Trying to understand normal tow handling
I traded in my 2014 Starcraft 1220 popup in August for a 2015 Fun Finder 242BDS at the beginning of August 2014. I weighed the trailer on an electronic vehicle scale with a full load and it came in at 5200 LBS for the trailer and 11,000 LBS total. Other than the water heater, all the tanks had been drained.
I am towing with a 2013 Ford Explorer Limited which puts me at 1020 LBS over my GVWR. The trailer is hitched with a Husky Centreline WDH with piston activated anti-sway. The brakes are controlled by a Tekonsha P2 brake controller.
Before anyone gets all worked up about how I am putting everyone on the road in danger you should know that I resolved to change the Explorer when I weighed it on my second trip out.
I made about 7 trips with the Fun Finder, ranging from 1.5 to 4 hours, a few through some very steep mountains in the Adirondacks. The engine does not overheat, the RPMS are fine, but the truck generally does not go into overdrive on the highway and slows down on steep hills. The truck also feels very 'heavy' even though the WDH does it's job perfectly.
Everything feels locked in until the Centreline does it's anti-sway thing. It feels as if the front of the truck gets pushed left or right about 1/4" as the Centreline pistons work to straighten the tow package. It was a little unnerving at first but from what I read, it is perfectly normal for a Centreline.
Driving is not a white knuckle event but I do have to keep alert. While I certainly know when I get passed by a big rig, I do not get buffeted about in the least. The only time it gets hairy is when I am traveling at highway speeds and there is a lot of cross wind.
I absolutely need 3 rows of seats but do not want to drive a full size SUV. The only thing that makes any sense for me is a 2014 or newer 5.7 Litre Hemi Dodge Durango. It has an with 8 speed transmission so normal fuel economy is better than the Explorers posted ratings. I cannot find the GVWR but it is rated at 7200 LBS towing capacity including 1330 LBS of cargo. I know the rating is in the door sticker but keep reading.
The only reason I do not own one already is that a 2014 Hemi Durango is impossible to find in Canada. I have a policy of always buying a vehicle at least one year used but am now faced with having to order a brand new 2015, sight unseen. And by unseen, I really mean unseen, the combo is so rare I could not even test drive a used one!
And now for my questions:
1) What does sway feel like? I don't think I have experienced it thus far, everything seems to move as one on the highway.
2) Will a bigger tow vehicle tame the buffeting in high winds? I can't see how it would but then again I have only towed a total of about 2000 miles so I have VERY limited experience.
3) Any general comments about how driving charachteristics improve when moving to a more powerful TV?
4) Could anyone out there with a 2014 hemi powered AWD Durango post the GVWR?
5) Do any of you tow a 5200 LBS or there abouts trailer with a 2014 semi Durango? If so are you happy?
I am towing with a 2013 Ford Explorer Limited which puts me at 1020 LBS over my GVWR. The trailer is hitched with a Husky Centreline WDH with piston activated anti-sway. The brakes are controlled by a Tekonsha P2 brake controller.
Before anyone gets all worked up about how I am putting everyone on the road in danger you should know that I resolved to change the Explorer when I weighed it on my second trip out.
I made about 7 trips with the Fun Finder, ranging from 1.5 to 4 hours, a few through some very steep mountains in the Adirondacks. The engine does not overheat, the RPMS are fine, but the truck generally does not go into overdrive on the highway and slows down on steep hills. The truck also feels very 'heavy' even though the WDH does it's job perfectly.
Everything feels locked in until the Centreline does it's anti-sway thing. It feels as if the front of the truck gets pushed left or right about 1/4" as the Centreline pistons work to straighten the tow package. It was a little unnerving at first but from what I read, it is perfectly normal for a Centreline.
Driving is not a white knuckle event but I do have to keep alert. While I certainly know when I get passed by a big rig, I do not get buffeted about in the least. The only time it gets hairy is when I am traveling at highway speeds and there is a lot of cross wind.
I absolutely need 3 rows of seats but do not want to drive a full size SUV. The only thing that makes any sense for me is a 2014 or newer 5.7 Litre Hemi Dodge Durango. It has an with 8 speed transmission so normal fuel economy is better than the Explorers posted ratings. I cannot find the GVWR but it is rated at 7200 LBS towing capacity including 1330 LBS of cargo. I know the rating is in the door sticker but keep reading.
The only reason I do not own one already is that a 2014 Hemi Durango is impossible to find in Canada. I have a policy of always buying a vehicle at least one year used but am now faced with having to order a brand new 2015, sight unseen. And by unseen, I really mean unseen, the combo is so rare I could not even test drive a used one!
And now for my questions:
1) What does sway feel like? I don't think I have experienced it thus far, everything seems to move as one on the highway.
2) Will a bigger tow vehicle tame the buffeting in high winds? I can't see how it would but then again I have only towed a total of about 2000 miles so I have VERY limited experience.
3) Any general comments about how driving charachteristics improve when moving to a more powerful TV?
4) Could anyone out there with a 2014 hemi powered AWD Durango post the GVWR?
5) Do any of you tow a 5200 LBS or there abouts trailer with a 2014 semi Durango? If so are you happy?
