towing larger TT

[mikemc53]

OK, assuming the proper tow vehicle and set-up is in place what are some things to either prepare for or be aware of when towing a fairly large TT? Say about 36' and about 10,000 lb GVWR. I know this is not specific but I'm looking more for pointers and advice with regard to towing longer units. Like how does a longer TT track with regard to the TV when turning. How about stability of the TT? Is longer always tougher to keep straight? Wind, backing up...any advice.

How many of you here pull something of this size and what is your set-up?

Still learning and always curious.

Thanks.

[WE3ZS]

Lantley wrote:
Prior to getting my 5'er I towed a 39" 10.5K loaded TT with PSD Excursion using a Hensley hitch. THe combo was fantastic. THe combo towed/handled just as well as my current 5'er combo.
With any TT, especially the larger/longer ones it is important to take the time to set up the WD hitch properly. Often there is a bit of trial and error required to get it right. A premium hitch can make a big difference with the longer trailers

We too pull with an Excursion, ours is a V-10 with upgraded 1 ton springs (plus 6 leaves) and the trailer is 41' and tips the scales right at 11,000lbs. We also use a Hensley Arrow hitch and I wouldn't consider towing this long/heavy of a TT without either a HA or PP hitch on the EX's 137" wheelbase. This combo works great for us and handles very well with zero sway, it reacts to cross winds and passing trucks more like a straight body truck than a truck and trailer. It took some work to get the EX ready for this work but I am a happy camper now! If you plan to gas up on or near major highways then getting in/out of the stations shouldn't be a problem. And as has been said controlling a longer trailer while backing up is easier than a very short trailer, just need to have enough room for the swings. We stay mostly at full hookup campgrounds and have fit in everywhere we have been. Bumper to bumper we measure 61'.

[lbrjet]

Take wide right turns and plan your gas stops in advance.

[camp-n-family]

Our current tt is 35' long tongue to bumper. I love the space and it has everything we want but if I were to do it again I would go smaller.

Towing is fine, ours tracks straight and stable in all conditions with our Ram 2500 and Hensley. Pulled good with our previous Tundra too, although a little over weight. I actually find longer TTs are easier to reverse, but you do have to turn wider etc. You need to plan your routes and fuel stops a little better too. There are a lot of stations we can't get in to or have to reverse out of.

The biggest downside for us is the limited number campsites that we can fit into. Campgrounds here book up 6 months in advance so you have to be on the ball to get anything and only about 15% of the sites fit 32'+ trailers. Many are not pull throughs, those that do fit our size are very difficult to get in/out of and are far from everything to do. Our next (once I can get the kids into a tent on their own) will be 28' or less.

[goducks10]

Towing a long TT is really a personal issue. It just depends on what type of camping you do. If you're a dry camp type then a long TT will cut your options drastically. If your a full hookup type camper then the options are greater. It also depends on where you camp in the U.S. I know that here in Oregon most of the FS campgrounds are smaller. State CG's can be really small as well. However there are some with large spots. So once again it really boils down to the type and location of your camping habits that will determine how you're going to like towing and camping in a long TT. We towed a 31' TT for 2.5 years and 10,000 miles, while being apr 4' shorter than a long TT we were limited on some spots. Getting gas was never an issue.
JMO but I would not get a 35' TT. I'd go for a 31' 5th wheel instead. Same interior sqft. Shorter overall towing length and easier to fit into more camp spots.

[Sandia_Man]

We have no issues to speak of towing our 10K TT with our 3/4 ton Chevy HD crew cab truck. We use a Reese WD hitch with integrated sway control and made sure it was properly dialed in allowing for a very comfortable towing experience. Never had any issues backing up and have become very skilled at doing so over the years. Those that complain about sway simply didn't have enough truck, didn't have hitch set correctly, TT improperly loaded with not enough tongue weight, or combination of factors above.

Longer TTs require extra wide turns to keep from jumping curbs, won't take long to figure out how much once you have towed a few times. Have always been able to find sites large enough for our rig at the federal and state parks in our neck of the woods as they always have a few spaces for the big rigs. These sites are limited, might be wise to reserve them ahead of time. Been thinking of getting a rig more suited for couples as the kids are grown and rarely go with us anymore, looking at 38' TTs and have no worries about towing that long of a rig.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

I am towing a 35ft TT with a 2014 F250 CC short box. Coming in about 10,000 lbs loaded. I have never had a problem getting in to or out of a site or gas station nor do I experience sway. It is all in the set up and familiarity with the equipment. Tow at 100km/hr.

[kknowlton]

We had a 34-footer for 6 years (and towed it with a 1/2 ton, BTW). The trailer was all the truck could handle - not from the engine's standpoint but the truck body is just a bit light for that size TT (GVWR of the TT was 7600, so lighter than what you're considering). Backing was difficult when turning into a campsite - I got lots of practice as our driveway was a 90-degree angle from our road, and the narrow road didn't allow a lot of space for everything to happen. Got it figured out. Backing eventually became, if not easy, not too bad - that size TT doesn't act as squirrely as something smaller when backing, which is nice.

On the road, we noticed a lot of wind wag. Not really sway, per se - our Equal-i-zer handled it well - but the trailer being so long and quite tall, really caught the wind and we always felt the tail was wagging the dog a bit on windy days.

Handling wasn't one of the issues that led to our downsizing (our current TT is 27' and a better match for our truck), but there were plenty of issues with a big trailer - it doesn't fit in many state park & national forest campsites, which was probably the biggest problem for us. We got tired of camping almost exclusively in private CGs, cheek to jowl with others.

[TXiceman]

35' TT needs a 3/4 ton truck in my opinion. Set up properly, with an adequate tow vehicle, it is not a problem.

Ken

[Lantley]

Prior to getting my 5'er I towed a 39" 10.5K loaded TT with PSD Excursion using a Hensley hitch. THe combo was fantastic. THe combo towed/handled just as well as my current 5'er combo.
With any TT, especially the larger/longer ones it is important to take the time to set up the WD hitch properly. Often there is a bit of trial and error required to get it right. A premium hitch can make a big difference with the longer trailers

[rangerbait]

I just got a 36' TT myself...towing with a Nissan Armada and a ProPride 3P hitch...picking up an F350 diesel tomorrow. Preliminary miles with the Armada were not terribly fun, even with the 3P: not enough power and too much tongue weight for its payload. I'll report back once I get a couple of yanks in with the Ford 🙂

[RedJeep]

I had one the size you are describing. It signed a lot. Passing cars, cross breeze, someone sneezing would cause it to send. We got a fifth wheel. No more swerving.

Short trips are no big deal. Cross country trips can wear on you.