Looking for a travel trailer

As the title says, I’m looking for a trailer. I’m getting the tundra in a couple of days and we bought it with the internet of towing a travel trailer. We are looking for the largest we can safely tow. We will be setting it up out of town on land with electric, septic and water. So we want something that’ll work as a weekend getaway as well as trips and camping. I’ve used the search bar and have seen plenty of sting options on towing. I don’t plan to tow more than I can or should. I’ll be using an SR5 4x4 crewmax. Any input would be great appreciated.

 

You'll get a wide variety of opinions and because you want the largest you can safely tow, it will likely turn into an argument about what is safe.

I suggest going to the Towing section and looking at what people tow with their truck. Some tow really big rigs and others say they're crazy. I tow a 22' trailer and it's plenty big for my family.

 

Stay under 24' and 8500 lbs, make sure tire and brakes are in good shape. Be sure to have a spare and a good weight distribution hitch set up properly. For the truck, I suggest adding a HD Roadmaster active suspension kit and e rated tires. Safe travels!!

 

I’ve checked out some of the towing threads. It does seem to always turn into an argument about what’s safe vs anecdotal evidence of what’s “actually” safe.

 

If you think it is bad here try some of the RV forums!

 

Another word of caution: be very careful in evaluating based on “rated” weight numbers on the TT. I just recently bought a new TT and from my research on the RV forums, the “rated” tongue weight numbers provided by the RV Mfr. are way low - especially when you load your TT with all your gear. My dealer weighed the tongue weight of my TT when I bought it and it was 100 lbs higher than posted and that was empty. I’m sure my TR tongue weight is probably 300 lbs heavier now with my gear.

So if you are planning on staying within the payload numbers of your Tundra, factor this into your decision.

 

This is what I'm up against right now. My TT was amost exactly 10% tongue weight empty but with two, 20# propane cylinders filled. The battery isn't included in that weight. My pass through storage in in the front and under bed storage right behind that. Of course the water tank is up front too. I just don't see how it's possible to load this trailer to gross without having over 15% of that weight on the tongue. Toyota recommends 9-11%.

 

What are the thoughts on weight vs length? I’m finding plenty of 30ft within my weight range. Is that longer than I’d want to go with?

 

Wind is the problem my friend. Once you get a billboard in a windy environment you have a live load that is fluctuating which creates all kinds of problems. Do you wish to have a pile of toothpicks and a wrecked truck when you get caught in a thunderstorm or sudden road hazard??? Happens all the time because people try to push too hard. Think carefully and thrice before you buy anything.

 

That’s why I’m asking around. I’ve only towed in the 25 ft and lower range previously. I’m planning to spend what I need and not skimp on a good set up and I’m planning on doing a bit more research.

 

I’ve been looking exclusively at <6k dry. I may adjust that a little depending on what I read.

 

A 24’ trailer might not seem large for a TT but how many people would consider pulling a 24’ enclosed cargo trailer? I pulled one for many miles with a one ton diesel and it was heavy even when empty. Now factor in all of things built into a TT. As others have stated on these forums, look first at safe capacities, then look at what’s available in that range.

 

1. Wind resistance when pulling a trailer is as much as factor as overall weight.

2. I would not want anything larger than a 24 footer behind a 1/2 ton truck.

3. With these travel trailers, I would factor in 15% tongue weight with a travel trailer. That is more realistic once propane and batteries get installed.

4. I would be looking for 4,500-5,000 dry, so loaded out you will be in the 6,000-6,500 range. This should put you at 800-900 tongue weight so you should have 400-500 pounds for drivers, passengers, and gear.

 

When you guys say 24 foot, that's the inside length, right? Most manufacturers list the outside length, which includes the hitch and bumper and I'll be darned if I can find anything less than 28 feet total length that meets our needs.

 

Yeah I am talking about liveabke space, so a 24 foot or 26-27 overall.

 

23' end to end 4000lbs dual axels and a slide out sleeping for 4. mid 20k's

 

Here's what we just bought. My SR5 Crewmax was built a week ago and headed my way.

 

I did the bathroom scale trick this morning to check tongue weight. Since my scale doesn't come close to handling the weight I used a section of sturdy aluminum ramp set up with the tongue jack 1 foot away from a blocked end and the scale 4 feet away from the jack. You must remember to elevate the rear stabilizer jacks slightly before weighing. Use a section of pipe to act as a fulcrum on the end opposite the scale and pad the scale top before applying tbe weight. Since it's difficult to pinpoint the tongue weight on the ramp there is some error but shouldn't be much. Between the jack plate and the ramp I had a 1" section of tube steel to concentrate the weight as close to the 1 foot mark. Once all the blocking and ramp are in place, zero the scale and run the jack post down until contact is made with the 1" tube steel. Then lift the two front stabilizer jacks to put the full weight on the weighing ramp.
Oh, make sure your wheels are chocked and do this on a level, hard surface.
So, with this 4 feet on the scale side and 1 foot on the other, my scale showed 103#. Times that by 5 and my current tongue weight is 515#.

I really should have taken pictures.

 

What?

 

He used leverage to lighten the load on the scale and then used math to figure out what the actual tongue weight is.

 

We're empty nesters, so this works for us.

 

Pretty ingenious. That was dry or loaded? And what's your advertised dry tongue weight per the manufacturer?

 

That was about half loaded with nearly full propane tanks, battery and half tank of water. Pass through pretty much filled but it's bulky things such as lawn chairs, fishing rods etc. The tongue weight was said to be 410# IIRC with full propane but no battery. Trailer weight in that state was right around 2 tons. I can't see how I've added another 1,000 # of cargo but a stop at the local gravel pit to get the whole kit and caboodle weighed is my first stop when we head out.

 

I have had many campers as I have bought, repaired and flipped them for years. Started with pop ups and graduated to travel trailers. For our trucks, generally speaking, I would stay at 24 feet or under. The last one I had was a hybrid with a slide out and that style of camper greatly increases the floor plan……but gives the tent ends to sleep in. They can leak and are not bear proof if you’re camping in bear country.

You will get a ton of answers here about what’s safe and practical vs what’s possible. Just know that if something were to happen, the “safe and practical” won’t get you in nearly as much trouble as “possible”. In the grand scheme of things I always subscribe to what is safe and prudent. If you were to tow it one time to a destination property and leave it there, maybe it’s ok. But towing a large travel trailer all over that is questionable regarding capacity for a half ton is not something I would recommend.

I noticed you said it would be towed to a piece of property as a weekend getaway. If you want a larger trailer, I would bet you could rent a 3/4 ton to do that if you were leaving it there. Or pay someone to transport it for you.

 

Excellent advice.

 

Gyoaz,
All comments from others have been been good and helpful, so here is one more.
We are newly retired couple, and purchased a Vibe18RB. 21’, two axle (wider than most) and coming in around 4,700. Add the sway hitch and don’t overload it and this one pulls like a dream.
Before you ever leave the drive way, install a TPMS (valve caps to monitor the temperature and pressure of the trailer tires) and a rear camera on the camper.
You will be set and safe.
Enjoy

 

I had a 26' 6000 dry weight TT with weight distribution hitch and bars. It was definitely doable but would not want to use it more than a few times a year.

 

Please tell more about the TPMS system. I've been looking and have seen some that don't update if a sender drops offline. Don't want one of those. I have TPMS Maxipad that I can program sensors for my two cars and have been thinking I may just have the internal type installed and get the tires balanced at the same time.

 

Any updates?? Did you narrow down your search? Good luck