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Towing an Imagine XLS 17 MKE with an SUV

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  • #1

    Towing an Imagine XLS 17 MKE with an SUV



    Hi all,

    We're newbies to the travel trailer community. After much research and deliberation, we purchased a Grand Design 17MKE and a 2010 Lexus GX 460. We wanted a trailer that we could safely tow a few times a year with a vehicle that is comfortable as a daily driver. Our options were minimal due to towing capacity of our SUV. Here's the breakdown for anyone who might be interested. The bottom line is that we are very pleased with our decision in terms of the trailer 17MKE and the tow vehicle, a Lexus GX460. We are well within the recommended weight limits and tolerances as determined by two stops at Cat Scales to determine the weight of our tow vehicle and trailer. On our first trip from Illinois to Florida, a 2500 mile journey, our towing experience was great in terms of sway control and gas mileage. Our average MPG was just over 11mpg. Here are the details....

    Tow Vehicle: 2010 Lexus GX460
    curb weight 5305 lbs
    GVWR 6600 lbs
    towing capacity 6500 (more with weight distribution hitch)
    tongue weight max 650 (more with weight distribution hitch)

    We have an Equalizer Sway Control / Weight Distribution Hitch. 1000lbs/10,000lbs

    Travel Trailer: 2021 Grand Design 17MKE
    Unloaded Vehicle Weight 4838 lbs according to Grand Design
    (4480 as weighed)
    GVWR 6395 (max loaded weight possible, but we did not need that much)
    tongue weight 480 lbs

    We stopped at a Cat Scale on the way after picking up our Grand Design from the dealer. Our first weighing of the unloaded trailer (2 batteries and full propane) was 4480 lbs (4838 lbs is what GD says)
    Our Lexus GX460 with two people inside (150lbs) and130 lbs) plus fuel 120 lbs was 6080 lbs total (vs GVWR 6600)

    The weight of both the tow vehicle and trailer was 10,560 lbs (max combined is 13,100 lbs)

    During our trip, we stopped again at a Cat Scale to weigh our Grand Design fully stocked with our stuff including 3 bikes, 2 Kayaks, all our food, some fresh water in the tank. We weighed in at (5,120 lbs) vs a max of (6,395 lbs) so we had1275 lbs to spare.

    We also weighed the Lexus with a full tank of gas plus my wife, son plus some tools and stuff in the back cargo area and two Kayaks on the roof rack. We weighed in at 6540 lbs (just under the Lexus 6600 max)

    So, our actual gross combined weight of both vehicles fully loaded was 11,640 lbs leaving 1460 lbs to spare which could have been added to the Grand Design cargo capacity.

    With our fully-loaded weight coming in at 11,540 lbs vs a max allowable of 13,100 lbs it seems that we were 1,460 lbs under. My calculations of all of this show that we were about 11% under the max allowable.

    The trailer towed quite well with no sway issues while traveling at 61 mph (this seemed to be the sweet spot for the Lexus 4.7 liter V* engine in terms of RPM and thus gas mileage).

    Our Miles Per Gallon ranged from 10.8 to 12.1 with an average of 11.1 mpg at our target speed of 61 mph.

    I hope this information is helpful for anyone who might be considering this particular setup.
    Last edited by karlg; 04-11-2021, 03:58 PM.
    Karl
    Tags: 17mke, gas mileage, towing with suv, weight distribution hitch, weight limit
  • #2
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    Karl

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    • #3
      If you'd like your forum name changed (so it's not an email address) let me know as at this point you can't change it.

      Do you have the weigh tickets and can you post them?

      Can you clarify this statement: We also weighed the Lexus with a full tank of gas plus my wife, son plus some tools and stuff in the back cargo area and two Kayaks on the roof rack. We weighed in at 6540 lbs (just under the Lexus 6600 max). Is this just the Lexus or was the trailer attached?

      What I'm trying to decipher from the post are the following numbers:

      1) Weight of just the Lexus' "steer" and "drive" axles with vehicle loaded with passengers and cargo (trailer not attached)

      2) Weight of Lexus (individual axle weights again) and trailer weight without the WDH engaged

      3) Same three numbers as #2, but with the WDH engaged.

      My purpose is to try verifying that the numbers align with your expectations. As posted I can't quite figure it out, though I'm glad you had a fun and safe towing experience!

      Howard
      Last edited by howson; 04-13-2021, 11:57 AM.
      Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

      2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus
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      • #4
        Welcome to the family and the forum!
        Last edited by howson; 04-13-2021, 11:57 AM.
        Jerry and Kelly Powell, with Halo, Nash, Reid, Cleo, Rosie, and the two newest additions Shaggy and Bella..
        Nash County, NC
        2020 Solitude 390RK-R​

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        • #5
          Hi Howard, Thanks for the reply. Yes, please do change my forum name to KarlG if you can.
          A few answers:
          The 6540 Lbs is indeed, just the Lexus
          1) i will have to weigh it unattached, as I have not done that
          2) and 3) I will also have to do that, as I had the weighing done with the vehicle coupled to the trailer.
          Yes, I will upload my weigh tickets for your perusal in a moment.
          Thanks again for your help Howard!
          Cheers,
          Karl
          Karl

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          • #6
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            Karl

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            • #7
              Welcome Karl!

              Another great number to consider when looking at tow calculations is your vehicle Payload. Your stacking alot on the vehicle and that can take away from payload which your TT tongue weight also subtracts from (as well as WDH). May be good to look into a tongue weight scale.

              Payload should be listed on your doorjamb with your tire spec information. Snap a photo and add to thread and we can all decipher.
              2021 GD Imagine 2400BH - Hensley hitch, Levelmate Pro, TPMS, Furrion back up and a few other things
              2018 Nissan Titan SV 5.6L 4x4 - 3 kids and a co-pilot

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              • #8
                karlg -- forum name change c/w. I also went back and edited out all references to your email in earlier posts.

                For the tow tickets...I can't pinpoint the issue but something doesn't seem right. Did you measure the vehicle as shown below?

                -----------------------------------------------------------------

                At the CAT scale there are specific sections that can be identified by the gaps, or obvious spaces, between them. Below I've highlighted the steer, drive, and trailer axle sections with red arrows.

                Click image for larger version Name: CAT.JPG Views: 1471 Size: 88.3 KB ID: 50560

                Here's an example (rough drawing!) showing how your vehicle and trailer should sit on the scales.

                Click image for larger version Name: 17MKE with SUV.jpg Views: 1525 Size: 56.2 KB ID: 50561

                Is that how you weighed your vehicle? If not...you'll need to do it again to get accurate measurements.

                One like this:

                Click image for larger version Name: 17MKE with only SUV.jpg Views: 1354 Size: 31.8 KB ID: 50562


                Then two with the trailer (as shown above), one WITH and one WITHOUT the WDH hitch engaged.

                All three measurements should happen in rapid succession. Vehicle full of gas, camper loaded for camping, and all passengers and other "stuff" loaded in the Lexus.

                Get those three weight tickets and it's easy to do the math.

                Howard
                Forum moderators are not GD employees--we are volunteers and owners presumably just like yourself. Unless specifically mentioned otherwise, we have nothing to gain should you choose to purchase a product or engage a service we discuss on this forum.

                2017 Ford F-350 DRW, '19 315RLTSPlus

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                • #9
                  Hi Howard, thanks so much for all your help, including the detailed info about how to properly weigh at Cat Scales. By the way, I was quite impressed with your graphics, including a photo of a Lexus GX460 and my Grand Design. You obviously put quite a bit of time into this! much appreciated! Howard, as far as I know, I did position both vehicles correctly, however, I did not un-hitch and weigh both vehicles separately. On my next trip, I'll try to stop and get the three individual measurements that you suggest then we can check the numbers again. Meanwhile, I'll attach a photo of my door sticker too so that you can have a look at it as well. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Thanks again and safe travels, Karl
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                  Karl
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