Too Much Trailer for the TV???

Bryan wrote:
I had one trailer damage the front siding where the A-frame flexed. I had another trailer where the A-frame failed completely. A stiffer truck is absolutely harder on the part of the trailer chassis susceptible to the highest forces. I remember my Jayco voided the warranty if it was towed with a truck heavier than a 1-ton.

Same here...
When I had my small multi state construction business we ran 16' and 18' cargo trailers with tandem 3500 lb axles as tool trailers. We had to stop towing them with our one ton DRW trucks as they were to hard on the trailers interiors (bins and special made containers on the walls) and chassis issues(cracked and broken A frames/couplers).
I compensated employees with 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks to pull them between job sites. Issues stopped completely.

its been my experience we can have too much tow vehicle

Look what you started nobby.:B

Jay Coe wrote:

Hannibal wrote:


On a buckboard conrete interstate, you seriously can't tell the difference in ride between an F550 and your F150? You can't understand that the harsh ride of the F550 gets transmitted to the tongue of the trailer? We can't always predict the road's surface nor can we creep down the interstate to ease over rough concrete expansion joints or dips in the road. If that ball that the travel trailer is hooked to is jerking up and down with the stiff suspension of the F550, the A frame is going to flex as it absorbs the shock and will eventually fail.

Hogwash. The entire trailer frame is simply going to rock on it's own springs. It isn't going to flex/stress or damage the A frame.

I had one trailer damage the front siding where the A-frame flexed. I had another trailer where the A-frame failed completely. A stiffer truck is absolutely harder on the part of the trailer chassis susceptible to the highest forces. I remember my Jayco voided the warranty if it was towed with a truck heavier than a 1-ton.

Hannibal wrote:


On a buckboard conrete interstate, you seriously can't tell the difference in ride between an F550 and your F150? You can't understand that the harsh ride of the F550 gets transmitted to the tongue of the trailer? We can't always predict the road's surface nor can we creep down the interstate to ease over rough concrete expansion joints or dips in the road. If that ball that the travel trailer is hooked to is jerking up and down with the stiff suspension of the F550, the A frame is going to flex as it absorbs the shock and will eventually fail.

Hogwash. The entire trailer frame is simply going to rock on it's own springs. It isn't going to flex/stress or damage the A frame.

Bobbo wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

Bobbo wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You don't hear people complain because they have too much truck.

I've seen the damage caused by too much truck on a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel and a small travel trailer. Something is going to give. If not suspension, it will be structure.

That is not because it is too much truck, that is because the idiot driving the truck drove inappropriately for that trailer. The trailer doesn't know if it is hooked to a Smart For Two car or a semi tractor. It only knows it is hooked to a trailer hitch ball. Everything else is how the driver abuses it.

65mph down a pounding weathered and truck beaten concrete interstate is going to be a lot harder on the trailer being towed by a semi tractor than a Smart For Two car regardless of who's driving it.

No, it isn't.

Hannibal wrote:
The tongue can only take so much before stress cracks appear leading to total failure.

Again, the tow vehicle has nothing to do with it. The problem is the speed and road surface. If the road surface is bad, slow down regardless of what you are towing with. All the TT sees is the ball it is hooked to.

On a buckboard conrete interstate, you seriously can't tell the difference in ride between an F550 and your F150? You can't understand that the harsh ride of the F550 gets transmitted to the tongue of the trailer? We can't always predict the road's surface nor can we creep down the interstate to ease over rough concrete expansion joints or dips in the road. If that ball that the travel trailer is hooked to is jerking up and down with the stiff suspension of the F550, the A frame is going to flex as it absorbs the shock and will eventually fail.

Hannibal wrote:

Bobbo wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You don't hear people complain because they have too much truck.

I've seen the damage caused by too much truck on a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel and a small travel trailer. Something is going to give. If not suspension, it will be structure.

That is not because it is too much truck, that is because the idiot driving the truck drove inappropriately for that trailer. The trailer doesn't know if it is hooked to a Smart For Two car or a semi tractor. It only knows it is hooked to a trailer hitch ball. Everything else is how the driver abuses it.

65mph down a pounding weathered and truck beaten concrete interstate is going to be a lot harder on the trailer being towed by a semi tractor than a Smart For Two car regardless of who's driving it.

No, it isn't.

Hannibal wrote:
The tongue can only take so much before stress cracks appear leading to total failure.

Again, the tow vehicle has nothing to do with it. The problem is the speed and road surface. If the road surface is bad, slow down regardless of what you are towing with. All the TT sees is the ball it is hooked to.

drsteve wrote:

Probably neither. I think he just wants to know how a bigger truck is harder on a trailer. I must admit, I'm curious too. Would I put less stress on my rather small TT if I ditched the 3/4 ton and bought a half ton? Or conversely, would I damage it if I went to an F450? Inquiring minds want to know...

In my opinion, the bigger truck would be harder on the trailer because it has stiffer springs and rides "harder" than the lesser truck. This would transmit the road bumps and jolts to the trailer A frame instead of being absorbed by the trucks springs and shocks. Too much of that and I can easily see the frame or other parts of the trailer developing stress cracks and eventually failing.
Barney

Hannibal wrote:

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You don't hear people complain because they have too much truck.

I've seen the damage caused by too much truck on a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel and a small travel trailer. Something is going to give. If not suspension, it will be structure.

Thats absurd......I would love to hear that scenario explained? Better tell that to the RV transport contractors who might tow a 3500 lb GVWR single axle Starcraft Launch to the dealer in Philly from Elkhardt with an F450.

Is that a personal attack or are you admitting your ignorance about stress cracks in frames and the scenarios that contribute to them?

Probably neither. I think he just wants to know how a bigger truck is harder on a trailer. I must admit, I'm curious too. Would I put less stress on my rather small TT if I ditched the 3/4 ton and bought a half ton? Or conversely, would I damage it if I went to an F450? Inquiring minds want to know...

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You don't hear people complain because they have too much truck.

I've seen the damage caused by too much truck on a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel and a small travel trailer. Something is going to give. If not suspension, it will be structure.

Thats absurd......I would love to hear that scenario explained? Better tell that to the RV transport contractors who might tow a 3500 lb GVWR single axle Starcraft Launch to the dealer in Philly from Elkhardt with an F450.

Is that a personal attack or are you admitting your ignorance about stress cracks in frames and the scenarios that contribute to them?

Bobbo wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

gbopp wrote:
You don't hear people complain because they have too much truck.

I've seen the damage caused by too much truck on a Holiday Rambler 5th wheel and a small travel trailer. Something is going to give. If not suspension, it will be structure.

That is not because it is too much truck, that is because the idiot driving the truck drove inappropriately for that trailer. The trailer doesn't know if it is hooked to a Smart For Two car or a semi tractor. It only knows it is hooked to a trailer hitch ball. Everything else is how the driver abuses it.

65mph down a pounding weathered and truck beaten concrete interstate is going to be a lot harder on the trailer being towed by a semi tractor than a Smart For Two car regardless of who's driving it. The tongue can only take so much before stress cracks appear leading to total failure.