travel trailer towing difficulty

[2freelife]

I'm ready to upgrade from a 19ft travel trailer to a 26ft. I'm going to live in it for 5 or so months at a time. I have a 1 ton diesel truck so that's not a problem. I'm just wondering how much more difficult it will be to tow, & back up. Are some distribution hitches better than others? I've looked at Jayco, Grand Design & Couger so far. I will be very appreciative of any information, & recommendations

[Hannibal]

Only reason I use WD is to satisfy the rating of the receiver. Even at that, the bars are barely loaded. I don’t like the stress a WDH puts on the trailer.

[GDS-3950BH]

IDman wrote:
Stay away from Cougar unless you want constant trouble because of NO quality control.

If one is looking for any quality control they should stay away from all of them. Quality control from the RV Industry? That's funny.

[ppine]

I have a one ton Ford diesel and towed home my 26 foot trailer with no WD hitch. It was okay but the steering felt light and the rig was not level, heavy in the rear.

I added a WD hitch and am very happy with the results. Also sway control. I can pull it anywhere.

[Edd505]

The shorter they are the harder to back. You might need anti sway to keep the TT straight behind you, you have enough truck for the load.

[LadyRVer]

I towed a 26' with a 2500 LB CC sRam, Hemi. No problem, no WDH//Sway bars needed.

I then got a 23' trailer with same truck, no problem, no WDH/Sway bars. Traded for a 1500 Chevy Short bed, 4 door. Now have WDH/sway bar.

With your size truck, IMO you would be fine. Try without before spending the money.

[ferndaleflyer]

I have towed a 32ft tri axel enclosed all over the country at about 10,000lbs without a WDH and never a problem. the longer trailer is easier to back up.

[Lwiddis]

It’s the inverse! Longer the TT the easier it is to back up.

[punomatic]

When I bought my 25' trailer, the dealer said I wouldn't need WD with my F350. OTOH, my wife made me trade the one ton for a half ton, because she wouldn't drive the one ton. So, I never found out if the dealer was correct.

[KD4UPL]

A longer trailer is easier to back up than a shorter trailer.
I also highly doubt that a WDH is necessary for a 26' trailer behind a 1 ton truck. I regularly tow over 10,000 pounds behind my dually with no WDH

[TomG2]

What does your truck's owner's manual have to say about hitches. They "may" know a thing or two about their product. I towed a 26' travel trailer with a Silverado 2500HD with NO weight distributing hitch and no problems for thousands of miles. That is what GM advised.

[Grit_dog]

RICK-ards Red wrote:
I too upgraded from a 17 foot TT to a 26 foot TT, no issues with towing, you will not notice the difference. For the WD why not get what the dealer recommends as it would match the trailer..no?

Why not?
Because we’re talking a 26’ TT behind a 1 ton.
It’ll barely have enough tongue weight to soften the ride. Won’t even have to air the tires up much (unless you’re also on e of those folks that runs around with 80psi in an empty truck because the tire and sticker “say so.”
9.5 out of 10 dealers will sell a customer anything they’re willing to buy, regardless of its necessity.
When you’ve towed stuff for many years, many trailers and many trucks, get back to me.

Classic example, my in-laws were going to try camping this year. They (were not 100% sold on it, MIL considers the holiday inn roughing it compared to the Marriot...lol) picked out a nice little camper to pull behind their grand Cherokee. Bout a $15k camper, brand spanking new. By the time they got to the final paperwork it was almost $25k! All they needed was a basic wdh to go with it. FIL was going to put the brake controller in himself.
THAT is why you don’t doo what the dealer recommends unless you verify first with someone who doesn’t have a financial profit interest in the deal!

[RICK-ards_Red]

I too upgraded from a 17 foot TT to a 26 foot TT, no issues with towing, you will not notice the difference. For the WD why not get what the dealer recommends as it would match the trailer..no?

[IDman]

Stay away from Cougar unless you want constant trouble because of NO quality control.

[Gdetrailer]

JRscooby wrote:
Why on earth do you think you need to richard around with WDH on a ton truck?

Because of all of the fear spread around like bovine material blindly following the fear mongers like a bunch of wimpy and mindless "lemmings" on this forum and many other forums like this one.

Fear like "your gonna kill someone" if you do not use WD..

Fear like it is a "required safety item".

Fear like "your gonna overload your vehicle".

Fear like you "you will have sway without WD".

Fear like "you won't like the ride without WD".

Not EVERY TV and trailer combo "needs" WD and when you buy up to the "big boys" platform WD really becomes less of a help and some cases may result in a poor handling situation.

WD was originally designed to to help folks tow much heavier trailers than what their vehicle would have been capable if solely relying on only the capacity of the rear axle..

There is no law anywhere which states one MUST use WD, it is up to the owner of said combination to determine IF it is needed.

Got enough cargo capacity, enough front and rear axle capacity, not much reduction of the front axle, you might be a candidate to try a test tow without WD.

As long as you keep 13%-15% weight on the trailer tongue AND you have a TV that is very capable it will tow stable.

And for the record, I do not have a "1 ton", nope, do have 3/4 ton and I have about 3500 lbs of available cargo weight on my TV and a 26ft TT with just under 950 lbs fully loaded.. No, I do not use WD.

No, have not died, have not killed anyone, have not been in an accident, have not had issues with sway and it is a rather comfortable tow.

I have had to make several major avoidance maneuvers over the years which required stomping on the brakes while cruising at 70 MPH to avoid deer that ran out in front of me.. Kept complete control of the entire rig the entire time avoiding the deer, avoiding fellow motorists and never went off the road or crossed lines in the process..

Don't think the outcome would have been good if I was relying on a lighter vehicle and WD.. I will take the heavier vehicle..