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LA88
Los Angeles
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Joined: 02/12/2007
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Hi, I've a 2022 GV80 3.5T SUV and considering to tow a Micro Minnie 2108DS travel trailer. I think it's borderline safe but not 100% sure. Anyone know if I should be okay or if I need to upgrade to another vehicle like a truck to safely tow the Minnie? TIA.
Genesis GV80 Spec -
Curve weight: 5038; Gross Vehicle weight: 6107;
Max cargoand passenger: 900 lbs. Towing capacity: 6000 lbs;
Max tongue weight: 900 lbs
With 2 passenger and about 300lbs of cargo, my average would be 500lbs.
Micro Minnie 2108DS
GVWR: 5500 lbs; Dry weight: 4364 lbs; Dry hitch weight: 486 lbs
Hope to mount two electric bikes in the back - maybe 160 lbs?
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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to your "dry" hitch weight add the weight of any battery(s) you have on the tongue, the weight of propane in the tank. Those two along could add 150lbs to the tongue weight and that is BEFORE you've put anything into the trailer.
Next, I'd advice to NOT try to carry ANY electric bike on the back of the micro mini. 1) you may move way to much weight off the tongue, bad (2) the bumper is not rated to handle that weight, 3) check around, there are almost NO bike racks capable of handling the weight of Ebikes that a mfg says are acceptable for use on the back of a travel trailer. A few for Ebikes on MH or 5th wheel, but very very few rated for use on a TT.
Next, tongue weight subtracts from the cargo and passenger weight. You have 900lbs, split it however you want between passengers, cargo and tongue weight but the total must be 900lbs or less. so if you have 500lbs of cargo that only leaves you 400lbs of tongue weight
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Dunno anything about genesis vehicles.
But heavy as an ole Tahoe and 375hp. Presume being an expensive luxury rig the brakes are pretty bomber too, it has the specs to tow just fine. As long as it has the rear suspension to do so. It’s plenty big and powerful.
Plus it’s a Hyundai so it’ll be under warranty for a while still, presumed.
I wouldn’t have any issue using that rig to tow a 5klb TT.
Agree on the no heavy teeter totter additions to the back of the camper.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
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LA88
Los Angeles
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Joined: 02/12/2007
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I read somewhere that the tongue weight should be a minimum of 10% of the trailer weight. So if the loaded Minnie is 5000lbs and my tongue weight should be 500 lbs? As you pointed out, even if I reduce my cargo to 400 lbs from 500, I'm still right at the border to the max?
Also, what is the best way to bring two electric bikes when you have a travel trailer? or if that's even an option?
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Thermoguy
Graham, WA
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Joined: 01/04/2017
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Also, never assume you are going to haul a dry trailer with no cargo. Your trailer weight will go up when you put stuff in it. You need to be able to haul a trailer with all tanks full, fresh, waste, propane, etc. Better under weight for the tow rig as opposed to overweight even more so with an SUV.
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Reisender
NA
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Joined: 12/09/2018
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Weigh the hitch after it’s completely loaded including the water tank full. Some trailers including ours get lighter on the hitch as the trailer is loaded. This is common on European designed or influenced trailers. Especially single axle units.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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LA88 wrote:I read somewhere that the tongue weight should be a minimum of 10% of the trailer weight. So if the loaded Minnie is 5000lbs and my tongue weight should be 500 lbs? As you pointed out, even if I reduce my cargo to 400 lbs from 500, I'm still right at the border to the max?
Also, what is the best way to bring two electric bikes when you have a travel trailer? or if that's even an option?
A. Yes you’re technically correct. And by your statement, “you” should probably stick to or close to published limits if you don’t have the experience to know or recognize what may be an issue or what isn’t when it comes to towing in general. And in your statement you’re really not stretching any limits that would cause harm in and of themselves. But like you/we said, that’s aboot the max you’d wanna doo with that rig. From a payload standpoint.
B. Interesting question, but you could put them in the camper, no? Presuming they’re too pudgy for a roof rack on the car.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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LA88 wrote:I read somewhere that the tongue weight should be a minimum of 10% of the trailer weight. So if the loaded Minnie is 5000lbs and my tongue weight should be 500 lbs? As you pointed out, even if I reduce my cargo to 400 lbs from 500, I'm still right at the border to the max?
Also, what is the best way to bring two electric bikes when you have a travel trailer? or if that's even an option?
10% tongue weight is considered by many to be an absolute minimum, 15% is a better number and closer to what most trailers will have. On the other hand to make the towing number look good tow vehicle mfg assume 10%...... See the potential problem!!! And reducing tongue weight is usually VERY hard, weight distribution to the tongue is determined by trailer geometry and where stuff is normally loaded.
As for the bikes. Two options, you could mount one on the front of the trailer above the propane tanks. That's what my brother does on his micro mini, Now, that means lifting an ebike pretty high in the air. His is a "regular" lightweight bike and he says he has no desire to try to lift an ebike that high. There is a bike rack made specifically for that. Or put the bikes in the trailer. Course the weight of the bike and carrier is going to add almost 100% to the tongue weight because of where the rack is located.
If you had a larger trailer with a heavy tongue AND the ability to build a frame mounted hitch, then ebikes on the back with an appropriate carrier may work. That's what I did on our outback and I carry 2 REI ebikes, minus batteries (50lbs w/o batteries) on a Hollywood racks ebike rack. Now they claim don't use this on a TT, only a MH or 5th wheel. But it is a very stout (and expensive) rack. Swagman also makes an ebike rack suitable for TT, again, stout and expensive. But you ABSOLUTELY NEED an approriate hitch mount for it and the trailer bumper is NOT sufficient.
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LA88
Los Angeles
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Joined: 02/12/2007
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Thank you all for your input. As pointed out above, my GV80 has the HP and torque near the Tahoe but it's a crossover and not a truck base. I think I'm near the max weight and will let the dealer confirm it's safe before jumping on the Minnie. Hope they don't put me at risk over sales.
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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The dealer, meaning RV dealer, is literally the last place you want to go for advice about what your car will tow.
They’re salesmen bud. If you could put a 5ver plate on the tailgate they’d sell u a 5th wheel!
All bs aside, if you don’t believe our “maybe” answers, then just say no. Find a smaller trailer or an old pickemup truck or full size suv.
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