Trailer too long for truck?

afidel wrote:

gmckenzie wrote:

mooky stinks wrote:
I towed a scaled 8300 lb 35ft Outback with a Chevy 1500 max tow 10 times a year for 6 years. Weight was never a problem but wind was. A couple trips I had to take secondary roads instead of the interstate. Ultimately it’s up to you and your set up. The hitch being dialed in is absolutely critical. Expect days when you won’t be able to relax. It’s certainly not for everyone. If you’re the type of person that gets nervous when your rig makes the slightest move then I would look for something smaller.

I'm similar. 8,200 lbs scaled (and GVW) and 34'4" length. I use a Equal-i-zer 4 pt hitch and spent a good chunk of time getting it set up. Biggest issue I have is porpoising on bad roads, Jasper to Banff or on the Oregon Coast. And no choice for secondary roads.

I'm good, but we are looking at bigger units so I'm looking at 1 ton trucks first.

Get Bilstein shocks, made a huge difference on cement roads for us, we just did the rears but the difference was so big the wife said we're doing the fronts too before we were 200 miles down the road.

As far as OP, my trailer is a few inches longer, no issues in the first 3k miles, I'll have a better idea after our next big trip to Utah and Colorado.

Toolguy5 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Wind with soft tires and longer TT will effect how it handles.

.

Very true.
Weight distributions and tires are important.

gmckenzie wrote:

mooky stinks wrote:
I towed a scaled 8300 lb 35ft Outback with a Chevy 1500 max tow 10 times a year for 6 years. Weight was never a problem but wind was. A couple trips I had to take secondary roads instead of the interstate. Ultimately it’s up to you and your set up. The hitch being dialed in is absolutely critical. Expect days when you won’t be able to relax. It’s certainly not for everyone. If you’re the type of person that gets nervous when your rig makes the slightest move then I would look for something smaller.

I'm similar. 8,200 lbs scaled (and GVW) and 34'4" length. I use a Equal-i-zer 4 pt hitch and spent a good chunk of time getting it set up. Biggest issue I have is porpoising on bad roads, Jasper to Banff or on the Oregon Coast. And no choice for secondary roads.

I'm good, but we are looking at bigger units so I'm looking at 1 ton trucks first.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Wind with soft tires and longer TT will effect how it handles.

CaLBaR wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

burningman wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I`m waiting for the 4500/5500 guys to show up and say how dangerous it is to tow anything with the puny 3500 dually! LOL

a properly equipped 1500 at ???? % of max capacity is just as safe as a 2500/3500 at the same ???? % of max capacity.

That sounds right at first but 2500-3500 pickups are much more conservatively under-rated. and the softer sidewall tires on 1/2 tons make a.big difference too.

I think the bottom line is the 1/2 ton will get that trailer where it’s going, but not comfortably or confidently.

I don’t understand why anyone who can afford a late model 1500 and a big new trailer doesn’t just get a heavier truck. That 1500 has enough resale value to go buy a similar year 2500 or 3500. You’re gonna add cash if you want a diesel, but hey you’re gas already.

There’s a lot of things that a lot of people who don’t look outside their own bubble don’t understand.....
But I’ll give you one example to consider. And this example is probably the most prominent one.
Guy owns a half ton for commuting every day, hoe depot trips and because he’s a man and doesn’t drive a car or suv. Guy also takes his family RVing a couple/few times a year.
Doesn’t make sense for guy to get a HD or to maybe trade or sell a vehicle he’s piling the miles on and settle for a “equal” high miler. Or guy doesn’t want to give up the gas mileage of the 1/2 ton for 95% of his miles for the belt and suspenders for the other 5%.

But I’m also not convinced that will register as valid reasoning. But I tried.

And this not even getting into towing distances, geographical location, etc. everyone likes to assume worst case scenario. Pulling the IKE with 40mph x winds. When again, for many, most, this will never be the case. Or anything near that.

Totally agree with this statement and did it for a number of years as well. I don't see any issue with what the OP is asking about and did it as well for 12 years and would again if my situation required it. That trailer is not too much for the truck in question for weight or length.

goducks10 wrote:

ksss wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I`m waiting for the 4500/5500 guys to show up and say how dangerous it is to tow anything with the puny 3500 dually! LOL

a properly equipped 1500 at ???? % of max capacity is just as safe as a 2500/3500 at the same ???? % of max capacity.

That may be true, but it sure doesn't "feel" that way. I haven't ridden or driven in a lot of 1500's loaded heavy, but when I have, it sure feels less "secure" than a HD pickup loaded heavy. All that is really subjective, but given the choice of running a 1500 at 90% of capacity or a 3500 at 90% capacity, no question which one I would prefer to be in.

Using RAWR and GVWR most 1/2 tons are at GVWR when reaching RAWR. Not so with 3/4-1 tons.
I've towed with a 1/2 ton 50 lbs under RAWR and GVWR and it was not fun. Truck and trailer never felt like they were on the same road. It was a two handed tow 90% of the time. Moved up to a 3/4 ton and it was back to a comfortable one handed drive.

Grit dog wrote:

burningman wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I`m waiting for the 4500/5500 guys to show up and say how dangerous it is to tow anything with the puny 3500 dually! LOL

a properly equipped 1500 at ???? % of max capacity is just as safe as a 2500/3500 at the same ???? % of max capacity.

That sounds right at first but 2500-3500 pickups are much more conservatively under-rated. and the softer sidewall tires on 1/2 tons make a.big difference too.

I think the bottom line is the 1/2 ton will get that trailer where it’s going, but not comfortably or confidently.

I don’t understand why anyone who can afford a late model 1500 and a big new trailer doesn’t just get a heavier truck. That 1500 has enough resale value to go buy a similar year 2500 or 3500. You’re gonna add cash if you want a diesel, but hey you’re gas already.

There’s a lot of things that a lot of people who don’t look outside their own bubble don’t understand.....
But I’ll give you one example to consider. And this example is probably the most prominent one.
Guy owns a half ton for commuting every day, hoe depot trips and because he’s a man and doesn’t drive a car or suv. Guy also takes his family RVing a couple/few times a year.
Doesn’t make sense for guy to get a HD or to maybe trade or sell a vehicle he’s piling the miles on and settle for a “equal” high miler. Or guy doesn’t want to give up the gas mileage of the 1/2 ton for 95% of his miles for the belt and suspenders for the other 5%.

But I’m also not convinced that will register as valid reasoning. But I tried.

And this not even getting into towing distances, geographical location, etc. everyone likes to assume worst case scenario. Pulling the IKE with 40mph x winds. When again, for many, most, this will never be the case. Or anything near that.

Grit dog wrote:
but cool looking cab over Jimmy!

ksss wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
I`m waiting for the 4500/5500 guys to show up and say how dangerous it is to tow anything with the puny 3500 dually! LOL

a properly equipped 1500 at ???? % of max capacity is just as safe as a 2500/3500 at the same ???? % of max capacity.

That may be true, but it sure doesn't "feel" that way. I haven't ridden or driven in a lot of 1500's loaded heavy, but when I have, it sure feels less "secure" than a HD pickup loaded heavy. All that is really subjective, but given the choice of running a 1500 at 90% of capacity or a 3500 at 90% capacity, no question which one I would prefer to be in.