Quote:
Originally Posted by AKIvisuals
The tow rating is only #3500. My thoughts were that some of the smaller TrailManor trailers were under #3000 that I'd be able to tow one with that vehicle.
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Welcome to the Forum!
That 3000 pound figure you refer to is called the Dry Weight - meaning the weight of the base trailer, before the manufacturer adds any options, and before the owner puts anything in it. Among the factory options, the heavy ones are the air conditioner, the awning, and the swing tongue if you get one. On older TMs, the spare tire and battery were also considered options, so it depends on what year you are looking at.
You will almost certainly put 300-500 pounds of "stuff" in the trailer as you get ready to go camping. Think food, clothes, dishes, tools, hoses and cords, bedding, propane in the tanks, random furniture (camp chairs, etc), television and stereo, and so forth. Water is a biggie if you pre-load it. Remember, water weighs 8.5 pounds per gallon, so 26 gallons of fresh water weighs about 220 pounds. You will need to travel without water whenever you can. As CycleGuy said, it is very easy to get the trailer weight up around 3800-4000 pounds. Before you take your first trip, it is important that you go to a CAT scale (catscale.com, about $10) and weigh your vehicle and trailer in ready-to-camp condition.
As for that 3500 pound tow rating, you need to review it carefully and look for the ASTERISK in the spec list. Most vehicle specs have an asterisk or footnote, and if you pursue it far enough (usually difficult to do), it says that the towing spec applies to a vehicle that is empty except for a 150-pound driver. If you add people and cargo to the vehicle, that weight must be subtracted directly from the stated tow rating. So as you set out on your camping trip, it is very easy to reduce the useful tow rating to 3000 pounds or so. Full disclosure - some Toyota owners say that this does not apply to Toyotas. I have not been able to confirm or deny. Again, it is up to you to do your due diligence.
Sadly, this all means that the weight of the trailer is higher than you think, and the capacity of your tow vehicle is lower than you think.
Finally, although the vehicle manufacturer gives you a single number for tow capacity (in this case 3500 pounds), it should be apparent that a car can tow more on flat land than it can in the mountains. In my opinion, there really should be two tow ratings, but that will never happen. Do you plan to stay in the flats, or do you have some mountain trips in mind?
In the end, it is up to you to balance your own risk tolerance, and the risk of possible damage to your vehicle, against your impression of the vehicle's capability and specs. Several of our members tow with 3500-pound-rated vehicles, and are happy with their choice. I'm sure that some of them will chime in here with their experiences.
Bill