Hard to figure tow capacity!

[felix2]

Originally Posted by Micheal K

I think ETI’s specified base weight is accurate and I know that a lightly optioned and carefully packed 19 can be under 3500 lbs dry because ours was 3344 lbs when I weighed it last fall returning from a camping trip. At that time the trailer was dry (including the hot water tank) and I had removed one of the propane tanks. Our trailer is a pretty basic build: no AC, no front storage box, and a single battery. The only option we added that had significant weight was the themal windows and extra insulation. GVW of our trailer per ETI was 3110 lbs.

We also had our normal (spartan) amount of camping gear in the trailer. Based on the GVW, that means our gear comes in around 250 lbs.

I know we’re an outlier with a 19 this light - just thought I’d share so you know what’s possible if you’re careful.

I'm a lite packer too, but would add AC, dual batts, solar, dual propane, storage box, etc so I'd assume i'd end up with a 19' @ 3800 - 3900 fully loaded. Thanks for this info!

[John in Santa Cruz]

actually, the BEST source for accurate data on a dodge ram truck is https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

I don't believe the stickers on my f250 diesel even mention towing. they give GVWR, and axle weights, of course.

the 2002 ford towing guide for 2002 has the data for my new rig.... If I thought I was going to be anywhere near the limit, I'd weigh the empty truck with full fuel to get an accurate curb weight, then go from there. but from what all I have read of the tow guide, my truck weighs about 6800 lbs curb, 8800 lbs gross, and has a 2000 lb payload... it can tow 12500 lbs at the hitch, but above 6500 lbs I should use a WDH. my GCWR is 20,000, so even if my truck is at its GVWR of 8800 lbs, there's 11200 lbs of trailer axle weight, now a 12000 lb trailer has 1200 lbs of tongue weight, so I can carry 800 lbs of passengers + gear in the truck while towing the 11200+1200 = 12400 lb trailer. yeah. no worries!

sure, a stock 7.3 Powerstroke with an automatic is gonna be slow with that weight. no worries.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by John in Santa Cruz

I don't believe the stickers on my f250 diesel even mention towing. they give GVWR, and axle weights, of course.

That's generally true, regardless of brand. The placard (or sticker) required by federal regulations doesn't require GCWR or towing capacity.

[Anachr0n]

How much beer are we talking

[Albert]

Felix2,
If you fill out a build sheet, ETI can give you a calculation of trailer weight without water end without your gearit's not BS like you get from some dealers. First thing I did when they delivered it to us was to take it to a public scale. It matched their figure to within 20 lbs!
Here's some other considerations: your GCVWR is low because of your smallish V-6 and economical axle rating. That will slow you down going up steep grades but your vehicle suspension and brakes would still be adequate for either a 17 or a 19.
With a 1500 you should not need a WDH with either of these trailers.
The 17-foot Escapes are nose-heavy. You might find it easier to keep the tongue weight down with the 19. But that's just a guess because our experience is based on a 17, and the fact that our first trip with our new 17 was 1600 miles over some mountain passes in the West with a 2003 Tacoma V-6. With sloppy packing we had 420 lbs tongue weight, total trailer weight 3200 (2600 empty plus 600 food, water, and gear).

[gbaglo]

I don't know how you got to 420 lb. tongue weight. My 17B is at most 340 lbs. tongue and that's if I load six cases of beer against the front wall. I don't have the front storage box though.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I don't have the front storage box though.

That's probably the difference. The storage box and contents impact the tongue weight significantly. And of course, any single axle trailer whose axle is behind the centerline is going to be heavier up front.

420 lbs is a little on the heavier side based on what I've seen posted by other 17 owners, but not way off.

[Vermilye]

My Clasic 17B with storage box and six months of stuff ran between 320 and 345 lbs.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

My Clasic 17B with storage box and six months of stuff ran between 320 and 345 lbs.

Good info. Maybe there are gold bricks in his box? [emoji23]

[cpaharley2008]

Not sure if Jon's number includes his trunk he carried on his 17, a swing away storage box on the rear.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Not sure if Jon's number includes his trunk he carried on his 17, a swing away storage box on the rear.

That was both with & without. I actually ran the higher 345 after adding the SwingAway box on the back, but I do weigh the trailer before every trip & redistribute to keep the tongue weight within the tow vehicle ratings (I towed with a RAV4; 3500/350lbs most of the time I had the 17).

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

That was both with & without. I actually ran the higher 345 after adding the SwingAway box on the back, but I do weigh the trailer before every trip & redistribute to keep the tongue weight within the tow vehicle ratings (I towed with a RAV4; 3500/350lbs most of the time I had the 17).