Newbie question re: trailer weights & tow limits

[AEH]

Hi,

I am a newbie very excited about the idea of getting a pop-up and, of
course, full of questions. I've been enjoying the info and camaraderie in
this NG for a couple of weeks, checked out the FAQ and a few very helpful
websites, and have spent as much time as I dare (with two small kids) going
back through old posts on DejaNews, but it seems the more I learn, the more
confused I get! But there is one overriding question at this point, and I'll
confine myself to that subject in this message, and save all my other
questions for another day.

I am having trouble making sense of weight ratings and getting any idea of
what my vehicle can tow. We have a '97 Volvo 850 wagon, standard
transmission, with a 5 cylinder, 168 hp engine.The maximum trailer weight
recommended by Volvo with a 2" ball is 3300lbs, 2000lbs with a 1 7/8" ball.
Recommended hitch tongue load is 110 lbs. for trailer weights below 2,650
lbs. and 165 lbs. for trailer wiights about 2,560 lbs. The owners manual
further states that for trailer weights between 2,650 and 3,300 lbs a top
speed of 50 mph should never be exceeded.

When it says "recommended hitch tongue load is XXX" does that mean exactly
that wieght? No more? No less? Are hitch weight and tongue weight the same
thing? Hitch weights as stated in the pop-up brochures I have vary all over
the place, so I have a hard time believing that it's supposed to be exact.
And what is the relationship supposed to be between hitch tongue weight and
the trailer's weight? How does that vary when the trailer is fully loaded,
and according to how the trailer is loaded?

And how do you figure out how much pop-ups actually weigh and how much
they'll hold? Right there in the Jayco brochure it says that the Net
Carrying Capacity is ths maximum weight of all cargo, fluids, options, and
dealer installed accessories that can be carried by the vehicle. But then
the Net Carrying capacity listed for each vehicle is "without options". Huh?
So what

Someone I spoke to at the Volvo dealership said that because tent trailers
have only one axle, more weight goes on the tongue, so I should only tow up
to 1500 lbs., a limitation which rules out every new pop-up I've seen so
far, even the smallest models that would never hold my family anyway. Maybe
this guy didn't know what he was talking about, because another guy at Volvo
said that I shouldn't have a problem as long as I stay within the limits
stated in the owners manual.

Further info that may be relevant -- we live in a very hilly area and will
mostly be camping in hilly and mountainous regions. I am thinking we'll
definitely need electric brakes, no matter what model pop-up we get.

[AEH]

Newbie apologizes for unsigned post -- sent the wrong draft.

One more question -- does the GVWR include options, fluids, fuel,
accessories or not? Is that the maximum the trailer can hold, or the maximum
it should hold, (for those of us who'd be afraid to overload it
accidentally)?

Thanks in advance, and sorry to have gone on so long.

Ashley

[Bill and Robin Moore]

I'll try to answer at least some of your questions. First of all, if your
maximum hitch (tongue) weight is 165 lbs, the dealer is telling the
truth when he says you shouldn't exceed 1500 lbs. With a single
axle trailer you need in the range of 10-15 percent of the weight of
the trailer to be on the tongue, which for a 1500 lb trailer would
be 150-225 lbs. Any more or less may cause you to have
significant problems with trailer sway, potentially causing loss
of control of the vehicle. The GVWR of the trailer is the
maximum total weight of the trailer, everything installed in or
on it, and everything it is carrying when it is loaded up ready
to camp. It doesn't necessarily mean that will be your actual
towing weight - usually you will be a couple hundred lbs
under that amount. It just means you can't legally or safely
load it up any heavier than that.

By the way, I would avoid buying a trailer that was so heavy
I had a maximum speed of 50 mph. Sounds like an accident
waiting to happen when most freeways have 60-70 mph
speed limits. You don't want to be travelling 20 mph slower
than the average vehicle speed, especially in heavy traffic.

There are trailers out there that weigh less than 1500 lbs.
Some of the 8 foot box models are under 1000 lbs, and you
should probably limit yourself to looking at these, unless
you are considering upgrading your tow vehicle.

Regards,
Bill Moore
98 Coleman Sante Fe

[Luvtocamp5]

Generally in a popup manufacturer's brochure, the weight they list for an
unloaded popup is including the features they consider "standard". For
instance, our Coleman Bayside comes "standard" with everything we have now
except: battery, furnace, awning. So I would have to add the weight of those
three items. I would also have to add the weight of the propane in my tank,
and the battery we added. They you have pack however much weight is left until
you hit the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of the unit.

Linda King
Proud owner of 1999 Coleman Bayside!