towing my new 23 ft. camper trailer

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I'm wondering if it's the aero of the trailer or the mods on your vehicle that make your experience disappointing. I ask, because I've towed 6000lbs before and it was pretty effortless even through the hills. Albeit it was a car on a tandem car trailer which isn't as much drag.

Are you fully armored with larger tires? It may be that your gearing as a result is just outside of what's good for towing?
 
I think the key to towing a proportionally heavy or non-aerodynamic load is not to be in a hurry. I just towed mine to the Eastern Shore this week and pretty much did the speed limit. I normally drive faster and like to be quick out of intersections, but with the travel trailer I just take my time. The eastern shore of Maryland is flat as a pool table, so most of the drive was with OD off and PWR on. It handles great and I was able to travel the posted speed limits without over revving the engine.

Goes up mountains in the slow right lane, and comes down in 3rd gear with no feet on pedals holding 55mph perfectly. I just try to keep the tach around 3000 to be sure I'm not stressing the motor much.

My truck has around 170k on the odometer; 285 all terrain tires; an ARB bull bar; and air bags. I'm not at all worried that the load is reducing the life of the truck.
 
I just towed my 17' 3800lbs hybrid again and I really am thinking about getting a dedicated towing vehicle. You would think that the cruiser would be able to handle it and it does, its the 8mpg, the little tiny fuel tank, and the anemic power output that limits the truck.

Has anyone switched from a 100 to tundra or a NA diesel? Can y'all provide any feedback?
 
I switched from a Tundra with a 5.7 to a 100 and there is a noticable difference. I do routinely tow heavy loads and also own a ram 2500 Diesel. One thing that you need to realize is that the 100 / Tundra comparison is reasonable. A comparison to one of the big three diesel is really apples to oranges. My Ram has an 11,000 pound towing rating and when I tow my enclosed trailer, I do not notice it, with the 100, it is quite noticable, and with the Tundra, it was also noticable, but not as much.

I will say that from my experience (pushing 150,000 miles of recreational trailer towing), aerodynamics plays a fairly large factor in what you are feeling. It has also been my experience that if you can keep the towed weight less than 80% of the tow vehicle's tow rating, the trip is much more enjoyable. Finally, don't expect greatness in MPG towing just because you move to a diesel. I am an advocate of diesel power for towing, but not for the mileage, but more for the extra grunt and more comfortable tow.

That's my $0.02 which has been reduced to $0.000015 due to inflation ...
 
I got between 8-10 mpg towing with my Tundra 4.7. From what I read on various towing forums that's kind of standard for most trucks. Worst mileage I didn't even track was towing in western Wyoming with some vicious sidewinds on two lane road. A gusting wind effect from a passing semi once enough to fold my driver's back. A good anti sway system is a must.

A good idea is to load up your trailer for camping and actually go weigh each axle and combined rig. You might be surprised by the results as the manufacturers weight ratings have a lot of variables.
 
I tow my 22 airstream all over. No issues other than watching speed. Can get up to 80 pretty easy. 8-10 mpg and 3500 trailer. Towed first 600 miles without equali hitch. Tows much better with proper hitch.
 
bcripe said:
I tow my 22 airstream all over. No issues other than watching speed. Can get up to 80 pretty easy. 8-10 mpg and 3500 trailer. Towed first 600 miles without equali hitch. Tows much better with proper hitch.
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Which model is your airstream. I may be in the market and have been wondering how big I can realistically go.
 
not a camper but a 25ft triple pontoon....

too much???


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150136622802921&set=a.398584852920.169768.504602920&type=3&theater


It moves ok... and in this pic the rear right wheel is on an ice pile so it pushes the hitch down hard... though it does sink the rear on the truck normally..


I thought about air bags and heavy duty springs..

I need to tow this thing back and forth from the cabin... about a 40min drive
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DWNUNDR said:
Being a 97 2500 tows it.... But yeah i have that thought but seeing the OP pics of his 23ft camper makes me think this cant be much heavier than that...
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I know for some reason this pisses people off, but this tow was no problem for the 100, with AirLift air bags. I was not the first off the line at lights, but it cruised the back roads and highways with no trouble. Roughly 80 miles at a time. Towing is more of a skill than the limitation of the equipment. Some appropriate modifications are necessary, like airbags and brake controllers, but towing that camper or boat is not at the limits of this truck. :cheers:
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^^^ Great looking setup you got there.
 
Also towing a 23' hybrid

2000 LC all stock at 145,000 miles. P3 tekonsha brake controller on isolated circuit from eTrailer kit. Weight distribution hitch and friction sway controller.

Haven't used Power switch much, I toggle overdrive as needed to improve mileage (checked with a Scanguage). My two trips have been in moderately hill country trips of 80 mile round trips. My trailer weight empty is 3500 and I carry about 500 lbs of gear, 500 lbs of family and have a Thule car topper for misc. extras.

Of the line it's slow going. Temps don't climb. Mileage averages 10-11. I keep it about 60 as I get more comfortable with the rig and feel out the weight distribution. Hitch settings. Too loose and you bounce, to tight and it's a buckboard.

Towed 40 miles in strong rain yesterday and had to watch front hydro planing but sway bar and manual rear braking were best defense. Rule of thumb, 1000 under towing capacity seems to be the suggestion at most RV dealers (if they're honest).

Wish we had budget for more but this suits the family for now. We decided to use hotels for long road trips and was happy getting more miles done per day and 18 mpg plus Key West doesn't have much room for rv's.
 
I don't know how you guys do it. I towed a 3700lb uHaul trailer and while it maintained grades (in PA) and held 80 no issue, I wouldn't want to go bigger.
 
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