New to towing, have some questions

[KYCAMPER]

Check these websites for calculations.
http://bybrv.com/
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-tt.shtml

[Bluestreak]

What Doc said!

(my twist would be to buy used first time…there are lots of barely used trailers a couple years old to choose from...no need to take the depreciation hit unless you must and it gives you the chance to see what you care about and what matters most to you at a more reasonable cost so that if and when you do decide to get another trailer, you have a pretty good idea of what you really need and want. Then you can get something new or used with confidence.)

[thestrangebrew]

Originally Posted by KYCAMPER

Check these websites for calculations.
http://bybrv.com/
http://changingears.com/rv-sec-calc-...eight-tt.shtml

I've tried to use these calculators but I just don't know actual weights right now so I'm not sure how much of a help they will be. I've been doing some math (guesstimates at best) and here's what I'm coming up with:

Curb weight of TV - 4557lbs (including 150lbs for driver)
Passengers (3 - not including driver) - ~450lbs
No cargo (wife said we will put all our gear in the trailer when towing which I'm totally skeptical about)
tongue (dry hitch?) - 315 lbs (most likely higher from what I've read)


Weight of vehicle + passengers + 0 cargo + tongue = 5322 lbs

So dry weight - 2832 lbs (I'm using MsPooley's yellow sticker as a baseline - I know the number will vary greatly)

Trailer has 26gal fresh water capacity, but we don't use a whole lot of water and to keep things light, I fig. we would use about 10 gals over the course of a weekend. I'll go with 15lbs just to be safe.

Water @ 15 gals. = 8.33lbs/gal = 124.95 gals.

Propane & battery = 125 lbs(?)

Cargo (I have no idea what food/clothes will weigh and we generally use paper /plastic products) so I'd guess about 200-300 lbs

Weighted vehicle (dry weight + water +cargo (300lbs to be safe) = 3381 lbs

TV + Weighter Trailer = 8703 lbs.

My TV GCVWR is 9980 so 9980 - 8703 = 1277 or 87% of Max

Does my math look correct? How comfortable would you guys feel about this #?

[Imnaha.Mansion]

As far as Tow Vehicles.
I've always been glad mine came with transmission temp gauges and manual shift option with the automatic transmission.
I've found the biggest issues with heat in the mountains when it's a curvy grade, so I'm on and off the gas. With manual shift mode I can down shift bringing up the rpm's and lowering the trans temp.

With a PUP mine had the front deck for a ATV. We didn't have a ATV, but it was great for Coolers, Firewood, a small Generator or whatever. Didn't add too much weight or length.

[chriscowles]

Originally Posted by Imnaha.Mansion

When we had a Dodge Durango we got a Pop-up.

What year and model was your Durango?

[Imnaha.Mansion]

My Durango was back in the 90's, forget the year. My Nissan Titan and my Ford F350 had the manual shift and trans temp gauge.