Towing Question on Wheelbase

Ok, respectfully, I’m afraid I don’t understand why you’d need or want air bags if you’re using a WDH and have it setup properly. You can only transfer so much weight from the rear to the front axle anyway.

 

Air bags just raise the back end up so it’s not squatting. That’s it. Does not add any load carrying capacity. Also adds stress to a point on the frame not originally engineered to carry the weight if equipped with leafs. Not sure how much that matters. Weight distribution hitch is obviously a must. Several different designs and several price points. Ran the EZ lift chains on my last trailer. Got the Reese Equilizer style this time. The bars ride in a cradle that has friction material on the base like a brake pad. Acts as the sway control. Really like the way it rides VS. the chains and separate sway bar style.

 

Pic of mine on semi level ground and setup pretty close to optimum. Trailer weighs 8100# as loaded now with a 915# tongue weight. Over my payload with a camper shell, myself and the two dogs. Have about 150# in the bed of the truck as well. Probably 200-250# over rigged like this.

 

So, just for cosmetic reasons then? If you’re doing all you can do with the WDH, the air bags wouldn’t help you do anything more.
I guess that certainly would put some added stress on the rear end. I wonder what the owners manual for Tundras with air suspension has to say about that?

 

Tundras with factory air suspension were engineered for that exact thing. Tundras with leafs were not. If your truck comes with air suspension to help level the load, great. Adding it to a truck that didn’t have it will help level it out, but that’s it. It shouldn’t be used to fix what the weight distribution hitch isn’t doing. That means you have too heavy of a tongue weight, the wrong WDH, or it isn’t setup properly.

 

Which Imagine bunk house trailer are you looking at getting? You said it was about 28’ so I’m assuming it is the 2400BH. I have the 2800BH and after a couple of seasons with my 2016 Tundra I went to a 3/4 ton truck. If it is the 2400BH I believe it would be a reasonable choice. If it’s the 2800BH I can list out my experiences and why I believe it is too much trailer for a 1/2 ton.

 

Is that the actual hitch weight as measured by you or is that what either the brochure or salesman says?

 

Been towing a 28’ Airstream for 7 years now. A little over 14k combined weight. 1325lbs of payload & come in under axle ratings. Rig tows solid with NO sway at all. Airstreams are very aerodynamic and tow more easily than a box trailer. I use a Reese straight line hitch & transfer about 200lbs to the front wheels & trailer wheels. Find a CAT scale & dial in your hitch. Having said that, I wouldn’t want to tow much more weight. Eyeballing the 2022 myself & waiting for some hard data from people towing.
I don’t think the wheelbase of the long bed will make much difference at all as the current wheelbase is sufficient. I do however think towing 9k for any distance is a little much.

 

I’ve always kept my speeds under 65mph and my OD turned off. I also don’t use the cruise control. That way I can control the truck and make the transitions smoother. Carry a little extra speed down a hill to use going up the next so I’m not braking down a hill and 2nd gear WOT up the next. Helps with MPG’s also. I’m always amazed to hear people dragging their trailers at 80mph everywhere

 

It would be the 2800 is what we were looking at. I guess I incorrectly stated 28ft. The box is 28ft but with the tongue a few feet more.

 

I know the airstreams are on the lighter side, do you know how much just the trailer weighs?

Also, just curious, what makes you say towing 9k over any distance would be a bit much? With a tow rating of over 11k it seems like it should handle the weight fine? Or is it the weight combined with length?

 

My 28’ Airstream comes in a hair over 7k when loaded for camping. I have done multiple trips over 5k miles.

 

The 2800BH is about 32’ from hitch to bumper. If you are set on the 2800BH I would highly recommend reading the Grand Design boards to see what other people have experienced with 1/2 tons. I know you didn’t ask about payload but it is much more of a factor than the total weight. My 2800BH base hitch weight is about 800lbs measured with a hitch scale, that is dry and without any of our gear. Once all of your gear and people are loaded up you will be over your payload rating, although with careful planning it can be a small overage. We had a high quality WDH that was properly adjusted and was a comfortable drive most of the time. Cross winds with a 32’ trailer and a 1/2 ton truck can get rough. I highly recommend getting the 2400BH instead for a 1/2 ton, you lose the couch but it’s still a great setup.

 

Thank you for the info, I will check there as well and I appreciate the info. Is the issue mostly the weight of the truck, payload, or the wheelbase? Or I guess a combination?

 

The payload on your truck is 1325 and you can keep it under that with your setup? What’s the unladen hitch weight of your trailer before you drop it on the ball?
Thanks for sharing!

 

Yes,mine is a short bed .

 

Over payload, under axle ratings. Hitch weight of 980 lbs as per Sherline scale. 28’ is one of the highest tongue weights for all Airstreams. “E” rated tires, good shocks & rear sway bar have all benefited my towing experience. You will do fine with a 25’ Airstream, but look for a rear bedroom for lighter tongue weight. Twin bed also IMO.

 

Thank you. We’re considering either the GT 23FBT with 525 HW, FC 25RBT with 850 or a General Coach Canada Citation Reward 25’ with a forecast HW of around 599 lbs. it’s just the two of us. We’re planning to use a WDH with a sway bar.
I’d prefer to remain under all ratings; payload, RAWR, FAWR, GVWR and GCVWR.

 

Overall the 2800BH is a lot of trailer for a 1/2 ton. In extreme conditions it can be overmatched, probably the biggest factor is the 1/2 ton suspension. It is designed to be comfortable for everyday driving and smaller loads. The lower payload rating is also part of this. I don’t know if the wheelbase length is an issue, haven’t researched that aspect and only heard negative issues on much shorter vehicles.

 

Between that front bike rack and couple of bikes plus a cap on the bed there is no way you are not way over payload.

Impossible.

SPP

 

Cap is so handy, but a big weight penalty.

 

Never said I was there Slowpoke…
I am however, 2k under GCVWR, under axle ratings & 2k under max tow.

 

Absolutely yes

 

So a noticeable difference in I am assuming handling with the extra foot of bed, but, the shorter bed would not be the reason to kill it.

 

Your trailer must be empty, My neighbor has a 2019 23' airstream, his tongue weight is 850 lbs loaded. He had to put air bags on his 2019 F150 pickup truck.

 

It won’t be an issue, u will be absolutely fine. I towed for years with a 2500 suburban that was my daily drive and it drove like garbage day to day but towed like a champ. The amount of towing you say u will do I agree with getting the 1500 level vehicle… and it will still tow like a champ even if the math on paper looks sketchy

 

Quite a bit of truth in this statement. Important to know the ratings and limits. Also important not to get too bogged down in the numbers. We over analyze every spec and make decisions based on them as if they are truly that important. There’s a safety factor involved in towing and staying within the ratings so that the systems perform as they should. Don’t want to overheat, or burn up a trans, or not be able to stop. The ratings tell you what your truck should be able to do. The specs on a Colorado tell you you can’t tow 10,000# trailers safely. Toyota said the Tundra can. Stick close to the numbers and stay within your comfort zone. Exceeding the ratings and driving 80mph is foolish and dangerous. Sticking close to them and drive responsibly and you’ll be fine.

 

Thanks all for the thoughts and experiences! At the very least I think at this point I am going to stick with the Tundra and if I need to upgrade to something bigger than I will cross that road when I get to it.

Based on feedback I will keep my reservation on my current Tundra which won’t be available until mid Feb anyways.

Side question, has anyone even seen a Crewmax with the 6.5ft bed? I know it is supposed to be available, but, so far I have only seen it with the dbl cab.

 

Bed length makes zero difference. Wheelbase does. A double cab with a 6.5 foot bed and a Crewmax with a 5.5 foot bed will have the same wheelbase and tow in the same general manner. If you get a Crewmax with a 6.5 foot bed that will be a longer wheelbase like the double cab with the 8 foot bed.

 

Yes thank you, that is what I was referring to. I should have said wheelbase instead of the bed lengths but this is only talking about the Crewmax. So 5.5 vs 6.5 foot bed gives an extra foot in wheelbase.