Travel trailer towing.

Nvr2loud wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
By fish tailing, I assume you mean trailer sway? It probably wouldn't be any worse than another overloaded 1/2 ton truck.

A +30 feet trailer will most likely be too much for any 1/2 ton.

How many times do we (as a travel trailer forum) need to go through this argument. There is no 'magic' length that is too much for any given truck. There are many factors to determine appropriate tow vehicle / trailer combinations.

I had an 18 foot trailer that was WAY WAY too heavy for my 1/2 Ton Sierra, I needed to have a 3/4 Ton for that trailer. My 30 Foot trailer is easily under what the truck is rated to pull, under the max combined weight rating, under the max hitch rating with WDH (over the max hitch rating without WDH) and I am at my payload max when I'm fully loaded with family, bikes, wood, and propane in the bed of the truck. I could shift the wood and propane to the trailer if I ever need that little bit of extra payload.

I don't even have sway, since I keep nearly 15% tongue weight on the truck.

Exactly! Often too many automatic nay sayers without even knowing all the details.

Grandpere wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:
By fish tailing, I assume you mean trailer sway? It probably wouldn't be any worse than another overloaded 1/2 ton truck.

A +30 feet trailer will most likely be too much for any 1/2 ton.

Well said, and X2

Without knowing the specs on the truck neither of you can say that it is overloaded. The Properly speced Ram 1500 with the 5.7 can tow as much as 10640 lbs. My older 30 footer only weighs in at 6292lbs. Further there is plenty of safety factor built into those capacity numbers.

Just because it is a 1/2 ton doesnt therefore equate to it being overlaoded. C'mon guys get real.

Can we ever have a reasonable discussion of this issue without the mindless rush to scream "get a one ton dually!" mindset?

Thanks to everyone that replied, All good informative answers, as Usual, Best to all, Ed.

If you use a quality WDH with integrated sway control and keep within all your truck's ratings, it should tow well. You should find out from a scale where you stand with respect to all you truck's ratings. You have lots of power, adequate gearing and wheelbase. What we do not know is if the rear axle is overloaded, how well the WDH is adjusted, or your tongue weight %.

Check your trailer's tires. If they are ST type, then likely 65mph max. Heat is your enemy so >65mph at 90*+ is not wise. If you were towing in 60* temps, 75mph is probably fine.

tbred wrote:

dvitale300 wrote:
I've got the same rig you have. I have a 31 ft Starcraft Launch Ultre Light. When I bought my TT I told the RV dealer to set it up right or I would drive the whole thing into their show room if it wasn't. They put on a WDH and electronic break switch. I have zero problems towing. No sway at all. I have found that the sweet spot speed on the open highway for me is about 68 mph. Mainly for gas. I average about 7.8 mpg without significant winds. I can go faster, low 70's, but gas mileage drops down to 6.8 mpg if I do. Next truck will be a 2500 diesel. For three reasons: one is power, the second is gas mileage and the third is the ability to refuel in diesel pull throughs.

Keep in mind,most trailer tires are rated for MAX 65 mph.

Still very ner to this, would you suggest keeping at 65? Especially since I've got factory tires.

dvitale300 wrote:
I've got the same rig you have. I have a 31 ft Starcraft Launch Ultre Light. When I bought my TT I told the RV dealer to set it up right or I would drive the whole thing into their show room if it wasn't. They put on a WDH and electronic break switch. I have zero problems towing. No sway at all. I have found that the sweet spot speed on the open highway for me is about 68 mph. Mainly for gas. I average about 7.8 mpg without significant winds. I can go faster, low 70's, but gas mileage drops down to 6.8 mpg if I do. Next truck will be a 2500 diesel. For three reasons: one is power, the second is gas mileage and the third is the ability to refuel in diesel pull throughs.

Keep in mind,most trailer tires are rated for MAX 65 mph.

beemerphile1 wrote:
By fish tailing, I assume you mean trailer sway? It probably wouldn't be any worse than another overloaded 1/2 ton truck.

A +30 feet trailer will most likely be too much for any 1/2 ton.

How many times do we (as a travel trailer forum) need to go through this argument. There is no 'magic' length that is too much for any given truck. There are many factors to determine appropriate tow vehicle / trailer combinations.

I had an 18 foot trailer that was WAY WAY too heavy for my 1/2 Ton Sierra, I needed to have a 3/4 Ton for that trailer. My 30 Foot trailer is easily under what the truck is rated to pull, under the max combined weight rating, under the max hitch rating with WDH (over the max hitch rating without WDH) and I am at my payload max when I'm fully loaded with family, bikes, wood, and propane in the bed of the truck. I could shift the wood and propane to the trailer if I ever need that little bit of extra payload.

I don't even have sway, since I keep nearly 15% tongue weight on the truck.

I've got the same rig you have. I have a 31 ft Starcraft Launch Ultre Light. When I bought my TT I told the RV dealer to set it up right or I would drive the whole thing into their show room if it wasn't. They put on a WDH and electronic break switch. I have zero problems towing. No sway at all. I have found that the sweet spot speed on the open highway for me is about 68 mph. Mainly for gas. I average about 7.8 mpg without significant winds. I can go faster, low 70's, but gas mileage drops down to 6.8 mpg if I do. Next truck will be a 2500 diesel. For three reasons: one is power, the second is gas mileage and the third is the ability to refuel in diesel pull throughs.

Thanks, Bulldawg, that's what I was hoping to Hear, Ed, Happy RVing.

beemerphile1 wrote:
By fish tailing, I assume you mean trailer sway? It probably wouldn't be any worse than another overloaded 1/2 ton truck.

A +30 feet trailer will most likely be too much for any 1/2 ton.

Well said, and X2