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Old 07-22-2022, 10:56 AM   #1
Gegrad
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Helped a newbie stay safe

So one of our college friend's wife messages my wife last weekend asking for any advice on trailers, as they were probably gonna buy one. I asked what they had to tow with and she said a 2020 Tacoma. Eyebrows raised I asked what they were looking at. She responsed "a small trailer, 4800 lbs empty, our Tacoma can tow 6000". I had my wife message her giving her a breakdown of payload and weights and such and expressed concern that was way too much for a Tacoma.

So the next day I messaged the husband (an old friend I hadn't talked to for a while) and gave him the breakdown about payload and the different between towing the weight and carrying they weight, and linked him that youtube video we all share that discusses the payload and vehicle weights. The trailer they wanted had a GVW of like 6600 lbs (26 ft total length). I told him it was highly unlikely we could safely carry that trailer weight with the Taco. He was out at the moment and couldn't check his door sticker, so we wrapped the conversation up.

A few days go by and I hadn't heard any more from him. Another friend messaged me and said "W went and traded his truck and got the camper!" I said "What?"

I messaged the guy back and said "I heard you made a move, congrats!"

He responded and said "Yeah, I looked into the wights and such a bit more, and I checked the payload on the Taco- 990 lbs, pitiful. So I traded it for a Silverado 1500 with more than twice the payload." [Note: the guy is a Sr. scientist for a big pharma company with a PHd in chemistry, so he is comptent at math, so I assume the Silvy has >1880 lbs payload]. And I got the trailer that afternoon!"

So yeah, I helped a first time buyer get into the right truck for their first trailer, and these people are not likely the type to want to go a lot bigger in a year or two, as the trailer they bought is a smaller bunkhouse, so they are already set with their kiddos. And he also now understands things about payload and carrying capacity. (Note: he did get a WDH with 4 point sway control as well). So there are people out there who are willing to listen when concern is expressed and things are broken down. He just didn't know about payload, weights, and such before.

Keep it up everyone and maybe, just maybe, we can stop the parade of 40' THs with 4000 lbs of pin weight being towed down the highways by 3/4 ton diesels.
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Old 07-22-2022, 12:07 PM   #2
bsmith0404
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Although there are some situations out there that definitely are not safe as for trailer vs TV, the ones that bother me more are the ones without a WDH. We’ve been out for nearly a month on this trip and have seen many RVs come and go and it kills me to see how many people are still towing a travel trailer without a WDH or without sway control. We’ve already seen two RVs on their sides during this trip, both were smaller travel trailers 18-23’ being towed by mid/full size SUVs, (Durango and I believe Sequoia), neither one had sway control. Talked to one guy who was in the middle of a cross country trip towing a 24’, one slide trailer with a Tundra and no sway control. People just don’t realize how quickly those things can start the tail wagging the dog. They all think, small trailer, I don’t need all that stuff, it goes great……
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Old 07-22-2022, 02:10 PM   #3
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It's like everything else in life though, like an HSA account, or buying a tax deed at the courthouse, or money management. The best way to really know the details behind a topic like that, or towing capacity/payload, is to talk to someone with the knowledge and experience. Good thing we have the internet and forums to get this info from fine folks like members here that are willing to share.

I didn't consider payload until I came here. But it makes sense now. I am still surprised when i see people towing huge campers with mid size SUVs or half ton trucks.

Glad you were able to lead someone in a better direction!
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Old 07-24-2022, 05:07 AM   #4
MikeGraham
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Originally Posted by bsmith0404 View Post
Although there are some situations out there that definitely are not safe as for trailer vs TV, the ones that bother me more are the ones without a WDH. We’ve been out for nearly a month on this trip and have seen many RVs come and go and it kills me to see how many people are still towing a travel trailer without a WDH or without sway control. We’ve already seen two RVs on their sides during this trip, both were smaller travel trailers 18-23’ being towed by mid/full size SUVs, (Durango and I believe Sequoia), neither one had sway control. Talked to one guy who was in the middle of a cross country trip towing a 24’, one slide trailer with a Tundra and no sway control. People just don’t realize how quickly those things can start the tail wagging the dog. They all think, small trailer, I don’t need all that stuff, it goes great……
Depends on the tow vehicle, my Ram diesel dually pulls my Carbon 35 with 0 sway in any conditions, nature of a dually
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Old 07-24-2022, 05:30 AM   #5
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Depends on the tow vehicle, my Ram diesel dually pulls my Carbon 35 with 0 sway in any conditions, nature of a dually
Larger, heavier ones tend to pull better than small ones, and a dually has the weight and four feet to make it more stable, but a good WDH with sway control still makes a difference. People don’t know what they don’t know. My 25’ car trailer pulls great too…..until that rare occasion when a cross wind catches it just right and it wants to step out on me.
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Old 07-24-2022, 07:57 AM   #6
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Depends on the tow vehicle, my Ram diesel dually pulls my Carbon 35 with 0 sway in any conditions, nature of a dually
So I guess you've driven in EVERY POSSIBLE CONDITION?
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Old 07-24-2022, 08:16 AM   #7
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So I guess you've driven in EVERY POSSIBLE CONDITION?
Wow, feelings hurt much? Sure seems like it? Plenty of high crosswinds in West Texas, Semi's blowing past at 80+. Never had an issue, which is my experience.
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Old 07-24-2022, 09:05 AM   #8
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Wow, feelings hurt much? Sure seems like it? Plenty of high crosswinds in West Texas, Semi's blowing past at 80+. Never had an issue, which is my experience.
No feelings involved. When people make absolute statements I question it. Seems to me like asking about hurt feeling is the pot calling the kettle black.
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Old 07-24-2022, 09:34 AM   #9
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No feelings involved. When people make absolute statements I question it. Seems to me like asking about hurt feeling is the pot calling the kettle black.
I definitely made an absolute statement, I've absolutely never had an issue with sway in any conditions with this combo. No hurt feelings, but all caps is screaming, why scream unless you got in your feelings?
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Old 07-24-2022, 09:40 AM   #10
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Well I can tell you the day is coming. I transported RVs, every shape and size you can imagine and have somewhere in the area of 200,000 miles with them behind my truck. I also had a 3500 dually and did not use a WDH with sway control. The majority of them are too involved with connecting to deal with installing and uninstalling on every trailer you pull. There have been times that I never knew a particular trailer was behind me and others I felt every single mile for nearly 2000 miles. Your particular trailer is heavy and most likely well balanced so it tows very well, but a WDH with sway control does make a difference. I now have a blue ox sway pro that I use for every trailer I pull.
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Old 07-24-2022, 09:55 AM   #11
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Sorry I hurt your feelings. Your statement was an absolute statement in that you didn't qualify it by saying you never experience a problem. So if I somehow didn't assume that reading your first statement you meant that then I apologize for not understanding and hurting your feelings.
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Old 07-26-2022, 08:00 AM   #12
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Wow, feelings hurt much? Sure seems like it? Plenty of high crosswinds in West Texas, Semi's blowing past at 80+. Never had an issue, which is my experience.
But have you driven under water or up a wall or even jumped a river.
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Old 07-26-2022, 09:11 AM   #13
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We went from towing a bumper pull trailer with a 1500 Chevy Suburban to a 3500 dually long bed, crew cab (gas) pick-up truck. the trailer was 24 feet long (18 foot box inside) and I used weight distribution and a friction sway bar.

Later, we traded campers and trucks. Trailers got longer, and the 3500 long bed, crew cab, dually turned into diesel. I still used weight distribution.

We ended up with a 35 foot Outback and ended up switching to an Equal-i-zer 4 point weight distribution switch and got away from the friction sway bar. It was a good move.

Granted, the dual wheels, and maybe the sheer weight of the truck(s) helped prevent trailer sway, but the added weight distribution bars seemed to somehow always make the ride just feel ... well ... more safe! OK, maybe nothing, maybe ABSOLUTELY nothing drastically changed with that dually by adding the weight distribution bars, as far as the towing went, BUT!!! ... having the weight distribution bars with built-in sway just FELT much better. Placebo effect? Who knows? But, for my own self-confidence and for my own safety, (if it was a Placebo effect) ... it was worth it to me!

For what it's worth, getting the dually diesel was a wise move. When we finally switched to a fifth wheel, I didn't have to purchase another truck!
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