popsicleped wrote:
Hello. First time poster. I am looking at buying a camper but I have no idea how much I can tow. I tried looking online but just get more confused haha. Anyways, here is the information on the sticker inside the door:
GVWR 6950LB/3152KG
Front GAWR 1700KG/3750LB
Rear GAWR 1732KG/3800LB
With Tires:
P234/75R17
Rims: 17x7.5J
AXLE 26
Can I tow a bigger camper if its a 5th-wheel?
Thanks!
There's another number (very important) on that sticker. It is "max occupant /cargo capacity", also referred to as payload. That is your truck's capacity to carry everything and everybody in or on it. That carrying capacity gets eaten up by people, pets, aftermarket accessories (bed covers, bed liners, undercoating, etc), and cargo. Trailer tongue weight (about 12.5 percent of loaded trailer weight) and a weight distributing hitch (about 100 lbs) are counted as cargo weight. If you know the weight of everything and everybody added to the truck (don't forget the weight distributing hitch), subtract that number from your payload number. What you have left is the payload available to carry tongue weight.
Take your available payload number and divide it by .125. That will give you a ball park for loaded trailer weight that puts you close to your GVWR. The closer you get to max weight (possibly over), the more unpleasant your towing can be. Buy something a bit liter and give yourself some wiggle room.
There are also some numbers on the hitch receiver. The lower number is the receivers capacity to carry dead weight, without the use of a weight distributing hitch. The higher number is it's capacity with the use of a weight distributing hitch.
The "P" rated tires are not your friend when it comes to towing heavy loads. Their sidewalls are softer (for passenger comfort) than "LT" tires. They are more susceptible to sidewall flexing.
Another poster asked about factory tow package. That package includes an auxiliary transmission cooler, possibly tow mirrors, and class III/IV hitch receiver, etc. If you're looking at towing 5000+ lbs, you'll need these things.
Average camping load (propane, battery, food, water, camping gear, dishes, and bedding) is 800 - 1000 lbs. Add this to the unloaded weight of trailers you may be looking at. Multiply loaded trailer weight by .125, to get approximate loaded tongue weight. Compare that to your available payload.
Tongue weight is not a constant number. It goes up and down during every trip. Holding tanks get filled, water and food get used up. Depending on their location (in relation to the trailer axles), holding tanks can have a significant impact on tongue weight. Tanks behind the axles take weight off and tanks in front of the axles add weight to the tongue.
I have a galley tank in front of my axles, and fresh water tank behind my axles. My unloaded tongue weight was advertised at 880 lbs. During any given trip, my actual tongue weight can be anywhere between 975 and 1200 lbs.
Your question between travel trailer and 5th wheel -- With a travel trailer your truck needs to carry (remember that payload thing) 12 - 13 percent of the loaded trailer weight. With a 5th wheel, that percentage goes up to 20 - 25 percent.
