Cummins12V98
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I have seen plenty of SUV's laying on their side pulling too much TT. As they say too much tail for the DOG. Soft "P" rated tires are just one issue here.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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time2roll wrote:Trackrig wrote:One of the items I find interesting when a mfg states a towing capacity, is they never mention whether their rating is good for a trip to a camp ground 100 miles away on flat ground, or going across the US crossing the Continental Divide on very long trips over several months.
The Armada will probably do fine to a campground a 100 miles away, but it doesn't have the transmission, rearend or brakes for longhaul traveling.
Bill I never worry about distance as much as the max towing is with only a 150# driver... absolutely nothing else in the base no options vehicle.
And the other "Game" being played. TV mfg base towing capacity assuming max of 10% tongue weight. Trailer mfg design trailers to be in the 15% tongue weight. So.... pretty easy to not realize the different assumptions and discover that your tongue weight is more than the TV hitch is rated for or that once loaded even though the trailer is well "under" the TV mfg claims for weight, your at or over GVWR for the TV.
And then trailer mfg tongue weight claim is for an empty trailer with empty propane tanks and no battery(s). Just filling two 30lb propane tanks and a couple of batteries just added 200lbs or so to the "empty" tongue weight since the weight is so far forward on the tongue.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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jbnery6465 wrote:2008 Armada LE AWD w/Tow Package.
I've done a lot of reading on this forum related to this topic as we're looking to become first time TT owners. Woohoo! Our intention is to have few trips a year with long extended stays. Some trips will make yearly to Oregon and to Arizona, from San Diego. It could also serve as a temporary home until our house is built on some land we own - thus why I'm looking at the longer range.
The topics that I've read related to how long of a TT an Armada can safely pull are more than 4-5 years old, and the focus quickly shifted away from length and focused on weights. But there are new trailers today that are in the 31'-33' that have a dry weight of 5800lbs - 6400lbs, and hitch weight in the mid-700's. I did a whole spreadsheet not only with "estimated" dry weights, but also what I think our loaded weight would be (2 adults, 4 kids, gear, empty tanks). So hypothetically assuming if all my weights are within range, loaded properly, have the right WD hitch, drive in Tow Mode in 4th, etc, can I safely pull these trailers? They are dual axle, not sure if that makes a difference.
Thanks for hearing me out, I'm looking forward to learning from you all. Thanks in advance for the input!!
Way too much vagueness. Give us an example or two of the trailers you are looking at.
A 31-33ft trailer is likely going to be pushing at least 8000lb loaded for a family of 6.
- Empty weights are completely irrelevant. Better to use the GVWR if you don't know for sure.
According to edmunds.com, your truck has a payload of 1500lb. Problem is that assumes pretty much empty with no add on equipment (running boards, roof racks, hitch, etc...)
- Assuming 150# for each parent and 100# per kid, that's 700lb of payload just in people.
- Let's say 300lbs for hitch, cooler and other misc stuff in the truck.
That uses up 1000lb of your payload before you hook up the trailer.
An 8000lb trailer should have a hitch weight of 1000-1200lb. Conservatively, you are likely over payload by 500-700lb.
You might also check your RAWR. The hitch weight hits the back axle hard, so that is likely over also.
Now as others have said, a relatively small weak short wheelbase truck is likely to be a tail wagging the dog situation.
For a family of 6, I would suggest a full size body on frame van in the 3/4 or 1 ton range. That will give you the payload and the mass to handle a big trailer. If you were talking shorter trips, a 4 door pickup would be an option but that will get cramped for cross country stuff.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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^Nothing vague, no more info or advice needed. No need to regurgitate the last 3 pages of advice. And the OP left the conversation a while ago….
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Cummins12V98
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Grit dog wrote:^Nothing vague, no more info or advice needed. No need to regurgitate the last 3 pages of advice. And the OP left the conversation a while ago….
Hopefully out looking for a proper tow vehicle!
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Grit dog wrote:^Nothing vague, no more info or advice needed. No need to regurgitate the last 3 pages of advice. And the OP left the conversation a while ago….
It may or may not be relevant to the OP if he's decided one way or the other (of course he may simply be reading and not responding also) but for other newbies using the search function, it certainly is.
Example: Our current trailer is 25ft if you measure the actual box but if you include the a-frame it's 29ft. Unsurprisingly, it's lighter than most 29ft (box length) trailers.
Also, some brands are heavier than others for the same length and/or have wildly varying cargo capacities. I've seen 25-30ft travel trailers with only 700lb of cargo capacity.
So yes, a lot of vagueness in the original post and more details would be helpful in providing a clear answer.
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