Trailer Length & Towing

NoodlesWIU · 03-14-2016, 11:00 AM

So we have been leaning towards purchasing a 28BH for the past 6 months that is 32 feet in length, but found Sunset Trails now offers a nice rear living 310RL that is even nicer for comfort for us, and towing specs minus being 36 feet. The trailer only has 618lbs of Dry tongue weight. Add in the LP and Batteries I'm up to 750lbs or slightly above 10% of the 7000 lb Empty weight. We can tow 11,500, were under for payload specs for weight once we add in passengers, so were fine there. The only thing giving me pause is the length...

I am just curious of what a 4 foot difference in overall length will tow like with a properly setup WD hitch. Has anyone towed this length with a 1/2 ton?

Any thoughts?

KingFisher · 03-14-2016, 11:37 AM

I wouldn't be afraid to pull it with my 2015 standard bed double cab silverado and it's only listed at 9200 pound towing cap.

I wouldn't hot rod with it though.

In the 80's I pulled a 32 ft park model around with my 1978 1/2 ton chevy standard cab truck and didn't think a thing about it.

travelin texans · 03-14-2016, 11:40 AM

Towing up to 11.5k with a 1/2 ton pickup with a 3.5 liter (is that a V6?), good luck!!!

Loneoak · 03-14-2016, 12:23 PM

Our daughter wanted a bigger trailer (than her previous 23 foot TT), but was being put off by the longer footprint. I asked her if she had ever considered a 5er. She had not. She ended up with a ST 270BH 5er and is very happy with her bigger trailer without the bigger footprint.

She had (still has) an F150 with a 5 1/2 foot box, which meant a sliding hitch. She made the adjustment just fine.

By the way, most trucks will tow a heavier 5er than TT. Something to do with center of gravity, I think. 5ers also are not subject to the sways of TTs on the road.

CFun · 03-22-2016, 11:59 AM

I am pulling a 33BD which is 35'-10" with a Nissan Titan. Titan is rated for 9,300 pounds and the local CAT scales have me at 8450 fully loaded. I have a Centerline WD hitch and it tows great.

I will note that the ride while towing improved dramatically when I swapped out the factory tires for Michelin's with an index of 118.

dedmiston · 03-22-2016, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoodlesWIU

So we have been leaning towards purchasing a 28BH for the past 6 months that is 32 feet in length, but found Sunset Trails now offers a nice rear living 310RL that is even nicer for comfort for us, and towing specs minus being 36 feet. The trailer only has 618lbs of Dry tongue weight. Add in the LP and Batteries I'm up to 750lbs or slightly above 10% of the 7000 lb Empty weight. We can tow 11,500, were under for payload specs for weight once we add in passengers, so were fine there. The only thing giving me pause is the length...

I am just curious of what a 4 foot difference in overall length will tow like with a properly setup WD hitch. Has anyone towed this length with a 1/2 ton?

Any thoughts?

I think that's too much trailer for a half ton. I towed a 30' bumper pull with my diesel RAM 2500 3/4 ton. It towed great, but I wouldn't have wanted anything heavier or longer.

That long of a trailer with an F150 is going to have a lot of sway.

**mark5w** · 03-22-2016, 05:13 PM

Quote:

I think that's too much trailer for a half ton. I towed a 30' bumper pull with my diesel RAM 2500 3/4 ton. It towed great, but I wouldn't have wanted anything heavier or longer.

I've been pulling my Cruiser Patriot (37') 5th wheel with my F150 Twin Turbo. I've been up and down the east coast on Interstates and back mountainous road and had no problem. I did special order the HD payload and installed Roadmaster Active suspension. But it's hard to tell the Rv is behind me at times. I also live on top of one of the Appalachian mountains. Going up, down, across with out any type of issue. And the tranny temp stays well below the max.

dedmiston · 03-22-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark5w

I've been pulling my Cruiser Patriot (37') 5th wheel with my F150 Twin Turbo. I've been up and down the east coast on Interstates and back mountainous road and had no problem. I did special order the HD payload and installed Roadmaster Active suspension. But it's hard to tell the Rv is behind me at times. I also live on top of one of the Appalachian mountains. Going up, down, across with out any type of issue. And the tranny temp stays well below the max.

Nice. I stand corrected.

I guess I'm accustomed to the toy hauler world where the rig and cargo are very heavy.

TxCowboy · 03-23-2016, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFun

I am pulling a 33BD which is 35'-10" with a Nissan Titan. Titan is rated for 9,300 pounds and the local CAT scales have me at 8450 fully loaded. I have a Centerline WD hitch and it tows great.

I will note that the ride while towing improved dramatically when I swapped out the factory tires for Michelin's with an index of 118.

Not to hijack the thread but what does the term "index" mean? I'm not familiar with that term in relation to tires/towing.

CFun · 03-23-2016, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxCowboy

Not to hijack the thread but what does the term "index" mean? I'm not familiar with that term in relation to tires/towing.

Tires used to have load ratings of Type C, Type D, Type E, etc. There was actually a lot of subjectivity in those ratings and one manufacturer's type C was another manufacturer's Type D.

The "Tire Load Index" was developed to create uniformity. The index is molded into the sidewall with the tire size. So when you look at your tires you may have a size of 265/70 r18 104 S. The 265/70 r18 is the size of the tire, the 104 is the load index rating of the tire, and the S is the speed rating of the tire.

Here is a link to the load index chart:

Tire Load Index Chart | Tires Plus

My stock tires had an index of 106 which means they were rated to carry 2,094 lbs each. I upgraded to tires with an index of 118 which are rated to carry 2,910 lbs each. The stiffer sidewalls eliminated a lot of the bouncy ride feel when towing.

AbbaZabba · 03-23-2016, 01:05 PM

I had the same question with the length, is the extra 4 feet that big of a deal? I went ahead and went bigger and am glad I did.

This is my first large trailer and diesel, but I have towed a good amount with FS PU and suburbans. While the weight may be under the limit of the trucks capability, I prefer to not have to do 10 under the limit. I could likely tow my trailer with a maxed out 1500, but would rather have the extra truck weight and extra power of a 2500 or 3500.

superduty glampers · 03-23-2016, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin texans

Towing up to 11.5k with a 1/2 ton pickup with a 3.5 liter (is that a V6?), good luck!!!

Danny, "Have driven a FORD lately"

dedmiston · 03-23-2016, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark5w

I've been pulling my Cruiser Patriot (37') 5th wheel with my F150 Twin Turbo. I've been up and down the east coast on Interstates and back mountainous road and had no problem. I did special order the HD payload and installed Roadmaster Active suspension. But it's hard to tell the Rv is behind me at times. I also live on top of one of the Appalachian mountains. Going up, down, across with out any type of issue. And the tranny temp stays well below the max.

Wait a sec, I just saw that you're pulling a fiver and he was asking about bumper pulls. I don't think it's apples:apples. I think a bumper pull that long behind an F150 is going to have too much sway to tow comfortably. You don't experience sway because you're pulling a fiver.

**mark5w** · 03-23-2016, 07:30 PM

The F150 has an anti sway built into the towing program.

Trailer sway control | Vehicle Features Video | Official Ford Owner Site

travelin texans · 03-23-2016, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superduty glampers

Danny, "Have driven a FORD lately"

NOPE!! And won't! Drove them for 30 years at work, that was enough to cure me!

**Lloyd** · 03-23-2016, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoodlesWIU

So we have been leaning towards purchasing a 28BH for the past 6 months that is 32 feet in length, but found Sunset Trails now offers a nice rear living 310RL that is even nicer for comfort for us, and towing specs minus being 36 feet. The trailer only has 618lbs of Dry tongue weight. Add in the LP and Batteries I'm up to 750lbs or slightly above 10% of the 7000 lb Empty weight. We can tow 11,500, were under for payload specs for weight once we add in passengers, so were fine there. The only thing giving me pause is the length...

I am just curious of what a 4 foot difference in overall length will tow like with a properly setup WD hitch. Has anyone towed this length with a 1/2 ton?

Any thoughts?

I see in your sig. -- Max Tow.
Do you also have Max Payload?
One other thing, are your tires 10 ply, E Rated?

**mark5w** · 03-23-2016, 07:43 PM

Play nice boys.

travelin texans · 03-23-2016, 08:05 PM

I'm playing nice! Question asked & answered!

CFun · 03-24-2016, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedmiston

Wait a sec, I just saw that you're pulling a fiver and he was asking about bumper pulls. I don't think it's apples:apples. I think a bumper pull that long behind an F150 is going to have too much sway to tow comfortably. You don't experience sway because you're pulling a fiver.

I have pulled my trailer through some pretty severe weather and it has stayed planted directly behind me. Didn't sway even a little bit. If you have the right hitch set-up, and with the spread axles that Crossroads started putting on the trailers it is a really stable combination.

ShannFam · 03-24-2016, 11:24 AM

I tow a 32BH 36' long and 7200lb dry weight with a ProPride hitch, no problems with sway and we put over 2500 miles on it last year.

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