GVWR confusion

[redrockjen]

I am hoping to purchase either a 147 X or a 163 X. One of the deciding factors is the weight as I have a 5,000 pound pull limit on my 2016 Toyota Highlander.

The 2016 163 X listed its GVWR as around 7300 pounds, but the 2017 models say 4996. When I asked a dealer about this, she didn't really know why, called the manufacturer and said it had to do with cargo carrying capacity, which is listed as 3797. The dry weight is 3569.

The 147 X has a dry weight of 3035 (not that much different from the 163 X) but has a cargo carrying capacity of only 746.

The dealer (who really wanted to make a sale) assured me that I would never have 3569 pounds of cargo but I honestly didn't really trust her as she didn't seem all the knowledgable.

Any advice appreciated!

[Windjammin]

I can't honestly see how you could put 3500 pounds of stuff in that trailer unless you are hauling bricks. I have a 30' Windjammer and don't think I ever had more than 1500 pounds in it, even on our trip to Alaska. I judge my weight by how many trips to the trailer I take carrying stuff. If I fill a tub with 50 pounds of stuff, I would have to make 70 trips to get to 3500 pounds.

[WFD]

I agree that you will never have 3500 lbs of cargo...but remember dry weight is just that....no water in your fresh water tank, no propane in your tanks. Having said that, a dry weight of 3500 lbs for the 163x, then add on on your "stuff", you will be pushing your Highlander to it's limits and thats not a fun thing...many of us have made the mistake in the past of crunching numbers and trying to convince ourselves that our figures are workable. I was guilty of that in the beginning. After one season you will be looking for a different tow vehicle.

[GalsofEscape]

Originally Posted by redrockjen

I am hoping to purchase either a 147 X or a 163 X. One of the deciding factors is the weight as I have a 5,000 pound pull limit on my 2016 Toyota Highlander.

The 2016 163 X listed its GVWR as around 7300 pounds, but the 2017 models say 4996. When I asked a dealer about this, she didn't really know why, called the manufacturer and said it had to do with cargo carrying capacity, which is listed as 3797. The dry weight is 3569.

The 147 X has a dry weight of 3035 (not that much different from the 163 X) but has a cargo carrying capacity of only 746.

The dealer (who really wanted to make a sale) assured me that I would never have 3569 pounds of cargo but I honestly didn't really trust her as she didn't seem all the knowledgable.

Any advice appreciated!

i put about 500 lbs of gear in my camper....we are usually 4-5 people but we are not ones to bring a huge amount of stuff.

check out the tongue weights of those two trailers, keep in mind that the tongue weight is dry, you will be about 100 lbs heavier when adding the gear, propane, batteries, and weight distribution hitch (if needed). does your highlander hitch weight rating allow for those weights? i am assuming you have the factory tow package, if you do not, your tow rating may be lower than the 5000 lbs.

i did weigh the trailer fully loaded after we bought our Shamrock to be sure my estimates were good. my loaded hitch weight was right on at about 10% of the trailer gvwr.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by GalsofEscape

i put about 500 lbs of gear in my camper....we are usually 4-5 people but we are not ones to bring a huge amount of stuff.

check out the tongue weights of those two trailers, keep in mind that the tongue weight is dry, you will be about 100 lbs heavier when adding the gear, propane, batteries, and weight distribution hitch (if needed). does your highlander hitch weight rating allow for those weights? i am assuming you have the factory tow package, if you do not, your tow rating may be lower than the 5000 lbs.

i did weigh the trailer fully loaded after we bought our Shamrock to be sure my estimates were good. my loaded hitch weight was right on at about 10% of the trailer gvwr.

Since 2007 all dry weights published include full propane tanks..

[GalsofEscape]

yes, that was my understanding as well. but i did not/do not trust that and added the propane weight to the loaded weight guessimation and worked for me with my 2016 camper.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by WFD

I agree that you will never have 3500 lbs of cargo...but remember dry weight is just that....no water in your fresh water tank, no propane in your tanks. Having said that, a dry weight of 3500 lbs for the 163x, then add on on your "stuff", you will be pushing your Highlander to it's limits and thats not a fun thing...many of us have made the mistake in the past of crunching numbers and trying to convince ourselves that our figures are workable. I was guilty of that in the beginning. After one season you will be looking for a different tow vehicle.

This is spot on in so many ways .... on average people add approximately 1000-1500 lbs of stuff to a tt, less in the smaller trailers. Figure on about 4500 lbs loaded for a dry weight of 3500 lbs. Then figure approximately 13-15% of loaded trailer weight for a loaded tongue weight of 585-675 lbs. The tongue weight will likely be pushing your payload and the loaded trailer weight will be pushing your limits as well. The weak link is always the payload and hitch capacity. You will be looking for a bigger TV before long. I am another one who bought a tt near my limits and upgraded the TV within the first season. I learned about weights the hard way and am now a card carrying member of the weight police.

[rockfordroo]

If the dealer has these on his lot, go down and look at it. There should be a white sticker on the drivers side of the TT with the GVWR on it and below that should be a yellow sticker with the dry weight and cargo capacity on it. Those are the real numbers.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by asquared

This is spot on in so many ways .... on average people add approximately 1000-1500 lbs of stuff to a tt, less in the smaller trailers. Figure on about 4500 lbs loaded for a dry weight of 3500 lbs. Then figure approximately 13-15% of loaded trailer weight for a loaded tongue weight of 585-675 lbs. The tongue weight will likely be pushing your payload and the loaded trailer weight will be pushing your limits as well. The weak link is always the payload and hitch capacity. You will be looking for a bigger TV before long. I am another one who bought a tt near my limits and upgraded the TV within the first season. I learned about weights the hard way and am now a card carrying member of the weight police.

I did even worse! Bought a new F150 and decided on a new TT to start camping again near by for short trips. The TT was under all weights but close. So a 6 month old 150 was traded on an F250 diesel. Wife decided we should go farther and stay longer ~~ 28' was not comfy in my opinion so bought the 5er ~ traded 4 month old TT. Same condition so traded the F250 at 6 months 8 days with 18,912 miles on the F350. Finished with all that now. Happy with the 5er and F350!