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Old 06-02-2018, 01:00 PM   #1
mjmeyers
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towing a Bullet Ultra Lite

Hi,

I currently tow a 26' Heartland Trailrunner TT (5100# dry) with a 2010 Ford Expedition and Equalizer WDH. While we've traveled with this set up all over the country (20,000 miles or so), I'm looking for a better towing experience. A local dealer recommended the Keystone Bullet Ultra Lite due to its better aerodynamics and increased width between axels. We are thinking about the 243BHS or 248RKS which have similar dry weight ratings.

Have any of you on this forum switched from towing a typical entry level TT to a Bullet Ultra Lite with a SUV tow vehicle? How much better was your towing experience?

Thanks,
Marv
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Old 06-02-2018, 01:35 PM   #2
busterbrown
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The biggest issue with short wheelbase SUV's is two fold. The first is limitations on payload (even with ultra lights). The second is related to the "tail wagging the dog" syndrome. Trailer length and surface area along the sides has more impact on towing experience than weight. That's why flat bed and boat trailers pull much easier than travel trailers, even though they may weight the same.

A 29' coach may seem light on paper. But in reality when ready to camp, its weight plumps up a hefty 20%, increasing tongue weight significantly. TV payload capacity is now compromised as the TW is directly subtracted from payload. This happened to me when I upgraded my WDH to a Hensley Arrow. Now, I was at capacity with my Yukon XL's payload as I tried to remedy sway. The sway was gone but I didn't feel comfortable being at my truck's limits.

So I upgraded TV and now all is good. As far as having a better towing experience with increased axle spacing and lower profile, it's just marketing. I'm not convinced that wide axle spacing does anything over traditional axle spacing. And the aero dynamic profile...cough, cough...more marketing hype. You're still dragging an almost 11' tall and 29' long wind sale at 65 MPH. Not much advantage if you ask me.

I currently own a 3/4 ton Ram 2500 so I have all the payload and wheelbase I could wish for.
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Old 06-02-2018, 10:00 PM   #3
Ken / Claudia
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Do not use listed dry weights of RVs you do not tow then dry. Be safe look at the GVWR of the RV as a guide to what it may weight. See my listed trailer the dry tongue wt. was listed at 520? lbs as I recall it really weights 920 lbs as I have checked it at the scale house on a trip to dry camp 3 days 2 people, water, batteries, propane, food clothing, camping gear etc adds up.
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Old 06-03-2018, 04:05 AM   #4
flybouy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia View Post
Do not use listed dry weights of RVs you do not tow then dry. Be safe look at the GVWR of the RV as a guide to what it may weight. See my listed trailer the dry tongue wt. was listed at 520? lbs as I recall it really weights 920 lbs as I have checked it at the scale house on a trip to dry camp 3 days 2 people, water, batteries, propane, food clothing, camping gear etc adds up.
This is a good starting point. After you weigh all the stuff you THINK you will pack, take that number and double it. If your a hoarder or like ALL the comforts and conveniences of home then triple it! Things seem to magically accumulate and when you bring that new grill, extra blankets, space heater, etc. the cumulative weight can be significant.
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Old 06-03-2018, 06:04 AM   #5
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Further to Ken's comments re: weight. I have the same 5500# dry weight trailer. Came in at 7400# loaded at the CAT scales. 800# on the hitch. Main reason I put LRE Carlisles on. YMMV
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Old 06-03-2018, 07:58 AM   #6
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We have a 2017 Bullet 248rks, pulled by our 2013 RAM 1500 HEMI. I don't think it pulls any better or worse than other campers we've had. Our truck has 3.55 gears (wish it had the 3.92), and it has a towing capacity of 8850 lb. Our tongue weight was recently weighed by our hitch guy, because we were experiencing porpoising. The tongue weight, with everything loaded except our clothes in the front end, was 570 pounds (included stored stuff in the pass through, propane, battery). Our hitch guy tilted the hitch head back a notch and we're hoping that helps. It's been raining so much in our area, that we haven't had the chance to go camping with the new adjustment yet.

We've had trouble with the contents of the upper cabinet on the back wall coming open and depositing contents on the floor while towing. We're hoping that the hitch ball adjustment will help with this, as well. We're glad that we don't carry breakable dish/glassware!
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Old 06-03-2018, 08:12 AM   #7
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You must be loaded real heavy behind the axles. Your dry hitch weight without propane, batteries, etc. says 535#. 570# is not near enough.
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Old 06-03-2018, 08:25 AM   #8
flybouy
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Teacher, 570 lb tongue wt. is about 1/2 of what it should be @ the total wt. you listed.
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Old 06-03-2018, 09:44 AM   #9
sourdough
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Teacher, x2^^^^^. Your trailer is trying to pry the rear end of your truck off the pavement because the nose is too light - tilting the hitch head won't fix it.
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Old 06-03-2018, 10:37 AM   #10
Triple GGG
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Definitely need to move some items toward the front, and in front of the axles to increase tongue weight.
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Old 06-10-2018, 07:15 PM   #11
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Meyers, for what it's worth I have been towing a passport 2400 with a Tahoe for a while. Also complained about the sway and at times it definitely felt like the tail was wagging the dog. As an experiment I started pulling with my Silverado 1500. The towing experience so far as sway was concerned was night and day. I was amazed at how much extending the TV wheel base made a difference. We travel in the Dakotas mostly and deal with some crazy crosswinds too.
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