TT on 2010 GMC Acadia
I have a 2010 FWD GMC Acadia w/ factory installed towing package rated for 5200#. A dealer has got me considering buying a 24ft Passport Ultra Lite wi a factory weight 4100#. He is saying that 10...
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IMO it would be a mistake and you would regret it. 4100 lb dry weight means very close to 5000 once you add water, battery, propane, and camping gear (cookware, clothing, food, towels, etc). And I'd be willing to bet that the hitch weight will wind up between 600 and 700 lb. This is the killer, because your hitch is probably rated for 500 lb max. And you still need to add a weight distribution device, which will weigh another 75 to 100 lb. You don't want to ruin your suspension or, worse yet, have the hitch receiver rip off and send your new trailer careening across traffic.
You're better off looking at something with dry weight under 3200-3300 lb, with dry hitch weight of no more than 350 lb. And even then you will need to be careful and weigh your trailer tongue to make sure you aren't loading the front too heavy.
Been there and done that; I towed a 3200 lb. Rockwood 2304s for a couple of seasons, and I bent a rear spring on my Mercury Mountaineer (600 lb hitch wt rating), so what does that tell you about how heavy those trailer tongues can get? My latest rig has been a Toyota Highlander (5000/500 rating) and 16' KZ Escape 14RB (2200 lb dry) but the real-life hitch weight varied from 360 to 400 lb depending on the fresh water tank contents.
You're better off looking at something with dry weight under 3200-3300 lb, with dry hitch weight of no more than 350 lb. And even then you will need to be careful and weigh your trailer tongue to make sure you aren't loading the front too heavy.
Been there and done that; I towed a 3200 lb. Rockwood 2304s for a couple of seasons, and I bent a rear spring on my Mercury Mountaineer (600 lb hitch wt rating), so what does that tell you about how heavy those trailer tongues can get? My latest rig has been a Toyota Highlander (5000/500 rating) and 16' KZ Escape 14RB (2200 lb dry) but the real-life hitch weight varied from 360 to 400 lb depending on the fresh water tank contents.
