Forum Discussion

NanciL's avatar
NanciL
Explorer II
Jul 11, 2016

Hauling a big trailer for only a couple of miles ?

We have purchased a 37 foot long new travel trailer and I am going to be locating it on a permanent site.
It is located at the dealers and I asked them to arrange to have it delivered to the site. They said there should be no problem, but it will probably cost me a few hundred dollars.
The dealer is only about two miles from the site and the road is a devided four lane straight road with a 45 MPH speed limit

I Have a 2016 Ram v-8. 5.7 and presently tow a 5000 pound 25 footer.

After thinking about it, I am considering towing it myself and just staying on the inside lane at a slow rate of speed.
Naturally I would use my present weight distribution bars and tow haul/brakes.

So my question is: Would you do it under the same circumstances?

Jack L
  • Pretty poor dealer that wouldn't deliver it a couple of miles after just selling a new trailer.
  • NanciL wrote:
    We have purchased a 37 foot long new travel trailer and I am going to be locating it on a permanent site.
    It is located at the dealers and I asked them to arrange to have it delivered to the site. They said there should be no problem, but it will probably cost me a few hundred dollars.
    The dealer is only about two miles from the site and the road is a devided four lane straight road with a 45 MPH speed limit

    I Have a 2016 Ram v-8. 5.7 and presently tow a 5000 pound 25 footer.

    After thinking about it, I am considering towing it myself and just staying on the inside lane at a slow rate of speed.
    Naturally I would use my present weight distribution bars and tow haul/brakes.

    So my question is: Would you do it under the same circumstances?

    Jack L




    What can possibly go wrong?



    You failed to give ANY DETAILS like the vehicle 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton, the AVAILABLE cargo weight of said vehicle, allowable hitch weight specs, tongue weight of trailer, over all empty weight of the trailer..

    No one can properly give any credible advice with no real info..

    Just because it is only "two miles" does not make it right or good for you, the truck, the trailer OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE ROADS..

    You may find out the hard way that your trucks hitch just may not be sturdy enough for a 37ft trailer.. That sounds a lot like a destination or park type trailers which will be substantially heavier than a regular TT..

    PAY the extra couple of hundred dollars and let the dealer get it to your site. The money you might be "saving" by DIY might end up costing you more when you break something..

    The dealer will get it there safely and if they don't they will be responsible for any problems they incur hauling it..

    They do say that most accidents happen within a couple miles of home..
  • I would hook it up to truck, bars in place, slowly lower tongue jack. Now stand back, see how she looks. If it looks like a disaster waiting to happen, I'd get some one to do it. If it doesn't hang as bad as obviously wrong, don't do it, I'd likely give it a go. I don't think a 2016 truck will have issues, in two short miles. Don't forget, lots of air in truck tires!!

    Remember, this is a forum, only you will be responsible for your damage. The only answer/opinion that matters is yours.

    Jerry
  • I myself would do it also. The cost of delivery is well in line for a company with overhead that has to pay an hourly fee to the driver plus maintenance and ins. on the tow vehicle.

    Just because some of us would attempt it doesn't mean you will be safe or have a margin of error so be very very careful and after hooking up, if it feels sketchy to you, it might be worth the couple hundred bucks.
  • You could do it, if you can set the receiver higher to slightly tilt the trailer back it will take weight off the hitch, just drive slow.
  • I'd probably have them park it, because it might be hard backing in a 37' trailer/RV