Towing travel trailer

[CBeckFJ]

I am looking at towing a travel trailer across the country in a few years to places like Colorado, HIH, Moab, etc. and need recommendations for something lightweight that I can tow with a 2005 LX 5 speed. I was thinking something similar to a Shasta/Jayco

 

[changingground]

Hey- I pulled a 19’ hard sided trailer from Denver to San Diego with my former Toyota Sequoia (same motor, 4 speed auto) and did fine. As long as you stay below your maximums (weight and length) You should be good. Do expect abysmal fuel economy while driving.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

 

[CBeckFJ]

Hey- I pulled a 19’ hard sided trailer from Denver to San Diego with my former Toyota Sequoia (same motor, 4 speed auto) and did fine. As long as you stay below your maximums (weight and length) You should be good. Do expect abysmal fuel economy while driving.

How was it through the Colorado mountains? Did it handle it fine?

 

[FxFormat]

As you might have seen from my pics, i just did a 7000 miles round trip across the USA. What is the reason for a trailer? What do you plan on putting inside of it? I had more than enough room with my drawer setup and bed build, and the roof rack to store more crap.


Anyways, my weight for the trip was around 7500lbs or so once i'm loaded with food, water, extra fuel, going up mountain passes were awful. Maybe my oversized tires or just the overall weight of the vehicle, it constantly downshifts when i'm on cruise control, and when i'm taking full control it gets tiring as i have to really mash the pedal to keep it from rolling backwards. You'll be near redline most of the way when climbing. I though the truck was going to sh!t itself but it pulled through.

That's my 2cents, unless you HAVE to, i wouldn't tow a trailer, that hinders your offroading capabilities as well. pack light, pack tight, enjoy the ride.

 

[changingground]

How was it through the Colorado mountains? Did it handle it fine?

Handling was no problem. Neither was power. No Cummins, to be sure , but no complaints either.

 

[kelly saad]

Get a tent trailer. The main issue is wind resistance with a travel trailer, it will just suck. The tent trailer is great because the air goes right over the top like it’s not there. I have a Coleman E3 that weighs about 3000 lbs, it has a shower, toilet, and slide out kitchen. It really has everything you need, and my 98 pulls it great. It totally sucks up high mountain passes in Colorado, 20-25 mph, but whatever, nothing you can do about that.

 

[CBeckFJ]

As you might have seen from my pics, i just did a 7000 miles round trip across the USA. What is the reason for a trailer? What do you plan on putting inside of it? I had more than enough room with my drawer setup and bed build, and the roof rack to store more crap.


Anyways, my weight for the trip was around 7500lbs or so once i'm loaded with food, water, extra fuel, going up mountain passes were awful. Maybe my oversized tires or just the overall weight of the vehicle, it constantly downshifts when i'm on cruise control, and when i'm taking full control it gets tiring as i have to really mash the pedal to keep it from rolling backwards. You'll be near redline most of the way when climbing. I though the truck was going to sh!t itself but it pulled through.

That's my 2cents, unless you HAVE to, i wouldn't tow a trailer, that hinders your offroading capabilities as well. pack light, pack tight, enjoy the ride.

Bringing multiple people would be the biggest hinder to being in just the vehicle. A trailer allows 2-4 people to be in comfort and having plenty of storage, while also letting us detach and go wheeling without having to take down the campsite

 

[CBeckFJ]

Get a tent trailer. The main issue is wind resistance with a travel trailer, it will just suck. The tent trailer is great because the air goes right over the top like it’s not there. I have a Coleman E3 that weighs about 3000 lbs, it has a shower, toilet, and slide out kitchen. It really has everything you need, and my 98 pulls it great. It totally sucks up high mountain passes in Colorado, 20-25 mph, but whatever, nothing you can do about that.

Started looking hard into older pop ups. If I can find one with a shower/toilet within my budget that would defenitly be ideal. We towed my parents OPUS pop up through the Maine north woods and got 12 MPG stock.

 

[Bomar]

I just towed my KK with my heavy heavy 99 100 series and it did fine. My KK is probably 3K fully loaded and my LC has 240k miles and weights probably close to 7k lbs with bumpers, aux tanks and all the other #EAF stuff.

 

[lhfungo]

I tow a Lance travel trailer model 1685 that when loaded for the trip weighs just over 5k. I also have the wife, 2 little kids and some random crap in the vehicle. I tow in 4th (5-speed) and I travel at 57-60 mph @2600-2700 RPM. I never spin over 4k RPM so dropping into 3rd on hills, I can still get up to 55mph. The trailer I mentioned is lower in profile than many others like Jayco and Forest River. I believe my height to the top of the A/C is just under 9ft. It is also 17 ft for the box and just under 21 ft. total. We have yet to go over any higher elevations, just some southern California hills. 7% for a mile and a half brought me down to 45 MPH. 9-9.5 MPG so far.

 

[Joe Bob]

Do it!

 

[CBeckFJ]

Do it!View attachment 2032928

I love that conqueror! I've been looking at Trailmanors recently. Hardsided popups that have no canvas in them. My parents have an Opus, so I miiiiiight get to use that during my summer travels between college semesters when the time comes

 

[gregnash]

Interested in this as well. Wife and I are looking to purchase something like the NoBo (No Boundaries) 19.5 or maybe 16.8 in a couple years. Last year our 2011 4Runner pulled a Wolf Pup 16bhs pretty easily and figured it we kept at about that size/weight and got the 100 series, towing would be easier. Just the two of us (maybe the 2-3 dogs) so not looking for anything huge. But has some concerns that the 100 would tow "easier" than the 4Runner. If not, then will be looking at an older diesel truck. Mind you the tow vehicle will be my DD (currently have a '85 60) so not going to invest in a third vehicle specifically for towing or anything like that. Would love to keep it at the 100 but will know better once we actually go look at the trailers (tire kicking).

 

[CBeckFJ]

Interested in this as well. Wife and I are looking to purchase something like the NoBo (No Boundaries) 19.5 or maybe 16.8 in a couple years. Last year our 2011 4Runner pulled a Wolf Pup 16bhs pretty easily and figured it we kept at about that size/weight and got the 100 series, towing would be easier. Just the two of us (maybe the 2-3 dogs) so not looking for anything huge. But has some concerns that the 100 would tow "easier" than the 4Runner. If not, then will be looking at an older diesel truck. Mind you the tow vehicle will be my DD (currently have a '85 60) so not going to invest in a third vehicle specifically for towing or anything like that. Would love to keep it at the 100 but will know better once we actually go look at the trailers (tire kicking).

I would advise staying away from forest river products. Horrible quality control and customer service from what ive heard. I've been digging deep into Trailmanors. They are a hard sided pop up so your gas mileage wont suffer that much, and are lightweight so you can pull them almost anywhere.

 

[ga12r1]

We tow a Jayco 17xfd all over the country with no problems. As a meter of fact we leave tomorrow towing it from South Ga to Silverton, Co for HIH9. It has 3 queen beds and is 3500lb empty and 4500 loaded. We have no isuues.

 

[gregnash]

I would advise staying away from forest river products. Horrible quality control and customer service from what ive heard. I've been digging deep into Trailmanors. They are a hard sided pop up so your gas mileage wont suffer that much, and are lightweight so you can pull them almost anywhere.

Interesting... We are just starting researching the different versions and noticed the NoBo as they have won awards the last couple years for most innovative campers. They fit our lifestyle pretty good too as they seem a bit more "rugged" compared to the Wolf Pup we borrowed.

 

[CBeckFJ]

We tow a Jayco 17xfd all over the country with no problems. As a meter of fact we leave tomorrow towing it from South Ga to Silverton, Co for HIH9. It has 3 queen beds and is 3500lb empty and 4500 loaded. We have no isuues.

View attachment 2034016

Whats your mileage while towing?

 

[ga12r1]

Whats your mileage while towing?

Normally about 7.5. Coming back from HIH8 last year I actually got about 7.75(I guess it was mostly downhill)

I run OD off at 65mph. That puts me at 3200rpm. The truck really likes 3200.

 

[geanes]

We tow a Jayco 17xfd all over the country with no problems. As a meter of fact we leave tomorrow towing it from South Ga to Silverton, Co for HIH9. It has 3 queen beds and is 3500lb empty and 4500 loaded. We have no isuues.

View attachment 2034016

Dang, I LOVE your rig! Can't wait to meet you and see it in person at HIH! Safe travels....you're coming from a LONG way away.