My hunting partner has a Escape,that same #3500 limit.Looking into it, he realized the same limitations.He could pull some thing like a Boler,but that woundn't work for him,he was too big. But anything over #1000,you need electric brakes,even if it mean swapping out the axel.
Francesca Knowles writes "I must say, I had a bit of a head slap over that one, too... my weight limit is only 2,000 pounds.
I've towed a "modest sized, hard sided," stand up trailer over 30,000 miles, up and down the west coast and across the Cascades, in comfort and safety over the last five years..."
Depends on YOUR definition of "modest size" is?
To me a 14 foot trailer such as yours is SMALL.
20-26 ft is large and 28-40 is way over the top to me.
What you will find is folks define things according to what their comfort is.
I don't doubt that your trailer is 2K in weight, the problem is the OP is not finding ANYTHING new in that size or weight that is acceptable.
I merely suggested that instead of making a bad decision and finding they are way overwieght it would be better to skip buying a trailer now until they buy a better tow vehicle.
Gdetrailer wrote: Jetta03 writes "More tow vehicle is unquestionably better. But not everyone wants to drive a larger tow vehicle daily just to pull a modestly sized travel trailer."
I am not saying that one must use a truck as a "daily driver".
What I AM saying is one can buy a lower cost 10 year or older USED vehicle as a RECREATIONAL vehicle as far as insurance is concerned. It shouldn't be hard to find a 10yr old light truck or SUV which can handle say 5,000 lbs which would allow for safe towing of a nice sized hardsided trailer.
While it may sound foolish it actually can SAVE you money in the long run. With most insurance companies as long as you have ONE or TWO main vehicles for "daily drivers" you can insure an additional one as "recreational" for a very small cost. In some cases only a couple hundred for the year.
A 3500 lb rating DOES NOT allow for a "modest size" hard sided trailer, period.
3500 lb limit was more to allow for popups, small utility trailers, small boat trailers.
Towing a 10 or even 15ft hard sided trailer which will weigh in empty around 2,500- 3,000 lbs is not really going to be pleasent, fun or safe when loaded with gear.
"Pulling a trailer rated within the manufacturers specs for the tow vehicle is perfectly doable and safe. In may not be as easy or comfortable as your pickup, but then again I'm guessing a Peterbuilt tractor will pull your trailer better, that doesn't mean its the only way to go. "
Throwing in a Peterbuilt tractor is a typical over the top reaction and comment which is simply not needed. You are twisting my words. Nowhere did I say that one needed a tractor to tow.
My suggestion is to find a vehicle which is able to to the job in a better way than trying to find a way to tow something which will exceed the vehicle ratings.
I know, I know, your way or the highway
Did anyone say anything about exceeding the vehicle's ratings?
Gdetrailer wrote: Francesca Knowles writes "I must say, I had a bit of a head slap over that one, too... my weight limit is only 2,000 pounds.
I've towed a "modest sized, hard sided," stand up trailer over 30,000 miles, up and down the west coast and across the Cascades, in comfort and safety over the last five years..."
Depends on YOUR definition of "modest size" is?
To me a 14 foot trailer such as yours is SMALL.
20-26 ft is large and 28-40 is way over the top to me.
What you will find is folks define things according to what their comfort is.
I don't doubt that your trailer is 2K in weight, the problem is the OP is not finding ANYTHING new in that size or weight that is acceptable.
I think you've forgotten the O.P.'s original question, which is:
MPSAN wrote: I was looking into a Forest River R-POD but in spite of what dealers say, Forest River said that they would NOT tow it with the MKX. Is there anything that we could get? At times we thought it would be OK if we just had a small 10' that had a toilet and small place to make lunch, etc. We would then just stay in a motel along the way.
Thanks all!
The answer to the question ASKED is "yes" , and I think my response more relevant to the question than your lecture about upsizing is.
I guess at the end of the day the only answer is what would you do, its subjective at best. A good approach might be to do your homework on the tow capacity of your vehicle (which it sounds like you've done) and then go and find a dealer who will let you test tow the trailer your interested in.
MPSAN wrote: Keep in mind that a new TV is out of the question. Our MKX is a 2012 we bought 6 months ago!
I did not know this would be opening a "can of worms" as we are up to 6 pages now!
Well, keep your eyes peeled for the older fiberglass trailers. (Newer ones are heavier, given the stuff they're cramming into them now).
I stumbled over my Trillium about five minutes before I plunked money down on a popup, which I had been told by "THE EXPERTS" (!) was the "only thing my car could tow".
I paid $1400.00 for the trailer. The market's sort of overheated now, but there are still bargains and "field finds" out there. I saw a little Scamp in a field over in Eastern Washington last year, and am still kicking myself for not knocking on the door and "offering to take it off their hands"!
These "what can I tow" questions always seem to contain a can of worms. As long as the discussion stays civil and does not become personal the banter can continue. Personally, I find it kind of interesting to read the various opinions.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
Hensley "Arrow" 1400# hitch
2002 Ford F250 Super Duty, 7.3L PSD Visit our website here
We to are limited with a 3500 tow rating with a 2002 Acura MDX. We bought a Skyline Nomad 140, which ours says on the side that it's 1955 pounds dry. We have absolutely no problems towing at all with it. I put on a Reese class 3, with the Reese Mini Lite WD/Sway control bars. Here's a link to the TT.
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