Hard to figure tow capacity!

[felix2]

I have a V6 RAM 1500 with a rear end ratio of 3.12, 8-speed transmission. According to my calcs, I can just pull a 17B...was hoping to look at a 19.

Just to stir things up re how I arrived at this (realizing this has all been discussed ad nauseum already): I weighed my TV and added tongue weight, fuel, passengers, normal bed payload (= 6055#), and subtracted this from the truck's GCVW (9850#)to get to 3755# max tow. A 19's GTW seems higher than this as best as I can determine. I looked at the averged weights from someone's posted spreadsheet, plus whatever other info I could gather from ETI (not very much there, unfortunately).

I realize that everyone will load their trailers differently, and that options differ in adding weight as well, but nearest I can find is an avg of around 3350# for a 17B, and 3950# for a 19. Of course tongue weights vary too, confusing us even more.

I wish ETI would list option weights and a reliable base trailer weight so we could calc this more easily. I really don't want to upgrade my tow vehicle...and I don't want to go larger than a 19.

My brother, who has towed 5th wheels for years, uses the TV's "Max Trailer Weight Rating" (which in my case is 4450#) with a safety margin, but I don't know if that accounts for every consideration. Seems my method is safer.

So if anyone has more experience with actual 17B and 19 weights, please chime in! Thx

[emers382]

Have you checked out on FGRV?
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...rld-43010.html

[felix2]

Yes, that's the 'spreadsheet' i was referring to...

[Iowa Dave]

We had a 2010 19 which weighted 3680 ready to go camping with 10 gal of fresh water. 6 gal hot water . Grey and black empty. Tongue weight was 425 (about 12 %). The new 19s are heavier. I believe that people have reported the new ones about 300 lbs heavier than than the gen 1s.
Judicious loading and close consideration of what’s necessary to take along can help you some.
Iowa Dave

[felix2]

Thanks, Dave...just the type of info I need, confirms my estimates. I know the 2017s are heavier, thanks. We don't carry a lot of 'stuff' that adds much weight. I know one brother-in-law updated his (non FG) trailer and was shocked to find over 800# of crap he had accululated (and didn't move into the new rig) - tools, tow chain, extra chairs, extra sleeping bags, etc etc...I like going pretty light. Our only weight beyond normal clothes and food and such is jigsaw puzzles and chocolate and beer/wine! and our kayak, folding bikes...well, I guess it adds up quickly, doesn't it?

[Iowa Dave]

It dawned on me that I was carrying two ball peen hammers, two half inch ratchets and a real cool military entrenchment tool from
the Korean War. Guess I thought I could dig a foxhole if things went south. Weight will sneak up on you, (don’t I know that). Whiskey is a lot less weight for the punch and beer, I’ve been buying locally in the states and just before the border crossing into Canada. Glad my wife doesn’t drink, balances out my habit. The Safeway at Grand Coulee Washington has the same Pepsi as the Food Lion in Tennessee. It doesn’t pay to haul that stuff, it costs. Traveling in the west in fire season the Forest Service used to stop cars going into forest areas to see if they had with them an axe, a bucket and a shovel before you could proceed. When I worked for them we called it “axe, buckle and shove it duty.
Iowa Dave

[Fournier]

RAM 1500 (V6 3.6L) 2016 tow capacity 7200pds

you do not have to worry about the weight of your trailers, there is no escape that you can not pull comfortably. the pulling capacity of your (basic) vehicle is 7200 pounds

[TZBrown]

Felix2 you are wise to be a bit conservative. Though with caution most anything is possible, but safe and comfortable is another thing

Just for fun I did a google search on gbaglo's vehicle, 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Sport
tow capacity says 2000 lbs
His trailer, 2009 Escape 17B, by escape's pages, a dry weight 2400lbs (Plan B)
NO passenger weights, or trailer gear. So it can be done. It could be a problem in an accident though.

Our 2018 21 says dry weight 3210 less add ons
Our tow vehicle, 2014 Duramax 2500HD 4wd, maximum towing capacity of 13,000 pounds, way overkill on towing.
But I also have a slide in camper that weighs 2500 lb, cargo capacity is 2706 lbs, which cuts it very close when I add passengers and gear. I am usually over, but by less than 300 lbs

[John in Santa Cruz]

the tongue weight is part of the trailer GWR, so if you've added it to the truck, then you subtract it from the trailer before you add the truck and trailer together to arrive at a GCWR otherwise you've counted the tongue weight twice.

[civi]

Originally Posted by TZBrown

Just for fun I did a google search on gbaglo's vehicle, 2008 Toyota RAV4 V6 Sport
tow capacity says 2000 lbs
His trailer, 2009 Escape 17B, by escape's pages, a dry weight 2400lbs (Plan B)
NO passenger weights, or trailer gear. So it can be done. It could be a problem in an accident though.

His Rav4 has the tow pkg. Which brings the limit up to, 3500#/350 # tongue.

[TZBrown]

Originally Posted by civi

His Rav4 has the tow pkg. Which brings the limit up to, 3500#/350 # tongue.

It certainly does make a difference doesn't it.

1500 lbs for passengers and all equipment is more reasonable, but I bet if you added all of the stuff up it does not leave much cushion

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by TZBrown

It certainly does make a difference doesn't it.

1500 lbs for passengers and all equipment is more reasonable, but I bet if you added all of the stuff up it does not leave much cushion

1500 lbs payload for a rav4 (not towing) ? that sounds high. Mid-to-late 2000 Toyota Tacoma 4x4's have 1000-1200 lb payload. the 1000 lbs is for the 4-door crew cab model, 1200 lbs is for the 2.5 door access (extended) cab model. while they are rated to tow 6500 lbs with the factory tow package, 600-800 lbs of tongue weight effectively reduces your payload to the driver and a overnight bag.

[emers382]

I think we're talking apples and oranges here. Yes Glenn's RAV4 has the tow package which means you can TOW 1500 lbs more, it doesn't mean that the payload is 1500. Note he can have 350 lbs on the tongue which no doubt leaves plenty of room for two people and gear before hitting payload limit of ?

[felix2]

Originally Posted by Fournier

RAM 1500 (V6 3.6L) 2016 tow capacity 7200pds

you do not have to worry about the weight of your trailers, there is no escape that you can not pull comfortably. the pulling capacity of your (basic) vehicle is 7200 pounds

No, the rear end gear ratio makes all the difference. I have the highest gearing (best fuel economy @ 20 MPG) of 3.21, and the lower the gearing, the better tow capacity. My tow capacity is NOT 7200 lbs. But thanks for your input.

[cpaharley2008]

All we are doing here is hypothecating, the correct answers can be found on the yellow sticker, attached to each vehicle. Just open the door and read. This sticker accounts for gearing, weight, options or anything else than can impact the number being discussed. Read the sticker and the manual and you will know what you can tow safely.

[Iowa Dave]

Hypothecating, now I like that word.
Kind of like pontificating without the religious overtones.
Dave

[cpaharley2008]

Most taxpayers use that when figuring out their itemized deductions..........
Close enough for government work.......

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by civi

His Rav4 has the tow pkg. Which brings the limit up to, 3500#/350 # tongue.

And, loaded for travel, it comes in at about 3,200 lbs and 325 lbs. tongue weight.

[gbaglo]

I spent the afternoon in the back yard with my grandson, putting together a "Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table" - and I'm glad I did..

[Rossue]

Sounds like too much beer Baggy; my 17B was 2800-2950 loaded.