Towing capacity

Luvmyrides2 said:

thinkin of getting small trailer... know 5000lbs capable but how close to that can u really get.... anyone else have campers? How heavy? Just wondering how good it really tows too

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We regularly tow a Coachmen Freedom Express 192 RBS with our 2011 RTL. When fully loaded for a typical camping trip lasting a couple of weeks, our CAT Scale weights show the trailer to be usually between 4600-4700 lbs. Tongue weight comes in usually from 460-520 lbs. (I could reduce that by 40+ lbs. or so if I were to remove one of my two group 24 batteries mounted on the frame of the trailer.) Just yesterday, in fact, we left the Houston area for a 248+ mile run west to the Texas Hill Country. I set the cruise control for dead on at 60 mph and let the engineering and technology work on its own. Result: 10.0 (even) MPG for the trip. We had modest winds - maybe only 10-15 mph from the ESE for our westbound journey. Overall for the 14+ months we have towed this trailer, we have logged 4,716 miles for an overall MPG of 9.07. That includes a fairly challenging three week camping trip from SE Texa up through the northern Ozark Mountains in Arkansas - then hilly terrain in eastern Oklahoma with significant crosswinds. Those crosswinds turned into headwinds when we turned southward, of course. Amazingly, that entire trip of 1,582 miles yielded 10.04 MPG.

Winds are the key variable with a full profile travel trailer, because it is not just about weight. We do not use a weight distribution hitch per the Honda Owner Manual, but we do use a friction sway bar. But overall, the truck is amazingly stable. Just watch your weights. Be agressive with your fluid changes and brake maintenance. And obviously need must install an electronic brake controller which will plug in to your truck wiring harness.

Hope that helps.

Luvmyrides2 said:

Dont know if this worked last time... i m new here.... been lovin this site with all info! Own 2 ridgelines.. thinkin of getting small trailer... know 5000lbs capable but how close to that can u really get.... anyone else have campers? How heavy? Just wondering how good it really tows too

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We spent a week in the Texas Hill Country . . . made this stop in Luling for fuel and snacks (most Texas folks will know what this is) on the way home.

One of the biggest impacts on towing with the Gen 1 is wind resistance with a full profile trailer. For example, our westbound trip over 254.8 miles yielded a flat 10.0 MPG. We had very light breezes that day. On the return eastbound over the same exact route we recorded 9.1 MPG. The difference was that we had 10-15 mph winds from the NNE. As usual, I maintained a 60 mph speed - except for when we were traversing some of the steeper grades between Bandera and San Antonio - plus it was raining, so caution ruled.