New to RV

shumberd · 02-12-2017, 09:30 AM

Hi,
My wife and I just bought at Flagstaff Microlite 21fbrs. We are new to RVing but I am retiring and we want to do a little traveling. I take delivery of the TT on Tuesday. My TV will be a 2017 Nissan Frontier. I've figured the numbers everyway I know how and do not see that this will violate any of the weight standards. Yet, everyone who learns of my decision tells me I will need more truck. This is extremely frustrating because they never ask the relevant questions. How much are you pulling? How much cargo to you plan on carrying?
Do others in the forum see this as a typical problem? Maybe I'm wrong on my estimates but if I am ok! It just seems that everyone is an expert and they always say "more truck!"

BamaBob · 02-12-2017, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumberd

Hi,
My wife and I just bought at Flagstaff Microlite 21fbrs. We are new to RVing but I am retiring and we want to do a little traveling. I take delivery of the TT on Tuesday. My TV will be a 2017 Nissan Frontier. I've figured the numbers everyway I know how and do not see that this will violate any of the weight standards. Yet, everyone who learns of my decision tells me I will need more truck. This is extremely frustrating because they never ask the relevant questions. How much are you pulling? How much cargo to you plan on carrying?
Do others in the forum see this as a typical problem? Maybe I'm wrong on my estimates but if I am ok! It just seems that everyone is an expert and they always say "more truck!"

Well, the mantra of the tow-behind crowd is "you can never have enough truck"

Having said that - post the numbers and folks can better help you. What does the yellow weight sticker say on your Microlite? Same thing for your Nissan Frontier.

Then we can have a discussion

WFD · 02-12-2017, 09:45 AM

First off welcome aboard, and you can learn alot on this forum. Not knowing the details of the trailer you bought, I can't comment on your situation. But one thing most people will tell you is that both the RV dealers and the car dealers don't know much when it comes to towing and cargo capacities, and if they do appear to know something, chances are it's not accurate. I would never take their word for it. Onus is on us to do our research before buying and know all your weights and limits. Know your truck's capacities, it's axle ratings and it cargo capacity, it's all on the sticker on the door jamb.
#1 reason people say more truck, is because the vast majority of us have bought our first trailer and learned from it, and that usually leads to wanting a bit more of this or a bit more of that, and next thing you know, you are looking for more trailer...it's happened to the majority of us! So having more truck allows you to look at more trailers. You will likely find yourself down the road wanting more of a trailer, which will mean before you can do that, you will need more truck.Many on here will say you can never have too much truck. This is true to a certain point...some will say you need a 1 ton dually to pull that, some will say you can pull it with a car.

SilhouettePenny · 02-12-2017, 09:51 AM

I'm interested in the towing capabilities of the truck. Modern vehicles are much more capable compared to trucks of the past. With a smaller rig you will not be limited when looking for campsites. Those of us with "more truck" sometimes have trouble getting into nice state parks or COE facilities. Can you post a pic of the door sticker from the truck or at least give us some numbers to play with and somebody already towing with that setup will probably chime in.

rockfordroo · 02-12-2017, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumberd

Hi,
My wife and I just bought at Flagstaff Microlite 21fbrs. We are new to RVing but I am retiring and we want to do a little traveling. I take delivery of the TT on Tuesday. My TV will be a 2017 Nissan Frontier. I've figured the numbers everyway I know how and do not see that this will violate any of the weight standards. Yet, everyone who learns of my decision tells me I will need more truck. This is extremely frustrating because they never ask the relevant questions. How much are you pulling? How much cargo to you plan on carrying?
Do others in the forum see this as a typical problem? Maybe I'm wrong on my estimates but if I am ok! It just seems that everyone is an expert and they always say "more truck!"

You've hit the nail on the head. As already alluded to, you're going to get answers all over the map, most of which won't really address what you're towing and where you're going. Sometimes the responses can get "ugly," with some people disagreeing with others. Go to the top of this page and put "tow vehicle" into the search field and you'll see what I mean. Don't take it personally.

Here's the short answer (my opinion): If your GVWR (on the sticker on the left front side of the TT) is less than you Nissan's tow capacity, that's good. If your payload (on a sticker on your Nissan's driver's side door frame) is greater than your TT's tongue weight plus weight distribution hitch weight (and you need a WDH) plus the weight of everything you put in the truck (except the driver), then you will theoretically be within the limits of your truck. However, most people feel that you should have 20% or so margin in your numbers to be "safe." (A much smaller percentage of people blow right by the limits and think they're fine.) If you're only going to be in the flat lands, you can probably drop that margin down. If you're planning to tackle the Rockies, you might want to boost it up. And be prepared for something many of us have done: Ran the numbers, felt our truck was adequate, but after a few trips, decided we needed something bigger.

Good luck.

shumberd · 02-12-2017, 09:57 AM

Thanks BamaBob and WFD. The Microlite 21fbrs shows a dry weight of 4290 lbs. and a tongue weight of 415lbs. Towing will include a WDH. Max load of the trailer is 5799. Nissan Frontier has a tow capacity of 6300lbs minus 196 lbs for additional features. The GVWR is 5730. The max combined weight is rated at 11230 lbs. TV weight is approx. 4665 lbs.

rockfordroo · 02-12-2017, 12:05 PM

You didn't address truck payload. You will usually exceed that before the tow capacity.

WFD · 02-12-2017, 12:51 PM

As Rockfordroo has mentioned...payload is key...somewhere on the door frame of your truck there should be a sticker that says what your max payload should be....might say something to the effect of...Max weight of cargo and passengers should not exceed xxxx.

Iwannacamp · 02-12-2017, 01:02 PM

If you haven't weighed your truck...I suggest you do. Get the gross weight with cargo and passengers. Subtract the normal weight from the gross and that is your actual cargo. Mine truck weighs less with crap and me in it than the paper work says. Sticker says 2065 cargo, but the math says over 3000#. Maybe that will help.

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kevin79 · 02-12-2017, 01:07 PM

Sorry to thread jack but should you use the CCC number or weight the truck and subtract that number from the GVWR?

Tapex · 02-12-2017, 01:34 PM

Welcome to the forum,
Congratulations on the new Flagstaff. You've come to the greatest forum with the greatest members! They're always here to help you in what ever questions you may have. Stay safe have fun and Happy RVing from Farmer, N.C.

shumberd · 02-12-2017, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

You didn't address truck payload. You will usually exceed that before the tow capacity.

1260lbs

rockfordroo · 02-12-2017, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumberd

1260lbs

I'd suggest you tack on another 75 lbs to the dry tongue weight you quoted, to account for the battery and propane tanks, and then another 50-75 lbs for the weight of the WDH. Then make sure that weight, plus everything you put in the truck (except the driver) is still below your 1260 lbs payload.

BamaBob · 02-12-2017, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shumberd

1260lbs

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I'd suggest you tack on another 75 lbs to the dry tongue weight you quoted, to account for the battery and propane tanks, and then another 50-75 lbs for the weight of the WDH. Then make sure that weight, plus everything you put in the truck (except the driver) is still below your 1260 lbs payload.

OK we're getting there now.

Take a look at the label and make sure your payload weight already accounts for a full tank of fuel (some do not). A gallon of gas weighs approximately 6.2 LBS so 20 gallons of gas is another 124 LBS.

So far, we have 1260 LBS - 425 Tongue - 75 for battery+Propane - 75 for the hitch - your weight - spouse weight - pet weight - "stuff" (laptop bag, iPad, DW purse, the small cooler with drinks and sandwiches in it for the trip, tool box, wood for fire, bike, kayak, you get the picture

) in the truck...

I estimated your weight at 150, DW at 125, and "Stuff" @ 300. (Adjust as needed.)

You have @ 110 LBS left.

You are getting close to being overweight.

If you have to account for your gas, you are overweight.

Taking another passenger? Grandkids? You are overweight.

And remember,
It's never: Can you Tow/Carry it...
It's ALWAYS Can you STOP it

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