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hogcard's avatar
hogcard
Explorer
May 13, 2013

length of trailer vs weight?

I have a 2009 Keystone Cougar X-Lite 29RLS (33' total). Never had an issue with the trailer and really like it, but on long trips it can be a little hard to pull at times. TV = 2012 Toyota with 5.7 L engine and TSS package. 10,500 lb rated I think.

What I like about the trailer is the light weight. These only weight about 6500 lbs dry.

So the wife and I are considering "down sizing" but I am not sure it is worth it. Most of the trailers I have found in the 27' range weigh just as much as this one does.

So does a shorter trailer pull a little easier even though the weight is about the same? If not, I think I will stay where I am.

17 Replies

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  • Bonefish's avatar
    Bonefish
    Explorer
    May 13, 2013
    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.
  • fla-gypsy's avatar
    fla-gypsy
    Explorer
    May 13, 2013
    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.


    Same weight and same frontal area will equal same results or there about.
  • hogcard's avatar
    hogcard
    Explorer
    May 13, 2013
    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.
  • ktmrfs's avatar
    ktmrfs
    Explorer II
    May 13, 2013
    downtheroad wrote:
    This is not the answer you are probably looking for. But, 33 feet of trailer is a lot for the Toyota, space shuttle aside, and you will likely not see much difference between a 27 foot trailer that is more like 29-30 feet in towing. In some applications, like backing up, the shorter the trailer the harder it is. My suggesting is to find a bigger tow vehicle and the entire world of towing will be much more fun and easier. Keep the trailer if you like it and match it with a stouter tow vehicle.

    Well said. Going a few feet shorter is not going to solve your, "hard tow."


    x2. While the toyota is a very nice tow vehicle for some trailers, I've seen mutiple posts of owners starting with a toyota or other 1/2 ton trucks on a trailer your size +/- and within a year going to a 3/4 ton truck. It's in the "almost adequate" range of tow vehicles for this size trailer. Which is NOT the same as "barely adequate".


    We tow a outback 295RE about 1,000 lbs heavier than the OP's ring and all I can say is that with a few passengers, a load of stuff in the bed etc. I'm close to or at Max GVWR for the truck, a 4x4 duramax CC SB(9200lbs). Well under GCVWR, and with the longer wheelbase it tows nicely. While in theory I could tow it with a 1/2 ton I suspect that in reality I'd be well over GVWR on the truck and not have a nice towing experience.

    My experience is that few vehicles cold possibly tow the rated trailer weight and be under GVWR in real conditions. For example, in theory I could tow a 14,000lb trailer. That assumes max of 10% on the tongue (not likely). With a 9,000lb trailer, my 1450lbs on the tongue passengers (who would have a 35' trailer going solo??) firewood and stuff in the bed, pretty quick your at your payload limit.
  • downtheroad's avatar
    downtheroad
    Explorer
    May 13, 2013
    This is not the answer you are probably looking for. But, 33 feet of trailer is a lot for the Toyota, space shuttle aside, and you will likely not see much difference between a 27 foot trailer that is more like 29-30 feet in towing. In some applications, like backing up, the shorter the trailer the harder it is. My suggesting is to find a bigger tow vehicle and the entire world of towing will be much more fun and easier. Keep the trailer if you like it and match it with a stouter tow vehicle.

    Well said. Going a few feet shorter is not going to solve your, "hard tow."
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    May 13, 2013
    I have a 2009 Keystone Cougar X-Lite 29RLS (33' total). Never had an issue with the trailer and really like it, but on long trips it can be a little hard to pull at times. TV = 2012 Toyota with 5.7 L engine and TSS package. 10,500 lb rated I think.

    What I like about the trailer is the light weight. These only weight about 6500 lbs dry.

    So the wife and I are considering "down sizing" but I am not sure it is worth it. Most of the trailers I have found in the 27' range weigh just as much as this one does.

    So does a shorter trailer pull a little easier even though the weight is about the same? If not, I think I will stay where I am.

    This is not the answer you are probably looking for. But, 33 feet of trailer is a lot for the Toyota, space shuttle aside, and you will likely not see much difference between a 27 foot trailer that is more like 29-30 feet in towing. In some applications, like backing up, the shorter the trailer the harder it is. My suggesting is to find a bigger tow vehicle and the entire world of towing will be much more fun and easier. Keep the trailer if you like it and match it with a stouter tow vehicle.

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