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discovery4us's avatar
discovery4us
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013

fullsize dinghy w/ bed loaded

It has been three years since switching from the TH to the DP and still loving it with the exception of not having a toy and a street legal vehicle. Have been researching trailers and other options and think a full size truck will fit the bill but a little concerned how it will behave behind the DP. The plan is a mid 2000's 4x4 PU with a longbed and putting the Ranger that I currently have or maybe changing to a RZR in the bed and flat towing the truck. I know I will be dealing with a little more weight than the current jeep TJ but my main concern is will the truck stay true and stable behind the motor home with the bed filled with 1500 lbs.
  • You will have NO problem with a full size truck and your toy in the bed....We do it all the time. See signature.
  • I think all well stay stable and towing itself will not be a problem but you are at about 7500 pounds behind you and I would look at a hitch, tow bar, and motor home rated to tow 10,000lbs.
  • discovery4us,
    Well Sir, We're fairly close in the setup you're thinking of. Our coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the 330HP C-7 CAT and Allison 3000MH trans, is towing an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4 and, in the bed of that truck is a Rampage lift, carrying a 900 lb. GL1800 Honda Goldwing. That lift, is right close to 300 lbs.

    We've towed it on several smaller and one large trip and it's done flawless so far. We've towed (7) seven different Jeeps, one 2011 Honda CRV and now, the GMC truck and, while the truck itself weighs exactly 5300 lbs., it does not really put any more strain on that coach than the Jeeps or the CRV. The CRV tipped the certified scale right at 3700 lbs. The coach will slow down a quite a bit on some large grades, like the one just north of Bishop CA, to about 35 mph but, I'm not looking to win races with it anyways.

    You should be just fine. Just make sure your base plate(s), tow bar, cables etc. are all rated for a minimum of around 7500 or more, maybe closer to 10K. Good luck.
    Scott

  • Thank you all for the info. It is nice to hear from those that are doing it. I was envisioning it tail wagging like a trailer heavy loaded to the rear.
    Current TJ with lift, tires, bumbers, cans, etc. is just under 6,000 lbs. befor the wife throws in the last minute items after I have locked the storage bays. I have a 7500 lbs. tow bar but will upgrade to a 10,000 lbs.
    The jeep is great but I find myself taking it easy as I need to tow it back home and need it to go to town. It wil be nice to have the ranger back out or if the DW gives me the go a new to us rzr.
    Now the part I don't like, searching for a good truck at the right price.

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