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11-04-2018, 03:12 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Next to tree-covered and peaceful Boyle Park :-)
Posts: 16
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Tow Ratings
My van is rated for 3,500 pounds towing capacity (I've also installed a transmission fluid cooler). I'm looking at getting a 3,295 pound travel trailer, but people are telling me that that's too much weight to tow with my van (even with a load leveler and anti-sway bars). What's the problem with towing a camper lighter than my tow rating?
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11-04-2018, 05:24 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Camano Island, Washington
Posts: 16,918
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Is the 3295 number the fantasy "dry" weight or the trailer's GVWR?
Dry weights are for a stripped-down version of the trailer, not real world numbers.
It doesn't include the weight of options, battery, water or cargo.
Your van's 3500lbs towing capacity is ONLY with a full tank and a 150lb driver. Anybody else and any cargo in the van, lowers that 3500 number.
Your van obviously didn't have the factory tow package, otherwise it would already have the trans cooler.
So did you add the hitch receiver and 7-pin connector and the brake controller too?
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.) 
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
Equalizer WDH
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11-04-2018, 05:57 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Next to tree-covered and peaceful Boyle Park :-)
Posts: 16
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Yes - I added the transmission cooler, hitch receiver, 7-pin connector and brake controller. I'll also have a load leveler (weight distribution) and anti-sway bars. The 3,295 pounds is the GVWR.
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11-04-2018, 06:21 AM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 7
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Towing calculations
Put your data into this calculator. I believe your friends are correct.
Travel Trailer Weight Calculator
Published vehicle towing capacities can be misleading.
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Remember: "If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" Red Green
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11-04-2018, 08:09 AM
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#5
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Trailer Park Supervisor
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 773
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srea, your avatar pic shows a single axle unit, is that what you are getting? I found out that my new unit has a very heavy tongue weight, and necessitated moving up to a larger tow vehicle that could handle it.
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2019 Rockwood Geo Pro G19FD w/off road package
2015 Ford F150 XLT Super Cab 4x4 V8
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11-04-2018, 10:28 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 640
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The naysayers will differ, but you should be okay as long as you don't exceed 3500lbs total and your tongue weight.
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--2005 F350 Superduty Crewcab, 6.0, 4wd, short bed, 3.73 gears;
--2016 Montana 3711FL, 40'
--2014 Wildcat 327CK, 38' SOLD
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11-04-2018, 10:38 AM
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#7
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Denver To Yuma In 90 Days
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Posts: 3,152
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Just installing the hitch and WD setup probably put you over the tow rating, even before putting your clothes in the closet!
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--
"Just because someone has been "doing it for years with no problems" doesn't mean YOU should!"
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2015 Heartland Prowler P292 5'ver, Reese 16K Pro Slider Hitch
2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L Gasser w/4.10 rear end
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11-04-2018, 10:48 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 1,224
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what's the payload of the van? what's the tounge weight? buy the time you fill the camper with stuff and water you will be over. plus kids people in the van etc you may be pushing it. just depends on your personal use of camper. staying close to home on flat land or traveling mountains?
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11-04-2018, 11:02 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Hills of Northwestern PA
Posts: 392
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IMO, yes, you can tow that trailer with that vehicle. However, you are at 95% TV capacity when at GVWR. Most people, at least at first, tend to overpack and then be overweight on the smaller TT. That is why many, like myself, say to try to keep your TT around 75% of the TV tow rating or lower because you WILL load it up.
The seperate issue is that you also must account for your tongue weight being part of the TV's cargo weight. I have personally found that I can be in spec on most things and be easily overweight on my TV drive axle.
So you need to be constantly aware of your weights for towing, tongue weight, TT axle weight, TV axle weights (both empty and when loaded for camping). And their relationship to their various weight ratings/capacities.
Getting your Weight Distributing Hitch properly set up will make a huge difference while towing.
__________________
2019 Cherokee Wolf Pup 16BHS
currently towed with 2008 Ford Exploder w/tow package
Husky Centerline TS WDH 400-600# rated bars
2018 camped 16 nights at 4 GGs.
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11-04-2018, 11:16 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Richmond VA
Posts: 499
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3295 pound travel trailer is an oxymoron. Heck you'll be hard pressed to find a popup that weighs that little. What model trailer are you proposing?
-- Chuck
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