towing

[fiveaday1975]

Hi - A question, My wife and I are looking at a Shamrock 21ss that has a GVWR of 4753 and an dry unit weight of 3498 . I drive a 2004 Ranger 4 liter that has a towing weight of 5560. The dealer says no sweat but we all know dealers. What do you think? If I need another truck let's open the floodgates and hear the suggestions. Thanks and safe/happy camping.

[wavery]

Hi - A question, My wife and I are looking at a Shamrock 21ss that has a GVWR of 4753 and an dry unit weight of 3498 . I drive a 2004 Ranger 4 liter that has a towing weight of 5560. The dealer says no sweat but we all know dealers. What do you think? If I need another truck let's open the floodgates and hear the suggestions. Thanks and safe/happy camping.

I think that "No sweat" might be a bit of a misnomer. :p

You might want to ask the dealer to let you take it for a test drive. Be sure to fill your tank with gas and put a LOT of weight in your vehicle. Find a nice grade to pull it up and see how it does. I think that you may find it a bit hard to pull.

I think you might be able to pull it off, but "No sweat".........I don't think so. I think there will be plenty of sweat.

If you do it, be sure to get the biggest tranny cooler that you can put on that vehicle. Also, you might look into carbon metallic or other HD brake pads.

[ScoobyDoo]

If your Ranger tow capacity is larger than the GVWR of the trailer and the GCVWR of the Ranger is higher than the GCVW you should be good to go. Note that your truck may need the factory tow package to get the weight. That will include trans cooler. If the trailer has brakes on it the brakes on the truck should stop the truck.

[flyfisherman]

Hi - A question, My wife and I are looking at a Shamrock 21ss that has a GVWR of 4753 and an dry unit weight of 3498 . I drive a 2004 Ranger 4 liter that has a towing weight of 5560. The dealer says no sweat but we all know dealers. What do you think? If I need another truck let's open the floodgates and hear the suggestions. Thanks and safe/happy camping.

What's that slang remark that's been around for awhile ..."yeah, right!"


My TV is a full sized GMC Sierra pick-up (V-8) with a tow rating at 6400 lbs and considering the cargo I carry around, I believe I'd be coming up short in the towing capacity! To haul that kind of load (and sticking with the GMC brand I'm familar with), I would'nt consider anything less than a GMC 1500 heavy duty series with a towing capacity of at least 8,000 lbs. I'm one of those trailer haulers who think you need not only an adequate tow vehicle, but also a towing safety margin of an extra 1,000 lbs.



Fly

[LimeJeeeep]

it will pull it...tranny cooler a must and more importantly a brake controller...JMHO

[backpacker3]

After fooling myself for years about trucks and towing capicity and payloads, I finally read up on this matter and ended up with getting a 3/4 ton truck with a 10,300 Lb tow rating and a 3,500 Lb. payload. I have all the truck I need and towing is so easy when you have a truck that can handle it. Your TV has a lot to do with when towing a trailer. It will tow so much better. This is all my opinion only. Good Luck................

[Dray]

I'm thinking the same like flyfisherman said above.  I bought a Fleetwood Popup this year and have been trying to pull it with my Honda Odyssey.  All the numbers say it should work.  But in reality it doesn't.  I've done a LOT of homework on this subject and have come to the conclusion that I'm just gonna get something that can tow way more than I'm supposed to need.  

Oh.  And by the way.  I don't believe anything a salesperson tells me.  I listen to them but when it comes to the important stuff I do my own research.

[wynot]

I'm thinking the same like flyfisherman said above. I bought a Fleetwood Popup this year and have been trying to pull it with my Honda Odyssey. All the numbers say it should work. But in reality it doesn't. I've done a LOT of homework on this subject and have come to the conclusion that I'm just gonna get something that can tow way more than I'm supposed to need.
 
Oh. And by the way. I don't believe anything a salesperson tells me. I listen to them but when it comes to the important stuff I do my own research.

Minivans just aren't good for tow vehicles, the possible exceptions being the RWD/AWD GM Astro/Safaris. I towed for years with two Windstars, and more than once, I thought I was going to pull the receiver off the rear pulling that Utah.
 
Now, for the salesperson comment. Since I do tow and camp, and then got into selling RVs for a period of my life - do you think that I would recommend someone not having an adequate tow vehicle? Salespeople also learn not to listen to much of what a potential "customer" says, because salespeople get fibbed (read: "lied") to constantly. (I'm gonna buy it/I wanna think about it/I don't have the money/I got a price $10,000 cheaper down the road/I'm just looking for next spring/I'll be back...) People don't like hearing that they probably won't like towing a camper anywhere near the max towing capacity of their vehicle. I had more than a few people tell me that I just didn't want to sell them something when I told them that their current tow vehicle would be overloaded EMPTY. One of the other salesmen overheard that discussion and asked me why I even bothered to tell them - that they would go some place where they could buy it without my "help".