ohlode
Boise, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
|
We recently sold our tent trailer after 5 years of fun; now ready for a TT. My TV is a 2008 Pathfinder V6 with a stated 6000 lb. "towing capacity". I've been looking at the newer lite trailers, 20 to 24 feet with dry weights below 3500 lbs. (they show dry weights of 3200 to 3500 lbs) So far I like the Fun Finder X210, the Lance 1881, and the Tracer Microlite 225M. No slide but something with a full walk around queen bed. Figuring 1000 to 1500 lbs. of gear, water, etc., I would be pulling not more than 5000 lbs. My question is about the 1000 to 1500 lbs. margin I'd have remaining? My highwall tent trailer weighed about 3200 lbs. loaded and was not a problem for the Pathfinder. A TT will be considerably more weight and drag but still well within the towing capacity... Thoughts?
|
ROBERTSUNRUS
Lakewood, Ca.
Senior Member
Joined: 06/16/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
 Hi, I would never consider the dry weight of a trailer. Use the GVWR of the trailer since most people tend to max out their capacity and some actually over load them. Then figuer the GVWR of the trailer should be about 80% of the tow rating of your tow vehicle. (my opinion)
|
ohlode
Boise, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
|
Thanks for the response. This should help. I've heard that formula somewhere in the past and it sounds about right. I'll refigure my figures and maybe the TT's I've been considering!
|
KansasJayhawk
Indiana
New Member
Joined: 08/31/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I think the unloaded weight of the trailer is the key number you should be considering.
GVWR can be a misleading number at times because it is 100% dependant on the axles a manufacturer chooses to place under the unit - here's the formula: Axle Capacity + Axle Capacity (if two axles) + hitch weight = GVWR.
Just because a manufacturer would choose to put heavier axles on a unit doesn't make it less "towable" than a unit in which the manufacturer has chosen to put cheaper, smaller axles.
Know your unloaded trailer's weight. Know your TV's capacity. Do not exceed the GVWR of your trailer or your TV when you load your gear. With your Pathfinder and a tow capacity of 6,000#, you will be fine with the choices you mentioned and 1000# of gear.
Good luck.
* This post was
edited 09/01/10 03:21am by KansasJayhawk *
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
ALWAYS use the GVWR when considering if you can tow or not. If you can't tow it loaded it's too much for your truck. Tow RATINGS tell you what the warranty on your truck will cover but it does NOT guarantee that you will find the experience enjoyable. Whether you will find it satisfactory or not is a personal issue and probably depends a lot on where you tow, how often you tow there and your own expectations for performance. The BIGGEST difference between your pop up and a travel trailer will be the wind drag. towing a trailer of the same weight with and without the high wind resistance will be a NIGHT and DAY experience. Good luck with your decision / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
|
|
TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
Senior Member
Joined: 11/17/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
The Pathfinder is a short wheel base and high center of gravity vehicle. For towing this is not helpful at all. I would keep the trailer length under 21' and a max of 4000# (loaded) weight for the that vehicels. Camping is supposed to be fun and if it is a lot of work towing to get ther, it is no longer fun.
Also on the Pathfinder see what the owners manual states about frontal area of the trailer. If mya be as low as 35 or 40 sq. ft. This would mean the an 8' wide trailer conuld not be over 4.4' or 5' tall (in the box). This pushes you into a pop up, not a hard sided trailer.
Oh and when the dealer tells you that you will have no problems towing that trailer, and you won't even know it is back there, politely hand him back his card and brochure and find another dealer.
Ken
Amateur Radio Operator.
Vintage 1989 Avion Silver, 34V, toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with one miniature Schnauzers, one standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
|
WildPlumYonder
Just south of Crater Lake NP
Full Member
Joined: 08/25/2010
View Profile
|
I tow with a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7l HO V8. It's rated for 6,500 pounds, but back in the days when I raced cars, I had the opportunity to tow a couple of cars/trailers of different weights and discovered that the comfortable towing limit was really around 4,500 pounds MAX. That still left me power to pass and enough brakes to stop (yes, the trailers had brakes, too).
I recently bought a TT (2011 Forest River Wolf Pup 17B) and I specifically looked for something with a dry weight under 3,000 pounds so that the fully-loaded down-the-road weight with all of our stuff, etc would be well under that weight.
TT: 2011 Forest River Wolf Pup 17B
TV: 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.7l HO V8
(map is where I've camped, not where I've lived or visited)
|
ohlode
Boise, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
|
Thanks for these comments! All very insightful.
|
chrispitude
Saylorsburg, PA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/20/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
I agree with KansasJayhawk, and disagree with using the GVWR to assess towing capacity. We carry about 600-700lbs of gear with us when we travel. This is regardless of whether our trailer has a 1000lbs or 2500lb load capacity. The real number that matters is what weight YOU will be travelling with. Do you have an idea from this with your current trailer? Take that number, add about 500lbs or so for safety margin, and decide if you are comfortable with how close that number is to your tow vehicle's limits.
|
ohlode
Boise, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
|
Figuring from the experience with my previous trailer I won't be pulling over 4500 lbs. after loading with any one of these trailers. I am a weight & balance stickler from my aviation days. I consciously weigh everything I put in a trailer and where I place it. The drag issue is definitely a consideration. I'm leaning toward the 7 1/2 foot width for that reason. I will not purchase without towing the trailer around town and out on the freeway for several miles first. If it is anywhere near the edge of the envelope it'll be a no go.
A 1500 lbs. margin may be adequate. With the higher profile I'll have to experience towing one of these TT's to really know whether it's in the comfort zone or not.
My sincere appreciation for all input. I'm digesting every word...
|
|
|
