The passengers and some of the cargo does not affect the towing capacity as they are carried in the vehicle. Bill
Well that clearly goes against most of what I've read here. Not saying you are wrong, but several threads here have clearly said that any weight you add to the tow vehicle subracts from the tow rating....I also seem to recall seeing that on a few manufac website too, but I'd have to find them to be certain.....
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
"Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. See your Chevy dealer for additional details."
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
"Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. See your Chevy dealer for additional details."
GCVW= tow vehicle weight+trailer weight+cargo+passengers.
If your Suburban weighs 6,000 lb empty, and your GCVWR is 12,000lb, does not mean you can get a 6,000 lb trailer. You have to allow for weight of cargo of both truck and trailer, as well as passengers, fuel, water in the trailer tanks, etc.
My conversion van has a towing capacity of 6,000 lb, but that figure is reduced by the amount of stuff the conversion van company installed in my van. Several hundred pounds of it. So, maybe I can tow 5300 pounds, after allowing for the additional weight of the installed stuff, and subtracting the empty weight of my trailer, 4200 pounds, means I can carry 1100 pounds of gear, passengers, and fuel. Average adults weigh around 175-200 pounds, two people weigh 400, so I am down to 700. Gas weighs just under 8 pounds per galon, times 40 gallons, or 320 pounds. That leaves me with 380 pounds of stuff I can take with me. Two bicycles at 25 pounds each, or 330 pounds of stuff I can carry. 20 pounds of propane in each of their cylinders, plus 15 pounds of empty weight for the cylinders, leaves 260 pounds for food, water, clothing, pots, pans, etc. And that maxes the van out. Most folks will tell you to allow 20% under towing cpacity is what you should shoot for.
I don't know if this will help you with a tow vehicle / trailer choice, but I have tried to show you how to figure out what you need.
Rented a pop up and took the family down the the Texas coast last weekend. We really liked camping however the pop up was not very impressive. Always admired the silver bullets so the time has come. Just started looking for a 2000 - 2003 19 footer and I'm wondering has anyone tried pulling a 19 ft bambi with a vehicle like the Toyota. We have a 1997 4Runner 4X4 V6 it's rated at 5000/500. We've towed our boat since the truck was new but it is only about 3000 lbs (and you knew it was back there) So that's why I'm wondering what an additional 1000 lbs or so would do to it. Toyota does make a supercharger for it which could be an option. Anyway just thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone has tried it.
Thanks, Alan
How did this get twisted into a discussion on what a Lincoln or a Dodge will tow.
inflt askes a simple question about their Toyota and someone gets bent out of shape over their unrelated vehicles?????????????It's like a Troll under the bridge waiting for someone to come along to jump on.---Pieman
Not sure I agree Mike. I mean we were using these as examples of tow ratings and such...or at least that was how I took it. I didn't take it that it was a hijack or a troll senario.
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 11/91
Not sure I agree Mike. I mean we were using these as examples of tow ratings and such...or at least that was how I took it. I didn't take it that it was a hijack or a troll senario.
Silvertwinkie---i didn't mean to incinuate that "you" were the one doing the hijacking------pieman
"Maximum trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any option(s) necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of other optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the maximum trailer weight your vehicle can tow. See your Chevy dealer for additional details."
This is what I meant: On the Dodge web site, went there since I am not a GM person, the max GCVW of a 2500 is 20,000 lbs, the max towing capacity is 13,100 lbs, leaving 6900 lbs for the truck and cargo. The base curb weight is 6076 lbs leaving 824 lbs for passengers and cargo in the truck. If you exceed the 824 lbs then of course the towing capacity goes down since you will be over 20,000 lbs. The max GVW of the truck alone is 9,000 lbs, if you load the truck to this, the towing capacity goes down to 11,000 lbs.
I used my two vehicles as examples since I believe that it is better to use specifics and not hypotheticals. I had no intention to hijack the discussion of the capabilities of the 4Runner to old Dodge trucks and old Lincolns. I just disagree with some of the statements on towing capacities and the calculation thereof.
I am one of the few people who tow with old iron and as a result may have a different viewpoint.
Bill
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Bill Kerfoot, WBCCI/VAC/CAC/El Camino Real Unit #5223
Just my personal opinion
1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 1977 Lincoln Continental
1979 23' Safari, and 1954 29' Double Door Liner Orange, CA
We towed our 2004 19' Bambi Safari with a 1999 GMC Jimmy six cylinder through the Washington Cascade Mountains and out on the high desert plateau in Eastern Oregon. We had no trouble towing. The Jimmy has its limitations going up hill. You are not going to go 65 mph through Snoqualmie pass. But it did the job. We weren't satisfied with the Jimmy and just bought a new 2005 4Runner SR5 V6. It is rated with more torque and horsepower than the Jimmy even though it has a smaller engine. Also, a weight distributing hitch upped the towing capacity to 6,000 lbs. We still need to get past the first 500 miles in order to try it out. I confident we will do better than we did with the Jimmy. We also have a Hensley Arrow hitch. Considered overkill by many and it's pricey, but we have mastered the hook up and driving down the road with the Jimmy, rated at 5,000 lbs. was a smooth stress free experience. I would bet you will be OK towing with one of the lighter Airstreams with your 4Runner.
I pulled my bambi with my 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4.0. It towed it, but a short wheel base and not enough power gave me ulcers! and grey hair, (dont' laugh Janet) I even took mine through the cascades to leavenwoth and down to sisters Oregon. STRESS!
Ever heard the term tail waging the dog? Bambi weighed 3800 pounds and I kept it lean, I had weight distribution and man I was burned out and tired from fighting the trucks on the highway, going up grades, listening to the engine whine in First and second gear and overall feeling that any day my number was up.
So advice to you is "tow with heavier longer based rig with some power" or get an old light weight trailer.
Sorry if I come across blunt, but I feel it is not as safe as with a bigger rig.
Good luck,
CC
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"No good dent goes unpunished."
For all of you that shared your thoughts and experiences with me I thank you very much. If you look in my garage you will see my wifes much loved 4Runner and next to it is a new Nissan Titan V8 with the "big tow package" rated at 9400 lbs. Now everyone is happy and I have many more options. May look at the 28 footers.
Once again thanks!
Alan
For all of you that shared your thoughts and experiences with me I thank you very much. If you look in my garage you will see my wifes much loved 4Runner and next to it is a new Nissan Titan V8 with the "big tow package" rated at 9400 lbs. Now everyone is happy and I have many more options. May look at the 28 footers.
Once again thanks!
Alan
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