New to Us 2008 Cougar 26BHS

[Firefighter1406]

Wasn’t planned but we just sold out 2001 19’ Nomad and upgraded to a Cougar 26BHS. This is the camper I always wanted. Size, slide, everything. It’s a little heavier then I would like. I hope my Nissan Armada is up to the task. Have a weight distributing hitch set up with a sway control. Just need to weigh the camper so I can get the tongue weight right.

[flybouy]

Welcome and congrats. You "I hope my Nissan Armada is up to the task.". Look at the sticker on the driver's side door post that's yellow and white. It will state "weight odf all cargo and passangers cannot exceed xxxx lbs.) That "xxx" number is your load capacity, or how much weight your tuck is able to support. That number is the maximum number the day that truck came off the assembly line line and DOES NOT include anything that the dealer, you or anyone else has placed in the truck such as floor mats, bed liners, bed covers, seat covers, side steps, off road lights, tools and tool boxes,bull or light bars, and anything else in that truck cab or bed that wasn't there when it was at the factory.

The trailer from what I can find (https://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/2013/.../6023988/Specs) has a GVW of 7,800 lbs. Typical TW (tongue weight) it 13% of GVW so 7,800 X .13 = 1,014 lbs. A good weight distributing hitch is around 125 lbs. added to the TW. So 1,014 + 125 = 1,139 lbs. that comes of the truck's load capacity so xxx - 1,139 = ???? lbs. That remaining number is what's left of your truck's carrying capacity or load capacity for people, pets, and anything else you put in the bed of the truck like a cooler with drinks, firewood, etc.

I seriously doubt that your Nissan is going to be "up to the task" is you look at your truck's sticker on the door jamb and ar honest with yourself. That's just the weight aspect. The other consideration is strapping a 29' trailer that is basically a huge box that acts like a large sail behind a light truck. The outcome will be sway which may not be controllable. If you want to know what weight you actually have then take it to a CAT scale and for less that $20 you will know for certian.

[Firefighter1406]

Our Armada is rated to tow 9,000 lbs. now I completely I stand that Just because it’s rated for it doesn’t mean you should tow it. I am gonna run it across the cat scales to get a loaded weight. And I bought a tongue weigh scale to be able to get that dialed in.

My wife has some health issues so the ride in the Armada is better for her. I normally pull with my F-250 diesel but the ride is very harsh.

I will do whatever I need to do to be safe. But 5 hours in my truck will be pretty hard on her.

[travelin texans]

Your tow rating means nothing without the payload to carry it.
That soft comfortable ride for your wife is also another reason you'll likely have poor handling when towing that RV.
I'd recommend adding some pillows to the F250 for the DW & use it to tow with.

[flybouy]

I'm not trying to be argumentative. Just attempting to inform as there are many people who have the misconception that the "tow rating" equals what travel trailer they can tow.

That 9K is what the vehicle is rated for towing a flat, low profile, low center of gravity trailer, typically with a pintle hook and zero to very little tongue weight. It's a totally irrelevant number when considering travel trailer towing. The ONLY way to know what the carrying or payload capacity is from that door sticker.

Most all SUVs and 1/2 ton and diesel 3/4 ton trucks run out of available payload long before they hit the "max towing capacity" or even the max rear axle rating. My DW also has health issues and she uses a pillow under and a pillow behind her back to compensate. We also don't travel much over 3 hours before stopping for a stretch. We have a beautiful F150 King Ranch that rides like a dream but it's no where near capable of towing our camper. The things that make our F250 haul the load safely (LT tires vs P metric), heavier springs, heavier shocks, Stiffer/stronger frame, etc.

[Firefighter1406]

I appreciate all the knowledge. I by no means am trying to get crazy or un safe. That being said I have always towed with my F-250 and haven’t looked back. That year was the first that I towed our old 19’ camper with the Armada. It did quite well. However the new camper is a lot heavier for sure, that’s what has me worried.

[Gary R.]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Here's hoping you and your DW enjoy the new Cougar, looks very nice in the photos.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Firefighter1406

I appreciate all the knowledge. I by no means am trying to get crazy or un safe. That being said I have always towed with my F-250 and haven’t looked back. That year was the first that I towed our old 19’ camper with the Armada. It did quite well. However the new camper is a lot heavier for sure, that’s what has me worried.

Sounds like you already have your answer. No one called you crazy, I just hate to see any one "think" they are good when they don't have issues while towing in "ideal conditions" then get the "big surprise" when less than ideal or an emergency maneuver is encountered. BTDT as most of us have.

My F250 rides much better with 1,00 -1,200 lbs on the tongue than it does empty. Years ago I bought a hitch scale https://www.sherline.com/product/she...-weight-scale/ . I know exactly what my hitch weight it and if I need to shift some weight inside before I hitch up. Look around for better pricing than their site but to me it was a well worth the $ investment. JMHO

[sourdough]

There should be another sticker inside the door that shows the payload; it would be very beneficial if you could post that.

Some other notes on the Armada; it will not have a suspension meant for towing a 7800lb. trailer...at all. The springs will be soft and "wiggly/squishy". Note that your tires are spec'd to run 35psi - P metric auto tires never meant to tow that will squish, squash and wander all over the road under that load. The wheelbase and drivetrain were built to carry some bags of groceries, not the strain of 7800lbs behind it. The brakes will not be adequate for that load by any means. I could go on but you get the drift.

I understand your desire to use the more comfortable vehicle but a tow vehicle isn't built for comfort; it's built to tow safely whereas the comfortable vehicle is built for comfort, cruising and groceries; not to tow safely - the twain shall never meet. While an HD truck can be considered harsh under certain conditions I have found that when used for towing a proper load they ride well.

In ideal circumstances a person picks the perfect rv then picks the perfect match in the tv or vice versa. In this case, if looking at your rig from an objective perspective, you chose the rv which now, for safety reasons, must dictate the tv. IMO it isn't the Armada.

[Gobirds38]

Welcome Have Fun and Enjoy!!!

[Firefighter1406]

I think this may be what you are looking for. I truly appreciate all the feed back. I have upgraded the tires to Nitto Terra Grappler G2 tires in a 275/65/20 XL rating which is 50 psi max and rated at 2,756 pounds each. Not that it makes that much of a difference but that’s what I have.

[wiredgeorge]

Your payload is 1433 lbs. Everything added will use that allowable payload weight. I am kind of confused about those tires you bought. Ads say they are load range E but having a 50 PSI top inflation doesn't sound like a load range E tire to me. I have 18" LRE tires on my pickup and they are rated 80 PSI. You mentioned tires and the TIRE PATROL will likely descend on this this thread now; they are different than the WEIGHT POLICE. Anyway, enjoy your new camper and stay safe!

[Firefighter1406]

All the police around here is funny. At work we can barely get them to show up. . JK JK. But I am happy with the feedback. Apparently they are a tire that they no longer sell. I bought them at Discount Tire last fall. I wanted an E range tire for these circumstances and we used to pull our smaller trailer with the Armada. We always used to run E range tires on my wife’s expedition. At the time they told me that I couldn’t get E range tires in the size that I needed for our truck but that they offered these XL tires so that you had a little more payload. I was trying to look at then the other day and guess what now discount offers them in a E range. Oh well. After her saying she is carrying more then normal since she has more space I told her to watch that because we don’t need the extra weight and that we will be taking the truck.

[flybouy]

Typical SUV rating. 7 passengers @150 lbs. Each would be 1,050 lbs. Figure in fuel and everyone gets to take their toothbrush. Good choice in using the truck.

[travelin texans]

How a vehicle manufacturer would/could rate a 7 passenger vehicle a 9000lb tow rating with only 1433 lbs of payload is way beyond comprehension for my little pea brain.
There's another item you may want to check on the SUV, the hitch rating. It should be labeled with max trailer weight & max tongue weight. In the manufacturer infinite wisdom surely they didn't put a 5000/500lb receiver on there, but they rated it tow 9000lbs so who knows.

[wiredgeorge]

The truck may not be the favorite family hauler but will pull your camper with a lot less stress and more safety. I still don't understand why Discount Tire couldn't come up with load range E 20" tires for your family vehicle. Here are a ton of 20" LRE tires and most a product lines Discount Tires carry.



https://tires.tirerack.com/tires/275%2065%2020


Just be thankful you have a family that is enthusiastic about camping and take the time to get the kiddos off their electronic brain killers and have them out and about getting some scrapes and stings as this stuff makes for better memories than playing Nintendo or whatever they play these days (probably is Pong I suspect).



BTW: You a firefighter? I was with the Mico VFD for 12 years and ended up an engineer as I got a little to... well, husky to get around well in turn out gear. Lucky we mostly do wildland firefighting and I quit/retired when I turned 65 as that got a bit much for me.



I know your family would have been happier going to a campground in the Nissan family truckster but they will be a lot safer in the real pickup. You will also have a lot less chance of burning up your Nissan brakes and transmission and ruining the suspension.

[Firefighter1406]

When I did the tongue weight calculating off the max weight of the trailer and then then subtracted my wife’s weight and my weight and I was already out of weight to subtract from made the choice a no brained. Just took me a moment(and you guys telling me) to get there. .

Yes I am a current career Firefighter/EMT. 16 years in full time. 8 more to go and I am out!!!

[wiredgeorge]

Well, my last tip for you Firefighter/EMT is to NEVER put your wife's weight or age on this forum. These things are used as blackmail of unwitting husbands. Good luck on your camping! Stay safe.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Firefighter1406

When I did the tongue weight calculating off the max weight of the trailer and then then subtracted my wife’s weight and my weight and I was already out of weight to subtract from made the choice a no brained. Just took me a moment(and you guys telling me) to get there. .

Yes I am a current career Firefighter/EMT. 16 years in full time. 8 more to go and I am out!!!

The proper vernacular would be "when adding my weight and the 115 lbs for the DW ......

[Firefighter1406]

Shoot you guys give me two much credit. I haven’t known her weight for 16 years. I held the phone over and she punched it in. I leave that alone.