Switching from Class A RV to TT, Need Help

[skaul01]

I currently own a 2020 Tiffin Allegro 34PA, which I love; however, because of its size, we can't get it up to our house (we live up in the foothills and both the clearance and width of the roads is an issue), so it's in an amazing indoor storage facility. However, that indoor storage facility is expensive, and the inconvenience of packing everything up in my mini van, taking it to the storage facility 20+ mins away, unpacking everything and loading it into the RV, then doing the reverse on the return is getting very very old.

So I'm looking to sell my RV and buy a new SUV + travel trailer. What I'd like you all's help with is ensuring the SUV and TT I have in mind will work with each other weight-wise (I've never towed anything before, so this is all new to me).

I've been stalking this forum and see that the weights that are provided in specs may not be true weights, and I don't want to buy something that won't work.

So, I want to buy an Infiniti QX80 (this will be my every day vehicle as well as used for towing the TT). I will use my TT for dog shows, so the tow vehicle has to be able to fit dog crates/equipment, so a pickup truck won't work, not enough room for crates. Has to be an SUV, and I know there are bigger ones (Sequoia, Expedition, etc) but I'd prefer not to have to get the biggest one out there, again this will be my everyday vehicle, so need to balance size with function.

With all that said, I'm looking at getting a Cougar 22RBSWE. I've used several tow vehicle calculators which all say I should be fine with this SUV and this TT, but would love you all's input before I start shopping for both.

[NH_Bulldog]

With any SUV and their short wheelbases, you are pushing limits towing a trailer of any substantial size. The trailer will move the back of that SUV all over the road making it very unsafe. The QX80 is no different.

Forget any online specs for the trailer weights. What is listed is a sample of a particular model that has nothing in it, no batteries, no propane, nothing. This trailer has a actual tongue weight of about 936 lbs. plus another 120 lbs. for a quality weight distribution hitch (this is an absolute requirement) before you add people, pets, crates/kennels and any other cargo in the SUV you are over 1,000 lbs. of cargo. So what you need to do is look at one of these QX80's and see what the cargo loading sticker on the door jamb says. I am making an educated guess that it is about 1,300 lbs. maximum. Which means you have 244 lbs. available for two people, dogs, crates, food, grooming supplies, gear, etc. and absolutely zero safety margin.

Short answer is too much trailer, not enough SUV. Frankly, that trailer would push the limits of most 1/2 pickup trucks. You need to think of a Plan B at this point.

[skaul01]

Hey Rob, appreciate the input. The maximum payload for the QX80 is 1,415 lbs.

Question - the specs say the hitch weight is only 580. How did you find the tongue weight of 936 (so I know where/how to look this up for other TTs)?

[NH_Bulldog]

The tongue weight is based on a completely bare and empty trailer. It does not factor food, clothing propane, batteries, water in the fresh or waste tanks, etc. The real-world calculation is to take 13% of the GVWR of the trailer to give you a very close to accurate tongue weight.

Additionally, to properly size a trailer to a tow vehicle, 110" of wheelbase on the towing vehicle will let you tow a 20' trailer. For each additional 4" of vehicle wheelbase, you gain 1' of trailer length.

So using a QX80 as an example. you have a 121" wheelbase, which means your maximum trailer length should not exceed 23'. The 22RBSWE is 26' in length.

[skaul01]

Rob, again, thank you for the info - saved me from a horrible mistake! Ok, do you think this one would work with a QX80?

Jay Feather Micro 166fbs - 20ft, 3,975 lb dry weight

And does anyone here have any feedback on quality, etc?

[chuckster57]

Always use the GVWR weight in calculations. Nobody tows an empty trailer, and yes there just may be that one time you have to haul waste water. Remember that passengers and gear take away from the payload.