Palomino 147x

[Mic]

Thought about a pop up. But decided a hybrid was best. Pick up my new hybrid next week. Cant wait.

[bikendan]

Congrats on joining the Hybrid World!

what will you be towing with? because towing a full height trailer will be way different than a low profile popup.

[Mic]

Towing with a ford escape. Will be getting a type iii hitch, with sway control. Vehicle is rated at 3500, v6. Basic dry weight is 3000.

[rockfordroo]

Vehicle is rated at 3500, v6. Basic dry weight is 3000.

You probably don't want to hear this, and I don't want to tell you, but I think you're going to be overloaded. The GVWR is 3815. You're going to put in at LEAST a wife, probably a couple kids in the car, and all their stuff, plus any accessories you've added in the trailer.

Don't know what year your Escape is, but I looked at the 2013 Owners Manual and it has a pretty detailed discussion of calculating weights. I suggest you take a good look at it. (Should have done this B4 you bought.)

[bikendan]

that's what i was afraid of.

let me guess, the dealer said you'd have no problem towing it.

you have a number of issues:

first, that trailer's actual weight from the factory, will be around 3300lbs. and that doesn't count the battery, propane, water and cargo.

second, your Escape's 3500 number is rated with only a 150lb. driver in it. any passengers, WDH and cargo in it, reduces that number. you have to have a WDH to tow the Solaire, which will weigh close to 80 lbs. total.

third, the 147x's GVWR exceeds the Excape's 3500lbs. amount, even though it has a very low CCC amount of only 746lbs. this 746 amount has to account for the weight of "options"(awning, oven, microwave, a/c, spare tire), battery, propane and cargo.

fouth, the 147x's frontal area exceeds the maximum amount that Ford allows for.
see the specs here: http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...scape_oct1.pdf

fifth, the 147x's hitch weight of 315lbs., will probably exceed the Escape's max hitch capacity, when the trailer is loaded for camping.

so, figuring that the 147x will weigh about 3300lbs. when it leaves the factory, add 40lbs. for the batter and 40lbs. for propane and, it now will weigh 3380lbs.
this leaves you only 120lbs. for water and cargo before you hit the max amount of 3500lbs. IF you only have a 150lb. driver in the Escape.
that still doesn't address that the Solaire will easily exceed the amount of frontal area that Ford says the Escape can tow.

you can do what you like, just thought you should know before you spend all that money and find out that you've picked the wrong trailer.

you seriously need to educate yourself about what you're getting yourself into, before you pick up that trailer.

[bikendan]

Mic, one more suggestion.
ask to see the 147x's yellow sticker weight tag. that will be its actual weight when it left the factory.
includes the weights of the so-called "options" that nearly all TT's have.(a/c, spare tire, awning, oven, microwave)
it includes the weight of the two propane tanks but NOT the propane. nor does it include the weight of the battery.
propane and battery are dealer items.

having the yellow tag weight makes it easier to start adding the real world numbers to figure out what the trailer will weigh, when loaded for camping.
brochure/website weight numbers are generally bogus and are only for a stripped-down version of the trailer.

[Mic]

Thanks for all your help. Its funny, dealer stated the sticker weight included the propane filled and the battery. 3000 lbs inc this. He sold several last year to owners with the same towing capacity of 3500 lbs. 3000 i understand i wont be able to load the trailer to its max gross. As long as i dont exceed my gcwr. Thanks again.

[Mic]

Also he said they had no problems with towing. What do you think?

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by Mic

Also he said they had no problems with towing. What do you think?

...think the Dealer is trying to make a sale!

Bikendan is right on the money about your weights & what to be concerned about with that setup.

[RamsFan1]

Congrats on your 147x! We purchased the same unit last September and have enjoyed it in the limited time we have been able to use it.
The posts by Bikendan are definitely worth taking into consideration before you pick up your new TT.
Our TV is a 2011 Chevy Traverse. We have quite a bit more towing capacity than your Escape and I think the 147x with our family and stuff is at about the max I would ask it to do.
Please reach out if you have any questions!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Mic

Also he said they had no problems with towing. What do you think?

one of the most common newbie mistakes, believing the dealer/salesperson.

ask for him to send you a pic of the yellow sticker, to verify the actual factory UVW. and it does NOT include the weight of battery or propane. those are added by the dealer.
and would the factory call them for what that weighed so they could add it to the yellow sticker weight before they shipped it?
many buyers choose different size/weight batteries when they buy. some choose a two battery setup for dry camping/boondocking.
none of these setups are done at the factory.

and you seemed to have ignored the Ford Towing Guide i linked, regarding frontal area limitations, which a trailer like the 147x will exceed.

[Mic]

Thanks to all.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by RamsFan1

Congrats on your 147x! We purchased the same unit last September and have enjoyed it in the limited time we have been able to use it.
The posts by Bikendan are definitely worth taking into consideration before you pick up your new TT.
Our TV is a 2011 Chevy Traverse. We have quite a bit more towing capacity than your Escape and I think the 147x with our family and stuff is at about the max I would ask it to do.
Please reach out if you have any questions!

RamsFan, what is your 147x's yellow sticker weight, if you please?
and his Traverse has a 5200lbs. towing capacity, way more than the Escape's.

[RamsFan1]

My yellow sticker weight is 3154.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by RamsFan1

My yellow sticker weight is 3154.

so, that's a good number to start with. 80lbs. for battery and propane makes it 3234lbs. also add most of that to the hitch weight, since they go right on the tongue and you're over the Escape's hitch capacity of 350lbs.
then if you want to travel with 1/2 your fresh water tank capacity, then 16 gallons x 8.33lbs. = 133lbs. add that to the 3234lbs. and you're at 3367lbs. BEFORE you've added any cargo/food.

but again, your biggest issues will be the frontal area limit, the hitch capacity and the Escape's payload amount, more than the weight of the trailer.

vehicles like the Escape, because of the 350/3500 numbers and the frontal area limits, are really only designed for towing small boats, A-frames and popups or something like an Escape fiberglass "egg" trailer.