Hybrid trailers

[clkelley]

Holy cow - do I have a lot to learn!
I'll have to start looking at all those numbers on the TT's I look at.
I'm a little confused though - the GVWR is the total weight of the TT, TV, gear, water, etc? Or just the TT?

Also, I notice that even though a vehicle will say it has a towing capacity of 5000 lbs "properly equipped" - that their horsepower and torque is quite different.
I would assume I would try to get the most horsepower?

Geez, I hope you are all like "oh, isn't she cute, trying to learn about TTs" and not "what an idiot..."

The GVWR is the most your vehicle can weigh!! Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

The weight of the vehicle, plus gas, plus passengers, plus stuff.

Gross Combined Vehicle Rating is the most the combination of the trailer and vehicle can weigh.

Trailer tow rating, the most your trailer can weigh.

So you take your vehicle and load it with what you expect to carry including gas, people, and stuff and as long as that amount is less than your GVWR you are OK.

Then you take the trailer and you add water, propane, stuff, food, etc and that amount has to be less than the max trailer weight.

That weight also has to be less than the vehicle trailer tow rating.

You take the weight of your vehicle all load up and you subtract that from your GCWR and that is the max that you can tow.

So lets say you have a 10K GCWR and a 5,000lb tow rating

You weigh the vehicle and your stuff and people and it weighs 6000 lbs, then that drops your tow capacity to 4000lbs.

Also, your trailer axles have a weight rating which is the max amount of stuff you can put in the trailer.

Also, your tounge weight has a maximum, that is the max amount your tounge can weigh.

Each individual number has to be below it's maximum and all the numbers added together have to be below the GCWR Gross Combined Weight Rating.

 

[mgsmom]

That makes sense - I think I got it now!
Thank you so much - you have NO idea how helpful you've been!
I've been reading weight specs on TTs and towing limits on TVs and having no idea what's up.
When you put it in combination like that, it makes much more sense!
Thank you!!!

 

[2goofycampers]

#1 thing to remember when talking towing and weights with a sales guy, "if the sales guy mouth is moving he's probably lying".

 

[clkelley]

#1 thing to remember when talking towing and weights with a sales guy, "if the sales guy mouth is moving he's probably lying".

Yep, the camper guy will tell you that your Prius will tow 10K lbs and the car dealer will tell you that you need a F350 dually to tow a utility trailer.

 

[3gr8kids]

#1 thing to remember when talking towing and weights with a sales guy, "if the sales guy mouth is moving he's probably lying".

Yep, the camper guy will tell you that your Prius will tow 10K lbs and the car dealer will tell you that you need a F350 dually to tow a utility trailer.

True that!!

 

[mgsmom]

Ha ha ha!

I'll remember that at the RV show this weekend! We aren't going to buy anything yet, but that won't keep them from following us around everywhere.

When we pull up on the lot, DH starts the commentary, like we're being hunted... "He's got us in his sights... he's cutting us off at the service lane..."

 

[Abagpiper5]

Here is our set-up, AND WE LOVE IT!
05 Jayco 23B.

[/IMG]

This past Halloween 09. Camp site 112.

 

[mgsmom]

That looks so great!!! I'm so jealous!!!
How long is the 23B when you're towing?
It is good to see how it looks compared to a vehicle.

 

[3gr8kids]

How long is the 23B when you're towing?

I believe it is still 23' whether your towing it or not.

Forgive me, but someone had to say it

 

[mgsmom]

Sorry - I wasn't sure if the "official" length included the beds popped out, or in.
I feel like one of my students who tells me that "2 x 1 = 1"

 

[BradyBz12]

Yup - "official" length is closed. Our 21' hybrid is about 30' open.

 

[mgsmom]

We had a wonderful time at the RV show this weekend - and thanks to you guys I didn't sound like a total moron. At least I don't think I did...

I was not prepared for the workout, though. You don't think about it before you go, or even when you start, but going up and down the steps at every RV gets really tiring! I work out 3 days a week, in pretty good shape, and I've been sore all day!

I was disappointed that they didn't have a lot of hybrids - there were probably about 4 brands represented - and probably 2 models of each brand. It was enough to get my juices flowing, though!

I really liked the Sunset Trail trailers, by Crossroads. I'd never heard of them, but they are under the Thor group.

Now, to start saving the money...

 

[breick]

We also made the "mistake" of going to an RV show. I also think a hybrid might be where we need to go after our popup. Easier to set up and take down with more space and conveniences. (One concern I still have is getting it dry enough before we put it back in storage.) The only 1 at our show was Starcraft which we did like, but need to look at a larger model that wasn't at the show. Jayco has the same floorplan. Both are made at the same plant in Indiana and they give tours. I'm thinking that would be a fun roadtrip. I'm going to have to do some more research on hybrids.

 

[BradyBz12]

One concern I still have is getting it dry enough before we put it back in storage...

We bring a spare towel (chamois works great) to wipe the tent ends down if needed when we packup. But if they're at all damp we make sure to open everything up at home on the next sunny day to make sure everything is good and dry. We also make sure to cover it in the winter (we're in NH). Like all campers, moisture is not your friend.

We're going into our 5th summer with ours and so far the tent ends are in perfect condition.

 

[breick]

We currently keep our popup in storage in Florida. So we have been packing up semi-wet, driving up to the Outpost parking lot, popping it up again to dry out, packing up again and driving it the the storage facility. It's a pain. I'm thinking it would be a little easier with the hybrid. The bunk end materials were more vinyl and less Sunbrella which absorbs some water...

How do you reach the top of the bunk ends for drying off? Folding stool or ladder?

Do you use pop-us gizmos or anything on top of your bunk ends to help with heat and moisture? TIA

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Despite the vinyl type bunk ends, closing up wet is still a no no. It can grow mold and mildew and make a pretty big mess. When we had our hybrid, if I had to close up wet I always opened up again as soon as we got home until things dried out.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

We have a Kodiak Hybrid. 25QB is the model number. 23 ft closed 27ft open. Ball to bumper is 27 ft. We have one canvas bunk. We have owned it for 5 years now. We love it. All the comforts of home. We tow a 23 ft box but have the same amount of room as a 30ft TT. We used to tow ours with a 2001 Chev Astro. With extra tranny cooler and helper coil over shocks. Our trailer dry weight is 3800lbs. With all our gear and tanks loaded I found out we hit 5500 lbs. That maxed out out tow capacity for the astro and over on our gcwr. We now tow with a 2004 Suburban. We didnt have any troubles with the astro. It towed fine. Now it tows great. My max traier capacity is 7500 lbs now with the suburban with a gcwr of 13000 lbs. I have a lot of room to spare. The extra wheel base make the tow alot smoother too. If I knew then what I know now I would have gotten the T.V. sooner. The Astro did ok but the Suburban is better and much safe.

The first picture With the astro was with the wrong weight distrubution system and no coil over shocks.

Much better now with the Suburban

All set up

Layout

 

[mgsmom]

Thanks for the great pics! I can see the difference in how the trailer and the TV sits with the suburban- it looks more balanced. That's a good visual.
The more I read from the all-knowing Dis campers, the more I think I will get a bigger TV than I think I need. I'm going to have to rearrange my garage to park a Tahoe or Yukon...
I think I saw that model Kodiak at the RV show I just went to - the bunk beds in the back look familiar - I thought they were a nice idea for kids!

I gotta play the lottery more... I'm ready to buy one NOW!

Thanks again!!!

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

Thanks for the great pics! I can see the difference in how the trailer and the TV sits with the suburban- it looks more balanced. That's a good visual.
The more I read from the all-knowing Dis campers, the more I think I will get a bigger TV than I think I need. I'm going to have to rearrange my garage to park a Tahoe or Yukon...
I think I saw that model Kodiak at the RV show I just went to - the bunk beds in the back look familiar - I thought they were a nice idea for kids!

I gotta play the lottery more... I'm ready to buy one NOW!

Thanks again!!!

Oh i had the van level too. When we bought the trailer they gave me a 600 to 800 lb weight distrubution system. My tounge weight is 890lbs. Alot higher than the dry tounge weight they supply in the discription. I purchased a new weight distrubution system now we have up to 1200 lbs tounge weight capacity. That made it perfect. The dry weight supplied by them was only 3600 lbs too but in actuallity it was 3800 lbs. They dont include add ons like propane tanks batteries and awning. You really need to be careful with weights. I learned that one quik. Another great site like this one would be rv.net they are awesome.