Hi folks. Bought a 2014 Expy EL w/ HD Tow Package recently.. Super excited. Been researching for a few months now various campers, and all the math that goes along with it. Want something large enough for the family (three kids plus foster children and/or friends as they are with us), so we're looking for something that sleeps 7-10 folks. That's a big rig. I better do my math right!
I am seeing most folks here talk about the max tongue weight, but not really consider the max payload/cargo limits on the driver door tire label. I'm curious if I'm the one missing something, or most everyone else?
As I see it:
With WDH, I can have a max tongue weight of 890lbs. But regardless, I have a max payload "not to exceed 1433lbs" on my driver door tire label. With driver (200), wife and three kids (475), weekend luggage (200), hitch (50), that max payload drops precipitously to (1433-200-475-200-50=) 508lbs. I no longer have an 890 lb tongue limit. I have a 508 lb tongue limit! With a 10-15% tongue weight ratio, my max loaded trailer weight has dropped to between 3,386 - 5,080 lbs!
If I decide to move the luggage weight from the Expy into the trailer, though, I can reduce that 200lbs by 85% to just ~30lbs of hitch weight. Now, with just driver, humans, and hitch, my tongue limit raises to 708lbs, which brings me back up to a max loaded trailer weight of 4,720 - 7,080 lbs.
This is STILL a far cry from the 890 lbs tongue weight that I see most folks discussing.
So, am I wrong? Or is this something that most folks are overlooking when talking about travel trailers?
cheers,
..dane
ps.- I'm assuming that the tire label specified max cargo rating already accounts for a full tank of gas? If that's an incorrect assumption, then oiy! That tongue weight needs to go WAY back down!
I am seeing most folks here talk about the max tongue weight, but not really consider the max payload/cargo limits on the driver door tire label. I'm curious if I'm the one missing something, or most everyone else?
As I see it:
With WDH, I can have a max tongue weight of 890lbs. But regardless, I have a max payload "not to exceed 1433lbs" on my driver door tire label. With driver (200), wife and three kids (475), weekend luggage (200), hitch (50), that max payload drops precipitously to (1433-200-475-200-50=) 508lbs. I no longer have an 890 lb tongue limit. I have a 508 lb tongue limit! With a 10-15% tongue weight ratio, my max loaded trailer weight has dropped to between 3,386 - 5,080 lbs!
If I decide to move the luggage weight from the Expy into the trailer, though, I can reduce that 200lbs by 85% to just ~30lbs of hitch weight. Now, with just driver, humans, and hitch, my tongue limit raises to 708lbs, which brings me back up to a max loaded trailer weight of 4,720 - 7,080 lbs.
This is STILL a far cry from the 890 lbs tongue weight that I see most folks discussing.
So, am I wrong? Or is this something that most folks are overlooking when talking about travel trailers?
cheers,
..dane
ps.- I'm assuming that the tire label specified max cargo rating already accounts for a full tank of gas? If that's an incorrect assumption, then oiy! That tongue weight needs to go WAY back down!