worried i bought too Heavy

[doonkin]

Hi,
I just upgraded from 154bh Baja to a spankin new Jay flight 23mbh.
I didn't intend to go that big, but the wifey fell in love w it, and after a
day in the sun looking my gvwr-radar was whacked.

Anyway the 23MBH unloaded + dry hitch weights total 5550.

My Nissan titan 4x4 is not the towing one so CAN tow 7400.

Its me, the wife n two small kids, and light on the gear.

Should I be worried? We will never go near the max, but still, im used to towing no more than 3000lbs up and down hills.

I certainly cant afford a bigger truck right now - haha!

thx

 

[ChrisMoore]

Just getting into towing a big trailer a week ago. The research that I have done all comes back to the transmission. Do you have a Trans temp readout you can monitor? I would look to getting an external Trans cooler. I think that is the biggest issue when towing heavy. Be sure you get your rig set up for power brakes which I think is the second big issue. As well as a weight distributing hitch.

Good luck

 

[doonkin]

there is a monitor on the dash that gives lots of readouts -range etc (i have to check if has trans readouts.

I will look into the trans cooler. I know thats not cheap.

With cargo I will be around 1400 lbs under the max. Why am I still worried?

 

[doonkin]

Oh, and I have the weight distribution hitch and sway bars too

 

[Camping Couple-JAY]

there is a monitor on the dash that gives lots of readouts -range etc (i have to check if has trans readouts.

I will look into the trans cooler. I know thats not cheap.

With cargo I will be around 1400 lbs under the max. Why am I still worried?

If you are handy, you can install an aux transmission cooler yourself for under $100.00. I installed on on my 1/2 ton a couple of yrs ago. Look at the coolers online or at your local auto parts store. I picked up my cooler at pep boys for $49.99.

 

[doonkin]

I will look into that. Did an aux trans cooler help/feel like it helped?

How close has anyone here got to the towing capacity of theyre truck?
IS bing under by 1000 to 1400 lbs a comfortable/realistic buffer?

thx

 

[ChrisMoore]

My opinion only worth 2 cents. But getting close to your limit should only have a real effect on you when your in the mountains. Just keep an eye on it and know your limitations

Chris

 

[doonkin]

Thx Chris,
what would you consider close to limits?

 

[doonkin]

Also, this new trailer has 2 big propane tanks. Its ok to hook up 1 standard size that would buy me 200lbs-just for the weekend-or does that mess up weight distribution in the front?

 

[Nighthawk 96]

One of the weak points of 1/2 pickups is its Gross Vehicle Weight Rate (GVWR)
Be sure not to overload your truck.

Take it to a CAT Scale and weigh it.

See towing section of the forum for complete instructions on how to do this.

 

[Rustic Eagle]

snip.....Should I be worried?.....snip

In most cases the published Tow Rating of a TV isn't normally a problem,but a TV's "available" Payload Capacity can be an issue because a TT's loaded tongue weight is subtracted from the TV's Payload Capacity (TV supports tongue weight).

I assume the UVW of 5,550lbs came off the yellow sticker on the 23MBH, which also has a GVWR of 6,500lbs.

Sample 23MBM loaded family of four: (5,550lbs UVW) + (450lbs cargo, no fluids) + (75lbs dealer battery, etc.) = 6,075lbs Loaded 23MBH.

Sample 23MBH loaded tongue weight: (13% to 15%) of 6,075lbs = 790lbs to 911lbs Loaded 23MBH Tongue Weight range.

How to confirm if the "worry" factor is real: Take your TV to a CAT scale and weigh it under loaded conditions (full fuel, passengers, cargo). Subtract the CAT scale weight from the GVWR noted on your TV's driver door..., the remaining weight is your "available" payload capacity for the TT's loaded tongue weight and WDH (around 50lbs). CAT scale visit will take a couple of minutes and $9.

OR.........,

If you already have the new 23MBH at home, then take the TV/TT combination under loaded conditions to a CAT scale and preform a complete weigh-in. The following JOF link will walk you through the TV/TT combination weigh-in process. This process will confirm all the weights and confirm that your WDH is adjusted properly.

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3871

Hope this info helps.

Bob

 

[ChrisMoore]

Thx Chris,
what would you consider close to limits?

I am not experienced enough to comment. To me the limit your truck can tow is what I would tow down the street. I would stay a good 2000 lbs under for mountains. But that is just my thought somebody else should chime in on this