 miles all over Europe with that set-up.

Many Caravan Club members towed 25' rigs with the old short-wheelbase Land Rover (2.0L - maybe 75 HP engine).

[The_German]

Just wanted to thank everybody again - worked out exactly as I was hoping 🙂

Wife did not want a smaller TT and insisted, her QX56 is big enough... Well, I already had started my search for a bigger truck and after the first 2 trips with the TT (Venture Rv SportTrek 290VIK) behind the Infiniti, she was convinced...

I just got home from the car dealership and went a little big bigger than initially planned, but that was because the the deal on the 2012 F-350 was pretty good (same price as for a 2012 F-250, only 10k miles more). Love the car so far and will get the trailer hooked up to it later on today.

[The_German]

Thanks again all for chiming in and sharing your great knowledge! It was definitely very helpful for me and as my wife does not want to go with a smaller TT, I am now working on convincing her that a nice pickup truck will be needed...

[APT]

Another perspective: Since you are looking at rear living room floorplans and traveling with just two people and some pets, nearly any 3/4+ ton crew cab pickup since 2007 will allow you to comfortably tow those two options. People often say they don't want to buy a new truck, new vehicles are expensive, but your QX has value and can be traded/sold for something with equivalent value that is much better for towing what you desire. Some kind of compromise is recommended - either the RV or the TV.

[2012Coleman]

Have to agree with Allworth. Your second choice is 35 feet long, has a GVWR of 8300 - close to the fictional Tow capacity number. Tongue weight is usually calculated at 12 - 15 percent - not 11. And that is still a calculation - not actual. If you can't use the gross weights in calculations which are at most good guesstimates, then you are pushing your luck. And of course you stated exactly what most in this situation say - "we will only load it to half it's GVWR". Are you going to weigh stuff as you put it in? If your calculations can't come in generously below the TV capacities using the gross numbers, then your sticking your head in the sand.

I'm assuming your TV has the tow package. Did you check what the receiver limit is? It does have a receiver vs a bumper mounted ball - right? Are your tires passenger rated - for a good ride? You need better than P rated tires. Looking this TV up, I see standard equipment are P265/70SR18. what is the load range on those? - you have a vehicle built with the purpose of transporting lots of people in luxury. That's what is making your payload so low - all that stuff. Do you realize how much all those options weigh?

And as far as the least you can do - since you are calculating with fictional numbers, is to load it up for camping and take it to a CAT scale to get it weighed. THEN, you will know what it's payload is.

Your second choice has two big slides and is within only a few hundred pounds of your "tow capacity".

Here is an older discussion regarding your TV.

Of course all this is only my opinion - I would look for something smaller in the 5 to 6K gross weight range. If you really want to be responsible - get the TV weighed and then go looking for a suitable TT.

Good luck - do what ever you feel is right for you.

[Allworth]

I cannot see any way that what you are proposing could be a good idea. My daughter has an Armada and even the boat trailer tends to beat the driver to death after the first couple of hours on the Turnpike.

If you insist on towing any RV with the Infinity, at least pull the passenger rated tires off and put good (Michelin?) Light Truck tires on it.

[The_German]

Coleman - sorry, that was just a cut&paste regarding the GVWR...

Anyhow, next in line is a lighter one that should get us well into the comfortable tow range (SportTrek ST290VIK) and in the weight limits of the car:
Practicing my math:
GVWR: 8300 (7000 + 1300)
Tongue Weight: 913 (assuming 11%)
Car's (according to sticker) max cargo: 1275 lbs
Leaves 362 lbs which is about my wife and myself and a dog...

Assuming 50% loaded trailer
GVWR: 7650 (7000 + 650)
Tongue Weight: 842 (assuming 11%)
Car's (according to sticker) max cargo: 1275 lbs
Leaves 433 lbs which is wife and myself and all dogs...

Still close to / at the maximum, but more reasonable? And does my math make sense?

[APT]

The QX56 is the same with respect to towing as the Armada, except the payload is likely lower due to having more equipment. Combined sales of the two is around 25k per year, which is quite low in the full sized SUV market. Please verify your actual payload as equipped per your tire and loading sticker, as no one has the base curb weighted truck, not even the luxury branded ones. Also, please verify your receiver limit. I am not aware of any SUV after 2006 model year that has more than 1000 pound receiver limit when using a WDH.

[2012Coleman]

GVWR - unpublished? Seems like you can figure it out using UVW + CCC = 9858. If you calculate the tongue weight at 12%, its 1183.

Subtracting your available payload leaves you 408 lbs. Now subtract the weight of people, WDH, cargo, etc, and your way over your TV's GVWR.

So people say, I'm never going to put in the max cargo weight. Well, then cut it in half and your still over the limit. Also, the published dry - UVW in this case, weight does not include weight of propane or battery. Lop off another 100 lbs.

Another revelation - max tow capacity is calculated by pulling a flat trailer with weights on it. Pulling a high walled TT down the road pushing the wind out of the way is just not the same.

If you want to use your TV, then you seriously need to downsize your TT.

Can you even use a WDH on this vehicle? Wheelbase is also a consideration for such a long TT.

Here is some more reading for you on the subject. Learn To RV - What can I tow?

I faced your situation when starting out - forced myself to downsize the TT. I wouldn't put my family in your TV with the TT you have planned hooked up to it - no way.

[The_German]

This is what I have

For the Qx56
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY: 9000 lbs.
MAXIMUM PAYLOAD: 1591 lbs.
GROSS WEIGHT: 6999 lbs.
CURB WEIGHT: 5408 lbs.

For the "favorite" trailer (Coachmen Freedom Express 293RLDSLE)
Hitch Weight: 985 lbs.
UVW: 7811 lbs.
GVWR - unpublished
CCC - 2047 lbs.

We also started looking at smaller TTs with a total weight limit below the 9000 theoretical tow capacity.

Also - I understand that this is pretty much the same question repeating again and again, but honestly, there do not seem to be a lot of people pulling their TT with a QX56. Sorry if this is a repetitive, "old" topic for many of you, but the input I got so far really helped big time, especially as I know that the dealer is not much different than a used car dealer.

[petendoll]

I made the mistake of buying a trailer (29 ft) too big for my Ford Expedition. I soon found myself at the car dealer buying a diesel pickup truck. It pulls effortlessly. An equal issue is the hitch. I had a Reese Dual Cam WD hitch with the Expedition. While it helped some at low speeds (under 45) It was the tail wagging the dog on the interstate at 55. I was petrified and didn't enjoy that trip at all. I bit the bullet and bought a Hensley Arrow. There is absolutely no sway, no unnerving noises and you can turn the trailer in a very tight turn. With your vehicle, I would be looking in the 20 foot range. If you want bigger, get a better tow vehicle or go with a motorhome. Bad experiences are a great teacher but they are expensive. I know.

Forgot to welcome you to the forum. This is the best place to learn. I was told but didn't listen when I was new. Hard headed. Most people here know what they are talking about. Years and years and miles and miles of experience.

[Roy_Lynne]

You might want to consider renting for the first trip, just to see if the family likes it as much as you do. Then look for a rig to buy used, that someone who was new to RVing bought and found out that they hated it.

[jplante4]

German - this forum gets several of these posts a year and the content closely resembles your posting. The take-away is do not believe the dealer when he says "Oh yeah, the SUV will tow this." He has no reason to do anything other than get the rig off his lot and the commission check into his pocket.

Head over to the travel trailer forum. Spend some time looking at the rigs in peoples' signatures and see what others are using to tow a trailer similar in size and weight to the one you're looking at. Then, see what other people are towing with an SUV similar to yours. Please, do your homework. This is a big decision. We've seen several posts here where someone bought a trailer and had to go out and buy a tow vehicle.