Lightweight TT (~4,500lbs GVWR)

[bs04do]

Hello!
New to the TT community and looking to purchase a lightweight unit (have a Santa Fe XL) with bunks and murphy bed. Visited a location last night to check out the 179DBK and liked what we saw. Concerned however that it is a wood frame.

We were shown 2 other models (Cruise Lite 19DBXL and Escape E231BH), but the tongue/hitch weights are over the 500lb limit of our vehicle.
Looking for suggestions on any other makes/models that might fit this criteria.

Also - if the towing capacity is 5,000lbs, should we look at units that are GVWR 4,800 or lower?

Help is appreciated!

[llr]

What is the payload on the Santa Fe, from the sticker generally around the drivers door?

How much do you load in the car, people and cargo? This is reduces payload.

Payload is generally the most limiting item. does the Santa Fe allow a WDH for a higher tongue weight?

[gbaldwin]

A 4800 LB TT is going to produce ~570 LB hitch weight. This is before adding gear, water, stuff to the trailer. So trailer consumes 570 LBS of pay load.

Need to know your payload of tow vehicle. I am guessing 4800 is more than you want to pull with this TV.

[bs04do]

Would the payload be the GVW? The GVW of a 2017 Santa Fe XL is 5,622 lbs. The combined weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed 1,296 lbs.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by bs04do

Would the payload be the GVW? The GVW of a 2017 Santa Fe XL is 5,622 lbs. The combined weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed 1,296 lbs.

Your'e going to be looking at single axle trailers which have heavier tongue weights, compared to comparable tandem axle trailers.
That's what newbies with marginal tow vehicles don't realize. Single axle trailers often have loaded tongue weights way higher than the fantasy dry tongue weight. You need to figure a minimum of 13% tongue, for a loaded single axle trailer.
Plus that 5000lbs number is factored with only full fuel tank and a 150lbs driver. Anything else in the car(heavier driver, passengers, cargo)reduces that 5000 number by their weights.
So with a 200lbs driver and three 150lbs passengers and 200lbs of cargo, would reduce the towing capacity to 4200lbs.
And payload would be reduced to 346lbs because you have to add the driver's 200lbs weight and 100lbs for the WDH.

[bs04do]

So I should be estimating a 13% tongue weight of the advertised GVWR on single axel TT?

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by bs04do

So I should be estimating a 13% tongue weight of the advertised GVWR on single axel TT?

Yeah, that's going to be a pretty good way to go about it, much better than going by brochure weights.

[gbaldwin]

Yeah, so a 4800 LB trailer.... say + 600 LB gear + 250 LBS water = 5650 x .13=734 LBS tounge weight.

1296-734 TW = 562 LBS of cargo ..... in the vehicle..... If all my math and estimates are right. Your tow capacity is over 5K and payload is likely over.

It's a tough order. Buunks + Murphy bed make is difficult.

[JayArras]

You're running up against a common problem faced by many on this board. You have a daily driver with a tow hitch with a stated towing capacity. If camping is just a sometime activity for you, you can't justify buying a larger tow vehicle with more capacity just to pull a trailer that meets your needs better just a few times a year. Sound about right?

The choices you face are:

1. Bite the bullet and upgrade your tow vehicle
2. Find a trailer that's not optimal but within the range of your present tow vehicle
3. Tent it
4. Don't camp

Unfortunately, that's the reality we all face.

[bs04do]

The 179DBK from Forest River is the one we're looking at specifically...looks to be verrrry close to the limit.

[gbaldwin]

Been there....buying TT to match my TV. Advice: listen here and not to dealer. My dealer would have had me over on my first and only purchase 3 years ago.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by bs04do

The 179DBK from Forest River is the one we're looking at specifically...looks to be verrrry close to the limit.

FR makes almost 100 different brands. What brand is the 179DBK?

[rockfordroo]

We still don't know what your actual payload number is. Look on your drivers door frame. You'll see a sticker like this one from my Chevy Traverse that tells you your payload. My Traverse is 1501 lbs. I'm guessing yours will be lower.

Your tongue weight, plus weight distribution hitch weight, plus the weight of you, wife, kids, dog, and anything else you put in the Santa Fe needs to total up to less than your sticker.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by bs04do

Would the payload be the GVW? The GVW of a 2017 Santa Fe XL is 5,622 lbs. The combined weight of cargo and occupants should not exceed 1,296 lbs.

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

We still don't know what your actual payload number is. Look on your drivers door frame. You'll see a sticker like this one from my Chevy Traverse that tells you your payload. My Traverse is 1501 lbs. I'm guessing yours will be lower.

You must've missed their previous post.

[bs04do]

Originally Posted by gbaldwin

Been there....buying TT to match my TV. Advice: listen here and not to dealer. My dealer would have had me over on my first and only purchase 3 years ago.

After 1 quick visit (15 minutes because they were closing early) I already knew he was just trying to sell me. Showed me options that we couldn't pull even though I told him our specs...

[bs04do]

Originally Posted by bikendan

FR makes almost 100 different brands. What brand is the 179DBK?

Wildwood FSX

or Salem FSX

[dascribner]

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...pro/G19BH/4396

Geo Pro G19BH, no murphy

UVW: 3088 Hitch wt: 360

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by dascribner

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...pro/G19BH/4396

Geo Pro G19BH, no murphy

UVW: 3088 Hitch wt: 360

Dry weights are useless, need to go by GVWR.

3,088 dry + 772 cargo capacity = 3,860LB GVWR

3860 * 13% on the hitch = 501LB. Really pushing the max tongue weight rating for the OP's vehicle if the trailer is fully and properly loaded.

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by bs04do

Wildwood FSX

or Salem FSX

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...sx/179DBK/4250

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...sx/179DBK/4248

https://www.etrailer.com/question-287510.html

https://www.iseecars.com/car/2017-hy...santa_fe-specs

Discuss.

[dascribner]

Gee, it looks like you got GVWR from adding the useless dry weight to the cargo capacity .