newbie towing question

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chillfam

chillfam

New member
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
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2
We're brand new to the RV life and Just bought a 2001 Arctic Fox 19B travel trailer, dry weight 4100 lbs.  Currently we drive a 2004 Isuzu Ascender SUV, towing capacity 6800lbs.  We're currently living in Alaska but will be driving back to the lower 48 next year.    The trailer tows fine straight and level but the vehicle does downshift going up hills.  My question is will I have a hard time towing the trailer back to the lower 48 with my current vehicle or should I consider upgrading.  I really like my current vehicle and really don't want to trade it in unless i have too.  Any info would be greatly appreciated. ???
 
In order to answer your questions properly we need to know the GVWR of your Artic Fox trailer.  The dry weight means nothing since it does not include any add ons or what the weight will be when loaded.  Also need the GVWR and GCVWR for your Izuzu.  With this data from your Izuzu and Trailer we should be able to give you a proper answer.

 
Hmmm, well assuming your vehicle is the 4.2L, this is essentially the equivalent of the Chevy Trailblazer/GMC Envoy.  These are indeed capable SUV's.  That being said, driving it down from Alaska with a 4100lb trailer (dry weight), plus all the gear you will undoubtedly have (I assume you're moving down??), plus the water and gas and other stuff you will be loaded with, I would be very concerned about making it.  You may do okay, but once you hit those Canadian Rockies, not only will you have the hills and mountains. but you will also have the wind to contend with.  If the Ascender is indeed as close to the Trailblazer as I think it is, it is a very nice vehicle, and it would do a good job otherwise, but I think you may be outclassed on this trip.  I would certainly consider upgrading if you really want to try this.

That being said, you will certainly love the drive down from Alaska.  We did it back in 1987 (from Fairbanks to Omaha) and even with 2 small kids at the time, all packed in a 1986 Mercury Lynx, the Ford Escort equivalent, with a Sears car topper, one kid being carsick (meds are wonderful), we thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone who has ever even thought about it.  We fully intend on doing it again someday, this time with an RV and more time to stop and enjoy things.
 
In order to answer your questions properly we need to know the GVWR of your Artic Fox trailer.
Click to expand...

Ron, this is one case where using GVWR to approximate the loaded weight of the trailer is not appropriate.  Ron Nash greatly overbuilds the frame and running gear of his trailers,giving much higher than average payloads.

For example, my 26x is listed as having a dry weight of 7130 lbs and a GVWR of 10,000 lbs.  It's Net Carrying Capacity with full propane and fresh water tanks is over 3600 lbs, for a 28 ft. travel trailer.  When I was living in it fulltime and had it loaded with way more stuff than I should have been carrying the most the trailer ever weighed was 8500 lbs.

The 19B has a dry weight of 4375 lbs (dry hitch + axle weights) and a GVWR of 7000 lbs, with a NCC of 2620 lbs.  I think it would be awfully hard to cram 2600 lbs of stuff into a 19 ft. trailer.
 
Lou Schneider said:
Ron, this is one case where using GVWR to approximate the loaded weight of the trailer is not appropriate.   Ron Nash greatly overbuilds the frame and running gear of his trailers,giving much higher than average payloads.
Click to expand...

I believe it is better to use the GVWR or the actual weight of the loaded trailer than to use empty weight in figuring weight issues.  Dry weight is more likely to be off and it is much safer to go by actual loaded weight and if that is not available the GVWR should be used. In any case the weight of the loaded vehicle should never exceed the GVWR. JMHO.
 
Lou and Ron, I think y'all are missing the more important part of this.  He has already stated he has had "issues" pulling on hills with this setup.  No matter what the gvwr or real weight or assumed weight of this set up is or ends up being, once he hits the mountains he will be struggling.  Get a good headwind and it may be all over.  I just don't think that Ascender will do a very good job over the Canadian Rockies, much less any mountains in Alaska before he ever gets to those.  As much as I know the Ascender is a good vehicle, I think it is going to be outmatched on this one.
 
I agree but if he knows how to determine what his maximum weight limits are then he will understand why he is having these problems and hopefully will be able to determine what he needs to correct the weight issues when looking for a new tow vehicle.
 
Maybe he ought to view the short movie of the pickup truck or the little car pulling the trailer.  Those would be great to run about every 2 weeks for newcomers.  As daring as I am towing, even I wouldn't attempt to do what he's thinking of attempting.  JMO
 
Thanks all for the advise...I will be upgrading.  For now I'll just keep to short trips until I getter a bigger vehicle. 
 
I'm sure Tom, Ned, Ron, Carl, or Gary will know where it is and will post it.  ///that would be nice to keep videos of this nature in one place.  There are 2 or 3 of them and it very well explains why you need an adequate vehicle to tow with, not only power from motor and tranny, but also braking which might be more important.  One grouping of just videos that are posted would make them easier the view.  JMO
 
I've looked all over and only found 1 post that I had requested it be shown but on the followup I didn't find it.  I'm sure Ron posted one of them.  He'll know where it is.
 
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