We are looking to buy our first RV. We would like to get a used TT. I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota SLT V8 Quad Cab with a tow package. The Dodge.com website says this about my model truck:
Axle Ratio 3:55
You can tow 5050lbs
GVWR 6010 lbs
Payload 1712 lbs
Curb Weight 4298 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear 2422 lbs/2422 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear 3100 lbs/3850 lbs
GCWR 10500 lbs
I am guessing that you don’t really want to go all the way to the limit of what you can tow, so what should I be looking for. Is there a rule of thumb of how far away you stay from your max? Also, what UVW should I look for? A guy at a dealership told me that if the max I can tow is 5050 lbs then I should be looking for a trailer that has an UVW of about 3000 to 3500 lbs. Does this sound about right?
inthepink wrote: A guy at a dealership told me that if the max I can tow is 5050 lbs then I should be looking for a trailer that has an UVW of about 3000 to 3500 lbs. Does this sound about right?
Almost: With your small truck, I'd look for a TT with a GVWR of 4000 lbs based on your stated tow rating. That is to say, the max the TT can weigh fully loaded would be 4000 lbs or less.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
AIR FORCE RETIRED "EITHER LEAD,FOLLLOW,OR GET OUT OF MY WAY"!
2006 GMC 3500 SLT CC DRW 4X4 D/A LBZ,PREDATOR & FS2500 OIL FILTER
2004 HR PRESIDENTIAL 30 SCD 5'ER.
CHEROKEE & CHEYENNE, MINI DOXIE'S
LOADED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, FLYIN LIKE A JET PLANE!!
I'd say you did a good job of he math. The towing capacity of your vehicle is based on the empty trailer weight PLUS cargo - or the GVWR - loaded trailer weight. By the time you add passengers, cargo, etc., to your truck AND trailer, if you keep the unloaded trailer weight below 350lbs, you should be in good shape. pcm
inthepink wrote: We are looking to buy our first RV. We would like to get a used TT. I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota SLT V8 Quad Cab with a tow package. The Dodge.com website says this about my model truck:
Axle Ratio 3:55
You can tow 5050lbs
GVWR 6010 lbs
Payload 1712 lbs
Curb Weight 4298 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear 2422 lbs/2422 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear 3100 lbs/3850 lbs
GCWR 10500 lbs
I am guessing that you don’t really want to go all the way to the limit of what you can tow, so what should I be looking for. Is there a rule of thumb of how far away you stay from your max? Also, what UVW should I look for? A guy at a dealership told me that if the max I can tow is 5050 lbs then I should be looking for a trailer that has an UVW of about 3000 to 3500 lbs. Does this sound about right?
Thank you so much,
Rae-Ann
I would be lookjng at a trailer with a GVWR of around 4,500lbs, UVW is a useless number, but GVWR gives you an upper limit. That would put your tongue wt in the 450 to 700lb area and your vehicle curb wt. is basically a stripped down model, with only a few gallons of gas and a "skinny driver" so your actual wt. loaded with passengers and fuel will probably put you well over 5,000 lbs and that with a the tongue wt for a 4,500lb trailer will put you real close to your GCWR of 10,500. Best thing is to get that TV weighed on a real scale and then you won't be guessing like your are now and will at least have "real" numbers for your TV. 3.55 rear gears are not really into the towing arena. The 7.3L diesel Vans gain 4K GCWR when going from a 3.55 to 4.10. Rear gears for gassers up above 4 or real close to 4 are generally what you see for a tow package from what I read on TV towing capabilities.
My last two trailers (6K GVWR and 7.6K GVWR), I was always able to get them within a couple of hundred pounds of that GVWR.
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
I tend to agree with the others. Find a nice TT that has a GVW or 4,000 to 4500 lbs, hook it up with a good hich, set it up correctly, watch your tonque wt, and your should be fine.
I had a Dakota V8, although an older model and liked it a lot. Great engine.
Dick
2006 Jeep Liberty Turbo Diesel.....TV in Training
2005 Jeep GC 5.7L HEMI, 330 HP, 3.73 GR, 12,200 lb GCWR
2005 Jayco Jay Feather 25Z 5800 lb GVW, 4" lift
Equal-i-zer 10,000 lb hitch, Prodigy BC.
inthepink wrote: We are looking to buy our first RV. We would like to get a used TT. I have a 2002 Dodge Dakota SLT V8 Quad Cab with a tow package. The Dodge.com website says this about my model truck:
Axle Ratio 3:55
You can tow 5050lbs
GVWR 6010 lbs
Payload 1712 lbs
Curb Weight 4298 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear 2422 lbs/2422 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear 3100 lbs/3850 lbs
GCWR 10500 lbs
I am guessing that you don’t really want to go all the way to the limit of what you can tow, so what should I be looking for. Is there a rule of thumb of how far away you stay from your max? Also, what UVW should I look for? A guy at a dealership told me that if the max I can tow is 5050 lbs then I should be looking for a trailer that has an UVW of about 3000 to 3500 lbs. Does this sound about right?
Thank you so much,
Rae-Ann
I think you are very wise to ask that question.
I would consider 3500-4000 about max for weight of something you could tow.
Thanks, everyone, for all of the great information. In reading here I have learned that I don't really need to concern myself with UVW but I have been checking around at used trailers and I noticed that there is a large variance in ranges between UVW and GVWR. Some trailers have a very small difference between the UVW and GVWR and some have a huge difference. I ask because I had a guy call me with a TT that had a UVW of something like 3200 and the GVWR was something like 6500. I know that the 6500 GVWR is WAY over my limit, but I couldn't help but wonder if it isn't possible that I would never have more than say 1000 lbs in it. That would make the trailer weigh 4200, which is within my towing limits. I am not a risky person and I do want to stick with the 80% rule - I want to be safe, I want our ride to be pleasant and I want our truck to last, but at the same time is it possible that I could buy a trailer with a GVWR higher than I should tow, but just not fill it with too much stuff? I'm sorry if these questions are silly. I just want to be sure I understand and therefore buy the largest TT that is still safe and comfortable for us to tow. I can't believe how heavy even some of the 18' lite trailers are. My quest for a used TT with a GVWR we can hadn't doesn't look like it will be as easy as I thoght.
In my experience, aside from frame considerations, the GVWR comes essentially from the axle/wheel/tire capacities. I find it hard to believe that a manufacturer would put 6K of running gear and equivalent beefy frame on a rig that weighed only one-sixth of that dry...
Axle Ratio 3:55
You can tow 5050lbs
GVWR 6010 lbs
Payload 1712 lbs
Curb Weight 4298 lbs
Curb Weight Front/Rear 2422 lbs/2422 lbs
GAWR Front/Rear 3100 lbs/3850 lbs
GCWR 10500 lbs
Oh my.... I goofed BIGTIME. After all your wonderful advice and information.... I just realized that our GCWR is 9500, not 10500. All the other info I wrote is correct but I got that wrong. The 10500 is for Dakotas with the larger axle ratio.
I guess this means that we probably need to stay at about 3500 GVWR on the TT? Do they make them that light? In looking around I'm finding that the "lite" ones are over 4K lbs. I never see used Casitas and even if we did, I think they are out of our price range.
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