General Question on Size

[MGivens79]

We are new to RVing, we just bought our first Travel Trailer. We did tons of research before buying. But, you don't know what you don't know and you don't know what to ask if you just don't know.

So far our first time buying experience has been a nightmare! I wont get in to all the details in this question. What I really want to hear opinions on is, is our trailer to big for our haul vehicle? Based on all the research and taking it out a few times we say no. BUT everyone tells us it is.

Part of the nightmare experience was not knowing we needed a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway for the monster we bought, no-one suggested it. We quickly realized we needed it. We got a blueox WDH with 1500lbs sway arms. Cool, the dealership we got the hitch from says the trailer is to big for our haul vehicle. The dealership we bought the TT from, said nothing of the sort, but also didn't say a WDH is a must either. All the research we have done says our vehicle is sized fine for the trailer - and pulls it fine - except the swaying. Which is hopefully fixed a little with the BLUEOX wdh.

Trailer: 2021 Greywolf 29TE - 36.5 ft in length - Hitch Weight:837 lb.GVWR:7837 lb.UVW6428 lb.

Haul vehicle: 2016 Cadillac Escalade ESV (exdented whhel base) - Towing capacity: 7,900 to 8,100 lbs - with a 6.2l V8

Is this trailer too big?

[valhalla360]

One other thought...it's really odd the dealer didn't sell you a WDH. They aren't cheap, so it's a nice extra profit to throw in at the end of the deal.

[valhalla360]

rexlion wrote:
You need to take your rig to a CAT scale. Weigh the truck and weigh the trailer. Also find out the hitch weight. Actual numbers count the most.

Ultimately, this is the be best option.

I did a quick online check and it shows you have a payload of 1500lb.
- At 7800lb, you are likely looking at a 900-1000lb hitch weight on the truck. Ideal is 12-15%. Too low tends to induce sway. (837lb you quoted is presumably the empty hitch weight...add carto and it goes up)
- Add 100lb for the hitch.
- Add any other bolt on stuff (Cadillacs love to add stuff, so likely somewhere on the order of 300lb)
- Add the weight of the people in the truck (Assume family of 3 with average weight of 150lb...for 450lb)
- Add any other cargo in the truck, coolers, fire wood, bikes, etc.. (say 300lb)

So that will have you at around 2000lb used out of a 1500lb payload. With a 420hp engine, you have plenty of pull. Your suspension is overloaded (which doesn't help with sway). If you are swaying, you do have a serious problem with the tow setup. A WDH will help some but may be masking other issues.

Since you have the truck and trailer, no need to estimate. Load up as if you are going on a trip and take it to the nearest truck stop with a CAT scale. Google youtube before you go to see how it works. There are typically 3 pads at the scale. You want the front and rear axles of the truck on separate pads and the trailer axles on the 3rd pad. You will do 3 weighs:
- First measure with the trailer hooked up and WDH in operation.
- Second, disconnect the torsion bars from the WDH and do a reweigh.
- Finally, disconnect the trailer and weigh the truck

The prices may vary a little but typically $14 for the initial weigh and $2.50 for each reweigh. This will give you the real weights and allow you to determine the actual hitch weights and percentage hitch weight. On the weight stickers (truck and trailer) there are gross and axle weight limits. The hitch also has a limit.

Bring those back and I'll give you 100-1 odds, you are overweight on at least some of the numbers.

[Tyler0215]

You are overloading the Escalade. How many people? How much stuff in the SUV.Whats the tongue weight of the trailer?
Do you have LT tires? Probably not.
Look at the door sticker on the driver side door post for the cargo capacity. Everything you put inside the vehicle is cargo, passengers included. Escalades are made for comfort, not hauling.
Your Escalade may work fine for a tow vehicle, but not as it is now. At a minimum you will need a weight distribution hitch with sway control, brake control and LT tires.

[TomG2]

Blazing Zippers wrote:
Please don't roast me on this---but, in almost 50,000 miles of pulling a trailer, I've never seen a Cadillac as a tow vehicle. They do make a great toad behind a motorhome though.
See ya out there.

Back in the day, Cadillac's and other large sedans were very common tow vehicles. Big V-8's and Reese hitches made them comfortable and competent tow vehicles. This was in the days before fuel mileage became so important.

[GDS-3950BH]

Blazing Zippers wrote:
I
Please don't roast me on this---but, in almost 50,000 miles of pulling a trailer, I've never seen a Cadillac as a tow vehicle. They do make a great toad behind a motorhome though.
See ya out there.

Now you HAVE and a Marcedes too.

[GDS-3950BH]

I have seen a lot of folks this year who are new to RV's that bought into the Covid RV fad. Despite being a couple or family with one or two children they purchased the biggest rig they could either find or afford. IMO its a my D&^k is bigger than your D&^k sort of thing they came to quickly regret. A dealer will push a buyer into the largest rig possible every time that commands the most profit.

""Sounds like your selling dealership is in to profits rather than customer service or education.""

Hahaha...thats funny. Which one isn't?

[CharlesinGA]

Blazing Zippers wrote:
I've put this out many times when this question comes up- A Toyota pulled the space shuttle! Yep. Many years ago, it was a stunt by the company.
For a safe enjoyable journey, you need to get a 3/4 ton truck for a start, either set up the hitch or have a "competent" dealer install it, and try to hook up with an experienced RVer for your maiden voyage.
It sounds like the dealership was only interested in moving the unit out but I can't understand why they didn't address the hitch--the the hitches usually are brought up early on in the sale.
Please don't roast me on this---but, in almost 50,000 miles of pulling a trailer, I've never seen a Cadillac as a tow vehicle. They do make a great toad behind a motorhome though.
See ya out there.

Have you ever seen a Surburban towing something? thats all this is, with a bunch more glitz and styling.

My bets are that there is not enough tongue weight, and the tires are not LT tires, so they are too soft, combined with the fact that it is not enough vehicle to be comfortably hauling a travel trailer that long. To me, the length is more of a problem than the weight. Plus that vehicle has extra soft suspension for the ride.

I did have a pic of an Escalade with a canoe on top and a 30 ft Airstream hooked to it, at the local truck stop, but cannot find it now on the phone.

Charles

[Blazing_Zippers]

I've put this out many times when this question comes up- A Toyota pulled the space shuttle! Yep. Many years ago, it was a stunt by the company.
For a safe enjoyable journey, you need to get a 3/4 ton truck for a start, either set up the hitch or have a "competent" dealer install it, and try to hook up with an experienced RVer for your maiden voyage.
It sounds like the dealership was only interested in moving the unit out but I can't understand why they didn't address the hitch--the the hitches usually are brought up early on in the sale.
Please don't roast me on this---but, in almost 50,000 miles of pulling a trailer, I've never seen a Cadillac as a tow vehicle. They do make a great toad behind a motorhome though.
See ya out there.

[coolmom42]

You are right at the upper limit of your tow rating, and probably over the GVWR, as others have said.

Big problem is NOT pulling it, but STOPPING it and handling it in an emergency. That's where the relative weights of the trailer and the tow vehicle, and the tow vehicle wheel base, become important. Your setup is marginal.

Personally I would want a 3/4 ton truck like a F250 to pull that trailer.

[rexlion]

You need to take your rig to a CAT scale. Weigh the truck and weigh the trailer. Also find out the hitch weight. Actual numbers count the most.

[theoldwizard1]

From Cadillac "With the right equipment, the Escalade ESV can move up to 8,100 pounds." They are not exactly CLEAR on what that means !

Besides the weight distribution hitch you need an electric brake controller and the appropriate wiring harness. The dealer who sold you the hitch probably can take care of that.

Personally, I think you will be fine as long as you don't overload the vehicle or the trailer. Simple things, like only fill the fresh water tank 25% and make sure to empty the gray and black water before hitting the road.

Take it slow until you get the hang of it. 55-65 on the highway is fine. Give yourself extra room to stop.

[BurbMan]

MGivens79 wrote:
All the research we have done says our vehicle is sized fine for the trailer - and pulls it fine - except the swaying.

If it sways, It DOESN'T pull fine....

That trailer is too long for an Escalade ESV, which is basically a fancy Suburban. You are quoting brochure weights and guarantee you are much heavier at the scales. The 6.2L will pull it but you don't have the suspension to control it.

I find it hard to believe that even the most incompetent dealer would have sold you that trailer without a weight distributing hitch. If I was towing that trailer with my truck, I would still use a WD hitch.

[Edd505]

I'm with Second Chance, I don't think you have enough vehicle for that trailer. Look at the GCVR: To find your truck's towing capacity, subtract your truck's curb weight from its Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR). The GCVWR is the maximum weight of your loaded truck and the weight of its attached trailer. Towing Capacity = Gross Combined Vehicle Weight – Curb Weight.

I really suspect your way over.

[Lwiddis]

“Go to this website and read up, gather all the information, do the math, and you'll be a lot smarter and you'll be able to answer the question for yourself”

Easier to ask, wing, than...

[Diamond_c]

In my opinion you need more truck. We have a 38’ tt. We started with a 06 Chevy 2500hd with a 6.0 and yes it pulled it, but then we got a 2020 Ford F-250 with the 6.7l diesel and even at 70 mph you can’t tell the camper is there. I don’t know anything about the Escalades but I’d say get more truck