Opinion on towing and weights

mikeinaz wrote:
I have a dilema and need some help from the folks who know about weights and calculations please. I currently have a 24' HTT that we enjoy but I dislike the fact you can hear every little noise at night. This causes us to question where we camp and who we camp by.

My current setup is 4500# dry and about 5100# loaded up. We dont pack a ton as we head out for 2-3 days at a time max. We also run w/ out water and fill up near where we camp. Hitch weight is 400#.

The unit I am looking at is 26' TT and 5100# dry. About 5600# loaded up and a hitch weight of 500#.

My TV is a 2013 Dodge Durango w/ the 5.7 Hemi, AWD and tow pkg, its rated to tow 7200# and the sticker in the door says vehicle cargo should not exceed 1200#. So figure 700# for 4 people and 2 dogs and then it leaves me just enough for DRY hitch weight but does not include the WDH weight or fuel if that is part of the calculation. I have read posts saying that w/ a WDH that figure is not 100% accurate and you can exceed it. I just dont want to white knuckle drive if I get this new unit.

I currently tow the HTT fine, I live in AZ so any travel involves heading through the mountains and I do well on all but the steepest grades where I may be slowed to 55mph. So bottom line what do you think? Am I asking for trouble and am I exceeding the vehicle weight limit w/ this hitch weight? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

mikeinaz wrote:


My current setup is 4500# dry and about 5100# loaded up. We dont pack a ton as we head out for 2-3 days at a time max. We also run w/ out water and fill up near where we camp. Hitch weight is 400#.

How do you know these are your weights? Did you weigh it or is this the mfg's figures or just your best guess? Typically, the tongue weight of any type of tt (htt) is around 12 to 15 percent of the actual weight of the trailer. Even at 5100 lbs, the tongue weight will be over 600 lbs.

The unit I am looking at is 26' TT and 5100# dry. About 5600# loaded up and a hitch weight of 500#.

Again.... use 12 to 15 percent for the tongue weight.

My TV is a 2013 Dodge Durango w/ the 5.7 Hemi, AWD and tow pkg, its rated to tow 7200# and the sticker in the door says vehicle cargo should not exceed 1200#. So figure 700# for 4 people and 2 dogs and then it leaves me just enough for DRY hitch weight but does not include the WDH weight or fuel if that is part of the calculation. I have read posts saying that w/ a WDH that figure is not 100% accurate and you can exceed it. I just dont want to white knuckle drive if I get this new unit.

You are already exceeding your Durango's payload rating

I currently tow the HTT fine, I live in AZ so any travel involves heading through the mountains and I do well on all but the steepest grades where I may be slowed to 55mph. So bottom line what do you think? Am I asking for trouble and am I exceeding the vehicle weight limit w/ this hitch weight? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

mikeinaz wrote:
How do you know these are your weights? Did you weigh it or is this the mfg's figures or just your best guess? Typically, the tongue weight of any type of tt (htt) is around 12 to 15 percent of the actual weight of the trailer. Even at 5100 lbs, the tongue weight will be over 600 lbs.

I will go weigh it Saturday, I have a truck stop not too far away, a Pilot. Do they have the scales I need? So do I weigh the suv on the scale w/ the trailer attached to get the loaded weight, then remove the trailer and weigh just the suv by itself and then finally the suv and trailer together? So three weights? I had estimated 500lbs of stuff since its just bed linens, a cooler of food and some drinks and food in the fridge, 3 bikes, 3 chairs and a grill and small generator. Thanks for all the info, I appreciate it.