Hitch Weights & Warranties

[knieval]

Hi

I am considering an International 22 CCD that has a hitch weight of 590. My tow vehicle has a tongue weight of 550. (Range Rover) While everything I read suggests that it is more than capable of towing the Intl 22, would the fact that the hitch weight is 40lbs over invalidate vehicle warranties and insurances? If so, it looks like I will either need a smaller trailer or a bigger tow vehicle. Alternatively, is there any way to either upgrade the hitch to load another 40lbs or reduce the hitch weight by altering the load balance of the trailer?

(The trailer is for trips to Alaska and then Labrador!)

Thanks
Steve

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by knieval

Hi

I am considering an International 22 CCD that has a hitch weight of 590. My tow vehicle has a tongue weight of 550. (Range Rover) While everything I read suggests that it is more than capable of towing the Intl 22, would the fact that the hitch weight is 40lbs over invalidate vehicle warranties and insurances? If so, it looks like I will either need a smaller trailer or a bigger tow vehicle. Alternatively, is there any way to either upgrade the hitch to load another 40lbs or reduce the hitch weight by altering the load balance of the trailer?

(The trailer is for trips to Alaska and then Labrador!)

Thanks
Steve

Replace the 30# propane tanks with 20# tanks. If you want to go further, run with one propane tank empty, and you will be within weight.
I would, however, check and make sure the tongue weight is actually as listed.
Also, is this "weight carrying" or "weight distributing" tongue weight? There is a big difference. Most vehicle manufacturers will have a higher tongue weight rating for weight distributing hitches.

[87MH]

Originally Posted by knieval

.....The trailer is for trips to Alaska and then Labrador!....

Steve:

You're in Denver, you plan Alaska and Labrador trips.....

Not a one of those places are areas I would want to go skinny with a tow vehicle.....

Err on the side of caution on the tow vehicle -

My opinion only - an opinion formulated by haveing WAY too much load behind a vehicle from time to time in a life long, long ago, and a galaxy far, far away.

[overlander64]

Greetings Steve!

Originally Posted by knieval

Hi

I am considering an International 22 CCD that has a hitch weight of 590. My tow vehicle has a tongue weight of 550. (Range Rover) While everything I read suggests that it is more than capable of towing the Intl 22, would the fact that the hitch weight is 40lbs over invalidate vehicle warranties and insurances? If so, it looks like I will either need a smaller trailer or a bigger tow vehicle. Alternatively, is there any way to either upgrade the hitch to load another 40lbs or reduce the hitch weight by altering the load balance of the trailer?

(The trailer is for trips to Alaska and then Labrador!)

Thanks
Steve

Another thing to consider is whether the figure that you are working with is the hitch weight for the dry coach or the approximate hitch weight of a loaded coach? If this figure is for the empty or "dry" coach, then you will likely need to add a significant amount for the actual loaded hitch weight. For instance, my 3,100 pound Argosy Minuet has a 550 pound gross or loaded hitch weight while the dry hitch weight is nearly 100 pounds less.

Good luck with your research!

Kevin

[CanoeStream]

What is your Range Rover's GVWR? It should be on your door jamb sticker. Will the empty tow vehicle weight plus the 590# or more tongue weight plus humans, gasoline and anything else inside the tow vehicle exceed the GVWR? A stable tow must bear 10-15% of the trailer gross load on the hitch.

The only way to tell what your vehicle is truly bearing with weight distribution will require that you weigh each axle. You can do this on a trucker's CAT Scale (see this thread but do a Search -- I recall a number of good how-to posts -- RoadKingMoe and maybe Pick have hashed this one over). It's too bad you can only answer this after you've already bought the trailer.

Look at your Rover's manual for another important number -- the GCWR. How does the combined gassed & peopled tow vehicle and realistic trailer weight stack up against this number?

Ditto on the long trip advice!