Lucy & Dezi might know the answer to this one . . .
For various reasons, I need the back end of the pick-up and can't tow a 5th wheel; so, I'm stuck w/ looking at TT's. I like one in particular that's 35' long. My weights are all OK on both towing veh & toad. Issue to me is whether this is too long.
You're asking, "Too long for what?" Well, that too, is part of the question. Assume full-timing roaming around mostly west of the Mississippi. The truck will be diesel; so, it'll get up the hill and stop it on the down side. I guess my fears have to do w/ maneuvering: in RV parks, state parks, through town, places not in sight of a town, etc.
There are lots of people out there who tow a 30-31' TT. Please respond if you tow a TT longer than 31' or if you know someone who does. Like it, don't care, don't like it?
My question might get better if some experienced TT pullers begin helping frame it.
Dathan said
05:24 AM Nov 1, 2010
We have a Jayco 31BHDS that is 34' (+/-) and tow with 2500 Chevy Long Bed overall length is about 52'. Never really have had any problems getting around. When we arrive at a campground we make sure they are aware of long trailer we tow. Might have to take more time getting backed into a tight place but that comes with the comfort of a large trailer.
Bill and Linda said
09:06 AM Nov 1, 2010
Back in the days “when” my Mom and Dad had (Mom still does actually) a 34 foot Airstream which they took all over the country several times and never had an issue.That was well before parks were “big rig” friendly.I also had one for a while and never had a problem with “putting it where I needed to.”
A 34 foot trailer is about the same actual overall truck bumper to trailer bumper length as a 38-39 foot 5th wheel due to the overhand of the 5’er up on the truck.So it really isn’t much different as to overall length.Some believe a 5er can be put where a tag trailer can’t.From experience, for the most part, I disagree. There are some exceptions, but few and far between.
While there is no question a 5’er will tow with almost no sway in comparison to tag trailer, (laws of physics stuff) for the most part you can maneuver them about the same once you learn how based on my actual experience.
If you need a tag trailer, then get it.
BTW, you’re really showing your age when you know about the “Long Long Trailer” movie.{Grin}
Safe travels
Bill
The Bear II said
09:32 AM Nov 1, 2010
There is a Tow Buddy (try www.tow-buddy.com)
It allows you to use a receiver type hitch to tow a 5th wheel trailer, so it leaves the back of the truck empty. I saw one on e-bay for $2500. The seller had gotten rid of the 5th wheel.
You need to have a heavy duty receiver hitch to handle the stress of a heavy 5th wheel.
Terry and Jo said
09:54 AM Nov 1, 2010
Let me start with an actual boo-boo on my part. We had purchased a 26-foot travel trailer and we took it to a national forest campground in Colorado. When we pulled off of the main highway to take the road to the campground, I managed to bend back the rear steps for entry into the back door.
What happened was that after leaving the highway, the dirt road immediately dipped down and then leveled out. When the trailer wheels got low enough, the rear steps then came into contact with the edge of the pavement of the highway and got bent way back. While I was able to straighten the steps up somewhat, they never worked right, so I had to have them completely replaced.
My thoughts are that the longer we get our RV's, the more we need to watch for dips and other "sudden" undulations of the roads. That would include going over railroad tracks in some places. We have camped in the above mentioned campground for years, and when camping before, we always had shorter campers and never had a problem. There was only 5 feet difference between our 26-footer and the one we had previously.
Another consideration for you would be that with the extra length, the "tail swing" will increase on turns, especially in places where fueling locations may be a little tight. In those cases, truck stops become very important because they tend to have a little more area for turning.
Terry
sprintcar said
07:43 PM Nov 1, 2010
We have a 36ft mountaineer travel trailer. You just have to be carefull. We have traveled all over the west and have not had a problem geting into any spaces.
The key is to have a good hitch. We have a EQUILIZER HITCH. This hitch just about elimanates the sway. Ipull the trailer with a Ford 350 dulley with the 7.3 Diesel.
For various reasons, I need the back end of the pick-up and can't tow a 5th wheel; so, I'm stuck w/ looking at TT's. I like one in particular that's 35' long. My weights are all OK on both towing veh & toad. Issue to me is whether this is too long.
You're asking, "Too long for what?" Well, that too, is part of the question. Assume full-timing roaming around mostly west of the Mississippi. The truck will be diesel; so, it'll get up the hill and stop it on the down side. I guess my fears have to do w/ maneuvering: in RV parks, state parks, through town, places not in sight of a town, etc.
There are lots of people out there who tow a 30-31' TT. Please respond if you tow a TT longer than 31' or if you know someone who does. Like it, don't care, don't like it?
My question might get better if some experienced TT pullers begin helping frame it.
Back in the days “when” my Mom and Dad had (Mom still does actually) a 34 foot Airstream which they took all over the country several times and never had an issue. That was well before parks were “big rig” friendly. I also had one for a while and never had a problem with “putting it where I needed to.”
A 34 foot trailer is about the same actual overall truck bumper to trailer bumper length as a 38-39 foot 5th wheel due to the overhand of the 5’er up on the truck. So it really isn’t much different as to overall length. Some believe a 5er can be put where a tag trailer can’t. From experience, for the most part, I disagree. There are some exceptions, but few and far between.
While there is no question a 5’er will tow with almost no sway in comparison to tag trailer, (laws of physics stuff) for the most part you can maneuver them about the same once you learn how based on my actual experience.
If you need a tag trailer, then get it.
BTW, you’re really showing your age when you know about the “Long Long Trailer” movie. {Grin}
Safe travels
Bill
What happened was that after leaving the highway, the dirt road immediately dipped down and then leveled out. When the trailer wheels got low enough, the rear steps then came into contact with the edge of the pavement of the highway and got bent way back. While I was able to straighten the steps up somewhat, they never worked right, so I had to have them completely replaced.
My thoughts are that the longer we get our RV's, the more we need to watch for dips and other "sudden" undulations of the roads. That would include going over railroad tracks in some places. We have camped in the above mentioned campground for years, and when camping before, we always had shorter campers and never had a problem. There was only 5 feet difference between our 26-footer and the one we had previously.
Another consideration for you would be that with the extra length, the "tail swing" will increase on turns, especially in places where fueling locations may be a little tight. In those cases, truck stops become very important because they tend to have a little more area for turning.
Terry