wizards8507
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Re: What do you load in your PUP?
DutchmenSport wrote: Well, it's been a while since I've owned a PUP, but my memory is pretty clear how we did it "back then" and why. Here's a list (may not be inclusive) of what I remember we carried. Clothing for everyone (we had 2 kids, a boy and a girl, Elementary School age). Cleaning supplies for the camper, like bleach and laundry sopa (also for laundry), Windex, paper towels, cloth rags, bucket, water hose, floor brush or broom. Personal hygiene items, tooth brushes, tooth paste, bath soap, towels, wash cloths, brushes, combs, shower mats (to use in bath houses since the PUP did not have its own bathroom), deodorants, hair stuff for the wife and daughter and female (things that only girls use), like hair blowers, curlers, clips, pins, lip sticks, perfumes, and the list went on and on and on. The kids stuff: Toys, Nintendo, a portable television, an inverter so the television and Ninetendo stuff would run off the van battery, magazines, books, dolls, and bicycles. Adult toys: books, fishing poles, craft items, cameras, maps, radio, flashlights. (this was before the days of lap top computers, wifi, and cell phones) Camping gear: Propane (Coleman) stove and extra bottles of gas. Paper plates, cups, silverware, folding chairs, cooking utensils, cleaners for the stove, a tripod for cooking over the fire, cast iron skillets, a dutch oven, coffee pot, toaster, a 10x10 foot quick shade, and our tent from our tent camping days that we used for the port-a-potty so we wouldn't have to truck to the bath house in the middle of the night. Add outdoor mat, awning lights, an electric cooler, ice chest, and tubs full of food. Electric extension cords, radio, binoculars, and ... well... you get the idea. We never traveled with water for the sink, but we always carried 2 six gallon jugs of water from home. Add sleeping bags, sheets, pillows, rugs on the floor, 2 kids, 2 adults, 1 dog and 1 cat, 1 rabbit, 1 chicken (yes a chicken), and yes ... we were WAY over 2000 pounds in cargo! Good luck. Thanks. We'll certainly bring lots of those things, but we'll have them in the vehicle for the most part, not in the trailer. Since my engine, transmission, etc. are fine at 3,500 lbs already, I think I should be okay. My limiting factor is the hitch itself, so as long as my weight is in the van and not the trailer, I think I'll be okay. coolmom42 wrote: It's much easier to clean up from meals using the inside sink, and therefore you will need water, although you don't have to tow with any in the tank. The sink is also good for hand-washing. Thanks. The campground where we'll do most of our long weekend and quick getaway camping has water electric hookups, so it shouldn't be a problem. Growing up, my parents and I did all of our dishes in an old baby bath tub on the picnic table, and I think we'll continue that "tradition." :B334Views0likes0CommentsWhat do you load in your PUP?
I just put in an order with the local dealer for a 2018 Jay Sport 10SD and I'm super excited. The trailer hasn't actually finished production yet, so I won't have it for a few weeks at least. In the meantime, I'd like to get my tow vehicle up to snuff. My vehicle as configured has a capacity of 2,000 lbs but I can spend some money and get it up to about 3,500, but I'm wondering if that's necessary. Realistically, how much do you all stow in your PUPs while you're pulling them? The model I purchased has a dry weight of 1,720 lbs and a GVWR of 2,400. I have absolutely no intention of ever using the 28 gallon water tank, so I'm having trouble thinking of what the heck I could fit in a closed ten foot trailer that would weigh 280 lbs to put me at 2,00 total, let alone the 680 lbs cargo carrying capacity. I'm thinking the only stuff we'll have in there are some buckets, a lantern, matches, a camp axe, sleeping bags, folding chairs, utensils, and paper plates. Am I missing something, or can I be reasonably confident that I'll be able to stay under 2,000 lbs? FWIW, the "weak point" in my towing configuration is the hitch, which has a 2,000 lbs capacity without WDH and 3,500 lbs capacity with one. I'd like to avoid the cost of a WDH for such a light trailer if I can safely do so.1.7KViews0likes8CommentsRe: Confused about weight distribution
bikendan wrote: Reese makes a 400/4000lb WDH that many popup owners use. Very popular in the Popup community. Thanks. I contacted Rockwood directly and they told me that their trailers are, in fact, compatible with WD setups. So I guess the stuff I've read to the contrary was fake news.472Views0likes0CommentsRe: Confused about weight distribution
drsteve wrote: The hitch receiver's ratings refer to the physical strength of that part ONLY. It has nothing to do with the rest of the vehicle. Yes, I understand that. My whole point is that "the rest of the vehicle" is not in question. "The rest of the vehicle" is rated at 3,600 lbs. The hitch receiver rating is the only think I'm asking about because that's the only one that says anything about needing weight distribution equipment to go over 2,000 lbs. drsteve wrote: The suspension upgrades in the tow package do not constitute weight distribution equipment. Stiffer rear suspension keeps the bumper off the ground, it does NOT transfer weight to the front axle, which is what a weight distribution hitch does. That's my point. None of what you just said has anything to do with the hitch receiver, so I'm trying to figure out why the hitch receiver is the part that requires weight distribution when none of the rest of the vehicle does. drsteve wrote: The GC is a people hauler. It might handle the occasional trip to the lumber yard with a utility trailer in tow, but I would not expect it to perform well on long runs at freeway speeds, loaded with the family and a bunch of camping gear, especially if hills are involved. "Read the manual" everyone says. Over and over again it's "read the manual, read the manual, read the manual." I've read the manual a hundred times and the manual says I can safely tow 3,600 lbs (or a family plus camping gear plus 2,900 lbs).472Views0likes0CommentsRe: Confused about weight distribution
harmanrk wrote: The maximum tow rating are also listed with *When properly equipped. Going up to that maximum, something always has to be the weakest link, and in this case it sounds like it may be OP's your hitch. It will handle the advertised load with WD, but the trailer he is looking to pull, may not be compatible with it. I'm not going anywhere near the maximum. The vehicle's capacity is 3,600 lbs, the receiver's capacity is 3,800 lbs. The "weak link" is the vehicle. The trailer I'm looking to tow maxes out at 2,200 lbs. I have plenty of room. As Mortimer Brewster outlined, it sounds like the "weight distributing equipment" that the hitch receiver talks about is actually in reference to the suspension modifications included in my tow package, and it's not saying it needs an actual weight distribution hitch.472Views0likes0CommentsRe: Confused about weight distribution
Mortimer Brewster wrote: My previous post described the factory tow package. Besides the receiver and 4 pin harness, it has a load leveling and height control suspension. This suspension is doing, or at least attempting to do the work that a WD hitch would normally do. In other words, a Grand Caravan with the tow package does not need a WD hitch. So when the MoPar hitch receiver says "3,800-lb tow rating with weight distributing equipment, otherwise 2,000-lb tow rating," you're saying the load leveling and height control suspension in the tow package fulfills the need for "weight distributing equipment"? Mortimer Brewster wrote: The OP needs to check if his Grand Caravan has the factory tow package (check with a dealer if unsure) I do. If my understanding above is correct, I'm all set. Mortimer Brewster wrote: and if he will need a brake controller for the trailer that’s under consideration. I do. I'm wired for it, I just need the controller itself. Recommended at 1,000 lbs and required at 2,000.136Views0likes0CommentsRe: Confused about weight distribution
Mortimer Brewster wrote: I found this on a Dodge dealer’s website Best-in-Class Towing When equipped with the proper equipment, the 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan is able to get a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,600 pounds. The available towing package is called the Trailer Tow Group, and includes a Class II receiver hitch, a load-leveling and height-control suspension, and the average four-pin connector wiring harness for the trailer. If your Grand Caravan has the Trailer Tow Group as an option, then the towing capacity would be 3600 lbs. A GC without it would be limited to 2000 lbs. FYI, any trailer with electric brakes will need a brake controller to activate the brakes. You will need to check into this. FWIW, I towed a popup with a Grand Caravan about 15 years ago. The GC did okay in the flatlands, but strained in the mountains. I recall being concerned about wear and tear on the brakes and transmission. Hope this helps. Keep asking questions! That information is incorrect (or misleading at least). I linked the dealer brochure for the 2016 GC below. The Trailer Tow Group is only an option on the R/T trim, but it doesn't actually do anything to increase towing capacity. It's essentially a sales gimmick. The AVP, SE, SE Plus, SXT, and SXT Plus trims are all rated at 3,600 lbs and the Trailer Tow Group is not even an option for them (see page 21 of the PDF below). The equipment I had installed at the dealer is "better" than the Trailer Tow Group anyways. It's a Class III hitch and a seven-pin connector. https://cdn.dealereprocess.net/cdn/brochures/dodge/2016-grandcaravan.pdf troubledwaters wrote: So the manual that was written by the Engineers that built the GC tell you what you need to use to tow with it; and you come here for what? Confirmation that you don't really need to follow the manual? Fine by me, don't use one, it's not my car. No, that's not what I'm saying. And frankly, people like you are what keep people like me from entering the world of RV camping in the first place. Know-it-alls, usually with giant rigs and F-350s, who piss on people trying to learn from those with more experience. Everything I'm looking to do is 100% in compliance with the manual. The only place I've seen the weight distribution equipment mentioned is on the MoPar product description of the hitch I have installed. It has nothing to do with the vehicle itself. troubledwaters wrote: P.S. I've never heard of properly sized and adjusted weight distribution bars damaging a trailer. Where did you come by that information? See Ralph Cramden's post above. Earl E wrote: You can try it without the weight distribution hitch and see how the Caravan rides. The problem is the Caravan has such a soft suspension that it will take very little weight to make the car's tail end almost drag the ground. The weight distribution hitch will transfer some of that weight to the front axle. Is it possible that your information is outdated and things have changed with newer-model GCs? I weigh more than what the tongue weight of my trailer will be and when I jump up and down on the bumper, the suspension barely moves an inch.113Views0likes0CommentsConfused about weight distribution
Sorry about the newbie threads lately, but this should be the last one. My tow vehicle is a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. Capacity is ~3,000 lbs (3,600 minus 100 for stow-and-go seats and 500 for family and luggage). We're looking at a 10' box popup that's 1,600 lbs dry and 2,200 GVWR. My concern is the hitch receiver. We have the OEM receiver, MoPar #82213168AC. The website says "3,800-lb tow rating with weight distributing equipment, otherwise 2,000-lb tow rating." Does that really mean I need a weight distribution hitch for a small popup? Everything I've read makes it sound like weight distribution is laughable for a trailer so light and that it could actually do serious damage to the trailer. Am I just screwed unless I only tow the pup dry and empty?5KViews0likes24Comments
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