Towing Travel Trailer - Question/help

Hi, i know there are a ton of threads about towing but looking to see what the general consensus is. I have a 2021 Gladiator (Overland) with regular tow package. I am looking at getting the following travel trailer:

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-208bhs-2081880-29

It has a dry weight on the sticker of the trailer of 4319 and hitch weight of 596 pounds. What are your thoughts on towing this, taking into account adding people, cargo, and equipment for camping? Is there a dry weight limit I should stick to? Thanks!

By your having to ask shows that you know the answer already.

welcome to the forums

what is the payload listed inside the drivers side door frame along the B pillar?

Payload is the biggest issue with MOST tow questions people have. If youre going to exceed that number than its a no go on the linked camper. There are a LOT of options though that have bunks and even a pop out.

You also need to consider the frontal area of the camper your looking at and be sure it is within the standard laid out in your owners manual.

A weight distribution hitch is a must for these JTs with most campers. I suggest an equalizer either 2 or 4 point system. Theyre simple to install and maintain. But keep in mind the WDH's weight needs to be accounted for in your total payload.

Some alternative options

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-cherokee-wolf-pup-17jg-2049551-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-186bh-2050558-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-rockwood-geo-pro-g16bh-2049378-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-194bhs-2049622-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-...erokee-wolf-pup-black-label-17jgbl-2050077-29

Gren71 said:

welcome to the forums

what is the payload listed inside the drivers side door frame along the B pillar?

Payload is the biggest issue with MOST tow questions people have. If youre going to exceed that number than its a no go on the linked camper. There are a LOT of options though that have bunks and even a pop out.

You also need to consider the frontal area of the camper your looking at and be sure it is within the standard laid out in your owners manual.

A weight distribution hitch is a must for these JTs with most campers. I suggest an equalizer either 2 or 4 point system. Theyre simple to install and maintain. But keep in mind the WDH's weight needs to be accounted for in your total payload.

Some alternative options

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-cherokee-wolf-pup-17jg-2049551-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-186bh-2050558-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-rockwood-geo-pro-g16bh-2049378-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-194bhs-2049622-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-...erokee-wolf-pup-black-label-17jgbl-2050077-29

Click to expand...

Thank you for the very thorough response. On my door jam I see the GVWR listed at 5800 pounds, if that’s what you are referring to. I don’t see any other weights listed other than GAWR front and rear. For sure getting a WDH and anti-sway bars, as well as a brake controller. Appreciate the tips and links.

That trailer is too heavy. You should not get a trailer that weighs more than 3,500 lbs. That would allow for all of your cargo and passengers.

The Max Tow package can tow up to 7,500 lbs.

berb said:

That trailer is too heavy. You should not get a trailer that weighs more than 3,500 lbs. That would allow for all of your cargo and passengers.

The Max Tow package can tow up to 7,500 lbs.

Click to expand...

I don't know where you got that from but, the owners manual says that an Overland with the auto and factory tow package has a 6,000 lb tow rating. The picture you posted is untrue...yes, true for the 6sp manual but untrue for the 8sp auto.

As far as looking at hitch weight, sometimes I fail to understand how a trailer that is two foot shorter than mine, and a lower overall weight, can have a hitch weight that is 160 pounds more than mine. Mine is 420 pounds (Venture Sonic SN220VBR), even with things in the front pass through, it isn't more than 500 pounds, plus, other things packed to the rear of the trailer can mitigate some of that frontal tongue weight. That, and a good WDH.

As mentioned in another post, in another thread, I measured the droop when I set my trailer on the hitch and it only dropped an inch and a half. Hooked up the WDH and the drop was only about 3/4 of an inch. I actually set up the WDH with the tongue jack supporting the front then, I bring it all the way up once the WDH is set. Helps in setting the torsion bars and getting the chains from the bars to the trailer set up set where they need to be.

Buy what is in your towing capacity...weight of trailer, tongue weight, etc...what will hold your family comfortably, AND what you will feel comfortable towing.

Gren71 said:

welcome to the forums

what is the payload listed inside the drivers side door frame along the B pillar?

Payload is the biggest issue with MOST tow questions people have. If youre going to exceed that number than its a no go on the linked camper. There are a LOT of options though that have bunks and even a pop out.

You also need to consider the frontal area of the camper your looking at and be sure it is within the standard laid out in your owners manual.

A weight distribution hitch is a must for these JTs with most campers. I suggest an equalizer either 2 or 4 point system. Theyre simple to install and maintain. But keep in mind the WDH's weight needs to be accounted for in your total payload.

Some alternative options

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-cherokee-wolf-pup-17jg-2049551-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-186bh-2050558-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-rockwood-geo-pro-g16bh-2049378-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-194bhs-2049622-29

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-...erokee-wolf-pup-black-label-17jgbl-2050077-29

Click to expand...

Have looked at alot of these smaller trailers and this is the first time i have come across this layout. I like that it keeps the living separate even if the kids are in the same area not like there is much privacy in any of these anyways.

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

A_mooose said:

Thank you for the very thorough response. On my door jam I see the GVWR listed at 5800 pounds, if that’s what you are referring to. I don’t see any other weights listed other than GAWR front and rear. For sure getting a WDH and anti-sway bars, as well as a brake controller. Appreciate the tips and links.

Click to expand...

When you open your drivers door the pillar that is in-between the front and rear door is the B pillar. On there is a sticker that has your tire pressures listed on it. At the top of that sticker it says the max payload for YOUR jt. Since most listed numbers are ballpark and change depending on factory options. If your not sure take a pic of the stickers on that pillar and well look here. I know sometimes when Im intently looking for something I manage to glaze over it despite it being in front of me haha

chesafreak said:

Have looked at alot of these smaller trailers and this is the first time i have come across this layout. I like that it keeps the living separate even if the kids are in the same area not like there is much privacy in any of these anyways.

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

Click to expand...

right!? I paused and really looked at that one.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers/wildwood-fsx/176QBHK/6908

The video walk through makes it look like a really cool mid size camper for a family of 4.

chesafreak said:

Have looked at alot of these smaller trailers and this is the first time i have come across this layout. I like that it keeps the living separate even if the kids are in the same area not like there is much privacy in any of these anyways.

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2022-forest-river-rv-wildwood-fsx-176qbhk-2050489-29

Click to expand...

I saw that one in person, the layout was kind of strange and not an open concept which we prefer.

A_mooose said:

Click to expand...

There should be another sticker
Heres what mine looks like


this is the sticker that shows payload

Depends is the answer.

On its face actually a decent choice not too big, 7’6” wide. Weights are all good.

Payload as mentioned is allways the problem on smaller trucks.

Take you truck google CAT scale and go weigh it. Then subtract the truck’s actual for what available payload you have.

Subtract tunge weight subtract weight distribution hitch and that’s what you have left over.

This is for kids wife wife’s purse dog beer and all the crap people like to load in the bed also.

That’s where most get into trouble is they push limits then over load with “stuff” and then end up way overloaded on payload.

A_mooose said:

Hi, i know there are a ton of threads about towing but looking to see what the general consensus is. I have a 2021 Gladiator (Overland) with regular tow package. I am looking at getting the following travel trailer:

https://www.bestrv.com/product/new-2023-coachmen-rv-apex-nano-208bhs-2081880-29

It has a dry weight on the sticker of the trailer of 4319 and hitch weight of 596 pounds. What are your thoughts on towing this, taking into account adding people, cargo, and equipment for camping? Is there a dry weight limit I should stick to? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Did you buy the trailer or choose different? Up front, I think this trailer is too heavy for your Overland. Tow ratings are determined by having one driver tow a base vehicle without cargo up a certain grade at a certain speed at hot ambient temperatures (I don't remember all of the specifics), without the truck overheating or otherwise giving you error messages. The payload number that @Gren71 was asking you about is important because you, the mods you've added to the JT, your passengers, your cargo and the 600 lbs of tongue weight have to fit within that number to not exceed the GVWR of 5800 lbs. The other number to worry about is the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR). This is 12,100 lbs for an Overland according to the 2023 Owners manual (check your 2021 owners manual). Assuming you max the trailer weight at the trailer's gross weight rating of 6000 lbs (easy to do) and you max the JT out at 5800 lbs (very easy to do when towing) then you'll be at a combined weight of 11,800 lbs with essentially no margin. You'll be struggling to get up a lot of grades. It won't be fun and could be unsafe. I would try to go at least 1000 lbs lighter on the trailer.

A_mooose said:

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Gross vehicle weight is not how much it can tow!

The manual tells you either 4k or 4.5K. If you get air bags in the back you can tow more, but I worry about the engine doing it without a re-gear or supercharger.