Tow Vehicle

[Unregistered]

We are going to buy a SUV that can pull 5000 lbs.
Is that enough to pull a GVWR 3770 Fleetwood
Highlander pop up?
Thanks

[AustinBoston]

The simple answer is...it depends.

Tow ratings are typically based on ideal conditions, meaning that the SUV is empty except for the driver and a full tank of gas (sometimes the driver & one passenger).  If you put additional passengers, luggage, kid's games, etc. into the tow vehicle, it comes off the tow rating.

Tow ratings are based on standard equipment (possibly with a tow package only). Many options such as all wheel drive and convenience centers result in a reduced tow rating.  Combined, options may take anywhere from 250 to 1,500 lbs off the tow rating.

Finally, tow ratings are based on flat terain.  If you are only going to be towing in Florida or Kansas, that's not a concern, but when entering mountain country, there are problems that can come up.  Unless the engine is turbocharged, it will loose power with altitude.  The typical power loss is 2-4% per 1,000 feet above sea level.  So you won't notice in the first few thousand feet, but if you reach 8,000 feet, you cound be missing 20-30% of your horsepower at the very time you need it most.

If we had more details about what vehicle you were planning to buy, how many people in your family, and where you plan to tow, we could give you a more specific answer.

I know you didn't ask, but no matter what anyone else may try to tell you, a 3700 lb GVWR trailer MUST HAVE BRAKES, and electric brakes are preferred.

Austin

[tlhdoc]

Having no information except what you posted I would say yes.

A rule of thumb is to tow only 75% of your vehicles capacity.
75% of 5000 pounds is 3750 pounds.  Almost the same weight as the trailer GVWR 3770 pounds.

[jawilson]

I 2nd what Austin said...

[tlhdoc]

I know you didn't ask, but no matter what anyone else may try to tell you, a 3700 lb GVWR trailer MUST HAVE BRAKES, and electric brakes are preferred.

Austin

All of the new Fleetwood trailers have electric brakes standard.

[SactoCampers]

We are going to buy a SUV that can pull 5000 lbs.
Is that enough to pull a GVWR 3770 Fleetwood
Highlander pop up?
Thanks

The tow rating doesn't mean as much as the gross combined vehicle weight rating (GCWR) since some vehicles include cargo in the cargo with their towing capacity while others don't. Find out the GCWR subtract the curb weight of your vehicle and that will give you your towing capacity. Then subtract people and cargo weight from that figure.
 
That said, I would not want to pull a 3700 lb Highlander or Coleman (Fleetwood) of that size without a V8.

[AustinBoston]

All of the new Fleetwood trailers have electric brakes standard.

Yup.  I shudda known that, too.

Austin

[mike4947]

But, the last summer I saw about 30% of the PU's with electric brakes, without a brake controller in the TV.

What started me looking was a friend that was b*tching about his trailer not passing inspection because although he had brakes on the trailer as required by NY state, he didn't have a controller in the TV he towed the trailer in for the inspection and he had to go home and swap vehicles.
Not only does NYS require brakes on the trailer if over 1000 pounds dry weight, but they require they must be operational, ie. the TV must have a controller wired up and operating the brakes to pass inspection.
We talked with folks from Virginia towing a Niagara with a Chrysler Town & Country and I noticed a 4 pin connector on the TV. When I asked about why they didn't have the brakes hooked up, they were amazed. Seems nobody ever told them they had to do anything to get the brakes to work. They assumed the brakes were like surge brakes and they automatically/magically worked. I got a card from them about a month later thanking me and saying how much better the PU towed with the brakes actually working.

[wynot]

But, the last summer I saw about 30% of the PU's with electric brakes, without a brake controller in the TV.
 
What started me looking was a friend that was b*tching about his trailer not passing inspection because although he had brakes on the trailer as required by NY state, he didn't have a controller in the TV he towed the trailer in for the inspection and he had to go home and swap vehicles.
Not only does NYS require brakes on the trailer if over 1000 pounds dry weight, but they require they must be operational, ie. the TV must have a controller wired up and operating the brakes to pass inspection.
We talked with folks from Virginia towing a Niagara with a Chrysler Town & Country and I noticed a 4 pin connector on the TV. When I asked about why they didn't have the brakes hooked up, they were amazed. Seems nobody ever told them they had to do anything to get the brakes to work. They assumed the brakes were like surge brakes and they automatically/magically worked. I got a card from them about a month later thanking me and saying how much better the PU towed with the brakes actually working.

That's not terribly unusual - if I hadn't explained to the dealership what a brake controller was, they would still insist the truck still has a towing package...so what is that thing for?  Turns out their 'towing' experience was made up of boat trailers, utility trailers, and surge brake trailers.
 
Gawd, a Niagara pushing a T&C - that's a death wish.