Suv or truck?
 

New to this forum and new to campiing w/2207 hi lo. In process of buying a vehicle to tow it. Uvw is 3332 lbs. Gvwr is 5500 lbs. What does uvw and gvwr mean? What type of vehicle should we purchase, also what options should it have? Thank you!!

Uvw= unloaded vehicle weight
Gvwr= gross vehicle weight rating, the most the vehicle and load should weigh.

You'll have to figure out the vehicle design you want on your own, tow rated at 120% of what you figure the trailer is going to weigh with all the stuff you put in it.

Make sure the gvwr of your truck or SUV can accommodate the actual weight of said tow vehicle plus tongue weight of trailer plus passengers plus gear in tow vehicle. For instance a light truck might weigh 5400 lb. passengers might be 400 to 500. Tongue weight could be 650. Gear another 200. You'd probably want at least 6800 gvwr. Weight of vehicle will be a big factor. Newer 1/2 tons might do you with high cargo capacity otherwise 3/4 ton vehicles are a pretty safe bet.

Rick

I'm towing a 2206 hi-lo with a 06 Toyota tacoma prerunner 2wheel drive double cab long bed with a tow package rated at 6500lbs. I wouldn't tow a 2207 hi-lo with a TV that's rated under 6500lbs. Truck or SUV is more a personal choice, just check the tow rating GVWR. SUV 's do have a lower tow rating. I like the four door trucks with a 6ft long bed. I found the longer the wheel base,the less sway you will have.

UVW is without options, my 2209 weighs 3860 lbs with factory installed options. My present tow vehicle has a 4500 lb tow rating and it struggles with the trailer, I am very experienced at towing and would not recommend this to anyone, something with around 6000 lb tow rating would be best.
I would also recommend a factory installed tow package, many give you a bigger radiator and a transmission cooler along with the hitch and wiring.

Here's a good article on choosing a tow vehicle:
Choosing the Right Tow Vehicle

Also, keep in mind that a number of SUV and truck manufactures now abide by a new SAE standard used to compute tow ratings. This means that you don't really have to be so conservative in choosing a new tow vehicle as you had to be in the past. You can now chose a vehicle with a capacity close to your trailer's weight and be OK:
Tow Ratings Finally Pass the Sniff Test - The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) - Automobile Magazine

One more consideration, in general the longer the TV wheelbase, the more stable the whole rig will be. I used to tow a 18' TT with a 1/2 ton full sized truck, as well as a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep/trailer combination felt a bit more unsettled than the pickup/trailer combination.

Keep in mind that that new SAE standard is only used for vehicles from 2013 going forward. And the article doesn't say it is mandated but more of a suggested practice, so the vehicle manufacturers will probably still be selling whatever ratings they feel like to give them a competitive advantage in the market.

I know nobody is arguing with me on this point----but GVWR of tow vehicle is just as critical, in my opinion, as the tow rating for the vehicle. My Trailer is rated at 4500 for maximum weight and in reality is around 4000. This is well UNDER the tow rating for my truck----but tongue weight and ME and wife etc puts me over GVWR for Tow Vehicle. I think that is somethinf that people continually overlook. Not YOU all- but many. I know I did. :)

Rick

Very good point, I was under the impression that Toyota, as well as the Detroit three were all on board, but I just found this article that states otherwise:
Stalemate: J2807 Truck Towing Standard - Truck Trend News

To echo hilltool's point, if you carry any cargo or people in your TV, it is fairly easy to exceed the GVWR of the TV when you add in the trailer tongue weight. And, it is VERY easy to exceed one of the TV's axle weight limits (GAWR) too, if things aren't loaded properly. You should find these limits in your TV's owner's manual. The GAWR for one axle is normally about half of the GVWR, but there is a slight variation.

- Jack

GVWR does not include the trailer weight. GCWR does which is not specified on a vehicle.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_..._weight_rating

I believe the point that is being made is that the trailer tongue or hitch weight contributes to the tow vehicle (TV) gross vehicle weight and the TV gross vehicle weight should be less than the GVWR.

Here is a good summary:
RV and Vehicle Weight Definitions

Absolutely correct Raul! *thumbsup*

- Jack

Options on TV or add after getting TV
transmission cooler
frame mounted hitch
7 pin connector
WDH with sway control
electric brake controller
high output charge line to trailer (30amp curcuit breaker w/10gauge wire so you can run the refrigerator on 12volts while towing)
a good set of towing mirrors

Yes, Rual you are correct, I forgot to point out that tongue weight is included in the GVWR.
Les, that is a good list for requirements for a tow vehicle.