Picking out a TV

[Cookie12254]

Hello, my husband and I just purchased a 2012 Swift 145RB TT knowing that our Ford Edge would not be able to tow it. How does one go about determining the size of a vehicle needed to tow this trailer? It has an unloaded weight of 2305, a GVWR of 2950 and a dry hitch weight of 230. Is there a magic calculation to determine what the minimum size vehicle we need to safely tow it? If any one here has a trailer similar to this, what type of TV do you use? For now our baby is in storage till May and we hope to find a vehicle to tow her between now and then. For some reason I am hesitant to trust a dealer. Thanks in advance!

[oldmanAZ]

Congratulations on your Swift and welcome to the JOF.

There are folks on this site with lots of information on TV and TT and weights. In general, you can't go too big on a TV but you can go too small. Also, if you decide on a larger TT later, you may not have to upgrade your TV at the same time.

That said, a place to begin is to calculate your TT tongue weight to be ~12% to 15% of your GVWR. That weight, plus ALL the stuff (people, fuel, food, hitch weight, etc., etc., etc.) in/on your TV should be less than your TV payload.

You are right to be wary of dealers. A general theme seems to be, 'O sure that vehicle can tow that trailer' if the question is asked. The only safe thing is to research it yourself. If you look around a while on this site, you will find many posts on this topic.

Happy camping this May.

[tdekeyser1]

Agreed. I had a dealer let me leave with an unlocked hitch, and too small of a TV the first time out....

You will get lots of good advice on your question here though.

My mantra (on this subject) is 50% capacity of the TV are the "actual" limits. That sounds low to some..... but after wind, rain, uphill, semi passing you, and unplanned weight.....my experience says 50%. (10,000 tow rating = 5,000 actual).

[Sundancer330]

You won't need something like a F150 to pull that trailer. Below are some specs for the 2016 Ford Explorer which I believe is just above your Edge. It all depends on engine size and axle ratio, at 5000 lbs max and your trailer coming in around 3000 would work fine. You can find similar vehicles in the GM lineup, just google the model for towing capacities and all the info will be at your finger tips. But if you think you may go to a larger trailer in the near future that F-150 or GM 1500 may be a better buy.


Optional Class III Trailer Tow Package - - -
Configuration Axle Ratio GCWR Max Loaded Trailer Weight
3.5L TiVCT V6 FWD 3.39 9950 5000
3.5L TiVCT V6 4WD 3.65 10150 5000
2.3L TiVCT I4 FWD 3.36 6830 2000
2.3L TiVCT I4 FWD 3.51 6830 2000
3.5L EcoBoost V6 4WD 3.16 10400 5000

[need-a-vacation]

Congrats on the new rig!!!

As mentioned, the payload of the tv is what will determine what you can pull in regard to all passengers, cargo (in the vehicle), all accessories added (step bars, tonneau covers/ caps, etc), the wdh (weight distribution hitch- if needed or ball mount), AND the trailer tw (tongue weight).

So try to estimate what you will carry in the tv (inside or in the bed) to try to help figure out what your tv payload needs to be.

While a 150/1500 series vehicle may not be needed for that trailer, chances are you would not need a wdh for that set up. Just a ball mount/ ball of the proper rating. If you go for more of the crossover/ newer sub (Explorer) style vehicles, make sure they are rated for to use a wdh.

If you do go with a tv that will need a wdh, you will probably need to readjust the set up once the trailer is loaded.
Here is a link to wdh set up and how a wdh works.

And whatever you get, make sure it has the factory tow package which should include heavy duty cooling for the motor and trans, if not possibly more. If it's a Explorer ( or similar) you will have to have the tow package to get the max tow rating. 150/1500 verify the tow rating for the way the actual truck you are looking at is optioned.

Good luck!!!

[RedHorse1]

Originally Posted by tdekeyser1

My mantra (on this subject) is 50% capacity of the TV are the "actual" limits. That sounds low to some..... but after wind, rain, uphill, semi passing you, and unplanned weight.....my experience says 50%. (10,000 tow rating = 5,000 actual).

Yes! I agree 110%.

[fielro]

Welcome aboard and congrats on new rig. I recommend getting more capacity in your TV, just in case the bug bites and you upgrade to a bigger tt in the future.

[Cookie12254]

Alot of good information here and help, thank you to all...this will really give us an idea of where to start looking.

[JayTripperS]

Originally Posted by RedHorse1

Yes! I agree 110%.

I agree as well as most tow ratings on most vehicles are derived from flatbed trailers with a lot of flat bricks that don't stack higher than the tailgate. Leaving out the drag resistance that we get towing an 8'wide by 10' high wall bulldozing the air Vs. cutting through it....

[Hohenwald48]

Are you sure the Edge won't to it? I had a 2007 Mazda CX-9 (same as an Edge) and it was rated to tow 3,500 lb. I towed a covered utility trailer with electric brakes behind it all the time. Never really weighed it but I bet it was near 3,500 a lot of times. I know it was back there but never had a problem.

[charles_cincy]

Originally Posted by Hohenwald48

Are you sure the Edge won't to it?

A quick search shows the Edge having a max towing of 2000#

[tdekeyser1]

The AWD Edge can tow 3500lbs. I just sold one. I would not tow anything over 2000lbs with it.

[Subaru297]

What type of vehicle would you like?

Another CUV?
Bigger SUV?
Midsize pickup?
Full size pickup?
Full size SUV?

Let us know and we can provide better suggestions for you, but there are a lot of vehicles that can tow that trailer.

Cheers

[canadiankid]

I can't speak specifically to your situation but I can tell you mine. I made the mistake of listening to a dealer and bought a 29qbs last year. My TV was a Silverado 1/2 ton with a 5.3l V8. Don't remember the exact numbers but pretty sure my max tow was 9800lbs. Max trailer weight being 9500lbs I figured I was fine. Not the case. With my trailer hooked up and nobody in the truck I was already at my rear axle weight limit. I had no idea that the was a thing till I started reading about towing and at that point already owned the trailer. My bad!! I did whatever I could to make for a better tow experience. I added stable loads, I bought a good weight distribution hitch and I was always very careful to how I loaded everything. I towed a fair bit with that set up and always had good experiences. Even towed in a 40mph cross wind on a very busy 2lane highway. Every time I was loading up my family in the truck I felt like I was doing something wrong and the entire point of the camper was family fun. Much easier to have fun if you have less to stress about and let me tell you being at your TV's limit is and should be stressful!! I know some aren't but ignorance is bliss as they say!! Long story short, more truck the better! Sorry about the long reply but it's something I feel very strongly about.

[Camper_bob]

Originally Posted by canadiankid

I can't speak specifically to your situation but I can tell you mine. I made the mistake of listening to a dealer and bought a 29qbs last year. My TV was a Silverado 1/2 ton with a 5.3l V8. Don't remember the exact numbers but pretty sure my max tow was 9800lbs. Max trailer weight being 9500lbs I figured I was fine. Not the case. With my trailer hooked up and nobody in the truck I was already at my rear axle weight limit. I had no idea that the was a thing till I started reading about towing and at that point already owned the trailer. My bad!! I did whatever I could to make for a better tow experience. I added stable loads, I bought a good weight distribution hitch and I was always very careful to how I loaded everything. I towed a fair bit with that set up and always had good experiences. Even towed in a 40mph cross wind on a very busy 2lane highway. Every time I was loading up my family in the truck I felt like I was doing something wrong and the entire point of the camper was family fun. Much easier to have fun if you have less to stress about and let me tell you being at your TV's limit is and should be stressful!! I know some aren't but ignorance is bliss as they say!! Long story short, more truck the better! Sorry about the long reply but it's something I feel very strongly about.

I knew I wasn't the only one, but that story was eerily similar to mine! LOL! All better now though.

I agree that you should weigh as much as you can while estimating. Could be that the Edge will do just fine, but no way to really tell on paper. Weights and measures could be good on paper, and give you a horrible experience on the road.

I would consider a 150/1500 pickup. Just about as much utility as the Edge, and a lot more capacity. But then, I'm a pickup guy, and I use my truck like a truck (hauling stuff in the bed) so my usage pattern supports such a vehicle. And I live in the country where pickups are the norm. If you're hauling people more than anything else, and dealing with an urban environment, an SUV might be a better fit. That's why DW drives a crossover (GMC Acadia). Which ironically enough, you can get with a 5K towing capacity. A friend of mine tows her trailer with her Acadia, and has nothing but good things to say about it. As mentioned before, be sure to get the factory tow package.

Sorry for the rambling...

[Hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by charles_cincy

A quick search shows the Edge having a max towing of 2000#

Ford says different. I don't know where you got your info. I would assume anyone thinking of towing would have the factory tow package as that's how you get a factory hitch and tranny cooler.

2016 Ford Edge | View Towing Specifications | Ford.com

[secal48]

Our x17z comes in at about 3500 lbs and we tow comfortably with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Factory tow package rates it about 5000 lbs. Dodge Durango will do about the same for you. Haven't needed a wdh but do use an anti sway bar. Good luck.

[charles_cincy]

Originally Posted by Hohenwald48

Ford says different. I don't know where you got your info. I would assume anyone thinking of towing would have the factory tow package as that's how you get a factory hitch and tranny cooler.

2016 Ford Edge | View Towing Specifications | Ford.com

Thanks for the correction.

[Soltice]

Trailer Towing Guides | Trailer Life Magazine

[fielro]

Yep, the dealer will tell you can tow a 30' with a VW bug