first time RV towing

[pmlevine]

Hello, I am a first time RV user, just purchased a Winnegago Micro Minnie 22 foot model 2106 FBS, http://winnebagoind.com/products/travel-trailer/2016/micro-minnie/specifications
The Winnebago Micro Mini has an UNLOADED weight of 3800 lbs, and has a double axle with electric brakes. Our tow vehicle is a 2016 Nissan Frontier, with Nissan tow receiver and 7 pin electrical, max tow capacity 6000lbs. http://www.nissanusa.com/trucks/frontier/versions-specs/version.sl-crew.html We will also be having an electric brake controller installed in the cab of the Nissan by the RV dealer.
My question is regarding the anti sway tow hitch setup, as part of the purchase we are having a anti-sway bar hitch installed by the RV dealer. Considering the Nissan Frontier is a small/mid size vehicle, is a two point adjustable anti sway bar setup adequate to prevent any sway issues on the highway? Or should we request a four point adjustable anti-sway bar?
thank you for advice,
A first time travel trailer user,
Philip

[pmlevine]

Hi All, thanks for your input.
My first and foremost concern is safety when towing, both for me and my wife, and for others on the road.
That said, it sounds like the Nissan Frontier and Winnebago Micro Minnie combo will be right on the edge of being do-able. I would certainly need to monitor and adjust the Nissan Frontier maintenance given the added engineering stress of towing.
The Winnebago Micro Minnie has a dual axle, and seems to be a quality build, this is my and my wife's retirement gift to ourselves.
A weight distribution and anti-sway hitch sounds like it will help. There would be an electronic brake controller installed in the Nissan.
Our deposit on the travel trailer is refundable, decision day is tomorrow when we go to the RV dealer.
I went into this not knowing much, and now know a little more.
I will update folks on this forum on the result.
Philip

[stevemorris]

load it up as if you're going away and go get it weighed.
adjust your packing, wt distribution etc etc as needed
don't travel with full tanks(any of them)

if you're 4 adults, maybe a second vehicle?

I tow a 3000lb(empty) 22 ft trailer with our dodge Dakota pu, no issues but I cant compare the weight ratings of course

[SoundGuy]

Boon Docker wrote:
Your wheel base is only 16 inches shorter than an F150 long box.

It's also a truck that's rated with a meagre 261 hp / 281 ft-lbs of torque and will certainly be working it's little heart out towing a trailer that has all the aerodynamics of a barn door. :E

You might add about 1200 lbs when fully loaded, but will still be under the 6000 lb max.

So-called tow ratings are meaningless ... it's payload capacity that will tell the tale, in this case likely not much considering a trailer in this weight range should be running somewhere in the range of 650 lbs of gross tongue weight. With just one or two "average" size adults in the truck it may be possible to remain within the truck's real world payload capacity but it won't take much additional weight to exceed it, and in particular it's RAGWR (Rear Axle Gross Weight Rating). In any case, that still won't allow the OP to run GCW (Gross Combined Weight) anywhere near the truck's GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating).

However, what's done is done as it appears the OP is going to go ahead with this anyway. 😉

[pmlevine]

Thanks everyone, this might be one of those "live and learn the hard way" experiences.
I will try my best to make sure the travel trailer is not loaded with: water, too much gear, etc, when towing, and be the most conservative driver on the road that day.
Philip

[JoeTampa]

Having towed a 26' travel trailer with an SUV (Jeep Commander), I can tell you that it is NO FUN, and more than a few trips felt like they might be my last. I always arrived over stressed and ready to binge-drink just to calm down enough to set up.

I strongly recommend a pickup. Wheelbase makes a LOT of difference. I also recommend the Blue Ox hitch.

[SoundGuy]

pmlevine wrote:
So, a travel trailer of 3800 pounds is way too much for a Nissan Frontier V6, with a stated max tow capacity of 6000 pounds?

Others may disagree but IMO towing any dual axle trailer this size and larger is just too much for anything less than a 1/2 ton. Crunch the numbers yourself and there's little doubt that real world payload capacity of your truck, with people in the cab and cargo in the back, will be severely limited in terms of how much gross tongue weight it can also accommodate. Remember, a so-called "tow capacity" of 6000 lbs doesn't mean you can tow anywhere near that much trailer as that figure also must include the weight of everything else the truck must carry - people, cargo, and any gross tongue weight transferred from the trailer to the truck. Towing at or anywhere near any vehicle's maximum capacity is no fun at all ... throw in serious upgrades and heavy head winds and you'll soon realize this is anything but an ideal situation. :E Ultimately it's up to you ... but having learned the hard way myself I wouldn't do it. And yes, I've done my own trailer towing calculations.

[Boon_Docker]

Your wheel base is only 16 inches shorter than an F150 long box. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it.

You might add about 1200 lbs when fully loaded, but will still be under the 6000 lb max.

[pmlevine]

As an aside, you have too much trailer for your short wheelbase Nissan, especially if it's a V6. My own Coachmen Freedom Express is very similar in length and weight to your new Winnie and I wouldn't tow it with anything less than a V8 powered 1/2 ton truck. JMO so take it for what it's worth. 🙂

Soundguy,
Thank you for your advice. Being totally new to RV's and towing in general, it sounds like I have have jumped in over my head regarding two capability of my Nissan Frontier. OUCH, I am supposed to finalize the purchase of the Winnebago Micro Minnie tomorrow, and pick it up in two weeks.
So, a travel trailer of 3800 pounds is way too much for a Nissan Frontier V6, with a stated max tow capacity of 6000 pounds?
Philip

[Boon_Docker]

For the little extra money it costs over the two point I would go with the 4 point sway control.

[SoundGuy]

You're confusing weight distribution with sway control - no such thing as "4-point antisway bar". Some weight distribution systems feature sway control as a function of the design of the system - Equal-i-zer, Blue Ox Sway Pro, etc - while other weight distribution systems require the use of a separate friction sway bar, or even 2 in the case of a large trailer. My suggestion is focus on learning more about exactly what it is your buying, and why. 😉

As an aside, you have too much trailer for your short wheelbase Nissan, especially if it's a V6. My own Coachmen Freedom Express is very similar in length and weight to your new Winnie and I wouldn't tow it with anything less than a V8 powered 1/2 ton truck. JMO so take it for what it's worth. 🙂