Would like a double check on my weights, please

[jhomuth]

Hi everyone! Last year our almost-new trailer was totaled due to a freak hail storm, and we were fortunate enough to be able to get a new 2013 Keystone Passport 2910BH. This is our third trailer, and our longest, so I want to be very sure I have our weights and numbers right.

First off, the trailer sticker lists a GVWR of 7200# and CCC of 1640#.

We tow with a 2001 Chevy Suburban 2500, 6.0L engine and 3.73 rear axle. GVWR on the truck is 8600# and tow rating is 8300#. I've never been able to track down an official GCWR, but best I've been able to find out is 14,000#.

This is what the scales read:
Truck, unhitched, full fuel, all passengers, loaded for travel: 6900#
Truck, hitched to trailer: 7800# (truck axles were on different scales, so I added the 2 axles to get this weight.)
Trailer, hitched, not quite loaded for travel: 5240#

So I've come up with a tongue weight of 900#, which means the true trailer weight is now 6140#.

Also, at 900#, the tongue weight is about 14.5% of the trailer weight. (I seem to recall TW should be 12-15% right?)

With a GVWR on the trailer of 7200#, we now have an actual CCC of 1060#.

I'm about 99% sure this is all correct, within specs, and safe, but always like to have my numbers double checked when it comes to towing a 33 foot trailer down the road!

TIA for your help!!

Jessica

[APT]

As I said, when you use a WDH, it applies some weight to the front axle as well as the TT axles.

Here is an example. When you drop the trailer tongue on the ball, weight is removed from the front axle. For pickups, SUVs, and RVs, it seems to be about 20% of actual TW.

So these might be three example weights for you:

Unhitched
3500 TV Front Axle
3400 TV Rear Axle

Hitched, no WD:
3100 TV FA
4900 TV RA
5040 TT Axles combined
=13050 Total

From these two we can calculate TW at ( (3100+4900) - (3500+3400) ) = 1100 pounds.

Hitched with WD:
3500 TV Front Axle
4300 TV Rear Axle
5240 TT Axles combined
=13040 Total

So, 400 pounds was removed from the front axle, 1500 pounds added to rear axle in weight carrying mode. 600 pounds was removed from the rear axle using a WDH, 400 to the front axle and 200 back to TT.

Here is another interesting thread with an example.

Anyway, your numbers are all within your ratings. If the front axle weighed the same in the 6900 pound no trailer and 7800 pounds with trailer and the TT was level to slightly nose down, then you should be in good shape.

[jhomuth]

APT, I just double checked my Suburban's manual, and my tow rating is 8300#. So we're good there.

I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're saying about the weight distribution hitch changing my calculated tongue weight. We do have a weight distribution hitch, but the setup was weighed and the tongue weight was calculated with the WDH hooked up. so wouldn't my numbers be fine?

Regardless, I suppose I need to avoid going really any heavier on the tongue weight when we load for a trip, would you agree?

And you're absolutely right, we're sticklers for keeping fluids changed/clean, tires rotated and in good shape, etc. We actually haven't been on the road with it much at all, but the little towing we've done with it, we've been impressed with it, in spite of it's length.

fickman, yes, reassurance makes everything in life more enjoyable! I enjoy risk with some things, but not with towing!

Thanks again for looking this over!

[fickman]

Nothing like the reassurance that comes from knowing for sure! Happy camping!

[APT]

If you are using a weight distributing hitch, the tongue weight is actually a bit higher, maybe another 20%. A WDH distributes weight off the rear axle of the TV onto both the front axle of the tow vehicle and to the trailer axles.

I think your tow rating is in the 7500 pound range for 6.0L/3.73 and GCWR of 14k is right.

Your GVWR is 8600, and loaded weight with trailer is 7800, well under - check
Your GCWR is 14k, minus 6900 minus 5240 is just over 13k - check.

If it tow well, great! Keep the fluids changed on that Suburban and enjoy it!