First timer Shopping for TV for 21BHE

[TheGreatAdventure]

So, we've purchased our first TT and we're looking to pick up our 21BHE at some point in the next week or two. We have car camped pretty regularly the past couple years, but are looking to up our game.

I'm completely new to the travel trailer world so feel free to respond to me like I'm five. And not in the talk down to me like I'm five, but talk to me like my brain is a sponge and I'm filled with curiosity five. Ha.

We currently have two sedans, so we're looking to get rid of one and purchase a TV that will also serve as our family vehicle.

We're currently looking at a 2019 Nissan Armada - Tow Capacity 8500, Payload 1724. I feel like this should be more than enough. I've read enough boards to know that "you need a truck" is the answer over the half the time. And while I understand that argument I really want to be able to pull this thing with an SUV. It's one of the reasons we went with the BHE to keep us under 25' and on the lighter side. I haven't pulled a trailer since my early 20s so I want some room for error to get used to it. And I plan on going on a couple weekend trips close to Atlanta where we live in the next month before we head up to Maine for a few weeks this summer.

We'll be getting a WDH and a brake control system with our trailer.

My kids are 6 and 4 and we weigh 400 between the four of us. I've read conflicting reports of what the tongue weight is. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything before we make the purchase.

Look forward to your responses and excited to get out on the road.

[mekatzer]

What a trip - I'm in nearly the same boat and asked a pretty similar question yesterday: https://www.mygrandrv.com/forum/show...-tongue-weight

So as a certified I-don't-know-what-I-don't-know, I'll offer you my .02 because this is the internet, after all:

I'm looking at a Ram 1500, which has a lower payload capacity (~1,500), and the sense I've got is if I'm not willing to go up to a 3/4 ton, I'll be good if I'm careful - so I'd imagine you'll be fine. One thing I didn't realize until I really dug into it is that payload and towing capacity varies by individual vehicle based on installed options. 1724 sounds specific enough that you probably already know that, but I was surprised to learn that the truck I liked initially , with the Cl4 hitch and the fancy tow controller, only had ~1,000 lbs of payload capacity left after all the widgets.

Responses on my thread were 600lbs and 12.5%. There's a thread that turns up in search that has 700-750.

[RV Sailor]

Not sure I understand you statement:

“I'll be good if I'm careful - so I'd imagine you'll be fine.”

How do you plan and be careful for a blowout?
How to you plan and be careful for an emergency
Avoidance maneuver?
How do you plan and be careful about going downhill and needed to stop quickly?
How do you plan for the deer which jumps on your way?

You can be very careful however you can’t plan for everything.

That’s the importance of not being at max or exceeedin payload capacity. Be safe....always ....not just when you are careful

[NB Canada]

Not sure I understand you statement:

“I'll be good if I'm careful - so I'd imagine you'll be fine.”

How do you plan and be careful for a blowout?
How to you plan and be careful for an emergency
Avoidance maneuver?
How do you plan and be careful about going downhill and needed to stop quickly?
How do you plan for the deer which jumps on your way?

You can be very careful however you can’t plan for everything.

That’s the importance of not being at max or exceeedin payload capacity. Be safe....always ....not just when you are careful

Who said this?

I went back through all the posts and couldn’t find it


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[RV Sailor]

Mekatzer-

I'm looking at a Ram 1500, which has a lower payload capacity (~1,500), and the sense I've got is if I'm not willing to go up to a 3/4 ton, I'll be good if I'm careful - so I'd imagine you'll be fine.

[EsquireRV]

Congrats on your new 21BHE.
The limiting factor on the 2019 Armada is its 850lbs max tongue weight.

The 21BHE is around 4700lbs dry weight.
The GVWR of the 21BHE is 6395lbs. 12.5% of GVWR is 799lbs for proper tongue weight but add a WDH, batteries and propane and you're likely pushed over the 850lbs max of the Armada.

One other often overlooked aspect on the tow vehicle (TV) is the tire ratings. Does it come with P (passenger) tires with soft sidewalls and low load ratings or LT (light truck) tires with higher load ratings and stiffer sidewalls. In a stiff crosswind while towing, the P type tires on the TV will feel squishy and may cause that sudden lane swerve - where the tail begins to wag the dog.
For the safety of you, your kids and spouse, please look at vehicles that provide a healthy safety margin in tongue weight & payload. I'm not saying that the Armada can't tow this trailer, just that you are likely at or exceeding the vehicle's ability to properly tow the 21BHE.

https://letstowthat.com/nissan-armad...ity-2004-2019/
https://www.cars.com/research/nissan-armada-2019/trims/

FYI, the payload you listed is the MAX based on the lowest spec'd SV Armada in a 4x2 configuration (least options = less total vehicle weight).
Platinum 4x4 = 1537lbs payload
Platinum 4x2 = 1584lbs payload
SL 4x4 = 1583lbs payload
SL 4x2 = 1628lbs payload
SV 4x4 = 1678lbs payload
SV 4x2 = 1724lbs payload

[Johnny Trails]

Ask the seller to text you a picture of the payload and GVWR stickers from the door jamb of the Armada. With that folks here can help you run the numbers for the specific vehicle you're looking at. I don't put a lot of stock in tongue weight estimates for a few reasons:

- The actual UVW of your trailer once delivered will likely be higher than what's listed on GD website.
- The tongue weight on GD's website does not include LP tanks or batteries.
- The 21BHE has nearly 1700 lbs difference between UVW and GVWR. How you load it could potentially make a big difference in tongue weight.

Best advice I can give is to be comfortable that your TV can handle the absolute worst case scenario weight-wise and then weigh your rig once you have everything so you know where you're really at. Check this link for weighing instructions:

https://learntorv.com/weigh-rv/

Worst case tongue weight numbers would be 15% of GVWR plus the weight of your WDH. So assuming a 100 lbs for the WDH and a GVWR of 6395 lbs you'd be at 1060 lbs of tongue weight. In the real world I doubt you'd ever get remotely close to that.

[NB Canada]

So, we've purchased our first TT and we're looking to pick up our 21BHE at some point in the next week or two. We have car camped pretty regularly the past couple years, but are looking to up our game.

I'm completely new to the travel trailer world so feel free to respond to me like I'm five. And not in the talk down to me like I'm five, but talk to me like my brain is a sponge and I'm filled with curiosity five. Ha.

We currently have two sedans, so we're looking to get rid of one and purchase a TV that will also serve as our family vehicle.

We're currently looking at a 2019 Nissan Armada - Tow Capacity 8500, Payload 1724. I feel like this should be more than enough. I've read enough boards to know that "you need a truck" is the answer over the half the time. And while I understand that argument I really want to be able to pull this thing with an SUV. It's one of the reasons we went with the BHE to keep us under 25' and on the lighter side. I haven't pulled a trailer since my early 20s so I want some room for error to get used to it. And I plan on going on a couple weekend trips close to Atlanta where we live in the next month before we head up to Maine for a few weeks this summer.

We'll be getting a WDH and a brake control system with our trailer.

My kids are 6 and 4 and we weigh 400 between the four of us. I've read conflicting reports of what the tongue weight is. Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything before we make the purchase.

Look forward to your responses and excited to get out on the road.

Since it appears the payload you quoted is the number from Nissan on a base 2wd is that in fact what it is you are looking at?
Have the seller take a picture of the payload sticker on the drivers door jamb


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

[TheGreatAdventure]

Thanks everyone.

So I had them take a picture as per a couple of your recommendations, and the payload on the sticker is actually 1653 (750kg), which is baffling because I didn't see any extra options on the SV 4x2 which is listed as 1724 lbs. And I can't find a payload capacity of an armada listed at 1653 anywhere on the internet. I've double checked with the dealer to make sure they took a pic of the right vehicle.

I want to get some confirmation on tongue weight though. Most of the resources I have read say it should be seen as a net 0 addition to tongue weight because of its redistribution of weight to the other axles. Is this wrong?

I really loved our test drive of the Armada earlier in the week, but now I'm wondering if I should buy a much older (but dependable) and less comfortable TV for the summer while I get used to the trailer and I can get some more exact numbers of where we're landing in real life.

Additional thoughts are welcome. Thanks again!

[2ACDogs]

I want to get some confirmation on tongue weight though. Most of the resources I have read say it should be seen as a net 0 addition to tongue weight because of its redistribution of weight to the other axles. Is this wrong?

"Tongue weight" has nothing to do with weight distribution. It's the weight that the tongue plus the hitch pushes down onto the TV . Apparently Nissan says max is 850 lbs.