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Towing a 9000# 34' Travel Trailer

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by veg hed, Apr 7, 2018.

  1. Apr 7, 2018 at 10:44 AM
    #1
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    I am looking at buying a 34' Airstream Travel Trailer that weighs in at around 9000 lbs. My first thought was that the Tundra should be able to pull it since my DC is rated at 10,000 lbs towing and has the tow package. THEN I looked at the tongue weight. The Airstream Travel Trailer has a tongue weight of 1,250 lbs and the max tongue weight for the Tundra is 1,000 lbs. I'm no stranger to pulling trailers with diesel trucks for work and pulling with my Tundra. I have a 19' Airstream now and a raft trailer but those are no sweat for the Tundra. I understand a 9000# trailer is a different ballgame and would be a little more complex than the 8000# trailer I used to pull for work with an F-450.

    So my question is;

    Is there a way to increase allowable max tongue weight on the Tundra? Airbags? Weight distributing hitch?

    This would be a one way tow and not something I would pull a lot. I'm basically buying the 34' Airstream to park on a trailer pad and live out of during the fire season out west. The tow would be about 1700 miles so I want to make sure I can do it before I throw the money down. I know @ColoradoTJ is the man when it comes to towing questions. I'd like to hear some other thoughts as well.
     
  2. Apr 7, 2018 at 10:54 AM
    #2
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    That would be to much for me. That’s dry weight. You may possibly add another grand in weight or more once you get done. I dont like to push my trucks to limit like that. Plus, it looks like you’re at a higher altitude than sea level.
    Just my opinion..
     
  3. Apr 7, 2018 at 11:28 AM
    #3
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    It would be dry weight. I’m towing it from point A to point B where it will live it’s life as a park model trailer.
     
  4. Apr 7, 2018 at 11:33 AM
    #4
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    If you’re moving it once, rent a diesel one-ton for the job. You’d save some fuel costs that way too.
     
  5. Apr 7, 2018 at 11:40 AM
    #5
    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    There is nothing that will legally raise your tongue weight rating. You will be overloaded, add any occupants and gear, fuel etc. extremely overloaded! Even with airbags and weight distribution hitch your going to exceed the capacity of the truck. There is just no way around it. Don’t do it man. Maybe if you were just going to tow it a fewhundred miles which is unsafe I would say go slow just get it done. But that is a long trip. And while the engine can handle it, it’s hard on the drivetrain. Also imagine a panic stop with that big bitch!
     
    BTBAKER and veg hed[OP] like this.
  6. Apr 7, 2018 at 11:46 AM
    #6
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    Yeah, that has definitely crossed my mind...
     
  7. Apr 7, 2018 at 1:54 PM
    #7
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    Not to mention if something did happen to go sideways and someone was injured etc that overweight thing may ruin your day.
     
    veg hed[OP] likes this.
  8. Apr 7, 2018 at 1:55 PM
    #8
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    Good advice.
     
    veg hed[OP] and 15whtrd[QUOTED] like this.
  9. Apr 7, 2018 at 2:03 PM
    #9
    Thee_Oddball

    Thee_Oddball New Member

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  10. Apr 7, 2018 at 2:50 PM
    #10
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    -Hire an RV moving hotshot.
    -rent vehicle
    -pay private person/friend to go have a nice round trip vacation out west.

    One of my co-workers purchased a boat last year from Massachusetts and paid a hot shot 2000.00 to drop it off at her door. She was going to drive and do I herself until adding up costs. She asked me to do it, and I came in at 1800 (I didn’t want to go to Massachusetts anyway), but we were in an outage from hell at work where both of us couldn’t leave. I would have used my 14 Tacoma for the 19’ boat.

    Classy choice on the RV.
     
    Coolhardy, Black Wolf and veg hed[OP] like this.
  11. Apr 7, 2018 at 3:13 PM
    #11
    Thee_Oddball

    Thee_Oddball New Member

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  12. Apr 7, 2018 at 3:25 PM
    #12
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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  13. Apr 7, 2018 at 3:26 PM
    #13
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    Yeah, this would be my 4th Airstream...And by far the biggest.

    I haven't thought about a RV moving hotshot...I didn't even know those existed.
     
    ColoradoTJ[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Apr 7, 2018 at 3:27 PM
    #14
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    Thanks for the words of wisdoms, guys. I think you've told me what I already knew...Don't do it.
     
  15. Apr 7, 2018 at 4:33 PM
    #15
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    It’s in your best interest. Good luck.
     
    15whtrd and veg hed[QUOTED][OP] like this.
  16. Apr 7, 2018 at 5:23 PM
    #16
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Oh you’ve seen the RV hotshots, just probably missed the DOT/MC numbers and company logos on the side of the truck.

    Hell, I've used auto transport companies and had a diesel truck capable of towing the load. The Corvette was purchased in Orlando, FL and had it shipped to my door. 800.00.

    I have some contacts for you if you want them for RV hotshots or if you want a Logistics Company.
     
    veg hed[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  17. Apr 7, 2018 at 5:41 PM
    #17
    ShreveportTSS

    ShreveportTSS Huh?

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    I was looking at the cheapo 30ft Airstream @ $104k. Nice but $$$$
     
    veg hed[OP] and ColoradoTJ like this.
  18. Apr 7, 2018 at 5:59 PM
    #18
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Calibrated Power 5 Tune pack, Allison 1000 tune, PPE deep trans pan, Cold/Hot CAC pipes, Banks CAI, PCV reroute, resonator delete, S&B 62 gal fuel tank, B&W GN hitch
    I really don't want to go way deep into this, and @veg hed said in his original post that he wanted others opinions (I get it, post whore in this section), but one can really screw up your truck bad.

    Here is a good read on a guy with a Titan XD that bent his frame after hitting a huge pothole and having more tongue weight than designed. There is no doubt this XD has a heaver duty frame/drivetrain than our Tundras, but everything has its limits. I wonder if this guy feels any different now after that repair bill on his truck?

    http://www.titanxdforum.com/forum/569-nissan-titan-xd-defects-issues-problems/20217-bent-frame.html

    Food for thought....
     
    veg hed[OP] and Black Wolf like this.
  19. Apr 7, 2018 at 6:22 PM
    #19
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    That, and wrecking a truck, trailer, or both is peanuts compared to other possibilities.

    From what you see in the video, I'm thinking excessive speed was more the issue here, but it's a sobering reminder to err on the side of caution.

    Caution - Language Alert!
     
  20. Apr 7, 2018 at 6:31 PM
    #20
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    Holy shit!
     
  21. Apr 7, 2018 at 6:59 PM
    #21
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    I would love some contacts. You could PM them to my if you want.
     
    ColoradoTJ[QUOTED] likes this.
  22. Apr 7, 2018 at 7:17 PM
    #22
    Coolhardy

    Coolhardy New Member

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    Too many to list
    Almost all of the threads I see in here proves that Tundra is good for towing snowmobile or jet skis only...

    There goes my plan for having a camper one day.....
     
  23. Apr 7, 2018 at 7:19 PM
    #23
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    I’ll get with you. I just had a shit storm at work.
     
    veg hed[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  24. Apr 7, 2018 at 7:25 PM
    #24
    veg hed

    veg hed [OP] Thug

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    Maybe not a big trailer but the Tundra tows pretty well...

    0FB848BB-2E9A-44DA-AF31-14042C559D4C.jpg
     
  25. Apr 7, 2018 at 7:29 PM
    #25
    landphil

    landphil Fish are food, not friends!

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    Negative. Just pick something that has hitch weight under your truck's capability. That should put you in the 25' range, maybe 6000 lbs max.

    Hitch weight is the killer here, not trailer gross weight, but it can be done within reason, and within it's limits.
     
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  26. Apr 7, 2018 at 8:33 PM
    #26
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    @veg hed

    You can call 407-461-6977. I can't remember his name, but I talked to him for a while about weight limits etc. He is stationed out of FL, but rarely is there. He delivers all over the country.

    http://www.nolimitlogisticsllc.com/

    Ask for Craig.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2018
    veg hed[OP] likes this.
  27. Apr 7, 2018 at 8:35 PM
    #27
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Damn that's a killer picture, Tundra looks awesome in all that greatness. That has to be the Tetons.
     
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  28. Apr 8, 2018 at 4:56 AM
    #28
    Thee_Oddball

    Thee_Oddball New Member

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    Something My girlfriend having been thinking about is being car haulers so we might see the country and find the best land to build on, what I have read so far says you can clear about 90K but you really need a tractor instead of say a RAM5500, if you have any advice or tips plz let me know, thnx
     
  29. Apr 8, 2018 at 6:20 AM
    #29
    ShreveportTSS

    ShreveportTSS Huh?

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    Towing a travel trailer is all about weight and balance. As stated above, most people exceed max hitch weight before they max out max towing. You need to determine proper hitch height for the trailer, set your truck hitch for that height, then balance your load in both the truck and trailer to maintain it. Then you need to drive it as if it gets crossed up, it will roll you over and kick your ass, because it will.
     
    veg hed[OP] likes this.
  30. Apr 8, 2018 at 9:28 AM
    #30
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    I personally would look into a wide variety of options.

    Hotshotting with a class 8 rig can net you 1.35 per mile. With a class 3 rig, you are around .80 cents per mile.

    A person with specific/specialty loads like @GNTundra probably got him even more along the lines of 1.45 mile.

    Let’s say I wanted to deliver RVs for a living and used my current truck. I would take the larger RVs since they net more per mile, and since I have the load rating it makes sense. Things I would look into:
    -carrier insurance. Privately, that might get real expensive, and could really bite into the bottom line real quick. The number I left up in the earlier post, he schooled me on a bunch. He contracts with a company and buys his insurance through them. It was pretty reasonable at 145.00 per month.
    -hotel rates. It is forbidden to open up the RVs and take a nap inside. So there’s some more added cost.
    -fuel/maintenance

    Then I would have to pay myself every month, and keep good records, Save for truck replacement. Now this guy I’m talking about has an 06 duramax 2500 and just rebuilt the motor last year. I was getting a little weak at 640,000 miles. He is probably around 750k now. He has done well with his pre-emission truck.

    If it were me, I would be looking at one of these:

    https://m.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2006-Freightliner-Business-Class-M2-106--5002194302

    https://m.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2007-Freightliner-Business-Class-M2-106--5002006286

    Out of these two, I would get the teal colored one. It’s just set up better. Not a fan of the C7 CAT motor. These are pre-emissions trucks as well. No DPF/DEF to worry about. Anything after 07’, your going to have all the emissions stuff to deal with.

    Now look into what a cab and chassis Ram/Chevy/Ford 5500 will run you.

    https://m.commercialtrucktrader.com/listing/2018-Ram-5500-Chassis-Cab--5001252560
     
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