First Timer – TV and new TT help

[PenzCamp]

Hello all! This is my first post on RVNet and looking for some advice.

The wife and I looking to purchase our first travel trailer for our young family of 5 (Kids are 2,4,7) and I started researching 2 months ago about what I am getting myself into. It was overwhelming at first, but thanks to sites like RVNet, I have a learned a lot and feeling much more confident. As far what were doing with the TT< we are looking to mostly travel within 20 minutes of where we live due to multiple camping sites in the area. We would then very seldom travel 1-2 hours to other camp sites.

To start with, our TV is aka “The Tank”, a 2007 Jeep Commander Overland with the Hemi that weighs in at a staggering 5200 lbs. Before you already start saying I need to sell it or get a big truck, I understand it is limited in what it can tow. As far as payload, our family is on the smaller side and only weigh in at 375lbs and I feel we will have limited items in the Commander, so I looked for TTs with tongue weights around 550 or less. I will also being getting a weight distribution/anti-sway hitch setup for it.

Towing capacity: 7200 lbs.
Max tongue: 720 lbs.
Payload: 1100 lbs.

Due to its low payload capacity and short wheelbase, I have spent a lot of research on smaller TTs that I think it could handle, but are big enough for the family. Jeep’s own specs state the max trailer length of 30ft (class IV) but I don’t feel it could tow something that long comfortably, so I decided to look at 26’ trailers with single slide outs.

Keep in mind, I am not sure if any of these are better quality then the other of it there are better options out there, but choose them based on what I felt would fit us and the TV best. The 2 main trailers we are looking at are:

Jayco Jay Feather 23BHM - 26.4'
UVW: 4825 lbs.
Hitch weight: 555 lbs.

Rockwood Mini-lite 2504s – 25.9’
UVW: 4876 lbs.
Hitch weight: 512 lbs.

Another one that we like and it just down the road, but heavier/longer.

Prime Time Tracer 244Air - 27’
UVW: 5115 lbs.
Hitch weight: 515 lbs.

Thoughts and suggestions on my overload of information? Are those good TTs that my commander should be able to tow, but also are those good TTs? Are there other TTs out that maybe I should look at that are similar as far as slide out dinette and double bunks?

Thanks!
Josh

[PenzCamp]

Thanks everyone for there thoughts. I will continue to do more research and decide if it would be safe to tow one of those and also look at some of the hybrid trailers.

Bobndot.... I am definitely surprised by the huge increase in tongue weight and will have to keep that in mind.

[CallMeChris]

Check into the hybrid trailers....I know there are a lot of people who don't care for them because of the vinyl popouts but we absolutely LOVE ours (of course I have tent and hammock camped for a while now also, your mileage may vary). I like the fact that I was able to find a shorter lighter trailer that still has lots of room on the inside when it's setup. I ended up with a Jayco X23B.

[fla-gypsy]

I think you could make all 3 work but it will be a load for the TV.

[bobndot]

To give you an idea of weight.
My TW says 450# or so, dry . I have a Sherline TW scale that i use often because im always adding and subtracting cargo on my rig. With one grp 27 and 2 60# gas bottles and 15 gal of water in front of my TT axles, my TW right now is 730#'s .
My TT dry wt. is about 4500# and i dont over do it carrying cargo inside the TT. I roll down the road at approx 6000#. MY TT is in my signature.

[ScottG]

You have a perfectly capable tow vehicle and there's no need fo ranything bigger.
Any of the trailers you have listed will be fine and well within your capabilities.

[Terryallan]

Time they are loaded for camping. Likely to be more than you want to tow. I would think you need to look at Dry weights in 3500 to 4500lb range.

Also a 26' TT will be at or right at 30' when you measure in the tongue, and bumper.