Anxiety by first time RVer

[FirstTimer329]

Hello. I am very anxious about buying a Lite weight Travel trailer. I would like to know if is safe to tow a travel trailer with a 2023 Honda Odyssey? I plan to buy a trailer that is below the max towing capacity of 3500 Lbs. I plan to travel to the west coast and back. Boondocking most of my stops. My other cause of my anxiety is, which trailer do you recommend? Keep in mind a budget.

 

[Rosy]

In addition to the towing capacity of your van, you need to consider the payload capacity. Everything you put in and on the vehicle, including people, gear and the tongue weight of the trailer will count against that number.

Let's say for example your payload capacity is 800 lbs (I have no idea what it is, this is just an example). If you put 5 people who each weigh 165 lbs in the van, you'll be over your payload capacity without anything else in the vehicle, never mind hitching up a trailer.

The tongue weights that trailer manufacturers list in their literature are "dry" numbers, meaning they don't include propane, water, spare tire or any of the thousands of pounds of stuff you're going to need in the trailer for a camping trip, all of which will have a variable effect on the tongue weight, depending on where in the trailer it's loaded.

 

[FirstTimer329]

In addition to the towing capacity of your van, you need to consider the payload capacity. Everything you put in and on the vehicle, including people, gear and the tongue weight of the trailer will count against that number.

Let's say for example your payload capacity is 800 lbs (I have no idea what it is, this is just an example). If you put 5 people who each weigh 165 lbs in the van, you'll be over your payload capacity without anything else in the vehicle, never mind hitching up a trailer.

The tongue weights that trailer manufacturers list in their literature are "dry" numbers, meaning they don't include propane, water, spare tire or any of the thousands of pounds of stuff you're going to need in the trailer for a camping trip, all of which will have a variable effect on the tongue weight, depending on where in the trailer it's loaded.

Thank you for your response. It will be taken under consideration.

 

[Porterhouse]

Hello. I am very anxious about buying a Lite weight Travel trailer. I would like to know if is safe to tow a travel trailer with a 2023 Honda Odyssey? I plan to buy a trailer that is below the max towing capacity of 3500 Lbs. I plan to travel to the west coast and back. Boondocking most of my stops. My other cause of my anxiety is, which trailer do you recommend? Keep in mind a budget.

With conventional travel trailer towing, the weight of the tow vehicle in relation to the weight of the trailer is important for towing stability. Your Honda weighs about 4500 lbs. and that compares well with your 3500 lb. (or less) trailer. You won't have any problem. Just make sure your trailer tongue weight is 10% or more of it's fully loaded weight, otherwise it may tend sway a little.

 

[Pirate 19]

Make sure the trailer has brakes. The Rockies are steep.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Hello. I am very anxious about buying a Lite weight Travel trailer. I would like to know if is safe to tow a travel trailer with a 2023 Honda Odyssey? I plan to buy a trailer that is below the max towing capacity of 3500 Lbs. I plan to travel to the west coast and back. Boondocking most of my stops. My other cause of my anxiety is, which trailer do you recommend? Keep in mind a budget.

Where the weight in your trailer is situated is important as well. See the you tube video.

 

[christianrios]

Totally normal to feel anxious as a first-time RVer. With a 3,500 lb tow rating, make sure you’re looking at loaded weight, not just dry weight — I’d aim for something under 2,500 lbs dry to stay comfortable and safe. A weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes are a must. Keep it simple, especially if you’re planning to boondock. Once you get a trip or two in, your confidence will go way up.


Select 27 more words to run Humanizer.

 

[FirstTimer329]

With conventional travel trailer towing, the weight of the tow vehicle in relation to the weight of the trailer is important for towing stability. Your Honda weighs about 4500 lbs. and that compares well with your 3500 lb. (or less) trailer. You won't have any problem. Just make sure your trailer tongue weight is 10% or more of it's fully loaded weight, otherwise it may tend sway a little.

Thank you. I believe my vehicle’s tongue weight is 350 lbs. Would that mean that I should gay a trailer with that tongue weight or a little bit more?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Thank you. I believe my vehicle’s tongue weight is 350 lbs. Would that mean that I should gay a trailer with that tongue weight or a little bit more?

From the factory the 10 to 15% rule is maintained. How you load determines the loaded tongue weight. 10 to 15% is not optional,that is safe.

 

[RobertE]

I’ve owned a lot of trucks and towed a lot of trailers and I can tell you with certainty towing capacities are always over rated. My rule of thumb is to halve the advertised capacity.

For example, my truck is a 1/2 ton with a “max towing” package and an advertised load of 11,000# and a max hitch weight if 850# —No way - not in the real world! Our trailer empty is light - #4500, but the actual is close to #5000 even with empty tanks.

IMO your vehicle not suitable for a 3500# trailer, in fact would be unsafe even with brakes. Tongue weight is important especially in a vehicle with no frame. My advice is think more about <2000# and a hitch weight less like 200# and you will probably need air assist shocks. As mentioned you have to add cargo weight, Bith the trailer and the vehicle. If you’re boondocking and carrying water, 30 gallons of water weifht 240#.

There are other things to consider besides weight, namely the engine, cooling system ans especially the transmission. A vehicle like yours is not designed for long distance towing, possible through heat and hills.

IMO you’re looking at a lighter trailer with a hitch weight if maybe 200#.

I’d be giving some serious thought to a little teardrop trailer and tent camping.

I hope this helps, but IMO if a tiny trailer isn’t in the picture I’d suggest looking at a more suitable vehicle.

 

[Porterhouse]

Thank you. I believe my vehicle’s tongue weight is 350 lbs. Would that mean that I should gay a trailer with that tongue weight or a little bit more?

Not necessarily. The 10% minimum tongue weight has to do with the stability of the trailer (to reduce the tendency for the trailer to sway). As far as the tow vehicle goes, too much tongue weight tends to lower the tow vehicle's handling ability. As long as you're in the 10%-15% range, though, you'll be OK.

When you look at the specs of the trailer that you're thinking about buying, keep in mind that the tongue weight they give you is only an estimate. The actual tongue weight depends on how you load the trailer, so you will be able to make minor adjustments as you load. The ideal way to load a trailer is to have most of the load above the axle(s), with a slight forward bias to give you the tongue weight that you need.

 

[Holdmybeer]

There are a lot of caveats to be aware of when towing with a Honda Odyssey. You don't have a Tow/Haul mode, so you'd have to use the paddle shifters and your 3,500 lb. capacity is predicated on keeping the payload in the van to a minimum. It likely has a tran. cooler, but in my opinion, dragging around 3,500 lbs with that vehicle is a transmission overhaul waiting to happen.

 

[FirstTimer329]

From the factory the 10 to 15% rule is maintained. How you load determines the loaded tongue weight. 10 to 15% is not optional,that is safe.

Got it. Thanks. Any recommendations on a lite travel trailer?

Where the weight in your trailer is situated is important as well. See the you tube video.

Thank you, Rosy, for that video. on another note. I'm preparing my tow vehicle. Besides the 7 pin electrical harness, I also realized that I needed a brake controller. It was separate from the 7 pin harness. I opted not for the hard wired one but the bluetooth Echo Mobile Trailer Brake Controller. The part was $100 less than the hard wired one and no labor cost to install it. So far, this endeavor has costed me about $1000. Besides the buying of a trailer, which I believe is my next step. Does anyone have an advice?

 

[FirstTimer329]

Make sure the trailer has brakes. The Rockies are steep.

Good advice. Thank you. Do you have any advice on which route I should take to lessen the climb and descend of the rookies?

 

[FirstTimer329]

I’ve owned a lot of trucks and towed a lot of trailers and I can tell you with certainty towing capacities are always over rated. My rule of thumb is to halve the advertised capacity.

For example, my truck is a 1/2 ton with a “max towing” package and an advertised load of 11,000# and a max hitch weight if 850# —No way - not in the real world! Our trailer empty is light - #4500, but the actual is close to #5000 even with empty tanks.

IMO your vehicle not suitable for a 3500# trailer, in fact would be unsafe even with brakes. Tongue weight is important especially in a vehicle with no frame. My advice is think more about <2000# and a hitch weight less like 200# and you will probably need air assist shocks. As mentioned you have to add cargo weight, Bith the trailer and the vehicle. If you’re boondocking and carrying water, 30 gallons of water weifht 240#.

There are other things to consider besides weight, namely the engine, cooling system ans especially the transmission. A vehicle like yours is not designed for long distance towing, possible through heat and hills.

IMO you’re looking at a lighter trailer with a hitch weight if maybe 200#.

I’d be giving some serious thought to a little teardrop trailer and tent camping.

I hope this helps, but IMO if a tiny trailer isn’t in the picture I’d suggest looking at a more suitable vehicle.

Thank you.