How long a trailer and be comfortable towing on a long trip

bogie514 wrote:
snip....


The question is, given my tow vehicle, what would be a maximum trailer length that I can handle and still be considered safe and comfortable to tow. I do understand that this is a very subjective question and one that has been asked in one form or another countless times. I appreciate your experiences, ideas, and suggestions.

Thanks!

Tom

This has so much to with: "depends" or your "subjective" and no one
size fits all for the newbies reading this

Gotta know the background of the adviser(s) and the equipment

The level of tech in the TV's and components are very different today
than the days using 'rule of thumb'...like 'even drop' and some formula
of the TV's wheel base length vs trailer length, etc

Some Laws of Physics apply. Like a 6K-7K GVWR TV with a looong wheel
base will tow a longer trailer easier than a shorter wheel base. Boils
down to lever arm length(s)...but...some of the technology of today
will mask that for the shorter wheel base TV

Tires...of course stronger side-walled will do a better job vs the
same sized, but lower class tire will. LT vs P class of the exact
same model and size

Then that sales folks has told you that your TV 'can' and might be
very true on paper, but all things designed are not for the good days
when just about anything (riding lawn mower) 'can do it', but for the
bad day(s) when Mr Murphy crosses your path.

Either you have the right stuff (sizing, rating, etc) spot on or not.
No time to go back to the store for the right stuff...nor re-setup.

Most of these ratings is about that day(s) and longevity. The ability
to manhandle it during the Mr Murphy day(s)

27' has too many 'depends'. Like what is the tongue weight percentage
of actual weight? What is the actual weight vs GVWR. Squared edges and
corners? and a big ETC. Some 30 footers might be lighter than a 27 footer

Why you might find some advisers saying no problem and others never again...

Then on weights...you might not have any tow ratings left if you load
up the TV to it's GVWR before hooking up.

Suggest gathering : TV's GVWR, RGAWR, trailer GVWR, trailer tongue
percentage of Dry (that will give a range for the actual weight %)
Trailers with a higher tongue % of actual trailer weight will tow
much more stable. 12% min and higher the better till you run out of
TV RGAWR or cargo rating.

Then do the simple math:

GCWR => TV + Trailer + cargoe/hitch/etc

As a minimum, consider upping the TV tires to the next higher class
tires if your going to consider a 30' range trailer. Your wheels may
not be rated for LT's and might have to change them too.

bid_time wrote:
If you understand tongue weight (TW) and payload; GVWR, GAWR, and GCVWR and pick & operate a TT within those limits, you are good to go. Length is irrelevant. You should also have the proper hitch equipment.

Now there's a very good answer without replying to the original question with another question irrelevant to what was being asked.

If you understand tongue weight (TW) and payload; GVWR, GAWR, and GCVWR and pick & operate a TT within those limits, you are good to go. Length is irrelevant. You should also have the proper hitch equipment.

We towed the 31" TT Lite in our profile all over the country! It took a little time to become comfortable with the length and to be able to master putting it in smaller sites, but not long. Had more issues with gas stations. Pic is in our profile.

mkirsch wrote:
Truthfully you probably won't be able to tow much longer than you already have due to the weight of the trailer, as others have said. 7000lbs in my opinion is really pushing the limits of most 1500 pickups as far as over-the-road comfort goes. You can play the numbers game and tow more, but after the fascination of the new trailer wears off, you will realize that it just doesn't feel all that good going down the road.

This, I agree with. My 26RLS (30 ft tip to tail)is 6200 (and change) fully loaded. I would not want to go any heavier. But, I am certainly longer than 25 ft, and have no issues towing.

Mike

How many times has someone asked this question? How many answers have their been? I am sure from those of us that haul all the time the responses are real because some of us have been there done that.
Here my best answer...... if you haul 50 miles and only have 2 weeks vacation do what you can. If you really want comfort and safety get a 2500 diesel and go any where with any TT. 5ers need more yet.
We live on the road in our 40 footer several months of the year and the extra length is welcome often. Ours is like a small apartment on wheels, LOL

Of course you realize why a SALESMAN would be telling you this, right?

Truthfully you probably won't be able to tow much longer than you already have due to the weight of the trailer, as others have said. 7000lbs in my opinion is really pushing the limits of most 1500 pickups as far as over-the-road comfort goes. You can play the numbers game and tow more, but after the fascination of the new trailer wears off, you will realize that it just doesn't feel all that good going down the road.

We went from a 26' to a 31' tt. Not much difference when towing until we got to gas stations. There were a couple locations where we couldn't get to the pumps with the longer tt. We are also much more limited in sites we can fit on.

I love the floor plan of the bigger tt but was happier towing the shorter one. Once the kids are gone I'm going back to 26' or under.

There is something to be said about maneuverability. I have been a long bed guy all my life. But we wanted our tow rig to be crew cab. So we went short bed crew cab and 24' total(ball coupling to bumper) trailer length. The coolest thing is how I can just whip that dude around in pretty amazingly tight areas.

there is a corellation between length of tv and trailer. A light short wheel based tv can tow, but can it manage, master the towed? You are the driver, you judge.