What mods do i need/want to tow?

2018 SR5 TSS Off road.
I’m now the owner of a Jayco 21 ft. 4500lb dry/6500 full, camping trailer. I’m in Western CO so unless I’m taking a short trip to eastern Utah (Moab area) I’m looking at mountain climbing and descending. I’ve run up and down the local hiway to get acquainted with it at 60 to 65 mph with Tow/Haul on and off, in D and S4,5. I have stock leafs and suspension. The truck really feels like it’s “pulling a trailer”.

 

Shouldn’t need anything for that trailer. Are you looking for more power or different suspension? You feel it as in swaying or lack of power? You could start something that will cost you a lot of money in parts.

Some things to consider - WDH hitch, airbags, new leafs, shocks (won’t do too much), gears, exhaust, etc.

 

I have a good hitch with stability control so not very much sway characteristics. Just really sluggish but stability seems good. I hoped the power would not be as affected as it is proving to be.

 

Doesn't look like you are squating too bad, do you have a wdh?

I have a similar sized tt and a wdh with anti sway bar. I air up all tires, put it in S4 and roll.

 

It's towing 5000lbs+, it's going to be sluggish

 

I do have a ReCurve WDH system with adjustable sway control. The sway has not been a problem so far. My tires are 16" Goodyear Wranglers at 80 psi. (Rocky Mountain/Baja off road package)
And yeah, I expected some sluggishness but I hoped it would be better. I don't have a lot of towing experience and nothing this heavy.

 

The altitude out there is most likely the culprit. I tow in flat land country.

 

Yeah, I'm currently at 4600ft but am surrounded by 10k+. I hadn't considered that potential effect.

 

I've elk hunted out that way (Rifle,Co), but we took an F350 diesel.

 

You're almost doubling the weight of your truck. Expect performance to be cut in half.

Do you have Tow/Haul turned on when you tow? It adjusts the sensitivity of the throttle, will hold gears longer, and increase the odds of an upshift.

BTW, my 'normal' tow is my pop-up trailer that weighs about 2500lbs. I can't really feel it behind me. I also tow a dump trailer that weighs 5000lbs unloaded, and I can definitely feel it behind the truck. Loaded it's close to 10 000lbs, and I certainly know it's behind me. The truck feels very sluggish when pulling its max load. But that's to be expected. Heavy!

 

I have a very similar size/ weight camper. Don't know if anyone has mentioned yet but a scan gauge or something to monitor transmission temps is smart IMO.. I like to know when it's heating up.. Sounds like you already have the WDH. I added Sumo Springs. It helped some with the bouncyness going over bumps. Sluggish factor can really only be solved with a supercharger..

 

One thing I recently purchased to help with visibility was a digital rear view mirror with a backup camera feed from the trailer going into it. I used to feed the backup camera into my head unit, but I couldn't navigate and look out the back at the same time. I finally bought a digital mirror for full time backup camera while driving, without sacrificing nav / music while driving. Plus the rear view mirror is useless with a tall trailer on the back.

$150 Pyle Rear View Backup Camera System - Parking Reverse Car Vehicle Rearview Back Up w/ 4.3” LCD Mirror Monitor Assembly Kit, Night Vision, Tilt-Adjustable Angle, Mounts on License Plate - Pyle PLCM4560

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GCW8D6X/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I liked this mirror since it had a RCA input for the camera. I already had an RCA cable run and didn't feel like running a new wire. I would have liked it to be full screen but this screen size is plenty for passing / parking.

 

Lot's of Elk in the area here. I had a Pronghorn in my front 'yard' a week ago. We're headed to Rifle for our first camping adventure in new trailer. I'm originally from CenTex and the hills are smaller.

 

I had the dealer install a Furrion back up camera on the trailer. It's good for telling me how close I am to the backing limit. And I can see a trailing vehicle if it's close. But I haven't heard of a "Digital Rear View Mirror" before.

 

Tow/Haul in S4 is what you should be running in.

 

Sorry, I think that's BS. Source? If you point me to that page in the owner's manual that says S4 should be used in engine braking situations, I'm gonna flip out on ya.

 

Yeah the Furrion stuff is top notch. I wasn't too familiar with digital rear cameras either, but I believe they are options in other Heavy Duty trucks that specialize in towing.

I liked having it while driving. It's a natural reflex to periodically check the rear view mirror while driving. Now there's actually something for me to see there.

 

You asked, I gave my $0.02, feel free to flip out, I'll be by the front door.

 

Do you have the tow package? Brake controller?

You're going to feel 5k. It's the laws of physics.

 

Yes, I have the full tow package with the brake control setting and pinch control. What I'm coming to understand is, yes, I'm pulling a heavy object behind me and I'm not driving a F450 diesel. I'll feel that effect in my half ton truck.

 

What other source do you want besides from the people who made the truck?

 

Because that's not what the manual says. It's says to use S4 when engine braking for long periods, not all the time.

 

Gotcha

It is wordy, but I take to mean do NOT use D any time you are towing, braking or driving.

"To maintain engine braking efficiency and charging system performance when using engine braking, do not use the transmission in D.

Transmission shift range position must be in 4 in the S mode."

 

OP, if your truck doesn't have a rear sway bar, I've heard those can help with stability when towing.

 

That's a pretty cool idea. Does the camera connect to the mirror wirelessly? Why did you use the RCA cable?

 

No it's all hard wired. The reason I wanted RCA was because I initially ran the camera to the head unit (Pioneer 4400NEX) which allowed for a couple camera via RCA cables.

I ran an RCA cable from the back of the trailer all the way to the trailer plug. I then ran another cable from the mirror all the way to the back of the truck and have it mounted there, with a rubber plug to keep water/dust out. Now when I plug the trailer in, I also plug in the camera.

Wireless kits were either very expensive or the reviews weren't great. Plus I prefer hard wiring things like this.

 

If you are "tow sensitive" you'll feel it in any truck. It's just the nature of the beast. It's more noticeable in a 1/2 ton since you have less truck there.

 

I tow this with mine and it pulls it like a champ:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/what-camping-setup-do-you-have.72845/#post-1876036

I will say, braking can be a little sketchy but just prepared. But with a camper that size, you should be perfectly fine. A lot of people will recommend a rear sway bar for towing, I didn't notice a major difference with mine while towing but it sure helped for everday driving.

 

I lived in CO and Wyoming for several years and the altitude is a killer. I had a Duramax and it was awesome. If I lived out there again I’d probably go back to a diesel.

You could slap on a supercharger...what I did after coming out of the Duramax to try gap the loss in capability.

 

Forced induction fixes'ish altitude

I'd just manually select the gear you need for climbs and enjoy the scenery as you're ascending.