Newbie question about cargo capacity/ towing setup
First, thanks to all who answered my first post, I have been learning a lot.
My yellow sticker on the Grand Cherokee says cargo capacity is 1050 lbs, a lot lower than I expected. I weighed the vehicle at the CAT scale with just me and a full tank of gas. The GVWR is 6500 on the yellow sticker, the vehicle weighed in at 5060 lbs, so I would expect a cargo capacity of 1440 lbs, right?
I ran thru the towing calculator on the sticky post in this forum (changinggears.com - thank you wakamisamper) and it didn't ask for the payload from the yellow sticker, it asked for actual weights, and the GVWR (and rear axle WR, tow capacity per manufacturer). I came up with a max travel trailer GVW of 3467 lbs., which leaves a 20% margin of safety, and a hitch weight of 520 lbs (15% of GVW). So if I went thru the process correctly, then this is what I should be looking for (or, not to exceed) while shopping for a TT.
Looking for some more experience folks to weigh in and tell me what I need to include that I have done already. Thanks!
It's a little odd that your actual payload is higher than the stated though, it's usually the other way around........
The tongue weight calc should be worst case at 15%, I've personally had 12-15% on our trailers.
The max trailer GVWR is really going to depend on how much "stuff" you plan to carry in the tow vehicle. Don't forget about hitch weight, and in your weight class I'd highly recommend an Anderson No-Sway hitch, this will help you a little on payload.
I would say that you have a little more headspace in the actual tongue weight. If you are going to carry 500 lbs. additional in people and stuff in the TV then you have around 940 lbs of payload remaining (assuming your numbers are correct for payload available).
I'd personally set a max loaded weight of around 4,000 lbs. So your trailer GVWR looks good and conservative. What the calculators don't tell you is what the driving experience will be like. With a relatively light tow vehicle towing a tall box it can become less than fun at times....
We started out pulling a Jayco Hummingbird (3,750 lbs loaded w/ 425 lb. TW) with an FJ Cruiser. It did OK but got pushed around some on the interstate, I definitely would not have gone with any more trailer. Your wheelbase is slightly longer than our old FJ, which helps.
We currently tow a 4,500 lb loaded trailer w/ 675 lb TW with a 3/4-ton (soon to be 1-ton SRW) truck. The towing experience is all good now.
I have a 2015 Grand Cherokee Laredo. CAT scale shows 5260 with me, full tank of gas and wd hitch tossed in back (per instructions for weighing in the calculator). Gross is same as yours so my measured capacity is 1240 vs the 1050. Looking at the yellow sticker my guess is that the lower rating is due to the tires on the vehicle rather than the suspension/axle limits.
I have a 2015 Grand Cherokee Laredo. CAT scale shows 5260 with me, full tank of gas and wd hitch tossed in back (per instructions for weighing in the calculator). Gross is same as yours so my measured capacity is 1240 vs the 1050. Looking at the yellow sticker my guess is that the lower rating is due to the tires on the vehicle rather than the suspension/axle limits.
According to the internet specs.
Towing capacity 3,500 lbs.
Payload 1,180 lbs.
So your math is pretty reasonable.
Based on these numbers I think your limiting factor may actually be your factory hitch. Your vehicle seems capable of more trailer. Not that you should push it. What class hitch is it?
Forget the internet specs. 2015 JGC with the V-6 and factory tow package (which I have) gives a max tow capacity of 6200 lbs and a max hitch weight of 620 lbs (From FCA and dealer). Depending on who you believe I am either at 590 lbs hitch weight or 490. Weighing with a hitch scale I come out at 490. My wd adds 100. Some say that hitch weight is the total of the tongue weight plus your wd hitch. Others say the wd is part of the vehicle weight.
I was just letting the OP know that his setup and max cargo is normal for the JGC. The more goodies your vehicle has, the lower the amount of stuff you can carry.
Only drawback to the GC is the V-6 is short on power. Especially when you factor in the frontal area of your trailer. Jeep says 55 sq ft max. My trailer is 64. Try holding a 3 x 3 sheet of plywood in front of you in a 65 mile per hour wind. Yikes. And gas milage suffers big time. Normal for me is 24 highway and 17 in town. Towing drops highway to 12 - 13 at 55 - 65 mph. Won't try to go any faster. Retired...not in a hurry any more.
Forget the internet specs. 2015 JGC with the V-6 and factory tow package (which I have) gives a max tow capacity of 6200 lbs and a max hitch weight of 620 lbs (From FCA and dealer). Depending on who you believe I am either at 590 lbs hitch weight or 490. Weighing with a hitch scale I come out at 490. My wd adds 100. Some say that hitch weight is the total of the tongue weight plus your wd hitch. Others say the wd is part of the vehicle weight.
I was just letting the OP know that his setup and max cargo is normal for the JGC. The more goodies your vehicle has, the lower the amount of stuff you can carry.
Only drawback to the GC is the V-6 is short on power. Especially when you factor in the frontal area of your trailer. Jeep says 55 sq ft max. My trailer is 64. Try holding a 3 x 3 sheet of plywood in front of you in a 65 mile per hour wind. Yikes. And gas milage suffers big time. Normal for me is 24 highway and 17 in town. Towing drops highway to 12 - 13 at 55 - 65 mph. Won't try to go any faster. Retired...not in a hurry any more.
My 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has the factory towing package with Class IV hitch and a stated towing capacity of 6500 lbs.
The yellow sticker shows a payload of 1050 lbs. The tires on the vehicle are as stated on the yellow sticker. 110T would be 2337 lb load rating, and T=118 mph
The CAT Scale showed 2520 on the forward axle, 2540 on the rear axle, with just me in the driver seat, and a full load of fuel. (My other calculations in the original post included weight added for my wife, the dog and cat, some vehicle cargo and two kayaks on the roof rack).
Since the Limited has all that bling, that's probably why your payload sticker is so low.
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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
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
Dan, and chuck,
I can see that, but then there's this: the GVWR is 6500 lbs. If the vehicle actually weighs 5060 on the scale, even with all the Limited bling in it, doesn't that mean the vehicle can carry the difference (1440 lbs) as cargo? If not, why the mismatch?
Dan, and chuck,
I can see that, but then there's this: the GVWR is 6500 lbs. If the vehicle actually weighs 5060 on the scale, even with all the Limited bling in it, doesn't that mean the vehicle can carry the difference (1440 lbs) as cargo? If not, why the mismatch?
You are correct, FCA payload sticker’s are way off on WK2/WD
Correct, GVWR - curb weight is your real payload.
I had the same issue with my Durango. The sticker shows 1,200 lbs but by scale the actual is 1,700 lbs (7100 - 5400)
You’re likely to exceed rear GAWR before exceeding the GVWR
I would keep an eye on the RAWR also as a good chunk of weight goes on the rear axle. The cargo capacity sticker could be wrong so check the RAWR and weigh the rear axle to confirm.
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2017 F150 XLT 3.5l Eco Boost, SC, 8' Box, 4X4
Max Tow (10 speed, 3:73, 11,700lbs), HD Payload (2440lbs)
2015 Puma 253 FBS
2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
2000 Honda EX 400, Rad Rover 6 Plus
Gac1982 (OP)-you have already done more planning and calculating than 90% of Travel trailer towers. My suggestion is to take your numbers, get something within those numbers and GO HAVE FUN! While you are enjoying your trips make notes on what works and what doesn’t and also your own tastes and preferences. Please come back and let us know your experiences. Thank you for asking our opinions putting up with us
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TV - 2020 RAM 3500 Mega Cab SRW with 6.7 Cummins HO & Aisin 6 spd, 4k payload, 23k towing
2002 GMC Yukon XL 2500, 8.1 liter (496ci), 4L85e & positraction with 3.73 gears
TT - 2013 Dutchmen Aspen Trail 3130 QBS
Great bourbon-just about any of San Diego’s craft beer
If you look into the history of all this stuff you will be amused. I remember when the f150 was advertised with a #4000 payload. In small print it said, depends on options. You had to know power steering, the bed, tailgate, bumper and the spare tire were options.
Somewhere between the DMV, Manufactures, engineers, and the advertising department is the answer.
Only the lord knows. I would load her up to the GVWR and look. I would expect the suv to not be level and require helper springs of some kind.
Drive slow.
You know. We buy the suv's for the DW. Mine prefers her HD RAM diesel. Girls like big trucks!
I want to thank everybody who chimed in on this post, and my first post about the Tracer Air 215. As it turns out, the seller sold the Tracer Air 215 to someone else before I could connect with her to go see it. That's probably for the better based on what I've learned about the actual capabilities of my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I think I'm ready to go find a suitable (lighter than I thought) travel trailer, and I owe a debt of gratitude to you more experience folks who made me look a little deeper. And I will watch the rear axle weight (for the last two posters). Good suggestions all.
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