Need opinions. I have been asked to move a travel trailer about 100mi, mostly interstate. (The owner has no tow vehicle, bought the camper on a seasonal site). They have offered to set my truck up with 'what it needs' to tow this trailer once.
The trailer is 2000 Palomino Thoroughbred 21 footer, dual axle, weighs 3881lbs dry. It will be empty for this move. I do assume it will have the 2 propane tanks and battery, but those could be removed to lighten the tounge wt if need be. I assume the tounge weight without is (10% of trailer) or 380lbs.
The question is, do I really need a weight distributing hitch for this instance? I typically tow a 12' pop-up or a 17' boat, so I am not experienced with how this larger camper setup should be handled. As much as I would like to have a $450 WDH bought for me, I would really prefer to save my sis-in-law the $, believe it or not .
My Tundra does have a towing pkg, trans cooler, 7-way and Prodigy brake controller. And I do tow w/ OD off.
Any feedback would be appreciated!
__________________
Jim
2001 Tundra AC V8 4x4 TRD, Sunfire Red Pearl, Matching A.R.E. Z series cap.
You may get a contradicting suggestion on this, but I wouldn't bother with a WD hitch for this 100 mile trip. I towed a 3500 lb travel trailer (Palomino Stampede SL21, quite a coincidence) several times without a WD and it was fine.
However, per the Tundra owners manual, you should turn off OverDrive while towing. Also, do not exceed 65mph.
Eric
__________________
2003 Tundra Access Cab SR5 V8 4X4
RAPS, C.R. Lawrence Slider Rear Window from Yipes!, Hellwig Rear Anti-sway Bar, ASA TRS alloys, 265/70-16 Firestone Destination AT tires, debadged doors, ARE MX series cap, WeatherTech front floor mats, Scanguage II gauge & code scanner
I think I am right on the edge, that is why I am gathering the info. I would probably be fine as you say without the WDH, but I am also concerned about sway more than the tounge weight itself.
Again, probably would be fine, especially if propane tanks and batt are removed for trip, and If I keep speed at 55.
__________________
Jim
2001 Tundra AC V8 4x4 TRD, Sunfire Red Pearl, Matching A.R.E. Z series cap.
Revised question: Do I need a Weght Distibuting Hitch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by geojim
Need opinions. I have been asked to move a travel trailer about 100mi, mostly interstate. (The owner has no tow vehicle, bought the camper on a seasonal site). They have offered to set my truck up with 'what it needs' to tow this trailer once.
The trailer is 2000 Palomino Thoroughbred 21 footer, dual axle, weighs 3881lbs dry. It will be empty for this move. I do assume it will have the 2 propane tanks and battery, but those could be removed to lighten the tounge wt if need be. I assume the tounge weight without is (10% of trailer) or 380lbs.
The question is, do I really need a weight distributing hitch for this instance? I typically tow a 12' pop-up or a 17' boat, so I am not experienced with how this larger camper setup should be handled. As much as I would like to have a $450 WDH bought for me, I would really prefer to save my sis-in-law the $, believe it or not .
My Tundra does have a towing pkg, trans cooler, 7-way and Prodigy brake controller. And I do tow w/ OD off.
Any feedback would be appreciated!
Ok, I found out the trailer is actually a 25', NOT a 21. I looked up the wrong info prior to my recent conversation w/ my sis-in-law. This may change things significantly. The Palomino web site lists this trailer @ just over 4000lbs, w/ an advertised tounge under 400lbs. What do you experienced trailer haulers think?
__________________
Jim
2001 Tundra AC V8 4x4 TRD, Sunfire Red Pearl, Matching A.R.E. Z series cap.
You absolutely need a WDH with high performance sway control
Quote:
Originally Posted by geojim
Ok, I found out the trailer is actually a 25', NOT a 21. I looked up the wrong info prior to my recent conversation w/ my sis-in-law. This may change things significantly. The Palomino web site lists this trailer @ just over 4000lbs, w/ an advertised tounge under 400lbs. What do you experienced trailer haulers think?
The advertised weights (total and tongue) are for an empty trailer...not even any factory/dealer options and certainly not any of your stuff/food/water, etc.
Your real loaded weights will be more like 5300 lbs total and 550 to 600 lbs tongue. Those numbers definitely necessitate a WDH.
Worse, it would be total insanity to try towing a 25 foot standard travel trailer without high performance sway control. The only way you're going to get high quality sway control is by having a WDH that has either very good friction control (e.g. Equ-i-lizer) or with cam type (e.g. Reese High Performance Dual Cam) control designed into the hitch. I personally feel the cam type sway control is better because these produce a centering force that recenters the trailer back behind the tow vehicle. Friction controls actually resist recentering the trailer.
I've never understood this resistance to buying a WDH...once you get the initial adjustments done (maybe a 30 minute job) and have a little experience with the process, hooking up/unhooking a WDH adds at most 3 minutes to the hitch up time. And, compared to the overall cost of trailer and truck, the cost is minimal. A WDH will greatly improve your truck's ride and handling because it gets weight back on the front tires...and, in combination with sway control, will make towing a far, far safer proposition.
__________________ Ray
Natural White '03 Access Cab V8 SR5 4X4 with TRD Off Road Suspension, Limited Slip Differential, and Towing Package
Towing & Performance Mods: JBA Headers, Gibson Muffler, 4.30 gears, Michelin LTX M/S Tires, Hellwig Anti-Roll bar, Prodigy Trailer Brake Controller, Autometer Z-Series Transmission Temperature Gauge, Magnefine Transmission Filter
Utility & Misc Mods: Genuine Toyota OEM Step (Nerf) bars, Peragon Tonneau Cover, TracRac Rack and Rail System, Muth Signal Mirrors, Pop&Lock tailgate lock, TruSpeed speedometer calibrator, "$20" RS-3200 Upgrade, Auto-Dimming mirror w/ Temp and Compass, Clear/Red/Clear Taillights with Silverstar Signal bulbs, 3M Clear Bra
The advertised weights (total and tongue) are for an empty trailer...not even any factory/dealer options and certainly not any of your stuff/food/water, etc.
Your real loaded weights will be more like 5300 lbs total and 550 to 600 lbs tongue. Those numbers definitely necessitate a WDH.
Worse, it would be total insanity to try towing a 25 foot standard travel trailer without high performance sway control. The only way you're going to get high quality sway control is by having a WDH that has either very good friction control (e.g. Equ-i-lizer) or with cam type (e.g. Reese High Performance Dual Cam) control designed into the hitch. I personally feel the cam type sway control is better because these produce a centering force that recenters the trailer back behind the tow vehicle. Friction controls actually resist recentering the trailer.
I've never understood this resistance to buying a WDH...once you get the initial adjustments done (maybe a 30 minute job) and have a little experience with the process, hooking up/unhooking a WDH adds at most 3 minutes to the hitch up time. And, compared to the overall cost of trailer and truck, the cost is minimal. A WDH will greatly improve your truck's ride and handling because it gets weight back on the front tires...and, in combination with sway control, will make towing a far, far safer proposition.
Thanks Ray. This does confirm my own beliefs, but I need to convince other parties of this. Since this is a one-shot deal, and the trailer will be void of propane tanks, h20, stuff, etc. my father-in-law is conviced that it would be 'just fine' to tow without the investment in the WD setup for a 'short' 100mi trip. I am trying to convice him otherwise. I WIL NOT do this move without one.
Again, thanks for the feedack.
__________________
Jim
2001 Tundra AC V8 4x4 TRD, Sunfire Red Pearl, Matching A.R.E. Z series cap.
Opinion: Do I need a WD hitch?
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