towing with a 2007 equinox

[Barry in Alberta]

I am new to this and confused. I own a 2007 Equinox that is rated to two up to 3500 pounds. We just bought a SLX 16xrb that has a maximum weight of up to 3500 loaded. Is this going to work? Thanks for your help!

[NVGun40]

Your equinox is rated to tow up to 3500 pounds...
Your 16xrb has an unloaded weight of 2540 pounds and a total gross vehicle weight of 3500 pounds. This means you can load 960 pounds of cargo into your trailer. Most people with larger double axle TT's only manage approximately 100 pounds of cargo with all the camping gear loaded.
figuring you fill your onboard water tank full, at 8.3 pounds for 1 gallon of water that is only 215.8 pounds. That still leaves you 744.2 pounds for food, clothing, bedding. I highly doubt you will reach anywhere close to that.

You should not have any problem whatsoever. However, remember you are still towing, so don't push you vehicle on hills, take it easy and enjoy the ride.

[Barry in Alberta]

Thank you so much for the reply. Have a great weekend!

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by NVGun40

Most people with larger double axle TT's only manage approximately 100 pounds of cargo with all the camping gear loaded.

Really, a 100lbs. The memory foam topper on my bed alone is 20lbs. Haven't weighed this year yet, but last year w/o fluids we had loaded well over 500lbs. Stuff adds up...think about it bedding, kitchen gear, camp chairs, lanterns, BBQ coolers, clothes, food, not to mention tools. I would guess most people have well over 100lbs.

OP - will you be OK is not something we can answer for you. You shouldn't exceed the Towable weight limit, but it's the Tow Vehicle GVWR you need concern yourself with.

Load up, fuel up and take a trip to the scales with you TV as if you are heading out. Put everything and everybody you would have when towing then head for a scale. Subtract that scaled weight from the GVWR and see what is left over. The delta is how much TT tongue weight you can accommodate.

[kvangil]

You'll be cutting it close; best bet is to weigh it. Note that your vehicle has a tongue limit of 350lbs. If the specs are correct and the tongue weight of the "dry" camper is 315 lbs, then full propane and a battery will likely bring you over the tongue weight of your vehicle. Also note that the 3500lbs tow capacity includes the weight of your passengers and anything else that you put in your tow vehicle. It may work if you pack light (empty water tanks) and take short trips, but you may tire of this combo.

[NVGun40]

Sorry Clubhouse, meant to say 1000 pounds. Wow, I missed that.

[Roadwarrior56]

I have the same vehicle and tow a 1007 tent trailer. I can't imagine hauling anything bigger than that. Any hills are going to be really challenging.

[TWP723]

I see a new truck in your future!

[Camping Couple]

I'd be uncomfortable driving behind that Equinox. Loading habits change. What is loaded on one trip may not be needed on another.

[Country_Mouse]

Originally Posted by Barry in Alberta

I am new to this and confused. I own a 2007 Equinox that is rated to two up to 3500 pounds. We just bought a SLX 16xrb that has a maximum weight of up to 3500 loaded. Is this going to work? Thanks for your help!

I made this mistake with figuring what we could tow when renting. I thought since manual said that we could tow a certain amount then as long as trailer's max loaded trailer weight was under that amount then we were good to go.

Although I am nowhere near as experienced as others that have already commented I am a research junkie. What I have found is once we load the car with 4 kids, 2 dogs and junk our capabilities go WAY down mostly because of our payload restrictions. Our GVWR minus our GVW= what we have left to put on the tongue. Keeping that tongue weight within the 10-15% range is recommended. Here is a handy towing calculator that someone else recommended to me on another forum.

I think someone should make this calculator a sticky.

RV Tow Check | Towing Guide Eliminator

[29BHS ECO]

Barry does you tv have the factory "tow package", if not you should find out what was in the package and have it added to your tv. Larry

[DocBrown]

Welcome!

I will you tell you what I tell everyone in your situation. Yes, you can tow that trailer. You can do so safely, but it will not necessarily be a pleasant experience. Just know that you will have limitations. The good part is that the trailer has a decent cargo capacity. As said above, it's not likely you will use it all.

No need to carry water, most CGs have a fresh water fill station. That's 215# you don't need to worry about.

All that said I have towed 2 different combos very close to my capacities. It was safe, it worked "fine" as some will tell you, I "had no problems" as others will say. But I have also towed using vehicles that had plenty of reserve capacity (as I am now). It is a night and day difference in comfort and ease of towing. Your biggest limit will be long distance trips and mountains.

For your first couple of trips I would recommend short trips on relatively flat terrain. Get to know the rig, how it feels and handles. Towing a box down the road is the equivalent of you holding up a 4x4 sheet of plywood and running into the wind. It's going to make your Equinox sound and perform far differently from normal day to day driving.