Will my new Nissan Frontier truck handle this travel trailer?

[AZRVer]

Being new to the RV world, I’m hoping someone can take a quick look at my numbers and let me know if I’m making the right TT decision.

The truck we just bought has a maximum towing capacity of 6,170 lbs. The lightest TT I can find that works for my wife and me (we need an RV Queen bed you can walk around) weighs 3,380 empty. Fully loaded, it is good up to 4,820. We estimate 500-600 lbs. of cargo, which will put it at just under 4,000 lbs, well below the truck’s 80% max of 4,936 lbs. Seems to be good.

The truck’s max allowable tongue weight is 500 lbs (618 with a WD hitch). The TT’s tongue weight is 430, which could jump to 530 with a WD hitch. Seems to be good. Question: Will a WD hitch be necessary with these numbers?

The truck’s max payload 1,220 lbs. Adding the weights I can think of (530 tongue weight, 300 for humans, 200 for gas, 100 for misc.) results in 1,130. Seems to be good.

The X factor is the wind resistance caused by the frontal surface area of the TT. But I’m ok driving 60-65 on the highway, which should help with this and the cheap Chinese tires – until I can afford to replace them.

Is my logic sound? Is there anything I’m forgetting? Thanks!

[Kirk W]

A weight distributing hitch should be used if towing a trailer that weighs 50% as much as the towing vehicle, or more. 

[rickeieio]

Your numbers seem sound. The only thing that may be a fly in the ointment would be if you exceed the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR)  This number can be difficult to find, but is pretty important.

Before doing anything else, I'd load up your wife in the truck, along with what seem likely to have along for a camping trip, full fuel tank, etc, and go weigh it.  You'll likely be surprised at how close you are to max load, even without a trailer on the hitch.

[sandsys]

500-600 pounds of cargo is not a lot. One pair of jeans weighs several pounds. I can of food usually weighs about one pound. Water weighs 8+ pounds per gallon. When we bought a rig with minimal cargo capacity, I traded my jeans for cotton slacks and our Corelle dinnerware for plastic plates. I recommend you weigh a few things you already own to get a sense of what 500-600 pounds means.

Linda Sand

[MarsBar]

Your numbers are too close for comfort.  1400lbs CCC for the trailer isn't very much at all.  You haven't said if your truck is 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton.  Better to have a bigger truck to start with.  Honestly, a 3/4 ton truck is probably the smallest you want to have, then you can bump up the trailer weight as you find your needs evolve. 

[Kirk W]

The weight of a pair of blue jeans can vary depending on the style and brand, but on average, jeans weigh between 10 and 16 ounces.

[AZRVer]

22 hours ago, Kirk W said:

The weight of a pair of blue jeans can vary depending on the style and brand, but on average, jeans weigh between 10 and 16 ounces.

Seems about right. Back when I was in the Army, during weigh-ins, they would subtract one pound for pants and two pounds for boots.

[sandsys]

The clothes I generally wear now are so light weight they only add two pounds including shoes. The things we learn when RVing.

Linda

[fpmtngal]

Knowing the gross combined weight rating of the TV is important info.  The way the manufacturers work it is that the max tow rating is based on an empty truck with a driver - no other cargo.  So the combined weight rating is basically the curb weight of the truck, plus enough for a passenger and then a trailer weighing the max weight.  Add a second person and some cargo in the truck and the same trailer, and the combination would be over the gross combined weight rating.

It’s looking like that trailer might work for your Frontier, but it will be marginal and you’d need to be a minimalist to keep your weights down. I started out towing a slightly heavier trailer (weighed between 5000-5200 lbs most of the time) with a V6 Grand Cherokee that had 6200 lbs max tow/620 lbs tongue weight rating.  With a lot of care, I made it work.  I think you could make that trailer work with the Frontier, but it got old after a while, especially when I started finding lots of cool things that made camping life easier and more fun.

I think 500-600 lbs of cargo in the trailer is underestimating what you’ll put on or in the trailer.  Empty trailer weight does not include batteries (that’s a dealer installed item normally).  Batteries can add 60-150 lbs, depending on what you need.  Dry weight does not include water in the fresh water tank - that’s cargo also.  If you travel with not much food, clothes for only a couple of days (use laundromats more often), one pair of shoes each, a pot/pan set that’s designed more for backpacking than home use, Melamine plates (not microwaveable) instead of paper or Corelle, minimal cooking stuff, no coffee pot (there are lighter alternatives), no toaster, minimal tools, etc.  You get the idea.  My first trailer had a cargo capacity of 1300 lbs and if I worked at it, I could keep the cargo to around 800-900 lbs.  That was with a single Group 27 battery, no solar, no inverter, no generator (I was towing with an SUV) so no dry camping.

That lasted for 2 years until I started dry camping and then the trailer was always close to or just over its 5500 lb GVWR, tongue weight went up to 750 lbs (two Group 31 batteries) and I bought an F150.

Good luck with it!

[Sobro]

One other factor to consider is the Rear Axle Weight Rating of the tow vehicle. After CAT Scale weighing my nearest weight to Max is always the RAWR.

[craigegg]

I am new to RV world and doing it full time. When I was looking for a travel trailer, I was also looking for a new truck to tow with also. So I put the cart before the horse and picked the trailer that fit my needs and wants 1st. I’m glad that I did because the trucks I was looking at said it had the capacity to tow it but with added weight I thought it would be a real strain on the transmission and engine. In any event I up my truck power. I use more gas but I’m also doing it full time. Not sure if it helps but that’s my 2 cents worth.