Towing a travel trailer, input wanted

[Pushing_Tin]

Hi all, my wife and I are going to purchase a smaller travel trailer. I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.2L, automatic tranny in it. I am wondering what the max trailer weight I should realistically shoot for. According to my research the theoretical max trailer weight (double axle) is 8000lbs, but that seems highly optimistic to me. I live in Oregon where we have some pretty tall mountains and don't want to be going 25mph on the freeway.

So what is your advice to shoot for? I was thinking 4000lbs maybe 5000 at the most. I have never owned a trailer before and don't want to make a serious mistake.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice! :thumbsup:

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Hi all, my wife and I are going to purchase a smaller travel trailer. I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.2L, automatic tranny in it. I am wondering what the max trailer weight I should realistically shoot for. According to my research the theoretical max trailer weight (double axle) is 8000lbs, but that seems highly optimistic to me. I live in Oregon where we have some pretty tall mountains and don't want to be going 25mph on the freeway.

So what is your advice to shoot for? I was thinking 4000lbs maybe 5000 at the most. I have never owned a trailer before and don't want to make a serious mistake.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice! :thumbsup:

The lighter it is, the more you will like towing it. I had a 6,000 lb. travel trailer I pulled with my Silverado 1500. It pulled it, but it wasn't much fun. I now have a 2700 lb. fifth wheel. It's small, but it fits the family. I love it!

I think your goal of 4,000 lbs. is a good goal. It's a matter of what you're willing to give up. Remember also that dry weight is one thing, but after you've filled the trailer with water and gear it's going to weigh more.

 

[Bird]

Of course, it also depends on your differential gear ratio, whether or not you have an auxilliary transmission oil cooler, etc. I'm assuming you will be using a load distributing hitch with the properly sized lift bars, and no way I would pull a travel trailer without sway control.

I know the newer trucks are rated to pull a lot more than the older ones, but I think the 4k to 5k pound weight is a good number to go for.

Pulling much more weight than that would probably fit one of my favorite sayings "You can do it but you ain't gonna like it."

 

[schmism]

my popup is 3500lbs ready to go camping.....

I would shoot for something in the 5K lb range

I now have a 2700 lb. fifth wheel

details? 2700lb and fifth wheel dont go together unless your talking about PIN weight...

 

[roamerr]

My experience does not match everyone's. I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 with the hemi and 3.92 gears. My 30' toyhauler loaded with ATV's/water/fuel weighs in at around 10,000 lbs. Pulls excellent due to a heavy tongue weight even with the weight dist hitch. Going up Fancy Gap in WV I will turn 4000 rpm at 65 mph but it does fine.

Look at the build of the trailer. I like to see a 1000 lb or so tongue weight. The trailers that say 500lb or less tongue can really "wag" the truck if extra weight is not loaded in the front.

 

[Pushing_Tin]

Excellent replies, keep them coming!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

details? 2700lb and fifth wheel dont go together unless your talking about PIN weight...

Seriously. It's a tiny little 17 ft. fifth wheel trailer. It's a 1989 Fleetwood Yukon. We got it for a song, and it's in pretty good shape. The 2700 pounds is dry weight the day I brought it home based on the scale at work. It's a double axle. It fits my family of 5 beautifully, and the truck hardly knows it's back there.

I'm going camping this weekend with the family. I'll see if I can get some pictures to post.

You should see my horse trailer. It's a single axle gooseneck featherlite two horse trailer.

 

[roamerr]

I'd like to see some pics of that 2700 lb fifth wheel also. There's one in the town I live in that is maybe 15' long and I bet it is similar. Today it would be hard to find a fifth wheel under 10,000 lbs on a scale.

 

[Bird]

2700lb and fifth wheel dont go together unless your talking about PIN weight...

Sure it does, if you're talking about the right trailer.:laughing: How about the 19' Scamp that only weighs about 2,000 pounds?

When I had a 32' fifth-wheel (1988 Carri-Lite), I was running 7,300 on the two axles and 2,500 on the pin, so of course you're right about most fifth-wheels.

Incidentally, I was pulling that fifth-wheel with a one ton dually Chevy extended cab, 454 cu. in., 4.10 rear end, so I actually had more truck than necessary.

 

[RadarTech]

Hi--
I had a 27 ft TT thet weighed about 6000 loaded...Pulled it with a 99 durango. 4x4..
It was fine on the flat land.. but no way would I do it up where you live...

look for an ultralite...

I have seen some 25 ft's that weigh in around 3K or so...

That would be where I would go...


just check your options.. and get a sway bar for sure!!!

J

 

[mbohuntr]

I have a 09 F150 pulling a 09 dutchmen 18F TT. I think it is 4200lbs. I can tell you that with the 4.6 liter, it doesn't like hills.

 

[catskinner]

The weight range your looking at will be a good match, your truck will feel every pound when going up hill, same going down. Buy a real good brake controller, my first one was a cheap basic that the guy threw in when I bought my first camper, later bought a new truck, alot better controller ,handles the braking smoother less jerking. Add the biggest trans cooler you can, even if your truck has factory cooler. Travel trailers handle better IMO around 60mph, there will be others that disagree. Also tonge weight is paramount to towing, load most of your gear in front storage, keeping weight to floor as possible. Towing with the fresh water empty is best, but if you want water with you fill to max, that way no sloshing, most trailers don't have baffles in them, a gal in the gray and black tanks will keep the clean. If you could find a small 5th, they are the bomb, friend bought a 24', tows like a dream, much better than my 24' travel trailer.

 

[Pushing_Tin]

Looking at this one, seems pretty ideal for us and my truck!

2002 Outback by Liteway

 

[Bird]

The trailer in the picture, 1972 Holiday Vacationer, was called a 24RB (24' rear bath), but it was actually about 25' 3" in overall length. I don't remember exactly, but I think dry weight was about 4,400 pounds, although it was leaded pretty heavy since we lived in it for 3 months. That's a 1971 3/4 ton Chevy with a 350 cu. in. engine and the picture was at a car wash in Anchorage when we arrive there in July 1972 (about a thousand miles of dirt and gravel roads:laughing.

 

[catskinner]

Looking at this one, seems pretty ideal for us and my truck!

2002 Outback by Liteway

Looks like a nice trailer, when looking, note where the awning covers the door, mine doesn't cover it all the way, rain comes in when you have it open, actually helps it come in.

 

[Bird]

Looking at this one, seems pretty ideal for us and my truck!

2002 Outback by Liteway

Ought to be a nice little rig.

 

[Pirate]

Ask that question on RV.NET. You will get more than enough information to make your eyes seize up like an unlubed Chinese tractor.

 

[alchemysa]

Looking at this one, seems pretty ideal for us and my truck!

2002 Outback by Liteway

A strange design compared to most I've seen. Bed at the front. Kitchen (and all the weight) at the rear. But it has dual wheels so it might tow OK. No way would this wear the label 'Outback' in Australia.

You guys sure do like big stuff. In Australia that would be considered a relatively big caravan not an ultralite.

Our next van will be the absolute smallest I can get with a built in shower and toilet.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I moved my trailer over to the driveway tonight so my wife can clean it and pack tomorrow. I took pictures since I had it hooked up anyway. I'm also throwing in a picture of my little horse trailer. I should clarify that the horse trailer actually belongs to my neighboor, but it's on permanent loan to me.

 

[Pushing_Tin]

A strange design compared to most I've seen. Bed at the front. Kitchen (and all the weight) at the rear. But it has dual wheels so it might tow OK. No way would this wear the label 'Outback' in Australia.

You guys sure do like big stuff. In Australia that would be considered a relatively big caravan not an ultralite.

Our next van will be the absolute smallest I can get with a built in shower and toilet.

There are some smaller ones around, but many more MUCH larger ones too, hey it's how we do it in America! :laughing:

Quite a few in that size range had the bed towards the front. Didn't really matter much to us.