Picking out a TV

[micron]

I guess I'm lucky. One of the 1st questions the dealer asked when we bought out 1st and later, our 2nd TT was what we'd be using as a tow vehicle. Then they only showed us what was within our TVs capability. One of the techs also told me that they are not allowed to let certain TV/TT combos leave the lot w/out a break controller, WDH or sway control. When I bought my new TV they let me bring it in w/ the TT attached so a tech could inspect it and make sure everything was set up properly.

 

[canadiankid]

Micron I don't think they would have sold me a TT that was over my tow rating either, that being the "max tow" of my truck. Having said that they where just as ignorant as I was about the axle ratings and the GVWR. so many people just don't know. "My truck says I can tow 9800lbs, trailer is 9500lbs, perfect!" Thanks to the good people of this forum that educated me early. I've actually gone back and talked to my salesman about the numbers that mater and it seems to have opened his eyes too. I hope! Not knowing is one thing, knowing and ignoring it is another!

 

[Camper_bob]

Micron I don't think they would have sold me a TT that was over my tow rating either, that being the "max tow" of my truck. Having said that they where just as ignorant as I was about the axle ratings and the GVWR. so many people just don't know. "My truck says I can tow 9800lbs, trailer is 9500lbs, perfect!" Thanks to the good people of this forum that educated me early. I've actually gone back and talked to my salesman about the numbers that mater and it seems to have opened his eyes too. I hope! Not knowing is one thing, knowing and ignoring it is another!

+1!!

It's partially the marketing of the TV manufacturers as well. They're all about the marketing buzzwords "towing capacity" and there's usually little mention of actual payload. And I was guilty of the same ignorance of many; when I bought my trailer, I thought that since I was well within my "towing capacity", I was good. Turns out I was right at the top of my trucks payload and GVWR margins (which I too learned about here). And I was just getting started at the time. It was okay when it was just me, DW and the wondermutt, but when she got pregnant, something had to be done. I knew the weight was going up and quick, and I had no room for "growth" with my truck.

If you have a salesman who looks at your truck's door placard when he's helping you find the right trailer, I'd hang on to that one. Most of them simply look at the truck from across the lot or ask you what the customer has and then tell them it's good enough. And while sometimes it is "good enough", sometimes it's not, or it's too close to the max to offer a comfortable tow.