I have traveled over 100K miles since retiring in a Class A and thinking about downsizing to a small TT towed with a F-150 or equivalent 1/2 ton truck and have several questions. Would any special hitch be required like a WDH or any anti sway device on a small TT weighing 3500 lbs or less? Secondly I was told the stabilizing jacks on the larger TT's were not strong enough to level and blocks under the tires were required, is that the same for a small TT? Having never towed before other than a boat are there any other difficulties that I should be aware of?

If loaded properly with sufficient tongue weight a trailer shouldn’t sway and shouldn’t need a special hitch. If the tongue weight is within your truck’s receiver rating you shouldn’t need a wd hitch either. Try it and see how it tows.Stabilizer jacks are just that, for stability. They are extra contact points to the ground to hinder bounce and movement. They are not designed to support the trailers full weight for levelling. Use blocks under the wheels for that.

We tow 2018 Airstream Bambi 16 with a 2018 Toyota tacoma crew cab short bed. GVW for the tt is 3500 lbs and tw is 350 lbs. We use no weight distribution just a hitch bar with ball. We did get the hitch bar with a tang so that we could use friction sway control. We didn't have any hint of sway but had the sway bar so why not use it. Sure makes for a simple towing experience.If you want to level use something under tires. Jacks are for stabilize.

Half ton pickup, simple ball mount, proper tongue weight, and electric tongue jack makes for a great, easy, comfortable, and safe tow. Have fun. Remember, you said 3.500 pounds, not 8,500.

What they said. Only thing is, you may or may not need a wdh. Depends. Is the TT dry weight under 3500 or total? I used a wdh hitch with my 4200 dry weight TT. It was needed. You can use blocks to level side to side, i use the camco curved levelers now. They work great for a tandem axel. If single , step chocks or a lot like the bal leveler. I will also say if you dont get a wdh with sway controll, get the smallish sway controll friction arm. Good cheap insurance.

I tow a 3500 pound Tt with my 2011 F150. I do not use a wd hitch or sway control I have pulled my TT's over 30,000 miles in 3 years and have never had a problem I do have the max tow package, 3.5 Ecoboost. I love the combination.

Requirements for towing and setup of a TT 3500lbs or less

39 Replies

Gjac
Explorer III
Dec 13, 2020
AJR wrote:
Coming from a class A you are asking for a lot more work to set up and tear down. Also rest stops will be very different.

Wish you well on your move to a 3k TT.
That was part of my question what is the lot more work or other difficulties that I am not seeing?
AJR
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
If you really want to go to a TT with auto leveling. Look at Outdoors RV. Four season but they are very heavy.
TomG2
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
AJR wrote:
Coming from a class A you are asking for a lot more work to set up and tear down. Also rest stops will be very different.

Wish you well on your move to a 3k TT.

Electric drill for the stabilizers, drop the coupler on the ball and out the gate. Hoses, electric, water, are the same difficulty. Five minutes to hitch and go, or leave trailer hitched for overnight stops.

Most Class A's tow a vehicle which is much more difficult to hook up and nearly impossible to back up.
AJR
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
Coming from a class A you are asking for a lot more work to set up and tear down. Also rest stops will be very different.

Wish you well on your move to a 3k TT.
BarabooBob
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
I tow a 3500 pound Tt with my 2011 F150. I do not use a wd hitch or sway control I have pulled my TT's over 30,000 miles in 3 years and have never had a problem I do have the max tow package, 3.5 Ecoboost. I love the combination.
Sjm9911
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
What they said. Only thing is, you may or may not need a wdh. Depends. Is the TT dry weight under 3500 or total? I used a wdh hitch with my 4200 dry weight TT. It was needed. You can use blocks to level side to side, i use the camco curved levelers now. They work great for a tandem axel. If single , step chocks or a lot like the bal leveler. I will also say if you dont get a wdh with sway controll, get the smallish sway controll friction arm. Good cheap insurance.
TomG2
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
Half ton pickup, simple ball mount, proper tongue weight, and electric tongue jack makes for a great, easy, comfortable, and safe tow. Have fun. Remember, you said 3.500 pounds, not 8,500.
bgum
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
We tow 2018 Airstream Bambi 16 with a 2018 Toyota tacoma crew cab short bed. GVW for the tt is 3500 lbs and tw is 350 lbs. We use no weight distribution just a hitch bar with ball. We did get the hitch bar with a tang so that we could use friction sway control. We didn't have any hint of sway but had the sway bar so why not use it. Sure makes for a simple towing experience.

If you want to level use something under tires. Jacks are for stabilize.
camp-n-family
Explorer
Dec 12, 2020
If loaded properly with sufficient tongue weight a trailer shouldn’t sway and shouldn’t need a special hitch. If the tongue weight is within your truck’s receiver rating you shouldn’t need a wd hitch either. Try it and see how it tows.

Stabilizer jacks are just that, for stability. They are extra contact points to the ground to hinder bounce and movement. They are not designed to support the trailers full weight for levelling. Use blocks under the wheels for that.

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Requirements for towing and setup of a TT 3500lbs or less

39 Replies

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