grashley
Well-known member
You have often heard advise to not believe sales people at either the car lot or the RV lot. Both have a vested interest in selling you something, and NO vested interest in making the weights safe or legal. Here is a hypothetical example of what happens if you trust the sales staff.
DISCLAMER: I use a Ford Explorer and Keystone Bullet in this example. THEY ARE FINE PRODUCTS WHOSE CAPACITIES FIT THIS EXAMPLE. The point is what happens when these fine products are paired together.
Car Lot: Sure, this Explorer with the Tow Package and 3.9L V6 FWD is a GREAT tow vehicle! It can EASILY handle a 5,000# travel trailer! NO PROBLEM!!
FACT This SUV, equipped as above is rated to tow 5,000#. 500# max tongue wt. The curb wt is 4443# and GCVWR of 9950# (GVWR not readily available)
RV lot: Ignore the GVWR. Nobody ever puts that much weight in their camper! Just look at the dry or shipping weight. You will be fine.
That Bullet 251RBSWE is a great camper! Lots of room and UNDER 5000#!! You will LOVE it!!
FACT This TT has a Shipping wt of 4980#, dry tongue wt of 500# and Cargo Carrying Capacity is a generous 2520#
Your new Explorer CAN handle this Bullet - as long as you add nothing to the camper and leave the family at home. GCVWR of empty camper plus a hitch and a SUV with just a driver and one passenger is 9523# Rated GCVW is 9950#. You have 427# left.
Take the new TT and SUV home. Add 2520# of propane, water, food, sheets, towels, clothing and a coffee pot to the camper.
GROSS CAMPER WEIGHT is now 7500#.
Pack the car with mom, dad and 4 kids (4 x 150# + 2 x 100# = 800#) plus 300# of food, game systems, drinks, etc. Add the WD hitch at 100# Put the 750# tongue on the hitch. READY TO GO CAMPING !!!!
The loaded SUV now weighs 6400# The TT tongue weight of 750# is 50% above rated capacity. The loaded camper is now 7500#, or 50% above rated capacity. The total weight of the SUV and TT is 13,150# which is 3200# over GCVWR, more than 30% above rated capacity.
HAPPY CAMPING!!
DISCLAMER: I use a Ford Explorer and Keystone Bullet in this example. THEY ARE FINE PRODUCTS WHOSE CAPACITIES FIT THIS EXAMPLE. The point is what happens when these fine products are paired together.
Car Lot: Sure, this Explorer with the Tow Package and 3.9L V6 FWD is a GREAT tow vehicle! It can EASILY handle a 5,000# travel trailer! NO PROBLEM!!
FACT This SUV, equipped as above is rated to tow 5,000#. 500# max tongue wt. The curb wt is 4443# and GCVWR of 9950# (GVWR not readily available)
RV lot: Ignore the GVWR. Nobody ever puts that much weight in their camper! Just look at the dry or shipping weight. You will be fine.
That Bullet 251RBSWE is a great camper! Lots of room and UNDER 5000#!! You will LOVE it!!
FACT This TT has a Shipping wt of 4980#, dry tongue wt of 500# and Cargo Carrying Capacity is a generous 2520#
Your new Explorer CAN handle this Bullet - as long as you add nothing to the camper and leave the family at home. GCVWR of empty camper plus a hitch and a SUV with just a driver and one passenger is 9523# Rated GCVW is 9950#. You have 427# left.
Take the new TT and SUV home. Add 2520# of propane, water, food, sheets, towels, clothing and a coffee pot to the camper.
GROSS CAMPER WEIGHT is now 7500#.
Pack the car with mom, dad and 4 kids (4 x 150# + 2 x 100# = 800#) plus 300# of food, game systems, drinks, etc. Add the WD hitch at 100# Put the 750# tongue on the hitch. READY TO GO CAMPING !!!!
The loaded SUV now weighs 6400# The TT tongue weight of 750# is 50% above rated capacity. The loaded camper is now 7500#, or 50% above rated capacity. The total weight of the SUV and TT is 13,150# which is 3200# over GCVWR, more than 30% above rated capacity.
HAPPY CAMPING!!