Towing capacity for older SUV?

[raydf]

I suspect that questions such as the one I'm about to make have been posted MANY times here but well, please accept my apologies for the repetition if so! The question is the following:

The tow vehicle (a sturdy but older SUV, Mitsubishi Sport 3.0 liter V6) is rated at 5,000 lbs and a 500 lbs hitch weight. The trailer in question has a dry weight of 3,650 per factory specs (Gulf Stream Vista Cruiser 23RSS), a hitch weight of 431 lbs, and a cargo carrying capacity of 2,411 lbs. Adding the cargo capacity to the dry weights gives 6,061 lbs, obviously way over the tow vehicle's limit. However, doing some computations on the size of holding tanks and the expected "stuff" that will be carried in the trailer, I doubt that the cargo will go over 1,000 lbs, for a theoretical weight, loaded, of 4,650 lbs.

My question is: can the noted SUV safely tow this trailer, loaded as indicated?

Thanks!

[colliehauler]

NO.

[SoundGuy]

Bumpyroad wrote:
the dry weight in the literature is a joke. what does it really weigh?
add your 1,000 lbs. to that.

Listed factory dry weight is not a "joke" but rather is the weight of a base model as it sits at the factory ready to be shipped. The catch of course is that very few if any trailers that do leave the factory are base models and as a result the stickered dry weight will actually be quite a bit more due to any options or accessories that may be added at the factory level. As an example, my own Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS has a listed factory dry weight of 3535 lbs but in reality it's actual stickered weight as it left the factory was 280 lbs more at 3815 lbs. Once at the dealership one must allow for the weight of a battery and gas in the propane tanks, and since I always travel with the water heater tank full and the fresh water holding tank at least partially full that adds even more weight. My "so-called 3535 lb" trailer actually weighs about 4000 lbs before any cargo of any kind is added to the trailer. The OP has expressed interest in a trailer with a factory listed dry weight of 3649 lbs, more than 100 lbs more than mine, and as a result I'd bet this trailer would weigh a minimum of 4100 lbs before any cargo is added. I'd be surprised to see the weight of this trailer to be much less than ~ 5000 lbs loaded and ready to camp. All that said, I'd see it's overall length of 25' 11" to also be FAR too great for such a short wheelbase vehicle as the OP is suggesting.

[Jebby14]

towing capacity don't mean much. look at payload, and frontal surface area as these are almost always the limiting factors. also remember to get a real world weight not a dry weight for the trailer as dry weight is not representative of an empty trailer it neglects things like appliances that are built into the trailer and can add several hundred pounds.

[Bumpyroad]

the dry weight in the literature is a joke. what does it really weigh?
add your 1,000 lbs. to that.

[raydf]

Thanks for the advice from y'all! This is a bit disheartening, since it seems that the rated towing capacity from the manufacturer is a sort-of a joke as noted by you guys above.

I wonder if there is a "rule of thumb" that would tell me if the actual, real-world towing capacity is, let's say, 80% of the rated capacity, or some similar figure?

If 80% were the suggested number, then the Mitsubishi Montero Sport's towing capacity would really be 5000 x 80% = 4,000 lbs.

Is this how things work in the real world? If so, what would be that "magic" number, 80%?

Thanks!

[westend]

If the OP owns the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (AFAIK, that is the only Mitsu that has that tag on it), there is no way that the trailer in reference will be towed with that vehicle. Not for very far, at least. I've had the opportunity to rebuild the suspension on that model, both front and rear. The rear multilink suspension will not hold up to any serious towing. Just to get a decent hitch assembly on the vehicle will be a creative adventure. Since this is a unibody car, the mfg ties the two rear suspension assemblies together with a steel cross member. That cross member will not support the weight of a typical TT.

Any receiver type hitch would need to be attached both to the unibody frame extrusions and the rear cross member. Unfortunately, that cross member also holds part of the multi-link suspension and it's critical that it remains exactly in place for rear wheel alignment. There is too much risk involved, IMO.

[Jebby14]

I tow a 4000 lb 19ft prowler 19E with my Jepp WJ with the 4.7 V8. I have more than enough towing capacity at 6500lb the kicker is im limited on payload (1000 lbs) so when I take 520 lbs on the tongue and subtract me and my family and my gear and my hitch there is almost nothing left. I do ok but I am at my limit. I would think you are not even in the ball park. do as you will but I would not.

[donn0128]

Owned a Sport years ago. It was a nice vehicle, but had a hard time getting itself out of its own way. There is no way in heck I would consider towing anything with it. Now, if you were to install a 3000 VR4 motor and tranny in it, then yea.

[PAThwacker]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
First, you need to double and TRIPLE check that tow rating ! Sometimes high tow ratings are only achieve when extra, factory installed items are installed (larger radiator, transmission cooler, etc).

At a minimum, you will need a weight distribution hitch and electric brake controller and have the dealer change the ATF.

Like SoundGuy said, you may find that your top speed is <60MPH and going up hills it will be even less.

Doalk that and start looking at popups only

[dodge_guy]

Going by the numbers, yes you can. You don't have to add 2400lbs of stuff to the trailer. So as you say 3600lbs dry will be about 4600lbs +\-. That would give you a loaded tongue weight of approx. 575lbs (12.5%). Now towing it with a 3.0L V-6 is another story. I towed a 5000lb loaded Award TT with a 95 4.0L Explorer. It did did fine here in the Midwest however cross country trips would've been out of the question! Unless it had the V-8! Also the Award was very aerodynamic, unlike a traditional box type TT.

[theoldwizard1]

First, you need to double and TRIPLE check that tow rating ! Sometimes high tow ratings are only achieve when extra, factory installed items are installed (larger radiator, transmission cooler, etc).

At a minimum, you will need a weight distribution hitch and electric brake controller and have the dealer change the ATF.

Like SoundGuy said, you may find that your top speed is <60MPH and going up hills it will be even less.

[SoundGuy]

raydf wrote:
My question is: can the noted SUV safely tow this trailer, loaded as indicated?

Based on my own experience I'd say no.

In 2006 we purchased a 2007 RVision TrailCruiser C21RBH that loaded and ready to camp averaged ~ 4200 lbs. My intention was to tow it with our 1998 Explorer, 4.0L V6 SOHC engine, 3.55 axle ratio. On our first trip to a local campground I was astonished to find I couldn't get over 80 kph (50 mph) so the following weekend just one of my sons and I took the trailer out again, this time as lightly loaded as I could get it. Pretty well the same disappointing result - up to 80 kph was fairly easy but getting from there up to a highway speed of 100 kph (~ 62 mph) took an awfully long time. It soon became apparent this just wasn't going to work at all for a trip we had planned that summer to Myrtle Beach, which from here in Ontario would have us negotiating some significant grades in places like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, etc. A week later we replaced the Explorer with a 5.3L V8 Silverado, 3.42 axle, and went on our trip, no issues at all. We later towed a 5500 lb KZ Spree with that same Silverado for several years. No way, no how would that Explorer have handled that 4200 lb TrailCruiser. 😞

[westend]

What is the year and model name of your "Sport"? Is it an Outlander or an Endeavor?
FWIW, I had an AWD Outlander and I wouldn't tow anything with it. The rear suspension is lacking. Best car to run on ice and snow that I ever owned, though.

[Oasisbob]

Lots of opinions on this topic. I can tell you the difference from our dry weight to our ready to camp weight is about six hundred pounds. Consider your combined vehicle weight numbers.

[danimal53]

i wouldn't try it. i tow a 17' 3700lb max TT with my Jeep 3.7L V6, and I feel I'm pretty much at the limit. Personally I wouldn't want anything more than that for my setup (my Jeep is also 5k/500lb rated).