Towing Clarification

[bclemens]

Because we have had several questions about this, (answered in various locations), I thought maybe I'd sum it all up in one area.

Please note, there is no such thing as an "absolute" towing capacity. One can't say "Oh yeah, you can tow 5,000lbs". There are too many factors involved...for example "is 4 wheels down or a trailer?". So please, plug in your numbers as you see fit to determine if XX brand car can be towed or XX weight of trailer.

Sprinter Chassis
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) (chassis and tow vehicle combined) is 15,250lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (The most you can load the coach portion) is 11,030lbs

15,250 minus 11,030 = 4220lbs. In theory this is simplest way to determined towing capacity, if the vehicle you are towing is 4 wheels down.

Now there is no such thing as a 4220lbs rated chassis. Our engineer is conservative, so even though we install a Class III hitch (rated at 5000lbs) we put a sticker on over that rated at 3500lbs.

As others have mentioned before...if you don't load up the coach portion, that leaves you more for towing. We could "what if" this to death..but lets look at two examples.

Example #1 (4 wheels down, no hitch weight).
Solera 24S (Unloaded vehicle weight) 9700lbs (UVW)
15,250 (GCWR) minus 9,700 (UVW) minus 350 (driver/passenger) minus 500 lbs (cargo) = 4700 lbs left for towing.

Example #2 (3000# trailer, assuming 10% hitch weight)
24S (UVW) 9700 lbs. + 350 (driver/passenger) + 500 (cargo) + 3000 lbs (trailer) = 13,550 (so we appear to be under the GCWR) The other thing you must now check is GVWR.

24S (UVW) 9700 lbs + 350 (Driver/passenger) + 500 (cargo) + 300 lbs (hitch weight) = 10,850 lbs. This MUST NOT exceed 11,030 which is the GVWR.

And to further complicate things there are axle weight ratings. The only TRUE way is to take it to a scale and have it weighed...most people aren't going to do that so use these general rules.

I made a neat little excel spreadsheet that calculates all that stuff that I was going to post...and just realized xlsx is not an approved file.

[DebbieMH]

Thanks. Can it tow more with a break system for the 4 wheel down tow car? We were thinking of getting the Patriot system on our 4 door Jeep so we could tow that. Or would it not matter, still over the weight? Thanks

[bclemens]

You're typically limited to towing by two factors. brakes (which can be solved by a brake system) and transmission...which unfortunately cannot be solved by the braking system.

[DebbieMH]

Thanks. And I really don't mean to be "stupid" .... but I am! This is my calculation using your above.

Solera ES = 9700 + driver & passenger (325 lbs) + full water tank (292) + full fuel tank (180) + 3 dogs (120) = 10,617 lbs - so 11,030 - 10,617 leaves 413 lbs of stuff or cargo to equal 11,030.

11,030 + 4,365 (2008 Jeep Sahara weight per internet) = 15,395 lbs. So, in order to tow the jeep, I need to either not put 400 lbs of cargo or have my husband run along side with the dogs (kidding). Or get a tow system on our Smart car and forget about towing the Jeep. Correct?

[bclemens]

#1. The fresh water we list does NOT include the water heater. So if you load that up you're actually looking at 41 gallons of fresh water (not the 35 listed). But you can travel with less water of course...which many people do.

#2. I do not list a section for diesel fuel (which actually weighs around 7.15 lbs per gallon) because that is already included in the UVW.

I can neither confirm nor deny that you would be fine...but I've attached what my calc comes up with. If you only loaded up with about 350 lbs of cargo...the numbers seem to work out.

Let's call this example #3.

[DebbieMH]

Cool!
Thanks and we all do appreciate you on this forum!

[bclemens]

Make sure you look at my edited post. I realized right after I posted the pic the first time...the water & propane were not in there correctly.

[DebbieMH]

Originally Posted by bclemens

Make sure you look at my edited post. I realized right after I posted the pic the first time...the water & propane were not in there correctly.

Ok .. so I'm down to 357 lbs of stuff ... am I reading that correctly?

[bclemens]

yes. Unless you only take 20 gallons of water or so.

[Pedrodasdas]

My own experience.

I'm always a little frightened when I see a Solera pulling something as heavy as a Jeep Liberty or any SUV. Even with an independant braking system, it's pretty heavy on the road. But, I know really little about the subject.

I tow a small Toyota Corolla, I don't even know I'm pulling something. No brake system on it but the best tow bar on the market. I had a couple of panic brake and had no problem at all to stop.

I'm not sure but I think that majority of States Highmay rules are maximum of 3500 lbs without independant brake system (except for NY state which is 1,000, really don't know why!)

In conclusion: Pulling is somewhat like driving on ice. The problems only occurs the second you have to stop without warning !

[DebbieMH]

We have decided to get a tow set up for our Smart Car. That way we know there won't be a weight problem.

[Pedrodasdas]

What year is your Smart. I think that 2009 and older can not be tow on 4 wheels. Only 2010 and newer.

[DebbieMH]

It's a 2010 "little guy". We go from driving the Solera to the Smart - quite a change!