General Towing question

[Warbirds]

Hello- I havent towed anything for probably 15 years and I would like a sanity check on the following.

Assuming the below specs (pulled from another thread here) are correct would the Diesel JT be a suitable tow vehicle for weekend efforts and maybe one road trip per year with the below travel trailer?

I have a family of 5 with 3 boys but I could manage what we bring in extra weight.

Would I be running to close to maxed out or would it be OK?

I intend to buy the JT Diesel, probably the base. I would add airbags and a really good hitch to help as well.

Gladiator Tow specs:
Model | Weight | Towing Capacity | Max
JT Gladiator Pickup Base (3.0L Diesel): 5100 lbs | 6500 lbs | 1400 lbs
JT Gladiator Pickup Premium (3.0L Diesel): 5200 lbs | 6500 lbs | 1100 lbs

Towing This travel trailer:

Lance 2185

https://www.lancecamper.com/travel-trailers/2185/

• 
  
  
  • Gross Dry Weight 4565 Lbs.
  • Hitch Dry Weight 755 Lbs.
  • Axle Weight 3810 Lbs.
  • Cargo Carrying Capacity 1435 Lbs.
  • GVWR 6000 Lbs.
  • Tire Size ST205/75R14

Sponsored

 

[RedTRex]

Many folks will say you shouldn't tow more than 75% of max capacity. IMO it's perfectly fine and I would not hesitate to tow that trailer with that track. Add bags if the butt drops like you said and anti-sway hitch might be good idea. Why have a max capacity if you should only tow 75% of that? Sounds like a salesman's pitch to upsell to a bigger truck/higher capacity...

 

[Billy]

I absolutely would tow that with a JT.

 

[Gambrinus]

In the 70s people towed Airstreams with Ford LTD wagons...

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

You are going to also want to know the JT's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) capacity; manufacturer's maximum weight for combined tow vehicle and trailer. You may find out that TT, your family and cargo will put you over weight, either with payload on the vehicle or GCWR. Interesting note, that specific TT has a high dry hitch weight to dry weight percentage; just shy of 17%. Most TT's are around 10-12% on the hitch. Remember, any weight, including passengers, cargo, trailer hitch weight rating goes directly into eating away at the vehicles payload rating. Also keep in mind, any option added to the TT, if purchasing and ordering, will increase TT weight and actual will be placed on the label after manufacturing. In short, it isn't as simple as looking only at the trailer weight and/ or dry TT weight. Even with a full-size, half ton truck, you will be surprised (especially on a well optioned one), that with the tow vehicle loaded, how much less it can tow once you factor in GCWR of the vehicle and trailer etc.

 

[Oilburner]

Remember it's not (only) about how much you can pull, it's about how well the tow rig handles the weight & how well it STOPS.

 

[RedTRex]

You are going to also want to know the JT's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) capacity; manufacturer's maximum weight for combined tow vehicle and trailer. You may find out that TT, your family and cargo will put you over weight, either with payload on the vehicle or GCWR. Interesting note, that specific TT has a high dry hitch weight to dry weight percentage; just shy of 17%. Most TT's are around 10-12% on the hitch. Remember, any weight, including passengers, cargo, trailer hitch weight rating goes directly into eating away at the vehicles payload rating. Also keep in mind, any option added to the TT, if purchasing and ordering, will increase TT weight and actual will be placed on the label after manufacturing. In short, it isn't as simple as looking only at the trailer weight and/ or dry TT weight. Even with a full-size, half ton truck, you will be surprised (especially on a well optioned one), that with the tow vehicle loaded, how much less it can tow once you factor in GCWR of the vehicle and trailer etc.

Great info!

 

[Gladiator4Runner]

With a family of 5 with 3 boys I've calculated that you'll need 5 beers per day. If it was a family of 5 with 3 girls you'd have to multiply by the coefficient 1.7= 8.5 so you might as well round up to 9. Depending on if you bring bottles or cans as well as the specific gravity of your beer you must use the following calculations to make sure you're OK on the GVWR.
http://www.brewangels.com/Beerformation/Weight.html

Good luck!

 

[2020 SCRAMBLER]

Better bring high gravity. Twice the punch with 1/2 the volume.

 

[Billy]

Better bring high gravity. Twice the punch with 1/2 the volume.

Whisky has much better volumetric efficiency...

 

[2020 SCRAMBLER]

This is very true...and since it's camping may I recommend "High West Campfire".

 

[propkillr]

Southern Comfort for me

 

[Link Pin]

You are going to also want to know the JT's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) capacity; manufacturer's maximum weight for combined tow vehicle and trailer. You may find out that TT, your family and cargo will put you over weight, either with payload on the vehicle or GCWR. Interesting note, that specific TT has a high dry hitch weight to dry weight percentage; just shy of 17%. Most TT's are around 10-12% on the hitch. Remember, any weight, including passengers, cargo, trailer hitch weight rating goes directly into eating away at the vehicles payload rating. Also keep in mind, any option added to the TT, if purchasing and ordering, will increase TT weight and actual will be placed on the label after manufacturing. In short, it isn't as simple as looking only at the trailer weight and/ or dry TT weight. Even with a full-size, half ton truck, you will be surprised (especially on a well optioned one), that with the tow vehicle loaded, how much less it can tow once you factor in GCWR of the vehicle and trailer etc.

 

[Link Pin]

Jerry Sweet GWR?....GCWR?.....GCVWR? I love it when you guys & girls start talkiing dirty.

Here is a great 15 min youtube that explaines it all. At the end the discussion turns to the ramifications is these numbers are exceeded.

 

[Gambrinus]

Jerry Sweet GWR?....GCWR?.....GCVWR? I love it when you guys & girls start talkiing dirty.

Here is a great 15 min youtube that explaines it all. At the end the discussion turns to the ramifications is these numbers are exceeded.

One of the best videos I've seen that breaks down the alphabet soup of numbers and what they all mean to you and what you're towing.

Sponsored