Can the 2020 Sport-s With Max tow handle this?

[jlg]

Folks,
I was looking at the Wildwood 22eras that has a GVW of 7685, dry is 6196, with a hitch weight of 685.
CAN the Gladiator handle this (I know that the ratings is 7600, but not sure if it could handle this which is right at the max range.
Thanks!
Jim

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[ShadowsPapa]

Keep in mind, the dry weight is typically the base version without options and so on. Anything added beyond base, depending on the numbers you are quoting, will put it above that weight before you include LP, food, bedding or any other "stuff".
You'll absolutely want, need, a good weight distributing hitch with that sort of trailer and that tongue weight. That's a lot of tongue weight, IMO - I had Max tow springs under my 2020 Overland and I had appreciable sag with 525 pounds tongue weight. You are talking another 140 pounds of tongue weight on an empty trailer without options! That's getting way up there. I think there's a chart in the owners manual for maximum tongue weight - you may be over that already.

Don't forget - FRONTAGE counts against you! If the thing side wider and/or taller than the tow vehicle - it adds a lot of drag. A friend and I were talking this in reference to his Toyota truck - he can really really feel the drag because his trailer sits taller and wider than the cab. It's not heavy vs. the tow rating, but the drag on the highway he says is amazing.

My personal rule for towing is stay under the max rated numbers.
My Overland, for example, is 6,000 pounds. I won't tow over 5,000 any distance and even short runs, stay well under the 6,000 number.

PERSONAL OPINION - since you are right up there on weight, and probably over on tongue weight, by the time you figure frontage, me, I'd reconsider.
That's my take. Others may well disagree.

 

[kevman65]

Can you, maybe.

Should you, no.

You're already overweight if you put the normal things in the camper. Then you're going to put things in the bed and people and things in the cab. You'll be way overweight.

 

[jlg]

Thanks folks -- I had a feeling!!! Much appreciated.

 

[MudderNuker]

On flat land it may handle it, but it won't be pretty. Our camper is about 4,000lbs wet and with gear. The JTR handles it no problem but you know it is there, and the engine screams (now a little less after installing a Scorcher GT). I can only imagine what it would be towing at the limit. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Stan H]

Folks,
I was looking at the Wildwood 22eras that has a GVW of 7685, dry is 6196, with a hitch weight of 685.
CAN the Gladiator handle this (I know that the ratings is 7600, but not sure if it could handle this which is right at the max range.
Thanks!
Jim

I going with No. I have always tried to stay under the max. That dry weight is near max , with food, clothing supplies etc. You would be over. IMHO

 

[DylanM]

A stock Max tow equipped Sport is rated to tow a trailer up to 7650lb and 55 square feet frontal area, max tongue weight of 765lb, and a combined vehicle gross weight of 12800lb. The trailer GVW you listed is ever so slightly above your max tow rating, but if your truck is stock and you keep your weights within factory specs then it is capable of towing what you propose. All warnings and cautions apply as to payload, hitch type requirements, trailer brakes, reduction in ratings due to vehicle modifications, etc etc etc.....

Arguments as to whether you should or should not do so are separate from your initial query.

 

[Labswine]

I'm gonna hafta agree with those who say, "Nay" to your inquiry.

Myself, I have the Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 7/19) and I tow a 27' trailer that weighs around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need, and factory says the tongue weight is around 425 lbs but, with all I have in the front pass through I'm estimating around a 525 lb tongue weight.

Hitching up, I did measure bottom of hitch receiver to the ground, then height with trailer attached (before hooking up my WDH), and droop was around 1.5". Hooked up the WDH and it was around 3/4".

Now, I'm around 900 lbs UNDER my tow weight of 6K lbs. My Overland (still stone stock) handles it quite well. I shift manually and never see 8th. I typically run at around 65 MPH in 7th at around 2,100 RPMs. I get between 12 and 13 MPGs towing. Yeah, there are times it reminds me it's only a V-6 but, I just drop a gear or two to get back to speed after an up grade, and all's right with my world.

Screw what anyone else driving behind me who thinks I'm a rolling road block...it's MY drive, not theirs so, screw 'em...they can go around me. Plus, with my WDH/sway control set up, I have little or no issues with sway or wind blast when I get passed by a semi.

Now, I am sure you will be able to find a nice trailer to suit your needs that will be well under your towing capacity.

This is what I tow...it's just me and the Bride so, it suits us well. If you have wee ones, and need rear bunks, this line of trailers also has configurations that can suit your needs. Look them up. Venture Sonic line. Mine's the SN220VRB. We've been very happy with the quality of the build, and have had almost no issues, or at least ones that couldn't be easily repaired. (Not a salesman, just a satisfied customer.) Mine's a 2021 model.

 

[jlg]

I'm gonna hafta agree with those who say, "Nay" to your inquiry.

Myself, I have the Overland (ordered 5/19, delivered 7/19) and I tow a 27' trailer that weighs around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need, and factory says the tongue weight is around 425 lbs but, with all I have in the front pass through I'm estimating around a 525 lb tongue weight.

Hitching up, I did measure bottom of hitch receiver to the ground, then height with trailer attached (before hooking up my WDH), and droop was around 1.5". Hooked up the WDH and it was around 3/4".

Now, I'm around 900 lbs UNDER my tow weight of 6K lbs. My Overland (still stone stock) handles it quite well. I shift manually and never see 8th. I typically run at around 65 MPH in 7th at around 2,100 RPMs. I get between 12 and 13 MPGs towing. Yeah, there are times it reminds me it's only a V-6 but, I just drop a gear or two to get back to speed after an up grade, and all's right with my world.

Screw what anyone else driving behind me who thinks I'm a rolling road block...it's MY drive, not theirs so, screw 'em...they can go around me. Plus, with my WDH/sway control set up, I have little or no issues with sway or wind blast when I get passed by a semi.

Now, I am sure you will be able to find a nice trailer to suit your needs that will be well under your towing capacity.

This is what I tow...it's just me and the Bride so, it suits us well. If you have wee ones, and need rear bunks, this line of trailers also has configurations that can suit your needs. Look them up. Venture Sonic line. Mine's the SN220VRB. We've been very happy with the quality of the build, and have had almost no issues, or at least ones that couldn't be easily repaired. (Not a salesman, just a satisfied customer.) Mine's a 2021 model.

Curious -- how do you find the construction, etc. on the Sonic trailer? I am looking at the SN231vrk now (I like the rear kitchen). GVWR is 5815, 500lbs dry weight on hitch.
Any issues with the AC, slides out, leaks (esp. front window),etc.?? What issues DID you have?

Also, what WDH/sway control set up do you have?
THANKS!

 

[Labswine]

Curious -- how do you find the construction, etc. on the Sonic trailer? I am looking at the SN231vrk now (I like the rear kitchen). GVWR is 5815, 500lbs dry weight on hitch.
Any issues with the AC, slides out, leaks (esp. front window),etc.?? What issues DID you have?

Also, what WDH/sway control set up do you have?
THANKS!

I have found the construction very solid. No leaks anywhere. The newer models have pretty much done away with the front window. The only thing I don't like about the front window on mine is that there's about a one inch gap along the top edge between the glass and the body, and while sitting in my yard, it collects leaves, pine needles, etc. I have to make sure it's clear, especially when winter comes because the debris can hold water, freeze, expand, and potentially damage the seal around the window. Solved that this year by getting a cover for the trailer.

AC works great. The slide does what it's supposed to.

I only had three issues with mine. I bought it brand new, January 2021, took my first trip with it that March and discovered (a couple of days before departure) that the Fridge didn't work AT ALL. Took it to the dealership and they couldn't fix it right away for the trip but, it was warranted. They eventually replaced it with a new one and I haven't had any issues at all with it since. (I'm thinking the original one was manufactured during COVID when the company's QC departments were either severely understaffed, or non-existant.)

Another issue was a mysterious buckling of that black decorative weather stripping (a hard plastic) that runs around the long edges. It mysteriously puckered at the front. Fixed under warranty.

Lastly, I had an outlet pull out from it's fixed place. It was in the ceiling behind the TV. I pulled out the plug, like I was always taught, support the outlet with the other hand while removing the plug, and the silly thing pulled out with the plug anyways. Again, repaired under warranty (I bought a 5 year extended warranty when I bought the trailer).

As far as a WDH/sway control, I have the BlueOx system. Does a great job of distributing the weight and while towing, when getting passed by a tractor/trailer, virtually no sway from the wind blast coming off the truck. WDH...I measured hitch height before hooking up the trailer, then with just the trailer along, and I had 1.5" of droop. Hooked up the WDH and droop was only 3/4" so...and my front end feels just as planted with the trailer as not having one hitched up.

 

[Labswine]

Curious -- how do you find the construction, etc. on the Sonic trailer? I am looking at the SN231vrk now (I like the rear kitchen). GVWR is 5815, 500lbs dry weight on hitch.
Any issues with the AC, slides out, leaks (esp. front window),etc.?? What issues DID you have?

Also, what WDH/sway control set up do you have?
THANKS!

We had actually looked at that model when we were looking for a trailer. What I didn't like was the fact that you had to go through the bathroom to go to bed. There was also another model where the bedroom was in the rear, kitchen in the front, where, again you had to go through the bathroom to go to bed. Those just didn't appeal to us.

I really like the setup we have with the SN220VRB. It feels much bigger inside than it is for the length. Plus, ours has that Murphy bed in the front that has a sofa under the end of it so if we had guests we could fold up the bed and have a nice sofa for seating. I LOVE the outdoor kitchen on ours too. I bought a griddle that fits perfectly over the two burners so I can do burgers, bacon and eggs, and such without that 'greasy smell' permeating inside for days...plus permeating our bedding and clothes.

In addition, the slide out/dining area, when the table is lowered, I can completely stretch out and not hit either end. I'm 5'10".

 

[Antrmo]

we own a 2021 sport s, and tow a 2024 forest river 17JW wolf pup. 5700lbs,plus 2 adults, 2 kids, and supplies. Use to have 35" tires,went back to 275x70-17,s and got a WDH, I do feel It is getting close to the JT limits but still handles it very well. would like to get one with the Max tow package and feel the difference. usually cruise on flat roads in 5TH and 6TH at about 3500-3900 rpm, drop to 4TH for hills.

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