I am interested in buying some sort of RV for my family and I, and I want to get the best bang for my buck, but I'm having a hard time figuring out if I'm calculating what I can tow correctly.
I have a 2004 4.6L V8 4x4 with the 3.55 axle ratio, the owners manual says I have
GCWR: 8000
GVWR: 5984
Maximum trailer weight: 3420 LB
I looked at the tire and load sticker on my door and it says the combined weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed 1230 lbs.
So here is what I've calculated:
Total passenger weight ~ 555 lbs
cargo (clothes, cooler, chairs etc): ~ 300 lbs
Total cargo = 855 lbs
Remaining cargo = 1230 - 855 = 375
So I started thinking that the 375 would be the MAX my hitch weight could be. (And I would have to get a class 3 hitch if I went over the 350 Max weight for my class II).
I read that a trailer generally carries between 10%-15% of its weight on the hitch, so I used those numbers to come up with a weight range, assuming that I would keep the class II hitch and a couple cargo pounds to spare:
350 / .10 = 3500
350 / .15 = 2333
Which I feel gives me a pretty good range of small bumper pull trailers to choose from especially if I can keep the weight at the hitch more towards the 10% mark..
Now my question is, if I add up all my passenger and cargo weight and what I am guessing is the curb weight (I took the GVWR (5984) - the load sticker (1230) = 4754 lbs) I get:
Vehicle weight: 4754
Passengers & cargo = 855
Total = 5609
Remaining GCW = 8000 - 5609 = 2391 lbs
So by going by GCW I max out at 2391 lbs, which puts me in a medium size tent trailer range.
Now my question is, which of these is most reliable? I guess I question why the GCW figure is so low when then GVWR of the truck can clearly carry the additional weight? Am I being too cautious with the GCW rating?
I really like the R-Pod line of trailers which have UVW of 2400 - 2600 so I'm thinking those would be good fit, but I want to be safe and not put too much wear on my vehicle.
I should also mention that I live in ~4000 ft elevation and will be camping / pulling anywhere from 4000 - 8000 ft.
Please let me know if you have any thoughts, I have been researching and agonizing over what I can actually pull!
Thanks
-Aaron
I have a 2004 4.6L V8 4x4 with the 3.55 axle ratio, the owners manual says I have
GCWR: 8000
GVWR: 5984
Maximum trailer weight: 3420 LB
I looked at the tire and load sticker on my door and it says the combined weight of occupants and cargo should not exceed 1230 lbs.
So here is what I've calculated:
Total passenger weight ~ 555 lbs
cargo (clothes, cooler, chairs etc): ~ 300 lbs
Total cargo = 855 lbs
Remaining cargo = 1230 - 855 = 375
So I started thinking that the 375 would be the MAX my hitch weight could be. (And I would have to get a class 3 hitch if I went over the 350 Max weight for my class II).
I read that a trailer generally carries between 10%-15% of its weight on the hitch, so I used those numbers to come up with a weight range, assuming that I would keep the class II hitch and a couple cargo pounds to spare:
350 / .10 = 3500
350 / .15 = 2333
Which I feel gives me a pretty good range of small bumper pull trailers to choose from especially if I can keep the weight at the hitch more towards the 10% mark..
Now my question is, if I add up all my passenger and cargo weight and what I am guessing is the curb weight (I took the GVWR (5984) - the load sticker (1230) = 4754 lbs) I get:
Vehicle weight: 4754
Passengers & cargo = 855
Total = 5609
Remaining GCW = 8000 - 5609 = 2391 lbs
So by going by GCW I max out at 2391 lbs, which puts me in a medium size tent trailer range.
Now my question is, which of these is most reliable? I guess I question why the GCW figure is so low when then GVWR of the truck can clearly carry the additional weight? Am I being too cautious with the GCW rating?
I really like the R-Pod line of trailers which have UVW of 2400 - 2600 so I'm thinking those would be good fit, but I want to be safe and not put too much wear on my vehicle.
I should also mention that I live in ~4000 ft elevation and will be camping / pulling anywhere from 4000 - 8000 ft.
Please let me know if you have any thoughts, I have been researching and agonizing over what I can actually pull!
Thanks
-Aaron