Newbie (go easy on me) 2019 Tahoe towing a NoBo 19.8

[CaliBuff901]

Good Morning Vietnam!!!!

With this COVID-19 cancelling plans left and right we pulled the trigger on a new TT. No Boundaries 19.8 Travel Trailer. I'm new to all of the terminology and acronyms but the trailer UVW: 3,789 lbs, Hitch weight 395 lbs and CCC of 1,006 lbs.

We have a 2017 Honda Pilot that can tow 5k lbs but I realized that would really be testing the limits so I did a little research and bought a 2019 Chevy Tahoe with 3.42 rear axle ratio and max trailering package which gets me up to 8,400 lbs tow capacity. After reading this forum I've realized that the Tahoe isn't as good as a pickup but the wife said hard-pass on a pickup truck. A Tahoe is more practical for us for everyday life with the kids.

Any input on towing, payload, tips, etc would be awesome.

Any other Nobo 19.8 owners??

[dbledan]

Do you have a good WDH? One with built in sway control would be best.

I think you made the right choice changing tow vehicles. The pilot is a great suv but not an ideal tow vehicle. I loved ours bit never could find something besides a pop up to pull behind it. For your trailer I don't think you have to have a truck.

My tips are
Get a good weight distribution hitch (assuming your tow vehicle allows it)
Don't overload your axle or gross vehicle weights
Weigh your setup so you know where you stand.
If things don't feel right they are not so do the above and some research to see what you need to do to resolve it.

Happy camping and congrats on the trailer!

[AlaskaErik]

Watch the payload. You'll run out of payload capacity long before you'll run out of anything else. Payload capacity can be found on the yellow sticker on the B pillar when you open the driver's door. Forget about that 8400 lb max tow capacity. It's a useless, meaningless and irrelevant number used by manufacturers for bragging rights. Try towing 8400 lbs and you'll exceed every other limitation there is.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what your payload is. That's the weight of you, the spouse, the kids, the dog, anything else you've loaded in the the back, the hitch and the tongue weight. And that 395 lb brochure tongue weigh is also a fairy tale number. Once you add the battery, propane and load up the trailer, that number will be hundreds of pounds higher. Especially if you tanker water and the water tank is forward of the axle.

If possible, go to a CAT scale when you head out on a trip. See what you weigh with the trailer hooked up and what you weigh with the trailer disconnected. That is how you'll really know where you stand.

[CurtPutnam]

Welcome from SoCal!
There will be a sticker on the drivers door pillar, somewhere, that will give the Tahoe's payload (CCC.) Take 15% of the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the trailer off the sticker by the entry door - and subtract that number from the Tahoe's Payload. The result is how much weight is left for driver, family, dogs, and gear.

You will undoubtedly want a WDH with sway control - which will reduce payload by close to 100 lbs.

[bikendan]

Hi and welcome to FRF, from a former Sonoma and Napa Valley resident.
Unless you got a Tahoe with a bunch of fancy bling, you should be fine.
Just don't quote fictional brochure/website "dry" weights. Those are based on a stripped-down version of the trailer. No trailer weighs those numbers when it leaves the factory.
Use 13% of the trailer's GVWR to have a ballpark loaded tongue weight, since its a single axle trailer.
Look for the trailer's factory UVW weight sticker, that's what it weighed when it left the factory.
Also suggest that you ask your No Boundaries-specific questions, in the No Boundaries sub-forum.

[Tblt44]

I tow my 4500 loaded single axel with my tahoe.
Toung weight 408 I believe. Battery 1 20 lb tank I'm at 500+.
I did replace rear soft ride shocks with monroe load adjusting with the built in springs.
It pulls it fine it just pulls around a bit on interstate. I prefer pulling it with my avalanche due to the longer wheel base.

[SalemCanada]

I have a 2015 Tahoe same specs as yours. Pulling a 2015 Salem 28RLDS dry weight 6,600#. Started out with Husky Center Line WDH and separate friction sway bar. Had significant sway issues. Changed to Hensley Arrow Hitch setup to factory specs (purchased used but contacted Hensley who was very helpful with updates, setup lifetime warranty). No issues since with 40,000+ Kms crossing country towing.

[Boomerweps]

Note that tow capacity is your vehicle's GCWR minus its curb weight (full tank, no people). Curb weight can easily be figured by subtracting the cargo capacity from the GVWR. IOW, your vehicle's cargo capacity is included in the tow capacity for advertising/bragging numbers with a driver fudge factor in the fine print.
So when you weigh your TT and it's under tow specs, and then you weigh your tow vehicle and it's under GVWR, you can still easily be OVER your vehicle's GCWR.

Also note that RV makers include the tongue weight carried by the tow vehicle as part of the TT GVWR. This is especially important on single axle trailers. Each axle has its own GAWR. Often the RV makers add the axle ratings and the tongue weight to get the TT GVWR. Mine, for example, has a single 3500# axle but a GVWR of 3877#.

[CaliBuff901]

Thanks for the input everyone! I picked up the rig yesterday and towed it back to the house (75 miles). I’m less interested in what anyone’s preference is for Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, etc but more interested in the top 3 or so SUV’s for towing if I want to try and avoid a Suburban or Yukon XL size. I mistakenly looked more at tow capacity instead of payload when shopping.

The wife is not a fan of pickup trucks even though that’s the easiest answer to our towing & family needs. Tahoe? Yukon? Expedition? Durango? Armada? What’s got the best payload, towing, etc?

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by CaliBuff901

The wife is not a fan of pickup trucks even though that’s the easiest answer to our towing & family needs. Tahoe? Yukon? Expedition? Durango? Armada? What’s got the best payload, towing, etc?

SUVs almost always have lower payloads than a comparable truck.
There's no clear "best payload" SUV, except for the 3/4 ton ones.
But the more bling and fancy features will guarantee lower payloads.