Towing travel trailer

[ramangain]

I can't stress enough that everyone should be monitoring tranny temps when towing a decent sized load. While I was monitoring them when towing across the country, I was mildly shocked to see how high and fast they can creep when in OD on what I "thought" was flat ground. Besides the actual tranny temp readout, there was NOTHING to indicate that the temps were climbing through the roof. Towards the end of my journey, I mostly used OD when coasting downhill and didn't need engine braking.

With OD off, the tranny temps stayed almost rock solid around 175F in hot ambient temps, unless an incline started and I was losing steam and had to give it more beans. Then the temps would start to shoot up, I'd lose more speed as I had to back off, so down to 2nd, and sometimes 1st on the mountain passes.

 

[dotterJ]

I can't stress enough that everyone should be monitoring tranny temps when towing a decent sized load. While I was monitoring them when towing across the country, I was mildly shocked to see how high and fast they can creep when in OD on what I "thought" was flat ground. Besides the actual tranny temp readout, there was NOTHING to indicate that the temps were climbing through the roof. Towards the end of my journey, I mostly used OD when coasting downhill and didn't need engine braking.

With OD off, the tranny temps stayed almost rock solid around 175F in hot ambient temps, unless an incline started and I was losing steam and had to give it more beans. Then the temps would start to shoot up, I'd lose more speed as I had to back off, so down to 2nd, and sometimes 1st on the mountain passes.

Do you have a gauge you recommend?

 

[ramangain]

I use a BT OBD2 reader and Torque. I just mounted my tablet up front and voila

 

[tucker74]

Thought I would jump in here even though it’s an older thread, not much on towing rvs with 100s. I’ve been towing an Airstream 23CB (4700lbs empty/650lb tongue) around all through the pandemic w/o issues. I use the Tekonsha brake controller and have a Reese straight-arrow WD hitch with 1k load bars. I had originally bought airbags, but my OME medium springs have been fine without thus far. I need to get an OBD reader to better monitor my transmission temps, anyone have direct data on the 5-speed? Have only done state parks around TX so far, so no mountain passes etc.

I highly recommend these
Amazon product ASIN B019YJCBF4
I also run a Dill tpms monitor for the trailer, blowouts can cause a lot of damage on an rv and be dangerous

Tucker

 

[aharlan001]

I thought I would add this here since I searched the board extensively when looking for a travel trailer.

This is a 25.75’ trailer that is 5,008 lbs unloaded and has a 660 lb tongue weight (listed, measure @ 700 lbs when trailer unloaded). I only installed the Timbren bump stops, not airbags, and truck is pretty level and AHC works fine so far (haven’t made a loaded trip yet but will update this if anything changes). The WD hitch is a ProPride 3p and May be overkill but I wanted no sway given the short wheelbase of the truck and being at limits. Gas mileage appears to be 7 mpg, worse or equal to a gas 35’ class A we had when towing a car behind it. Oh well. Only for shortish trips and occasional getaways.

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Are the timbrens allowing you to tow in N? Can you still go to L with them installed? Do they effect the unloaded ride? Thanks! Trying to decide between this and bags seems like most go with bags but seems like timbrens this would be the better hassle free option unless there is a con I'm not seeing. Do you have the harder or softer version?

 

[ramangain]

A properly installed WD hitch makes the need for rear bags or non-OEM bumpstops redundant.

For non-towing purposes, completely ignore the above info.

 

[aharlan001]

A properly installed WD hitch makes the need for rear bags or non-OEM bumpstops redundant.

For non-towing purposes, completely ignore the above info.

I'll have a wd hitch for sure so I guess I won't need bags/non-oem bump stops. Forgive the ignorance why are ppl getting bags/timbren then?

 

[ramangain]

For towing or hauling around extra weight.

I have the Airlift 1000 system. I also have a WD/AS hitch system. When one of my airbags popped in the extreme AZ heat while towing upwards of 6500lbs this past summer, nothing changed in terms of driving dynamics with my hitch system properly set up and working. My AHC stayed in N. The rig drove no different.

I concluded that the airbags served no real purpose in that scenario.

Now, if I dumped 1k lbs of gravel in the back, my airbags would help tremendously.

 

[aharlan001]

No gravel in my future but I do have 200lbs of people in the back with third row installed and some luggage.

 

[ramangain]

No gravel in my future but I do have 200lbs of people in the back with third row installed and some luggage.

You should be OK

 

[tucker74]

Really depends on your rig, I’ve got OME springs and no bags with a good WD hitch. A buddy has a similar setup but full drawers and a fridge and needed bags to level even with a nice WD hitch

Tucker