New to TT, Bit timid to tow ...?
Hi all, I am new to this forum and new to travel trailer camping. We have "the bug" and are looking at small Jayco or Rockwood. We haven't bought the trailer, nor do we yet have a tow vehicle. Howe...
Forum Discussion
To the OP, also don't get all hung up on any one vehicles "tow rating"... It's not specific to any kind of trailer and usually does not really mean an RV... ;)
There is a big difference in how a #5000 TT tows compared to a #5000 flat bed trailer or a boat.
TT is just a huge 'brick' that you have to pull thru the air. Most vehicles will also have a "limited frontal square foot spec" too. Something like 50 or 60 SQ Ft of frontal surface area..
All this means is that while your trailer may fit within the weights, it's frontal area might be such that it'll really bog you down just trying to pull it thru the air..
I'm sure you have driven into head winds before... Well, imagine the same head wind with around 60 sq ft of trailer front hitting the air too...
And no, just because you have a canopy or a SUV with a hatch on it, the air still hits the front of the trailer.. :)
Anyway, good questions and you are figuring it all out ahead of time, so you are one up on a lot of folks in that respect... Can't say how many come on here and say the were told "you'll be fine" as they drove out of the lot!
Good luck!
Mitch
There is a big difference in how a #5000 TT tows compared to a #5000 flat bed trailer or a boat.
TT is just a huge 'brick' that you have to pull thru the air. Most vehicles will also have a "limited frontal square foot spec" too. Something like 50 or 60 SQ Ft of frontal surface area..
All this means is that while your trailer may fit within the weights, it's frontal area might be such that it'll really bog you down just trying to pull it thru the air..
I'm sure you have driven into head winds before... Well, imagine the same head wind with around 60 sq ft of trailer front hitting the air too...
And no, just because you have a canopy or a SUV with a hatch on it, the air still hits the front of the trailer.. :)
Anyway, good questions and you are figuring it all out ahead of time, so you are one up on a lot of folks in that respect... Can't say how many come on here and say the were told "you'll be fine" as they drove out of the lot!
Good luck!
Mitch
