Rockwood vs Armada: Guess who won?

[AndrewM]

I hate it when this happens:

Overturned camper slows traffic on I-12

[Atlee]

That's only part of the story. What is the CCC of the Armada? How much do any non OEM options weight? How much weight will be on the tongue of the TT? How much does the hitch mount itself weight?

Case in point. My F150 supercab w/ 5.4L & 4x4 with wife plus dog, plus cargo, plus hitch plus the weight distributed by the EQ-4 is at or under all the weight ratings, including axle weight rating. And I am pulling a 4950# GVWR trailer.

According to the specs, I can tow a 9300# travel trailer. If I were even attempting to tow an 8000# TT, I'd be over in a lot of measurements.

Bmach wrote:
Pops racer,

Those specs came right from their web site,


9,0000 and either 900 or 910 tongue weight depending on the model.

[PopsRacer]

Bmach wrote:
Pops racer,

Those specs came right from their web site,


9,0000 and either 900 or 910 tongue weight depending on the model.

I know and I'm not disagreeing... I'm just speaking from my experience as a 7yr owner and a forum moderator.

[Bmach]

Pops racer,

Those specs came right from their web site,


9,0000 and either 900 or 910 tongue weight depending on the model.

[BenK]

PopsRacer wrote:

Bmach wrote:
Does anyone know what the trailer weights. The armada when equipped correctly can tow 9,0000 pounds.

I doubt it for extended towing... More like maybe 8,000 if that. I refuse to tow any more than 6,500-lbs for long distances.

".....equipped correctly...." is exactly the point and most miss the
metrics of what that is based on...both the GCWR and 'curb'

First decide if one believes in the ratings or not

If not, then do whatever

If yes, then learn how that system works



Armada, so the OEM is Nissan, which is foreign and 'used' to be that
foreign had most options already on their 'standard' offering. Not
so much anymore, as they have learned from Detroit how to play the
Detroit marketing game

Foreign now has the same, or similar 'curb' as Detroit Iron...AKA the
stripper model with no options



For those who don't believe, then take which ever TV you wish and gather
it's specifications: GVWR, F/R GAWR, MTWR, GCWR, Curb

Then do the simple math that does not even need you to go out and weigh
your setup, axle by axle

I'll take my 1996 GMT400 K2500 Suburban, as I know it best

• Curb, 5,200 or 5,400 or 5,600 or 5,700
• GVWR, 8,600
• FGAWR, 4,250
• RGAWR, 6,000
• MTWR, 10,000
• GCWR, 16,000

Now the simple math...

16,000 - 5,200 = 11,800 as my Max trailer, but the OEM has it listed
as 10,000.

So there has to be something else taking it down to 10,000...

Oh yeah, must have the Tow package option...and...the driver (they use
insurance tables for the average 'man' and is 150lb)

Tow package and that 150lb guy must be in the 1,800 lb range, but that
seems high...

Oh yeah, GM lists several 'curb' weights for that era Suburban. From
5,000 up to just under 6,000.

Okay that is 'close' enough for me to see how they do it...

BUT, I have the big block, which is about the same weight as the diesel option.

Oh yeah, also have 4x4 and the F60 option (snow plow prep package that
begets 1 ton front springs, etc) and the highest option package (roof
rack, 2nd, 3rd row seats, max lux everything for that year, etc)

So my Sub weighs in at the garden scales at just over 7,200 lbs with
me (180lb), toolbox (+250lb), misc stuff (+50lb)...but...hey then
how can mine then be rated for the 10,000 MTWR and 16,000 GCWR?????

Oh yeah, they used the 'curb' for the specifications...

So ".....equipped correctly...." IS the 'curb' or 'stripper'
option package (nothing but the tow option)...



What is the 'curb' of an Armada? and what is it's GCWR?

[PopsRacer]

Bmach wrote:
Does anyone know what the trailer weights. The armada when equipped correctly can tow 9,0000 pounds.

I doubt it for extended towing... More like maybe 8,000 if that. I refuse to tow any more than 6,500-lbs for long distances.

[Re_and_Cheryl]

I'm a truck driver and see******like that all the time. Campers getting bigger and bigger means that many people ending of bitting more than they can chew.





For your enjoyment

Re'

[Bmach]

Does anyone know what the trailer weights. The armada when equipped correctly can tow 9,0000 pounds.

[PopsRacer]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Too much trailer, too little tow vehicle.

But the salesman said, "You big SUV will tow it like it isn't even back there."

Yup, these HD trucks handle their trailers so much better. :h

Moderator edit to re-size picture to forum limit of 640px maximum width.

[popupcamping]

I am still wayne_tw wrote:
Too much trailer, too little tow vehicle.

But the salesman said, "You big SUV will tow it like it isn't even back there."

you have no idea what happened.

unreal speculation.

Tire blowout, cut off by other driver, mechanical failure, animal, health condition. why you are speculating an overload condition is just wrong.

[I_am_still_wayn]

Too much trailer, too little tow vehicle.

But the salesman said, "You big SUV will tow it like it isn't even back there."

[PopsRacer]

I've read alot of posts from people who seem to think they can just hitch up a TT and go. Then I think about all the ones who just do it w/o posting up questions and asking because they don't believe in asking online. I was in Camping World listening to a guy yelling at the sales staff that he does NOT need Anti-Sway on his F-150 and they were just trying to gouge his wallet so he was buying WD only and that's that.

My Rockwood appears to be bigger than the one in that pic, weighs less and handles better than my Jayco did (both well within my ratings) and I've safely towed through insane storm winds and evaded plenty of brake slams, one of which the person was intentionally trying to get me to hit them to collect fraud insurance. However, if I was to let my wife drive (she seems to think she can handle it fine), my bet is we could very likely end up just like that pic as I could picture her taking her hands off the steering wheel to cover her face when something pops up.

[fla-gypsy]

The hard reality is this could happen to anyone with a TT but is much less likely by respecting the manufacturers ratings (all of them), buying a quality WD hitch with integrated sway control, and do proper tire maintenance.

[JohnBoyToo]

Ouch, that ruined a day of vacation or two !!!