My sister and her Husband own 4 acres of land in the mountains of Colorado. They just recently had a road graded in and invited us to camp on their property over memorial day weekend. I went to look at the property to see if we could do it with our trailer and here is the issue. I have a 31 foot (hitch to bumper) trailer. It is a dirt road to their property, and as you turn into their property, the newly graded road drops to about a 16% decline for about 40 yards, and then levels out to where we would put the trailer. My concern is with that big of a drop in such a short distance would it damage my hitch, trailer frame or truck frame. I would take the weight distribution bars off before going down, but is it even possible to do this. I am worried about the torque on the hitch as the truck descends and the trailer stays on the road. once both are headed down, i have no worries, it is that first little bit over the ledge. Thoughts?This is what I see happening, but without the boulders...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRg7LCLs47k

My first thought is that if you are this uncomfortable about doing it, than don't do it. Most trailers and tow rigs can do much more steeper angles than you'd think. Having said that... If you go too steep / angled, you may not know it until something bends or breaks. Also, what about getting out? If it is that steep going in, can you get out?I have to chuckle, though... friends of ours bought a cabin in Vermont - when they invited us up, our first question was "can we bring our camper?". They said we should probably take a look first. They have over 10 acres, and not 1 spot flat enough for a camper! lol!

camp-n-family wrote:ClickyTowards the end, all four wheels of the trailer are off the ground as the rear slides across the rock. I want to see the clicky of them going back up that rock.

Chances are when yo get to the bottom of the steep decline, you are going to hit the back end of your trailer, possibly causing some damage even though you mention that wasn't your concern. Same will go for when you are leaving the property. All trailers are not created equal regarding height clearance and you can notice that the trailer in the linked video is setup for off road trailering, meaning higher clearance than normal trailers.Does that 16% grade gradually get less steep to make the angle at the bottom you will need to clear less? I'm not certain I would take a chance

Quick and dirty way to check without risking your trailer is to get a 16' 2x4 and a 5 gallon bucket to approximate the front half of your trailer. Take your truck over to the property, and start into the driveway. Lay one end of the 16' 2x4 on the hitch ball and the other end on the 5 gallon bucket. Keep moving everything ahead little by little, and if the 2x4 gets close to the ground, the trailer will probably drag.

descending steep driveway | Good Sam Community

mkirsch
Nomad II
Mar 29, 2017
Quick and dirty way to check without risking your trailer is to get a 16' 2x4 and a 5 gallon bucket to approximate the front half of your trailer. Take your truck over to the property, and start into the driveway. Lay one end of the 16' 2x4 on the hitch ball and the other end on the 5 gallon bucket. Keep moving everything ahead little by little, and if the 2x4 gets close to the ground, the trailer will probably drag.
RedRocket204
Explorer
Mar 29, 2017
Chances are when yo get to the bottom of the steep decline, you are going to hit the back end of your trailer, possibly causing some damage even though you mention that wasn't your concern. Same will go for when you are leaving the property. All trailers are not created equal regarding height clearance and you can notice that the trailer in the linked video is setup for off road trailering, meaning higher clearance than normal trailers.

Does that 16% grade gradually get less steep to make the angle at the bottom you will need to clear less? I'm not certain I would take a chance
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2017
camp-n-family wrote:
Clicky

Towards the end, all four wheels of the trailer are off the ground as the rear slides across the rock. I want to see the clicky of them going back up that rock.
Tvov
Explorer II
Mar 29, 2017
My first thought is that if you are this uncomfortable about doing it, than don't do it.

Most trailers and tow rigs can do much more steeper angles than you'd think.

Having said that... If you go too steep / angled, you may not know it until something bends or breaks.

Also, what about getting out? If it is that steep going in, can you get out?

I have to chuckle, though... friends of ours bought a cabin in Vermont - when they invited us up, our first question was "can we bring our camper?". They said we should probably take a look first. They have over 10 acres, and not 1 spot flat enough for a camper! lol!
camp-n-family
Explorer
Mar 29, 2017
Clicky

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descending steep driveway

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