3500lbs vs 5200lbs trailer question

[bcjet]

Good morning thanks for help in advance. Looking for advice on towing. Wondering the difference in real world towing difference of 1800 pounds.

Looking at 2 Toy Haulers. The question is for 1800 pounds more we get a lot more trailer. How much will I notice the difference in towing between the 2. How much more mpg will I loose with the heavier trailer? I am a fan of keep it simple. But don't want to be kicking myself for not buying a little bigger.

Tow Vehicle 2011 Chevy Express 3500 Van.
9600 tow limit no issue
16000 combined weights no issue

99% of time 2 Motorcycles (250cc) 230pnds each, 3 people.
1% of time NO Motorcycles 5 People. Just camping

2017 FOREST RIVER SALEM CRUISE LITE 211SSXL
uvw 5300
Hitch 890
GVWR 8890
28ft long

Pacific Coachworks 18sle
uvw 3500
Hitch 530
GVWR 7500
23ft long

Thanks Bill

[SweetLou]

Grit dog wrote:
Are you guys really analyzing payload with a 1 ton van and a 5000lb trailer??

To the OP, it won't be much different. Get the trailer you want, you have enough truck for either and mileage will be about the same. Of course the heavier trailer will feel heavier, a little.

X2 come on guys really?

[bikendan]

troubledwaters wrote:
Get the Forest River, you can tow either one comfortably.

This post is almost a year old.
I'm sure the OP already purchased the TT.

[troubledwaters]

Get the Forest River, you can tow either one comfortably.

[fugawi]

atwowheelguy wrote:
The smaller the bathroom, the higher the misery index. I have to open the door in my bathroom to be able to stand on the floor outside the shower and dry off with a towel. Go stand in the bathroom and simulate drying off with a towel before you buy.

Put your tools in the camper.

This is mine.


Based on that alone, I recommend the larger one.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

What is the brand and model of the bottom plan?

[deltabravo]

bcjet wrote:
Looking at 2 Toy Haulers. The question is for 1800 pounds more we get a lot more trailer. How much more mpg will I loose with the heavier trailer?

That is an impossible question to answer. There is no magical formula to calculate how much a given load will affect a vehicle's MPG.

Buy the RV that you like, and don't worry about MPG.

I once read a post here where someone said "if people are concerned about MPG when towing, which of course affects how much they pay for fuel, then they probably can't afford to be RVing anyway."

[Wishin]

You'll notice the difference on the hills, but I would still go with the larger one. It should still pull fine. MPG shouldn't be significantly different since as others have said, the wind resistance should be similar which is a big factor.

[SweetLou]

With your set up it would be significant. If you had a diesel you would just chug along.

[slayder]

bcjet wrote:
Thanks for all the replies. Going to look at a Genesis 19ss http://www.genesissupremerv.com/19ss

UVW 5220
Hitch Wt 620
GVWR 8200

Should work fine Van Loaded 7450 Under the 9300 van gross weight even with 800 to 950 on hitch. Combined weights 7450 + 8200 = 15650. Which would be 2000 to 3000 pounds over what we normally will haul.

Thanks Bill

FYI, you can see my experience with Genesis at this link:

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29285947.cfm

I'll keep updating the threads as and if updates occur.

[bcjet]

Thanks for all the replies. Going to look at a Genesis 19ss http://www.genesissupremerv.com/19ss

UVW 5220
Hitch Wt 620
GVWR 8200

Should work fine Van Loaded 7450 Under the 9300 van gross weight even with 800 to 950 on hitch. Combined weights 7450 + 8200 = 15650. Which would be 2000 to 3000 pounds over what we normally will haul.

Thanks Bill

[Grit_dog]

Are you guys really analyzing payload with a 1 ton van and a 5000lb trailer??

To the OP, it won't be much different. Get the trailer you want, you have enough truck for either and mileage will be about the same. Of course the heavier trailer will feel heavier, a little.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

The answer about the MPG is............it depends.

As others have said, once you get a trailer up to speed on a flat road weight does not really come into play. Aerodynamics are what counts.

In the hills and mountains are a different story.

The horse power formula is lifting a certain amount of weight in a certain amount of time. When you are going up hill with a trailer on, you are lifting that weight. The more weight you have the more HP you will use to lift that weight. The more HP you use the more fuel you will use.

So the answer is......it depends. If you spend a LOT of time towing in the hills and mountains a heavy trailer will cost you in fuel. On the flats, it makes very, very little difference.

[atwowheelguy]

bcjet wrote:
2700 pnds payload

2700 payload - 800 family - 300 tools - 100 WDH = 1500 remaining payload for tongue weight

Put the tools in the camper.

My toy hauler has 13.6% of the weight on the tongue.

Even if the Salem stays at 17%,

1500/0.17 = 8,823 max trailer wt considering payload

Payload should not be a problem with your 3500 van.

[atwowheelguy]

The smaller the bathroom, the higher the misery index. I have to open the door in my bathroom to be able to stand on the floor outside the shower and dry off with a towel. Go stand in the bathroom and simulate drying off with a towel before you buy.

Put your tools in the camper.

This is mine.


Based on that alone, I recommend the larger one.

Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum recommended limit of 640px maximum width.

[bcjet]

2700 pnds payload