I have been searching and researching all over the internet trying to come to a solid conclusion. It seemed as though most of the research was coming from this website, so I thought I would join and post my scenario for your input.
Our family currently has a 95 Toyota Landcruiser that we will be using for our tow vehicle. The GVWR is 6,470lbs and the tow capacity is 5,000lbs. It is strange, but apparently in other parts of the world the same Landcruiser has a tow capacity of 7,700lbs. Anyway, we are looking at the Keystone Passport 250BH, it's dry weight is 4,370.
I am planning on installing a Prodigy brake controller and using a Blue Ox weight distribution hitch if I need it.
We will be using the trailer to go to Orlando and state parks within 2 hours or so of our home in Florida.
I am just trying to find out what your thoughts would be on the above combo.
Thanks!
Chris
* This post was
edited 07/08/12 07:16pm by an administrator/moderator *
Sounds like you have done your home work on the towing capacitys (very important) for the safety of your family as well as others. The weight distribution hitch will allow you to maintain a level pull I would also get the sway bar when being passed by the big rigs you will get a side draft that will pull on the trailer. causing a push pull action. Hope this helps.
The dry weight of the trailer is meaningless because you won't tow it that way. You will add clothes, food, water, propane, etc. Also, many times the dry weight does not include the weight of certain options like generators, awnings, air conditioners, etc.
I'm not sure why the same vehicle would have a different tow rating in other countries. Usually a tow rating is given assuming an empty tow vehicle except for the driver. This means that for every pound of passengers and gear you add to the TV you will need to subtract that weight from the tow rating.
Taking all this into account I believe you will be well over the US tow rating for the vehicle. This isn't necessarily a big problem as tow ratings are not legal matters. Since you will be driving where it is flat and if you take the your time and be careful the combination may tow just fine.
Unless you plan on towing around a completely empty trailer you'll be over your tow rating. Always look at the trailers GVWR to determine it's suitability for a given tow vehicle not it's empty weight (dry weight). Biggest concern in towing over your maximum trailer rating is that your warranty may be denied for any issue that the manufacturer feels may be weight related. I'd be looking at the GVWR of the truck as it relates to tongue weight of the trailer (plus the weight of family, friends, cargo and accessories on the truck) because that's a safety related issue.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
cdbridges1 wrote: Our family currently has a 95 Toyota Landcruiser that we will be using for our tow vehicle. The GVWR is 6,470lbs and the tow capacity is 5,000lbs. It is strange, but apparently in other parts of the world the same Landcruiser has a tow capacity of 7,700lbs.---
You need to do some more research:
1) Determine how Toyota defined "tow capacity" for the '95 Landcruiser. Does the value of 5000# need to be reduced by the weight of passengers and cargo carried in the Landcruiser to determine maximum loaded trailer weight? This might be stated in the Owners Manual.
2) Determine if the Owners Manual or other Toyota source specifies a Gross Combination Weigh Rating for your Landcruiser.
3) Load your Landcruiser approximately as it would be loaded for camping (passengers, cargo, etc) and take it to a scale to measure both front and rear axle loads. Then add about 90# for a weight distribution hitch. This gives you the Landcruiser's GVW.
4) Determine if the Landcruiser's receiver has a tongue weight rating, or perhaps two ratings -- one for "weigh carrying" and one for "weight distrubuting".
Quote: ---Anyway, we are looking at the Keystone Passport 250BH, it's dry weight is 4,370
Is the 4370# value taken from a sticker on an actual trailer? If so, it's a perfectly good value for estimating how much your loaded trailer will weigh.
For towing capacity considerations, you can ignore the trailer's GVWR unless you actually plan to load it to that value. Most people do not.
Ron
P.S. I didn't see the numbers in the previous post before I submitted this one. I'll take a look at your numbers and provide additional comments.
With GCWR = 11470 and TV curb weight = 4970, the "trailering capacity" should be 11470-4970 = 6500#. Then the question is -- why is the "tow capacity" = 5000#?
Looks like Toyota used the GVWR of the Landcruiser at 6470 lbs to determine the tow capacity. GCWR 11470 - 6470 = 5000 lbs.
The UVW of the camper will be low as it doesn't include some options, battery or propane. You can expect a delivered weight to be 200 - 300 lbs heavier. As long as under the vehicles GVWR and GCWR, your good to go.
With that short wheelbase I'd seriously look at a W/D hitch with integrated sway control such as Equal-i-zer or Reese Dual Cam.
Dave
2010 Rockwood 8280WS
2008 F250 CC Lariat SB 6.8L V10
Apparently among Landcruiser circles there is great discussion as to why the tow capacity is only 5,000. It seems the Cruisers didn't come from Japan with a hitch installed and they were all dealer/port installed. So, this could be the reason, the Drawtite units are rated for 6,500.
If it helps the discussion the rear axle rating is 3,970. Also, the W/D hitch I was looking at was the Blue Ox, it is supposed to have sway built in. Is this the case? Are there other hitches I should look at?
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