Reminder about Towing Capacity.

[Mark42]

Most vehicles list the towing capacity with the car totally empty except for the driver.

Lets say the car has a 2000 lbs towing capacity. The trailer is rated 2000 lbs but has only 1800 lbs between boat, motor, gear and all the extra crap you stuff in it.

So then the car is towing 1800 lbs, and you can put another 200 lbs in the trunk.

Or you can put in two kids (3 and 7) totalling 70lbs, and their bags (20lbs) and their bycicles and trycicles (22lbs) and still be 80 lbs under the max.

Just a reminder.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Reminder about Towing Capacity.

to expound on Mark's reminder: you have a max GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and a max towing capacity which are two separate limits.

The GVWR is the max weight of the vehicle loaded down with the kids, camping equipment plus the tongue weight of the trailer. Subtracting the weight of the vehicle (don't forget the weight of the trailer hitch) from the GVWR gives you your max payload capacity. Subtract the tongue weight of the trailer to compute how much weight you can carry in the vehicle (including people, fuel, gear & beer).

Towing capacity is the max weight of the trailer, loaded down with fuel & gear. There's also a max tongue weight.

The max GCWR (gross combined weight rating) is the max total weight of loaded vehicle plus weight of the trailer.

Max towing cap and GVWR are measured separately....having more towing capacity than trailer weight doesn't increase your GVWR.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Reminder about Towing Capacity.

Or you can put in two kids (3 and 7) totalling 70lbs, and their bags (20lbs) and their bycicles and trycicles (22lbs) and still be 80 lbs under the max.

As long as one of them is driving...