HELP - 2000 27ft Wildwood Travel Trailer TOW QUESTION

[Katlouhod]

Hi there
Does anyone know the dry weight of the 27ft wildwood travel trailer? I have no idea what the model number is.

It has two doors. A walk-around bed/bedroom, shower/toilet with a separate sink. And then the kitchen in the front of the trailer. There is a couch and a removable recliner.

I cannot for the life of me figure out the dry weight. Is it noted somewhere in the trailer?

Thank you!

[CaptnJohn]

Somewhere ~~ usually in a kitchen drawer~~ on trailers of that time frame is a white sticker. You can check on the door frame. If on the road side outside wall it is probably unable to be read by now. That sticker will give the info you are searching.

[Mr. Dan]

We can hardly tell you the dry weights of our trailers that are only 2-4 years old - no shot at guessing for a trailer that is 17 years old... plus dry weight numbers are generally as false as the tank "fullness" indicators.

That said, my trailers around that age had a white sticker inside a kitchen cabinet door that told information as useful as you can get without taking the trailer to a CAT scale.

[Katlouhod]

Ok I found it! Here is my info. And then I'll present my tow question.

GVWR 7,550
UVW 5,230
NCC 2,320

We drive a 2015 Nissan NV Passenger van. 7.6L Engine, 3500 HD. Max tow capacity is 8,700 (80% capacity is 6,960). I understand you want to try to keep your max towing at 80% which is why I stated that number.

So based on this information, is our van strong enough to tow this trailer?

Thank you for your opinion!
Katrina

[bikendan]

You didn't provide the van's payload capacity.
It's on the driver's door yellow sticker.

[asquared]

What is the payload on your van? Look at the tire loading sticker inside the drivers door for that Ingo. Next subtract the weight of all occupants, pets and gear that will be in the van when towing ftom the door payload number.

Dry weight us a useless number as you will never tow a dry trailer. On average people tend to add 1000-1500 lbs of stuff to a trailer. Given that guess that would put you around 6200-6700 lbs loaded tt weight. Next the tongue weight of the trailer should be 13-15% of the loaded trailer weight. Given those numbers you are looking at 800-1000 lbs tongue weight (1100 If using trailer gvwr and 15% tongue weight).

The loaded trailer weight plus loaded van weight needs to be under the vans gcwr. The loaded tongue weight needs to factor into your payload.... foes the passengers etc plus tongue weight add up to less than the payload? If yes to the above questions then you will likely be ok, if no then keep shopping.

Here is a towing calculator to help figure out what you can really tow. The 80% rule isn't really accurate.

[5er_tom]

Is that really a 7.6 L engine? That is a very large engine.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Ken K.]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

Is that really a 7.6 L engine? That is a very large engine.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

it's comes with a 5.6 liter engine

[hankpac]

Is no.
That is just not enough truck to pull the trailer, the load and the passengers. Safely. The least that could happen is burning up the transmission. The worst is an out of control rig full of kids. Somewhere in the middle is sitting on the side of a busy interstate, 5% grade, steaming from the engine, smelling of burned transmission fluid which is boiling out of the filler neck, the radiator making boiling nosies, and the engine dieseling. With your wife saying, "They TOLD you we needed a bigger vehicle!"
Even empty (which it will never be, with just the driver, (which will never happen) it is far too borderline to risk.
Now you might do it anyway, and get 20 years down the road, and sound like an expert when you say "I never had any trouble, the rig handled it like it wasn't even there, etc"... But I sincerely doubt it.
Don't risk it.

[checkmate99]

If you have the SL model, it has a 3500 pound payload capacity. (according to Nissan)
That, combined with 8700 pound towing capacity, should be enough to pull your trailer. Don't forget a trailer brake controller, a weight distributing hitch, a transmission oil cooler, (unless already equipped) and a 7 pin connector. I pulled my first trailer, about 6000 lbs loaded, with a Buick Lasabre for two years! (Not the best idea, but I couldn't afford a real tow vehicle at the time.). Good luck, and happy camping!

[DocRob]

It's a little frustrating trying to get reasonable answers from the forum. The response comes back as if money were never a consideration. I think most seem to think that anything less than a one ton duelie with a large diesel is a toy. So now that I've said that, I'll tell you what I have done and let you decided. I pulled a 30 foot 1980 Prowler around the country with a old 1/2 ton doge van 318 two barrel 3 speed torque flight. It pulled fine just not fast. Crested most hills at about 45 mph and kept top speed down to 65 mph on the flats. Had an entry level WDH and friction sway control. Only mods to the van was 3.55 rear in place of the 3.08, large radiator, and a transmission cooler. You might discuss the health of that vehicles cooling system with a knowledgeable mechanic but otherwise sounds like you have a great rig for family fun! Take a couple of trips under two hundred miles to work the kinks out and enjoy.

[checkmate99]

Originally Posted by DocRob

It's a little frustrating trying to get reasonable answers from the forum. The response comes back as if money were never a consideration. I think most seem to think that anything less than a one ton duelie with a large diesel is a toy. So now that I've said that, I'll tell you what I have done and let you decided. I pulled a 30 foot 1980 Prowler around the country with a old 1/2 ton doge van 318 two barrel 3 speed torque flight. It pulled fine just not fast. Crested most hills at about 45 mph and kept top speed down to 65 mph on the flats. Had an entry level WDH and friction sway control. Only mods to the van was 3.55 rear in place of the 3.08, large radiator, and a transmission cooler. You might discuss the health of that vehicles cooling system with a knowledgeable mechanic but otherwise sounds like you have a great rig for family fun! Take a couple of trips under two hundred miles to work the kinks out and enjoy.

Exactly! This isn't rocket science!

[MCTroy]

We towed a 31 foot Mallard TT packed heavy with a 1/2 ton dodge passenger van , 318 v8, WDH, and sway bar. Slow and steady up hills and watched our gauges. No problem. Finally upgraded to a 3/4 ton dodge van. 383 v8 that sucked the gas like it was water! But it didn't tow any better! Give your rig a try. Take it easy. Tow without water tanks full and watch what your van does. It Will tell you if it is straining. Good luck.

[RiderBloke]

The figures quoted by various people put this very near my 26RR towed by a 5.7L Tundra. I am currently on the road - actually as I write I'm eating in an iHop. I use an Equal-izer hitch and the rig tows well. However it takes some patience and throttle control on the hills so that I don't annoy the trucks. You will find the same with the Nissan and your rig I suspect. Get the Nissan rigged for towing, buy an Equal-izer tow system and have it installed properly and give it a go. Ask othe RVers you meet for help - I still do and they always do.