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Langhammx@sbcglobal.net
If I were towing with a 1/2ton pickup or our yukon I wouldn't want anything heavier than 4000lbs dry weight, and I'd want to keep it under 6,000lbs loaded with tongue weight not exceeding about 600lbs. Seriously if you're planning on going bigger than that, buy a 3/4 ton which will do it safely and isn't going to wear out prematurely from working it to death doing something that it shouldn't be doing. They can say what they want on paper but it is irresponsible of the auto makers to be giving these 1/2 ton pickups the tow ratings that they do.
My last RV was a 28' bumper pull with a dry weight of 9,500lbs and 900lbs tongue weight. I towed it with a 2012 Ram 3500 with rear air helper springs and a weight distribution hitch, and that was a lot of trailer for that truck. I hooked up to that trailer with a 2014 GMC Sierra just to move it around the yard and I was shocked at how much that truck squatted, there's no fuckin way I would have even thought about towing that trailer anywhere with that truck. And yes it was rated to do it, which is ridiculous.
The Shop
That said, the debate on what's "towable" and not for a 1/2 ton truck makes the 2-stroke vs 4 -poke discussion or any James Stewart online conversation seem like civilized banter in comparison
I agree 100%. And I crack up at people who tow a heavy load with a half ton truck and say "don't even know it's back there". LOL, I've towed lighter loads with big 1 ton trucks and trust me, unless you are towing a pop up camper, you always know its back there. Anytime somebody says "don't even know it's back there" I just tune out because they either don't don't know WTF they are talking about or they are just full of shit.
I had a 2010 Tundra and owned 2 different Toy haulers that I pulled with that truck while I owned it. One was a 26ft Gearbox, "claimed" dry weight of 6500 lbs, fully loaded 9500 lbs. Tongue weight 1000 lbs. Technically in the spec range of what is acceptable for a Tundra. I also had air bags on the Tundra. That was a super dangerously sketchy towing experience. I would not recommend that to anyone. It was dangerous as hell. I never went over 65 mph with it. I let a buddy borrow it and he pulled it with his F250 and he said it worked his F250 pretty good. He couldn't believe the Tundra could handle it at all. No way those trailer specs were accurate.
Sold that trailer and got a 24 ft, "claimed" dry weight toy hauler of 5000 lbs, Fully loaded about 8500 lbs, ~750 lb tongue weight. With air bags, load leveling hitch, and sway bar, the Tundra towed fine up to 70-75 mph (75 mph was the max speed I felt comfortable towing). This is the max size I would recommend for towing with a Tundra. Sure, the engine and tranny can pull the space shuttle (literally). But the suspension, frame flex, and braking make anything larger very dangerous. Just my $0.02 from personal experience.
This is the model:
http://www.carsontrailer.com/subs/trailers/rv-sport/pull-front-bath/fde…
I pull with a 3/4 Ton Cummins and it's all it wants.
Jason
I use air bags, torsion bars and Load leveler hitch
http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=200&Image=537…
I have had it for 4 years now and started out with a 2003 Tahoe 5.3L motor 4 speed trans. Did it tow it, yes. Did it like it? No. Whenever I went any long distance I tried to leave it as empty as possible and find places near my destination to fill water, etc.
I upgraded to a 2013 Chevy Silverado, still with 5.3L motor but 6 speed trans and it was a big difference. As others have said, the shorter wheelbase SUV type vehicles kind of make you feel not so safe on the highway. The longer wheelbase Silverado was a big improvement.
Last Fall I upgraded to a RAM 2500 with 6.4L Hemi gas motor. Basically just because my Silverado had good trade-in value and the RAMs had big price incentives.
I just got done towing it from Cleveland, Ohio to Loretta Lynn's for the week and towing with the 3/4 ton RAM is a huge difference. I can set the cruise at 70 and just ride along. I also found on the RAM it is better WITHOUT the weight distribution bars that I used on the 1/2 ton trucks previously. I drove down using both the weight bars and the sway bar, and drove home using only the sway bar and it was a big improvement. The 3/4 ton RAM can handle the tongue weight though and it actually improves the ride with the weight on it.
As for the reason we picked the XLR 24HFS -- we wanted to make sure we got something that we could sleep in without having to unload all the stuff. Some of the smaller Toy Haulers you have to unload your bikes/etc in order to setup the bed. That doesn't work so well on long trips! We take a lot of longer trips in which we stop over at a rest area or Walmart and sleep the night and finish driving in the morning. You can't do that if your camper has to be unloaded to use the bed.
Now that I have a 3/4 ton RAM I was thinking of upgrading to a bigger trailer but it's just two of us and I have this one setup pretty good. The biggest thing we are missing is a slide-out. With just us it's fine but when we have a few guests it gets a little cramped feeling.
Pit Row
This way all the bikes, grease, gas and everything else is in the trailer and my sleeping area is clean and clear.
Do the pickup truck inserts have a bathroom in them? It's nice not having to use job Johnny's I don't know if any of you guys where at the X-Factor GNCC this year, would not want to go out in the middle of night in that weather to find a job Johnny LOL.
They were so much mud we had to be towed in and towed back out the next day buy a bulldozer.
http://www.eclipservmfg.com/media/AttitudeCatalog2016WEB_553665a1afe6b…
https://gearjunkie.com/happier-camper
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