length of trailer vs weight?

Check the wind patterns in west Texas....I wish I could eliminate the cross wind as a factor but prevailing wind out here is from the southwest which is a cross wind for I20 any time you are heading east or west. Key is just how much wind are you comfortable with. Having an aligned trailer (something never addressed or checked), good tires and a properly setup WD-hitch makes a huge difference.

TT weight is really only of concern from a dead stop and on long grades (as to fuel consumption). The aero qualities are more important in all ways (handling winds, natural and man-made).

Be sure to take the time to dial in the WD hitch on a scale. That will give best feel (and one has numbers for a baseline of comparison for any changes) and best braking. Same for TV tire pressure (as TT tire pressure is always sidewall maximum).

Braking and steering are what really matter. Best tires and shocks are to that end and worth the time in research. Upgrades to the TT suspension (assuming leaf spring type) are second.

Changing trailers is starting at the wrong end of things (if it is otherwise suitable). A better trailer is worthwhile (Airstream-type) as there is no comparison in towing performance to the standard square white box. Plenty of good used ones. In other words, cover the range of what is available, not just weight or length considerations.

Get what you have into best shape. And then use numbers to "see" what you have and experience behind the wheel before more drastic steps.

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hogcard wrote:
I think I should chime back in and sya that I used a poor choice of words for "hard pull". The truck pulls the trailer just fine but I can hear the gas pouring through the engine. haha.

I was wondering if shortening the trailer but maintaining the weight would give me a better "feel" and maybe a better MPH? It probably would not help much I just thought maybe a shorter trailer would be less susceptible to wind, etc. Probably not worth the worry though.

A longer trailer (weight being the same) will usually tow better. The longer "wheelbase" will tow better. The exception could be a longer trailer that is not aerodynamic, at the same weight, would have a larger surface area for cross winds to affect it. Keeping the cross wind situation out of the equation, most properly built, longer trailers will tow better. It is the really short coupled trailers tha usually have towing issues.

hogcard wrote:
I think I should chime back in and sya that I used a poor choice of words for "hard pull". The truck pulls the trailer just fine but I can hear the gas pouring through the engine. haha.

I was wondering if shortening the trailer but maintaining the weight would give me a better "feel" and maybe a better MPH? It probably would not help much I just thought maybe a shorter trailer would be less susceptible to wind, etc. Probably not worth the worry though.

A longer trailer (weight being the same) will usually tow better. The longer "wheelbase" will tow better. The exception could be a longer trailer that is not aerodynamic, at the same weight, would have a larger surface area for cross winds to affect it. Keeping the cross wind situation out of the equation, most properly built, longer trailers will tow better. It is the really short coupled trailers that usually have towing issues.

I wouldnt consider a 6500 lb empty rv to be a "light weight " trailer . I had a 24 ft 5000 lb trailer , and moved up to a 30 ft 8000 lb trailer , the larger pulls better , gas mileage is about equal ( v10 excursion) betweeen the two . The only difference I feel is on take off , with the heavier trailer I am a bit slower off the line , but since I am not racing who cares .

Weight or length isn't likely to change fuel costs - at all. It seems like the 5.7L Tundras are getting a little over 10mpg which is the best any gas engines are getting towing any high walled RV.


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X2. The biggest downfall is the small fuel tank. The only chance of saving fuel would be switching to a diesel, but you could put a lot of gas in the Tundra for the inital cost differential to acquire one.

When I towed with a 2003 F150 with 25h tank getting 6.5-8mpg, I hated the 160-ish mile towing range. I solved that by going to a 39g tank TV. :) I get slightly better FE at 7-8mpg too. Now I can drive a day's distance or anywhere we have camped so far in one tank.

thanks for all the replies

Weight or length isn't likely to change fuel costs - at all. It seems like the 5.7L Tundras are getting a little over 10mpg which is the best any gas engines are getting towing any high walled RV.

Bonefish wrote:
Drag is determined more by the surface area of the front of the camper not the length. An 8 foot wide by 10 tall trailer has 80 sqft of surface pushing and trying to split the air down the highway.

Yep - length isn't going to make any discernible difference in your MPH our engine performance. These factors are determined, primarily, by the surface area and weight of the trailer. The only towing difference you are going to find in a shorter trailer is the possibility of less sway (and that is arguable). IMHO - with a 10% drop in length, without a change in weight - you're really not going to see any difference at all.

As others have suggested, if you really want to feel a difference, you need to look at the TV, not the TT.