camper wieght?

[hanklee2016]

im looking at a 1984 skyline weekender 18ft and need to know the weight of it. we looked all over and found a Ul number and data plate number but cant seem to find how much this thing weighs.

[atreis]

MitchF150 wrote:
All good points atreis.. Guess I'm turning into those 1 ton truck guys that respond to 1/2 ton posts as only being grocery getters and can't tow anything over #5000... 😉

It's a new age now, and not all vehicles are created equal as us old timers like to think they are..

In the end, no one can 'advise' someone on something they don't have very much info on and if they let "personal prejudice" come into play, it just makes it even worse. There will always be assumptions made and it usually only makes for slightly entertaining reading! 🙂

Mitch

Kudos to you! I think that's the first time anyone has responded to one of the (relatively few) people here that actually tow with minivans in a positive way. Very heartening. Thanks.

[MitchF150]

atreis wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
#4600 "tow rating" means you also don't really carry anything in the 'truck' either, so you might need to consider that too...

Not necessarily true. For instance, my Sienna has 1100 lbs of additional cargo capacity on the GVWR AFTER taking the maximum tongue weight into consideration (and it's not even a "truck"). The GCWR is simply the sum of the total tow rating, weight of the vehicle, and cargo capacity (1650 lbs), so the same is true for that number too.

From what I've seen, this statement actually applies to trucks, not "trucks", for the most part. (e.g. Some pickup trucks only allow for a 150 lb driver.) Nearly all of the minivans, and similar-platform SUVs, have substantially higher cargo capacity left over after adding the tongue weight. The pickups seem to do this so that they can advertise greater towing capacity, a selling point for them.

MitchF150 wrote:
Also, a #3000 full sided TT is gonna have a lot more wind drag to it then say a #3000 pop up trailer..

Might want to check the 'trucks' front sq/ft area rating too...

This hasn't been a published limitation for most minivans and similar-platform SUVs for a long time. (e.g. It hasn't been true, for instance, for the Honda Pilot or Ridgeline since 2008.) As far as I know, it's never been true for the Sienna. There are recommendations (not the same as limitations) for most vehicles along these lines, including pickup trucks.

MitchF150 wrote:
Anyway, it's still a pretty small and "lite" trailer in the grand scheme of things and you'll get down the road.. Just be prepared for it to work a bit more than normal driving. (ie: lots more rpms and probably a lot of having to mat the gas pedal to the floor.)

Mitch

In all of the years I've been towing trailers with this minivan and the Ford WindStar I used before it (this one was bought used in 2009, and this is the second trailer it's pulled) I've only found one hill, a several-miles-long 11% grade that one has to start up from a dead stop at a traffic light at the very bottom, that I had to push the pedal all the way to the floor. Generally speaking, modern engines, including the six bangers in minivans and similar-platform SUVs, have quite a lot of power.

I don't work harder while towing. (Having a good hitch helps a lot here.) My minivan definitely works harder. The same is true for an F-350 towing at 90% of capacity. *shrug* Stay within the published weight ratings of the vehicle, and it's fine. (My minivan has yet to need anything other than fluid changes, new tires, and new brakes after ~40K miles of towing, 75K miles total. BTW - I put 160K on the WindStar with only 1 major repair - new rack and pinion at 120K.)

Caveat: I tow at 60mph, and never carry water in my tanks. (Many people here recommend that limit on speed while towing, regardless of vehicle.)

That said: If the actual weight empty is 4000 lbs - it's really not a good choice. If it weighs 3500 lbs empty, it's marginal but workable if one packs carefully. Less than that (which is very likely for a 17' trailer) would be better.

Given the sellers unwillingness to weigh it, I'd not be inclined to work with that seller. Weighing your trailer is something everyone should just DO, and be willing to do if selling to help the buyer make a good choice.

All good points atreis.. Guess I'm turning into those 1 ton truck guys that respond to 1/2 ton posts as only being grocery getters and can't tow anything over #5000... 😉

It's a new age now, and not all vehicles are created equal as us old timers like to think they are..

In the end, no one can 'advise' someone on something they don't have very much info on and if they let "personal prejudice" come into play, it just makes it even worse. There will always be assumptions made and it usually only makes for slightly entertaining reading! 🙂

Mitch

[MitchF150]

hanklee2016 wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
#4600 "tow rating" means you also don't really carry anything in the 'truck' either, so you might need to consider that too...

Also, a #3000 full sided TT is gonna have a lot more wind drag to it then say a #3000 pop up trailer..

Might want to check the 'trucks' front sq/ft area rating too..

Most full size trucks are something like 60 sq/ft of frontal area. (the front of the trailer exposed to the full brunt of the air).

Anyway, it's still a pretty small and "lite" trailer in the grand scheme of things and you'll get down the road.. Just be prepared for it to work a bit more than normal driving. (ie: lots more rpms and probably a lot of having to mat the gas pedal to the floor.)

Mitch

you lost me with tow rating means I cant carry anything in the truck also??

In general, the "tow rating" is the vehicles curb weight subtracted from the vehicles gross combined weight rating.

Add more stuff to the vehicle over the curb weight and that reduces your "tow rating".

Now, if your 'tow rating' is based on the vehicles GVWR subtracted from the GCWR, then you can at least load the vehicle at that point.

Not really enough info to make any determination. I just went with the #4600 tow rating figure you provided and ran with it from what I've seen other vehicles with that range of tow rating.

Good luck!

Mitch

[atreis]

MitchF150 wrote:
#4600 "tow rating" means you also don't really carry anything in the 'truck' either, so you might need to consider that too...

Not necessarily true. For instance, my Sienna has 1100 lbs of additional cargo capacity on the GVWR AFTER taking the maximum tongue weight into consideration (and it's not even a "truck"). The GCWR is simply the sum of the total tow rating, weight of the vehicle, and cargo capacity (1650 lbs), so the same is true for that number too.

From what I've seen, this statement actually applies to trucks, not "trucks", for the most part. (e.g. Some pickup trucks only allow for a 150 lb driver.) Nearly all of the minivans, and similar-platform SUVs, have substantially higher cargo capacity left over after adding the tongue weight. The pickups seem to do this so that they can advertise greater towing capacity, a selling point for them.

MitchF150 wrote:
Also, a #3000 full sided TT is gonna have a lot more wind drag to it then say a #3000 pop up trailer..

Might want to check the 'trucks' front sq/ft area rating too...

This hasn't been a published limitation for most minivans and similar-platform SUVs for a long time. (e.g. It hasn't been true, for instance, for the Honda Pilot or Ridgeline since 2008.) As far as I know, it's never been true for the Sienna. There are recommendations (not the same as limitations) for most vehicles along these lines, including pickup trucks.

MitchF150 wrote:
Anyway, it's still a pretty small and "lite" trailer in the grand scheme of things and you'll get down the road.. Just be prepared for it to work a bit more than normal driving. (ie: lots more rpms and probably a lot of having to mat the gas pedal to the floor.)

Mitch

In all of the years I've been towing trailers with this minivan and the Ford WindStar I used before it (this one was bought used in 2009, and this is the second trailer it's pulled) I've only found one hill, a several-miles-long 11% grade that one has to start up from a dead stop at a traffic light at the very bottom, that I had to push the pedal all the way to the floor. Generally speaking, modern engines, including the six bangers in minivans and similar-platform SUVs, have quite a lot of power.

I don't work harder while towing. (Having a good hitch helps a lot here.) My minivan definitely works harder. The same is true for an F-350 towing at 90% of capacity. *shrug* Stay within the published weight ratings of the vehicle, and it's fine. (My minivan has yet to need anything other than fluid changes, new tires, and new brakes after ~40K miles of towing, 75K miles total. BTW - I put 160K on the WindStar with only 1 major repair - new rack and pinion at 120K.)

Caveat: I tow at 60mph, and never carry water in my tanks. (Many people here recommend that limit on speed while towing, regardless of vehicle.)

That said: If the actual weight empty is 4000 lbs - it's really not a good choice. If it weighs 3500 lbs empty, it's marginal but workable if one packs carefully. Less than that (which is very likely for a 17' trailer) would be better.

Given the sellers unwillingness to weigh it, I'd not be inclined to work with that seller. Weighing your trailer is something everyone should just DO, and be willing to do if selling to help the buyer make a good choice.

[hanklee2016]

MitchF150 wrote:
#4600 "tow rating" means you also don't really carry anything in the 'truck' either, so you might need to consider that too...

Also, a #3000 full sided TT is gonna have a lot more wind drag to it then say a #3000 pop up trailer..

Might want to check the 'trucks' front sq/ft area rating too..

Most full size trucks are something like 60 sq/ft of frontal area. (the front of the trailer exposed to the full brunt of the air).

Anyway, it's still a pretty small and "lite" trailer in the grand scheme of things and you'll get down the road.. Just be prepared for it to work a bit more than normal driving. (ie: lots more rpms and probably a lot of having to mat the gas pedal to the floor.)

Mitch

you lost me with tow rating means I cant carry anything in the truck also??

[MitchF150]

#4600 "tow rating" means you also don't really carry anything in the 'truck' either, so you might need to consider that too...

Also, a #3000 full sided TT is gonna have a lot more wind drag to it then say a #3000 pop up trailer..

Might want to check the 'trucks' front sq/ft area rating too..

Most full size trucks are something like 60 sq/ft of frontal area. (the front of the trailer exposed to the full brunt of the air).

Anyway, it's still a pretty small and "lite" trailer in the grand scheme of things and you'll get down the road.. Just be prepared for it to work a bit more than normal driving. (ie: lots more rpms and probably a lot of having to mat the gas pedal to the floor.)

Mitch

[hanklee2016]

We won't be using tanks for the most part. I asked about scaling it and he acted like he didn't want to mess with it.

[Oaklevel]

See if the owner will take to a CAT scale & weigh it........

If it is truely 2680 dry that is from the factory & will not include propane or any additions cargo etc. My guess would be 3500 lbs plus.

Our 1988 Terry was 4500 lbs loaded but it was 22ft.

[atreis]

I'd be surprised if it's too heavy (I'd guess ~3k or less empty also), but it should be easy enough to take it for a test tow that includes a stop at a scale.

[1ofmany]

hanklee2016 wrote:
so the owner says he called skyline and they told him its 2680lbs dry.

my truck manual says 4600lbs trailer weight so I'm guessing I should be okay to pull this.

Unless there is some reason you are not able to investigate a little further, I would recommend you attempt to get some authoritative reading on the exact weight...guessing is not really a good method:-)

[hanklee2016]

so the owner says he called skyline and they told him its 2680lbs dry.

my truck manual says 4600lbs trailer weight so I'm guessing I should be okay to pull this.

[psuce]

My best guess would be around 3,000lbs. I had an '84 Citation 22' and it was around 3,500lb.