Heavy Trailers

[hohenwald48]

What's with all the posts lately by folks wanting to tow a trailer that's way too heavy for their tow vehicle?

Is it just spring buying season? I think folks put way to much stock in what the trailer salesperson says they can pull. It's too bad because they come on here after the purchase and then seem to get offended when they find out they have too much trailer or not enough truck. :h

[hohenwald48]

It's too bad that making sure to stay under all the weight ratings of the tow vehicle can be a pretty complicated concept. It would be nice if it was as easy as staying below the "tow rating". Additionally, it can get real confusing and difficult to understand. GVWR, GRAWR, TW, GCWR and on and on can be a bit daunting the first time around.

Couple that with the plethora of WDH hitch brands, styles, sway controls and brake controllers and there really is a lot that comes into play before you even buy a TT.

[2oldman]

Many people do no more research other than price, and feel they've done a good job if they got "a good deal." Weight ratings are difficult, and not nearly as fun as buying. As they say "pay me now or pay me later."

[hohenwald48]

steve-n-vicki wrote:
how is this setup , I think it might be over the payload and towing capacity of the truck, no sway control

I'd be sure to stay under 65MPH with those tires. They look like China made STs to me.

[fil564]

When we purchased our first trailer in 2009 I had a Silverado 1500 that only towed 6800#, I knew with the trailer I was pushing the limits but we were towing it to the campground 2 hrs away and leaving it there. We would just pull it out of storage and set it up so the once or twice I had to pull it was not much of a deal breaker. When we decided to travel I upgraded to the Tundra in 2010 which was more than enough for that trailer. We went to a bigger trailer in 2014 and the Tundra was more than capable but knowing we would still be traveling more and the eventual end game was to go to a fifth wheel I upgraded the truck last spring. The F350 6.2L is more than enough for this trailer and we really do not see us upgrading anything in the near future other than the hitch.

[2012Coleman]

Most people new to towing are only looking at the stated tow capacity of their TV. They state as much when asking the question.

[Old-Biscuit]

Few folks actual know what their vehicle can tow let along what their vehicle real ratings are when they go shopping for a trailer.

Then they look at entry level....then end up in higher end trailers which they just have to have because of the bells & whistles.

"Yessirreee you can tow this"

Then after the purchase they start to wonder......
BUT deal is done so 1 of 3 things occur
1) Tow it as is......denial
2) Park it.hate it.sell it
3) Upgrade tow vehicle

[SoundGuy]

3oaks wrote:
Perhaps some newer RVers aren't all that disappointed with their tow vehicles, just tired of being beat up by "know it alls" just waiting to pounce on them when they do make a wrong decision.

Knowing fact from fiction is the key.

A bit of a dichotomy in your reasoning, I'd say. :R

[steve-n-vicki]

how is this setup , I think it might be over the payload and towing capacity of the truck, no sway control

[evanrem]

I have heard from several different dealers that sales are up considerably this year from several years past. Not sure why that would be but that's what I heard.

[3oaks]

Just a rehash of an old subject, nothing new.

Perhaps some newer RVers aren't all that disappointed with their tow vehicles, just tired of being beat up by "know it alls" just waiting to pounce on them when they do make a wrong decision.

We were all "beginners" at one time. Today with all the modern technology, research is the greatest tool, but then I don't believe everything I read on the internet and neither should anyone else. Knowing fact from fiction is the key.

[hohenwald48]

Yeah, I saw that. They'll have 400 pounds for cargo. They think. I guess they won't have a battery or propane and they have one of those new weightless hitches and the brochure was written using their specific trailer.

I also saw that the comments regarding being overweight went ignored. Some folks just have to learn from their own experience and not the experience of others.

I brought my last trailer from the dealer without my WDH. 50 miles with no problem. Of course I was going 45 on a flat straight 2 lane with no trucks or much other traffic and only one stop sign and my truck is rated for 9100 and my trailer was around 6000 at the time. I wouldn't dream of heading out on a 2,000 mile trip like that though. Like they say "ignorance is bliss".

I worked at a CG one summer and watched a family of 4 live in a RPOD for 7 months waiting for their house to be built. I can't even begin to imagine what that was like.

[SoundGuy]

hohenwald48 wrote:
What's with all the posts lately by folks wanting to tow a trailer that's way too heavy for their tow vehicle?

And this doesn't have to be an especially large trailer. Here's a current thread in which I asked whether a Subaru Outback is a suitable vehicle for towing an RPod ... the response was their"trip home was 200 miles home with no car problems". I guess that's the new criteria by which to judge whether a vehicle is suitable for towing a particular trailer. :R

[Cup_fan]

The RV industry isn't completely innocent when it comes to this issue. The term "half ton towable" has become a very effective marketing tool. The term "half ton" is a very broad statement. There's a big difference between a truck with a V-6 with 3.23 gears and a Tundra, for example, with a 5.7 V-8 with 4.30 gears and what they are capable of towing. To the first time or uneducated buyer, when they see "half ton towable", that's all they need to know. Those of us who have been doing this for a long time, we know what our tow vehicles are capable of, and we shop accordingly. My camper is 35 ft and has a dry weight of 7100 lbs. and was advertised as half ton towable. My truck at the time was a Ram 1500 with the Hemi and 3.92 gears and a tow rating of 10,000 lbs. So I was was confident in thinking that I could tow this trailer with no problem. The truck had plenty of power to tow the trailer, but when you start towing trailers that are much heavier than the vehicle you are towing it with, then things like wind, passing large trucks, etc, can severely effect how the tow vehicle handles, which is why I decided to upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck. (I'm pretty sure that my wife will never tell me to go pick out my own Christmas present again). Most of us are guilty of learning things the hard way.

[Uramillionaire]

I'm sorta guilty here. I bought a new trailer knowing I need a bigger truck. Lol The truck I want is not available (2017 F-350) yet so I'm probably going to find a intermediate truck.
Really bums me out it will be till fall when the truck will be available.
I have a lot of trips planned. Arizona, Florida, California, and Burning Man!!
I'm talking to the local fleet sales guy to see what he has used in inventory to trade my suburban in for. I'm sure well work out a great deal.