Travel trailer

[Gvsukids]

Way too much thinking about tow ratings.

This is what makes forums great.

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[KevinC]

I have a 2023 Mojave/auto/37" tires/4.10 gears/rear rack.
I have towed a Aliner (low profile) that weighed about 1600lbs. I averaged 16mpg
I have towed a Winnebago Micro that weighed 4300lbs. I averaged 9mpg.
I now tow a Keystone Reign 13RK that weighs 3000lbs. I average 9mpg.

With that said, I would buy the maximum size camper you and your JT is comfortable towing safely and effectively.

 

[rich1911]

Hi. I had a 23 overland with regular tow package that I added the factory trailer brake controller. We tow a 23 forest river geopro 19fd that has similar specs. I also installed E load rated tires. I've had no issues towing the trailer.

 

[BourbonRunner]

I am not sure what I am missing. 6K tow capacity asking if it is ok to tow 3500 lbs? I have towed a 4k car with 1800 lb trailer with 200 lbs to spare. What good is a 6k tow limit if you can't tow 6k? I would fling 3500 lbs all day. Way too much thinking about tow ratings.

Mechanically speaking if it's rated for 6K you want to stay within 80% or so of that weight to avoid burning up your brakes and doing any damage to the drivetrain. I've pulled trailers since I could drive at 16 and there is a substantial difference with and without and under load and especially if the brakes are too hot.

Beyond that there are stories of insurance companies invalidating claims due to overage. I don't know if that's urban legend or not but I'm also not going to give my insurance company any reason to weasel out of a claim if I could avoid it.

 

[WilldWilly]

Mechanically speaking if it's rated for 6K you want to stay within 80% or so of that weight to avoid burning up your brakes and doing any damage to the drivetrain. I've pulled trailers since I could drive at 16 and there is a substantial difference with and without and under load and especially if the brakes are too hot.

Beyond that there are stories of insurance companies invalidating claims due to overage. I don't know if that's urban legend or not but I'm also not going to give my insurance company any reason to weasel out of a claim if I could avoid it.

My understanding has always been that the manufacturer does that from the getgo. 6K might be tested at 7200. The manufacturer test at the say 7200, then sets the tow rating a 6k to keep people away from that number. I have towed near the max many times over the past 40 years.
What good is giving a 6k rating if you can't actually do it.

 

[BourbonRunner]

First I've ever heard that one Bud. I always thought the number given was the max.

 

[WilldWilly]

First I've ever heard that one Bud. I always thought the number given was the max.

I never heard of only going to 80% of advertised rating. You are paying to pull 6k, by god you chould be able to pull 6k. Anything less is false advertising.

 

[Texbaz]

I never heard of only going to 80% of advertised rating. You are paying to pull 6k, by god you chould be able to pull 6k. Anything less is false advertising.

The 80% of rated capacity is
A well know generality that allows you a safety margin.

You can certainly go up to the max and most people do they just don't realize it.

Thier is so much calculating that goes into what you tow with any vehicle.

My Casita has a max GVWR 3700.
Do I load it to the max, hell no.

How many passengers are in the Gladiator and what is thier weight, how much gear you got in the bed? And what's your payload rating. How much is the tonque weight that weight comes off your payload capacity

I've drug my Casita up to Moab, over to Cortez, Pagosa springs, and on to Antonito.
This year I will drag it up too Ouray.

So far, no problems at all just don't treat your trailer like it's a UHAUL. You'll be fine. And drive like you have a trailer attached, you see a Grade Comming up start speeding up a bit or down shift. 3700LBs is nothing for the Gladiator.

 

[WilldWilly]

I have never heard of anything other than GCWR and GVWR. With those two numbers, the gladiator is 4700 with all fluids + 6000 for trailer with a GCWR of 11,100, you still have 400 lbs for two adults. I paid for 6k of towing capabilities, not 80% of them. Besides, the manufacturer has already calculated this in.

 

[Gladiatorguy]

I have never heard of anything other than GCWR and GVWR. With those two numbers, the gladiator is 4700 with all fluids + 6000 for trailer with a GCWR of 11,100, you still have 400 lbs for two adults. I paid for 6k of towing capabilities, not 80% of them. Besides, the manufacturer has already calculated this in.

Look up GAWR. Important numbers.

 

[JTGuy]

With all the modds on my JT . I don't want to tow anything. The 3.6 has very little engine brakes . All the cost of a trailer I will just stay in a nice motel and enjoy the drive. I would only tow a low profile true camping type trailer.

 

[JasonL83]

My understanding has always been that the manufacturer does that from the getgo. 6K might be tested at 7200. The manufacturer test at the say 7200, then sets the tow rating a 6k to keep people away from that number. I have towed near the max many times over the past 40 years.
What good is giving a 6k rating if you can't actually do it.

While maybe that's true, I'm sure an insurance company would try to weasel out of a claim if something happened and you exceed your vehicle's capacity.

You also have to include any gear or people you are carrying in the tow vehicle. Then when you add in tongue weight you are likely to eat up payload capacity before you even reach Max towing.

My goal is to be safe, legal, and not destroy my truck. If I can't achieve this, I'll forego getting a travel trailer for the time being.

 

[AlpineChip]

'25 ePro 19FDS towed by '23 EcoDiesel w/37s, RedArc brake controller, Anderson sway bar - all good, no issues up and down mountain roads (9k ft and at sea level).

 

[FC1]

That’s what I got it for.

 

[WilldWilly]

While maybe that's true, I'm sure an insurance company would try to weasel out of a claim if something happened and you exceed your vehicle's capacity.

You also have to include any gear or people you are carrying in the tow vehicle. Then when you add in tongue weight you are likely to eat up payload capacity before you even reach Max towing.

My goal is to be safe, legal, and not destroy my truck. If I can't achieve this, I'll forego getting a travel trailer for the time being.

That is where GCWR rating comes into play. That I will follow fairly closely. Do you think the insurance company is going to require everything be weighed. Everyone has to do what is comfortable for them. I simply understand that the manufacturers have done the testing and set the specifications lower than what any vehicle is capable of achieving to keep them away from the the breaking point. In other words, they had to figure out where it would break to set a tow rating, or to set a GCWR. Imagine if you only used 80% of everything you paid for. It is like ripping yourself off.

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