Question Will This Setup Work?

[preussj00]

Hello! I'm new to this forum and RVing in general. I'm currently looking to purchase a travel trailer, scheduled to pickup next Saturday. Since looking a couple weeks ago, I've been spending a lot of time focusing on the numbers to ensure I can safely tow.

Travel Trailer
Cherokee Wolf Pup 17JG
Dry Weight - 3,879 lbs
Dry Hitch Weight - 430 lbs
GVWR - 4,999 lbs
Payload Capacity - 1,120 lbs
Length - 23ft 4in

Tow Vehicle
2022 Dodge Durango GT Plus
Engine - 3.6L V6
Dry Weight - 5,060 lbs, recently weighed at CAT scale at 5,040 but made some adjustments for fuel and a couple other things I had in the vehicle at the time
GVWR - 6,500 lbs
Payload Capacity - 1,440 lbs (GVWR - Dry Weight)
Cargo Capacity per door placard - 1,200 lbs
Max Hitch Weight - 620 lbs
Max Tow Capacity - 6,200 lbs
GCWR - 11,600
Wheel Base - 119.8 inches

I'm feeling pretty good about the TV capability to tow this TT. I am purchasing a Sway Pro 750 Sway control/WDH. I am cognizant of the payload capacity of the TV. I'm aiming to put a max of 700 lbs of gear into the trailer, which will give a Hitch Weight of around 600 lbs. One of the things I'm most worried about at this point is the wheel base of the TV vs length of the TT. I'm also aware of the wind drag I'll be experiencing with this trailer vs a pop-up.

I live in the upper Midwest and don't have any plans at this point to be going into any mountainous areas with this setup.

Being new to the game here, is there anything I'm missing? Should I be re-considering a different trailer? Or am I OK thinking I'm within my limits and go have a good time?

Thanks!

 

[Buc]

How many pounds of people, pets and stuff do you think you’ll have in the TV?

 

[preussj00]

How many pounds of people, pets and stuff do you think you’ll have in the TV?

Because of the payload capacity limitations, it'll just be myself, significant other, and two dogs. I don't intend to load any cargo into the TV. So we should end up being around 600 or so. I know the door placard says 1,200 lbs max so I'm trying to stay around there. However, I believe the true payload/cargo capacity would be the GVWR less the dry weight, which I'm calculating at 1,440.

 

[Buc]

Based on my understanding of this, you should be fine. The extra cargo capacity of the trailer is what put the one we ended up buying at the top of the list. We have plenty of cargo capacity in the TV which won’t be pushed until our kids are much older.

 

[Jireh Financial]

Maybe this is just me (MY OPINION) but towing with a V6 short wheel based vehicle will have challenges. Even with electric brakes and a proper hitch, there is a bunch of weight behind you that will move around. You need to remember wind, hills and traffic. Regardless, if you pack things in the trailer or the vehicle, it all counts as pounds that need to be pulled and stopped.
Let me know if we can help.
Thank you,
Ken

 

[preussj00]

Maybe this is just me (MY OPINION) but towing with a V6 short wheel based vehicle will have challenges. Even with electric brakes and a proper hitch, there is a bunch of weight behind you that will move around. You need to remember wind, hills and traffic. Regardless, if you pack things in the trailer or the vehicle, it all counts as pounds that need to be pulled and stopped.
Let me know if we can help.
Thank you,
Ken

Thanks for the input. The wheel base vs trailer length is my main concern at this point.

 

[fluffywhitedogs]

Hope this is allowed here, but if you’re on Facebook, there’s a Durango Campers group where you can get a lot of Durango-specific info. (And see lots of people really pushing their luck!)

 

[preussj00]

Hope this is allowed here, but if you’re on Facebook, there’s a Durango Campers group where you can get a lot of Durango-specific info. (And see lots of people really pushing their luck!)

Do you think this setup is pushing my luck? At first I thought I was well within the limits of the vehicle, but maybe I'm off base.

I'll check out that Facebook group if I can find it.

 

[fluffywhitedogs]

Do you think this setup is pushing my luck? At first I thought I was well within the limits of the vehicle, but maybe I'm off base.

I'll check out that Facebook group if I can find it.

Oh, I wasn’t insinuating that at all! At a glance it looks fine to me but there are folks here much more knowledgeable than I am. I was referring to some of the folks in the group and the things that they tow

 

[Buc]

Reading up online, it looks like your max recommended trailer length is about 22.5 feet. I’m not sure if lighter weight affects that, though the anti-sway kit should help.

 

[Buc]

Adding to last post. It looks like the issue with shorter wheelbases is leverage causing the trailer to lift the front wheels of the TV. Wouldn’t a load distribution system help negate this?

 

[preussj00]

Adding to last post. It looks like the issue with shorter wheelbases is leverage causing the trailer to lift the front wheels of the TV. Wouldn’t a load distribution system help negate this?

That's what I'm hoping. I talked to the dealer about getting the Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch. It's supposed to provide sway control and weight distribution.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

I have a little experience towing a 6×12 enclosed trailer @ 5000lbs behind a 2005 Durango but it did have the HEMI. I didn't find the wheelbase to be an issue and I know your generation is likely better in almost every way. I also suspect it's lighter so could be wagged a bit more by the trailer. My biggest concern would be the engine, it certainly has the horsepower to get the job done but I have that same engine in my minivan and it starts making good torque around 8000rpm, you'll have it wound up pretty good almost all the time on the highway. I'm considering a pop-up to occasionally pull with the van and never into the mountains unless hooked to my truck. The pop-up weighs closer to 3100lbs and has a much smaller frontal area and I'm still worried about anything over 55mph due to the complete lack of low end torque.

 

[team bradfield]

That's what I'm hoping. I talked to the dealer about getting the Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch. It's supposed to provide sway control and weight distribution.

IF you are asking the question, I think you know the answer, you need a bigger TV with an 8 cylinder and larger brakes, IMO your flirting with disaster, our first TT was a 23' with no slides, a ford van with the small V8, I white knuckeld it every time a semi past us up, seriously you need power, torque, transmission and brakes to tow anything, as mentioned, traffic, wind, inclines, quick stopping in emergency, Safe travels for you and the family

 

[Buc]

IF you are asking the question, I think you know the answer, you need a bigger TV with an 8 cylinder and larger brakes, IMO your flirting with disaster, our first TT was a 23' with no slides, a ford van with the small V8, I white knuckeld it every time a semi past us up, seriously you need power, torque, transmission and brakes to tow anything, as mentioned, traffic, wind, inclines, quick stopping in emergency, Safe travels for you and the family

What year was your V8 van, and what was its tow capacity?

 

[preussj00]

IF you are asking the question, I think you know the answer, you need a bigger TV with an 8 cylinder and larger brakes, IMO your flirting with disaster, our first TT was a 23' with no slides, a ford van with the small V8, I white knuckeld it every time a semi past us up, seriously you need power, torque, transmission and brakes to tow anything, as mentioned, traffic, wind, inclines, quick stopping in emergency, Safe travels for you and the family

Thanks for the input. I'm essentially asking if I'm missing anything in my initial analysis. The durango has a tow capacity of 6,200 lbs and the trailer I'm asking about will have a weight of about 4,600 once loaded. I know there are other factors. I'm not sure what your van was rated for, but it sounds like you had a rough go. Thanks again for the input.

 

[preussj00]

IF you are asking the question, I think you know the answer, you need a bigger TV with an 8 cylinder and larger brakes, IMO your flirting with disaster, our first TT was a 23' with no slides, a ford van with the small V8, I white knuckeld it every time a semi past us up, seriously you need power, torque, transmission and brakes to tow anything, as mentioned, traffic, wind, inclines, quick stopping in emergency, Safe travels for you and the family

Out of curiosity, what do the slides have to do with it? Are you saying the trailer you had was lighter than the one in my example?

 

[team bradfield]

What year was your V8 van, and what was its tow capacity?

1999, E-150 4.6 V8 with tow capacity of 6600lbs, small incline out of Chamberlain SD, had to pull over and crawl up the "hill"

Out of curiosity, what do the slides have to do with it? Are you saying the trailer you had was lighter than the one in my example?

yes, slides add weight

 

[preussj00]

1999, E-150 4.6 V8 with tow capacity of 6600lbs, small incline out of Chamberlain SD, had to pull over and crawl up the "hill"

yes, slides add weight

Yeah, I get that. I was just curious because you didn't mention the trailer weight.

 

[Bigblockyeti]

That 1999 van would have weighed significantly more unless it was an empty cargo model, had ~5 fewer transmission gears, suspension designed during the Gerald Ford administration and at least 70 less horsepower. Apples to oranges.