Towing capacity question

[retnavycpo]

Hey all,

Well, I have ordered the hitch for my HHR, which I plan to pick up this Friday, and then have it installed by the Chevy dealer next Monday morning.

My concern though (if I need to worry at all) is the weight of the teardrop. The guy who is selling it does not know. He says two people can lift the tongue of the trailer easily, but that doesn't really tell me much. The towing capacity of my HHR is rated at 1000 pounds. Think I should quit worrying? I know the newer teardrops often weigh less than 1000, but not sure about this wooden one.

Pete

[Creamcracker]

Hey all,

Well, I have ordered the hitch for my HHR, which I plan to pick up this Friday, and then have it installed by the Chevy dealer next Monday morning.

My concern though (if I need to worry at all) is the weight of the teardrop. The guy who is selling it does not know. He says two people can lift the tongue of the trailer easily, but that doesn't really tell me much. The towing capacity of my HHR is rated at 1000 pounds. Think I should quit worrying? I know the newer teardrops often weigh less than 1000, but not sure about this wooden one.

Pete

I think for most teardrops ONE person should be able to lift the tongue very easily. I'll let the experts chip in.
Philip

[FireLion]

Weight is one thing and tongue weight is another. The seller can find the tongue weight by placing the tongue on a bathroom scale.
You DON'T want too much tongue weight, that'd be bad for your shocks, springs and tires! There is a way to find out the total weight using a bathroom scale but I forget how. Perhaps another member will chime in here.

[retnavycpo]

Weight is one thing and tongue weight is another. The seller can find the tongue weight by placing the tongue on a bathroom scale.
You DON'T want too much tongue weight, that'd be bad for your shocks, springs and tires! There is a way to find out the total weight using a bathroom scale but I forget how. Perhaps another member will chime in here.

I'd think there would be a way. But don't know if the guy selling it would bother with it.

Pete

[Steve_Cox]

Pete,

Not that this would be of any real help, but my wooden 5 X 10 teardrop weighs 1425 lbs, and the tongue weight is about 185 lbs.

[retnavycpo]

Pete,

Not that this would be of any real help, but my wooden 5 X 10 teardrop weighs 1425 lbs, and the tongue weight is about 185 lbs.

Maybe I need to have the guy to try and verify the weight. If it is over 1000, that would not be good.

I emailed him about it. Now to see what his response is.

Pete

[JenniferandPups]

It should be easy for the man to take the teardrop to the nearest weigh station for a weight, right? We just did that with our trailer, and all we did was drive it over the scale and stop for a minute with the axle over the scale. It was free, as we didn't need a certification.

Story of caution: We just bought a TTT. Our subaru legacy is rated to tow 2000 lbs with brakes, or 1000 lbs without brakes. The TTT was sold to us at 800 lbs. Seemed light, but we figured she couldn't be off by more than a hundred or two. After weighing it ourselves we found it was 1500 lbs (and no brakes, of course). She had no idea, but gave us a weight anyway!

Two of us can lift the tongue easily; the tongue weight is 155 on our TTT WITH the propane tanks filled and loaded. You'll want to see what the max tongue weight on your HHR is; you can't go over that number even if the teardrop is under as far as weight. You CAN reorganize loading if necessary, but you still want to keep about 60% in front of the axle (correct me if I'm wrong!).

Anyway, you definitely want an accurate weight before you drive up there to get it, as you don't want to hurt your car at all or be a danger on the road. it's possible it weighs more than 1000#, but also possible it's under 1000#.

Maybe you can pay him $50 or so in advance extra (non refundable) to drive it out for a weighing; seems cheap insurance to me, and I can't think of anyone who wouldnt' do somehting like that for an extra $50.

[retnavycpo]

The guy emailed me back, and said the title says it weighs 1000 lb.

Don't know if that is accurate. I just called him on the phone, and told him I'd throw in a little extra if he'd verify the weight to alleviate my concerns. He said he would try, but didn't think there was any place he could do so.

Pete

[BrwBier]

I weighed mine at the local recycling yard. Just go with a load of cans and they will be so interested that they will be glad to weigh it for you. At least that's how it went for me.
Brwbier

[retnavycpo]

Am having trouble posting replies to this forum tonight. Hope this one works........ Still don't know if I am going to Michigan yet or not to get the trailer....

Pete

[Wild Bill]

Most gravel pits, scrap yards are willing to check the weight for you if you call ahead and not go during their busy times with 10 trucks waiting to get on the scale. Call to be sure. The best way is to pull on the scale and weigh it all then pull off and out of the way and unhitch and get back on and weigh the tow vehicle and do the math. Alway remember scale ettiquette, never pull onto a scale until the truck in front of you is completely off and you get the green signal. Many have a digital read out right on the scale house that you can see from your car. Remember that you will also have camping gear that weighs a few pounds with you.
Consider a transmission cooler if you are planning on doing much towing at all, Heat breaks down the fluid and burns up a trans. It is important to know the trailer weight to install the correct hitch rated to handle the load you put on it. Better to error on the side of caution. By now you probably either have the trailer or not from the date of your post. Good luck. Bill

[Shadow Catcher]

I have a Subaru Outback Wagon with the H6. I put the biggest transmission cooler that would fit and switched to Amsoil Synthetic ATF 10 qts with complete flush. Subaru wants you to use their oil for some unknown reason and might try and void warranty. I have had the brake controller installed in the little pocket down on the left side of the steering wheel. Our Mega Mini tips the scale at 1150. Traveling the hills in Southern Ohio I found I definitely wanted brakes.

[BillandMarijo]

Our wooden (sidewalls are sandwiched w/ Fiberglass.)Tear is a 5x10 and she weighs in at 1400lbs.
Bill and Marijo

[Roly Nelson]

I weigh both my tears with a bathroom scale, (Max, 300lb) I can weigh the tongue easily, but for the wheels, I place one wheel the same height as the scale is thick. Then weigh one wheel, then the other with the same method. Oh yes, my 40" x 72" Stacker teardrop tops out at 245 lbs, tongue weight, near zero.
Roly