Towing Question....newbie......

[axg1040]

RIDGELINE Towing info
From the owners manual:
2 occupants, 5000 lb, 600 lb max tongue weight
3 occupants, 4750 lb, 600 lb max tongue weight
4 occupants, 4750 lb, 570 lb max tongue weight
5 occupants, 4500 lb, 516 lb max tongue weight

The corresponding weight limits assume occupants fill seats from the front of the vehicle to the back, each occupant weighs 150 lb and each has 15 lb of cargo in the cab, pickup bed, or in-Bed Trunk. Any additional weight, including cargo and accessories, reduces the maximum trailer weight and maximum tongue load. Never exceed the gross axle weight ratings.

My question....

If I had 4 occupants (lets assume the above statement about peoples weight and how much gear they each had) and was towing something that weighed 4750 lbs but only had a 250lb tongue weight....since I would be under the 570 lb tongue weight....will that allow me to use that addtional 320 lbs for other gear?? Of course I would never carry the max but was just wondering if by not using up all the max tongue weight on a trailer could I use the leftover capacity elsewhere.

Thanks....sorry if you guys think this is a stupid question.....

[csimo]

Let's look at a Ridgeline RTS for example.

GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) is 10085 lbs.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) is 6050 lbs.
Curb Weight (with hitch): 4520 lbs.

So if you take the GCVWR - Curb Weight you end up with 5565 lbs. available for the trailer and additional vehicle cargo and passengers.

If we take that 5565 lbs. and subtract the maximum trailer weight of 5000 lbs. we end up with 565 lbs.

So when towing a 5000 lb. trailer you could have any combination of driver, passengers and/or cargo up to 565 lbs. in the Ridgeline.

As you reduce the trailer weight you can add more weight for passengers and cargo up to the 6050 lb. GVW. If we subtract the Curb Weight from the GVW we see that the RTS is capable of up to 1530 lbs. for the driver, passengers, and cargo if not pulling a trailer over 4035 lbs. (but still assuming the weight of the hitch is installed).

So the maximum load for a Ridgeline RTS is 1530 lbs. for the driver, passengers, and vehicle cargo, plus a 4035 lb. trailer. Reducing the trailer weight does not allow us to carry more than 1530 lbs. in the Ridgeline.

Hope this covers all the angles.

The tongue weight spec. is a maximum only... you don't add it to the trailer or vehicle weight.

The other models vary only slightly.

Hope this helps!

[shovelhd]

Joe, you should change the title and make this post a sticky.

[axg1040]

Thanks for the information.

[csimo]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

Joe, you should change the title and make this post a sticky.

Maybe I'll compile the info for the various models and make an interactive web form. Shouldn't be too hard.