Can I tow an Ember travel trailer?

[Jaybre007]

So been looking at the Ember travel trailers and I am confused about what I can and cannot do with this travel trailer. We are looking at the 170 MRB. The hitch weight is 630 lbs and the dry weight is 4180 pounds with a GVWR of 5460. I know the tongue weight is up there. I can max tow 6000 with the Mohave package and based upon my understanding of the 10% I am 30 pounds over. This is more a suspension issue and not a vehicle issue frame or engine issue of can I do it, I believe I can with airbags as we are talking 30 pounds not 300 or I can shift weight to the rear of the travel trailer and lighten the hitch weight to offset the 30 pounds. I at the most use about 5-10 gallons of fresh water when traveling and always fill up at the site or within 5 miles of the site and | do not plan on towing over 5k and not 5460. So is my thinking screwed up or do I need to look at another rv?

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[jeepers29]

I tow with my Mojave. I would look for a lighter rv. Mine is 3K with a tongue of 350 and I use a WDH. The mojave is not a capacity tow rig.

 

[Jaybre007]

I tow with my Mojave. I would look for a lighter rv. Mine is 3K with a tongue of 350 and I use a WDH. The mojave is not a capacity tow rig.

I currently have a WolfPup 14CCBL that is about 4K max loaded with a 400lb hitch weight and no issues using a WDH. I don't tow faster than 62mph due to the nature of the truck, engine rpms, and fuel mileage. It does tow really well with that set up just wasn't sure if that extra 230 pounds would hinder the truck if I transferred the hitch weight to more of the rear of the trailer. We usually do not camp heavy at all but I can always shift weight. thanks for posting!

 

[RJinPV]

The numbers to worry about first is the Gross Vehicle Weight rating and the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Being 30 lbs over tongue weight is not horrible if you keep your other payload weight down so that you are under the GVWR. Tongue weight goes against your payload. Your Mojave payload is likely just over 1000lbs (Check your door label) That means you'll have about 400lbs left over for all accessories you've added like lights, bumpers, etc. and passengers with all the luggage. That's not a lot of payload left over. Therefore, your Mojave is likely to be at, or over, the GVWR.

Look up the GCWR in the owners manual. Add your Mojave GVWR and the 5460lbs of GVWR trailer weight. Is it significantly less than the GCWR? Like more than 15 to 20% less? If not then take a pass on this trailer. You'll have no margin and it won't be fun towing it.

P.S. Whatever trailer you to get, you will need a weight distribution hitch. Also I suggest using the trailer GVWR in the calculation because it is very easy to talk yourself into bringing stuff along and before you know it the trailer weight is max'd out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

just wasn't sure if that extra 230 pounds would hinder the truck if I transferred the hitch weight to more of the rear of the trailer

Don't get less than 10% of the trailer weight on the hitch or you are begging, asking, for trouble. Shifting weight to the back could cause sway and instability.
You are probably realistically talking 5,000 pounds (dry weight is a base trailer, as shipped, no extras, no battery, no LP, no upgraded accessories)
If it's 5,000 pounds your tongue weight can be 500-550 and be fine

 

[Snake Eyes]

To be on the safe side I would go out to the Ember RV Facebook group, join, and ask what they are actually seeing for the loaded tongue weight once you add the propane and anything else to that front box. Also weight will come from that front pass through. You are not just offsetting 30 pounds. You will have to go from what the loaded tongue weight will be. I have seen drys go up 100 pounds or more sometimes depending on the trailer and how the trailer storage and propane set up is. Full propane tanks are 37 pounds each and in the Ember they will sit in that metal box up front.

We looked at that exact Ember (I have a Sport S Max Tow) and decided the starting dry hitch was too high even though our limit is 765 on the hitch because loading it adds weight.

You are already starting 30 over. Plus the price we throught was a little out of range for what they give you ($55K). We also did not like the combo water heater furnace that they decided to use. Good note is that they moved away from the AC on the first year edition to a nice 12v AC which is quieter.

Again, just to be safe go ask the owners and they will let you know. This could avoid you ending up placing undue stress on your truck and also too much payload due to heavy hitch.

We ended up going with the Grand Design Imagine AIM 15rb which has a very close floor design, same length and width and height and a better bathroom with very similar water capacity, etc but a much better starting hitch. It is also 4 season rated like the Ember. It tops out at around 4700 pounds. The AIM is azdel also, great ground clearance and can come with AT tires. It starts at 35K. Downside is the AC is noisy.

 

[Jaybre007]

To be on the safe side I would go out to the Ember RV Facebook group, join, and ask what they are actually seeing for the loaded tongue weight once you add the propane and anything else to that front box. Also weight will come from that front pass through. You are not just offsetting 30 pounds. You will have to go from what the loaded tongue weight will be. I have seen drys go up 100 pounds or more sometimes depending on the trailer and how the trailer storage and propane set up is. Full propane tanks are 37 pounds each and in the Ember they will sit in that metal box up front.

We looked at that exact Ember (I have a Sport S Max Tow) and decided the starting dry hitch was too high even though our limit is 765 on the hitch because loading it adds weight.

You are already starting 30 over. Plus the price we throught was a little out of range for what they give you ($55K). We also did not like the combo water heater furnace that they decided to use. Good note is that they moved away from the AC on the first year edition to a nice 12v AC which is quieter.

Again, just to be safe go ask the owners and they will let you know. This could avoid you ending up placing undue stress on your truck and also too much payload due to heavy hitch.

We ended up going with the Grand Design Imagine AIM 15rb which has a very close floor design, same length and width and height and a better bathroom with very similar water capacity, etc but a much better starting hitch. It is also 4 season rated like the Ember. It tops out at around 4700 pounds. The AIM is azdel also, great ground clearance and can come with AT tires. It starts at 35K. Downside is the AC is noisy.

Ha. You know the reasons I liked the Ember and will look at the Grand Design now. Thanks for the heads up. The Embers here in TX sell for 35k not the suggested 55k. I thought that was a little pricey too. The bathroom and holding tanks plus azdel is what sold me. The good news is a/c’s are easy to exchange out so noisy can be fixed!!

 

[Jaybre007]

Don't get less than 10% of the trailer weight on the hitch or you are begging, asking, for trouble. Shifting weight to the back could cause sway and instability.
You are probably realistically talking 5,000 pounds (dry weight is a base trailer, as shipped, no extras, no battery, no LP, no upgraded accessories)
If it's 5,000 pounds your tongue weight can be 500-550 and be fine

Thanks for the response. Good point.

 

[Jaybre007]

The numbers to worry about first is the Gross Vehicle Weight rating and the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Being 30 lbs over tongue weight is not horrible if you keep your other payload weight down so that you are under the GVWR. Tongue weight goes against your payload. Your Mojave payload is likely just over 1000lbs (Check your door label) That means you'll have about 400lbs left over for all accessories you've added like lights, bumpers, etc. and passengers with all the luggage. That's not a lot of payload left over. Therefore, your Mojave is likely to be at, or over, the GVWR.

Look up the GCWR in the owners manual. Add your Mojave GVWR and the 5460lbs of GVWR trailer weight. Is it significantly less than the GCWR? Like more than 15 to 20% less? If not then take a pass on this trailer. You'll have no margin and it won't be fun towing it.

P.S. Whatever trailer you to get, you will need a weight distribution hitch. Also I suggest using the trailer GVWR in the calculation because it is very easy to talk yourself into bringing stuff along and before you know it the trailer weight is max'd out.

Good points to ponder, thank you

 

[Max-t]

Haven’t towed with the Mojave… but I towed with many other vehicles. When I was young I pushed it a lot. I delivered rvs and took them to shows as well.

Whenever I was starting at close to max weight with an empty trailer it went WAY over once I was loaded for a trip and it was miserable and dangerous.
Water alone will add hundreds of pounds.
Airbags can help as long as they’re exactly the same pressure. I weighed the decision to get the Mojave and realized I couldn’t comfortably tow much more than a 10 foot box trailer. But I do see people decide to pull giant stuff with small suvs. Maybe I’m just less tolerant of the performance issues.

but regardless of any modifications youmake. You can never increase your max capacity legally.

 

[Gene26]

I tow a 23 foot Forrest river travel trailer using a weight distribution hitch and anti sway bar. it’s 4300lb dry. It follows me with no issue. I have the 3.6 rubicon automatic. I live in New Mexico so a lot of elevation changes when towing so gas mileage sucks. Got just over 9 mpg to Moab and back. Just changed to 5.13 gears before the Moab trip. So the power is much better then it was but still lots of downshifts, high rpm’s and some lag going up hill over 7500ft above sea level but flat i can cruise along no issues and even get into 7th and 8th gear at 75mph towing. I also have 37s and a 3.5in lift.. it works but if I had it to do over again I would go the diesel gladiator route for towing through the mountains.

 

[Jaybre007]

I tow a 23 foot Forrest river trailer it’s 4300lb dry. I have the 3.6 rubicon automatic. I live in New Mexico so a lot of elevation changes when towing. Just changed to 5.13 gears. It is much better now than it was. I also have 37s and a 3.5in lift.. it works but if I had it to do over again I would go the big d gladiator route for towing.

I love diesel but I think for the places I want to go and see diesel isn't exactly available as readily as gas. Plus I am in no rush so taking my time is a plus. I chose the Mojave over the Rubicon and the Rubicon Diesel for 1 reason, the seats. The seats in the Mojave and the 392 feel the same but the Rubicons are different. I am a big guy so some may not notice the difference but I certaintly did. Either way I got a Jeep and love the Gladiator. I would love to have the extra torque and was hoping for the 392 this year but I think that dream is gone.

 

[Jefe1018]

That's getting close to maxing out everything out I would imagine. What is your payload rating?

 

[Jaybre007]

Haven’t towed with the Mojave… but I towed with many other vehicles. When I was young I pushed it a lot. I delivered rvs and took them to shows as well.

Whenever I was starting at close to max weight with an empty trailer it went WAY over once I was loaded for a trip and it was miserable and dangerous.
Water alone will add hundreds of pounds.
Airbags can help as long as they’re exactly the same pressure. I weighed the decision to get the Mojave and realized I couldn’t comfortably tow much more than a 10 foot box trailer. But I do see people decide to pull giant stuff with small suvs. Maybe I’m just less tolerant of the performance issues.

but regardless of any modifications youmake. You can never increase your max capacity legally.

You are correct! I towed as a Hotshot with a dually and a 40ft gooseneck all over the USA and the benefits of air bags are increased comfort of the suspension not bottoming out over every little bump, raising the back end of the truck up so the headlights do not blind everyone at night, and not wearing the rear tires out so fast. Each truck regardless of engine, size, etc.. has a sweet spot to tow. Mine happens to be at 62 mph. I tow in Texas in the hill country and I choose to manually shift my automatic when taking off and cruising because the automatic shift patterns take way too long too shift and hold the rpm's too high for much too long. I do use the automatic when decelerate because it is easier for me and I also switched my front rotors to power stops. Other than that I am completely stock. I do not plan on re-gearing or changing the tire size but I did wonder since the Mojave is the same frame and engine if the added hitch weight with an airbag would make up for the suspension sag that would occur? From what I read this is the main difference of the Mojave not towing the 7700 pounds instead of the rated 6000 pounds. I figure an airbag could adjust as all the cooling, electrical, and mechanical pieces are the same.

 

[Max-t]

You are correct! I towed as a Hotshot with a dually and a 40ft gooseneck all over the USA and the benefits of air bags are increased comfort of the suspension not bottoming out over every little bump, raising the back end of the truck up so the headlights do not blind everyone at night, and not wearing the rear tires out so fast. Each truck regardless of engine, size, etc.. has a sweet spot to tow. Mine happens to be at 62 mph. I tow in Texas in the hill country and I choose to manually shift my automatic when taking off and cruising because the automatic shift patterns take way too long too shift and hold the rpm's too high for much too long. I do use the automatic when decelerate because it is easier for me and I also switched my front rotors to power stops. Other than that I am completely stock. I do not plan on re-gearing or changing the tire size but I did wonder since the Mojave is the same frame and engine if the added hitch weight with an airbag would make up for the suspension sag that would occur? From what I read this is the main difference of the Mojave not towing the 7700 pounds instead of the rated 6000 pounds. I figure an airbag could adjust as all the cooling, electrical, and mechanical pieces are the same.

I’ve read reviews where they towed with a Mojave as part of the testing. They said it was uncontrollable. I don’t remember their specific trailer weight but it was in limits. I consider airbags mandatory for towing anywhere near half your tongue weight… like above… for the sake of headlights if nothing else.
like I said, I think, I pulled a 10 foot enclosed trailer everywhere with my jkur. Empty it was fine. Loaded it got scary a couple times. Tried to push me off a wet off ramp once. And all I had in there were some defender body panels. How I saved it comes down to growing up pullin rv and boat trailers in the Adirondack’s i guess. Going to winter shows.
Like I said. People do it. When I got my last travel trailer… it was a little 4-5000 lb thing. I bought a Cummins 2500 to pull it.
also with the tiny gas tank and average truck mileage at best… towing with the jeep seems like a good way to see every gas station coast to coast

don’t know what I’d do if I wanted to rv now. I’m not getting rid of the jeep but it’s all mountains around here. I’m in third going up them empty.

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