Our Trailer weight - 4'x8' Cubby

[beverlyt]

Hello all,
Thank you for all the suggestions on how to get our trailer weighed. Turns out the closest weight scale we found was at the local feedstore where the trucks get weighed for grain, corn, etc.
Our home-built Cubby weighed in abit more than I had hoped...but still...
Weight: 820 lbs
Tongue Weight: 95 pounds

We have the trailer pretty much packed with all assorted gear we use for camping, other than the 3 gallons of water.

Was planning on placing a light weight board on the tongue to attach the spare tire to. Now, I may go with attaching it back under the galley.... I don't think I want to go much higher on tongue weight.

Now just to decide if the New Beetle can pull it.

Bev

[sftiggee]

If that weight is with ALL your gear and its fully loaded and ready for camping when you took that weight, then yes...your NB could pull it. i wouldn't go much heavier than that though, thats for sure, at least noit with a gas engine Beetle.

Thsi reminds me, I should swing by the scales tomorrow morning on my way up to Bob's IADY and see what mine weighs.

Jolene

[campadk]

If your at 95lbs tongue and want to add a spare tire, your going to really be pushing your tongue weight.

[beverlyt]

Ah well, I guess I'll just wait a couple of years and buy a truck, or bigger car.
Too bad U.S. won't give an ok on tow numbers here.
Same car, but towing specs in Australia:
Weights & Capacities VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE 2.0 IKON
Kerb mass (kg) 1287
Tare mass (kg) 1287
GVM (kg) 1675kg
Seating capacity 4
Luggage capacity - seat up (litres) 209
Towing capacity - with brakes (kg) 1000
Towing capacity - without brakes (kg) 600
Probably would have went for it if the trailer weighed in more around 600 or 700 lbs.
Bev

[sftiggee]

Why not go for it? 600 kg is 1300 pounds (2.2 kgs to 1 pound).

The car in Australia is the same as the US model...

Jolene

[denverd0n]

FYI, 3 gallons of water will add about 25 pounds to your weight.

[beverlyt]

That water is heavy, isn't it!
Now when towing, does one include the people and belongings inside the vehicle as added overall weight?
Bev

[Spook]

People and cargo in the vehicle and the weight of the tow are calculated into the Gross Vehicle Weight. Which is the number you can't exceed.

[R Keller]

People and cargo in the vehicle and the weight of the tow are calculated into the Gross Vehicle Weight. Which is the number you can't exceed.

From what I understand, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for the tow vehicle is the weight of the tow vehicle itself, passengers, cargo, and just the tongue (hitch) weight) of the trailer.

The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR), on the other hand, is the maximum possible weight of the tow vehicle and trailer combination. However, you're not going to find that figure for most passenger vehicles...

You can, however, figure out what that figure is through some of the other figures that the manufacturer does provide. You'd want to do this if, for example, you are not only pulling a trailer, but also have a lot of passengers or extra cargo on a roof rack. I'll try to provide an example later this week. Then some of you trailer experts can dounble-check my math and thinking.

Of course you also have to take into account the Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR for each axle and not exceed that either...

Rik