Travel Trailer ideas - towing with an LC/LX ...

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

I think it will be a problem (slow up a hill or into wind) but should handle it safely, depending on driver. I did consider the Airbags, which most everyone uses, but for some reason I went Timbrens first - which is more expensive so probably should have been my SECOND choice if I didn't like the airbags. But I read good timbren reviews and like it's no maintenance. Haven't tried yet.

I have a Tekonsha 90160 Primus IQ brake controller.

You'll appreciate the Timbrens. I started running them recently and have been very happy. I was influenced by the Timbren axle-less suspension on my off-road trailer. I liked it so much, I decided to try their bump stops. Been considering adding the to the front as well.
 
I have an R-pod and hate it. Terrible construction.

5EE881D1-5C46-434C-925A-A69340E0375C.webp
232BB497-A13F-4D00-8C64-C4496C3C303A.webp
 
You'll appreciate the Timbrens. I started running them recently and have been very happy. I was influenced by the Timbren axle-less suspension on my off-road trailer. I liked it so much, I decided to try their bump stops. Been considering adding the to the front as well.

I did notice I'll be right at GCWR of 12,400 lbs, if I found the right GCWR, so that concerns me a bit. Again, it's at printed allowable so I can do it safely if driving smart and patient, but I know from past towing experiences it just isn't that fun to be struggling along. But the Timbrens, making sure all brakes are good and brake controller dialed in, using a ProPride 3P hitch for no sway (probably overkill), I should be OK. I researched ALL towing threads here, looked for similar experiences from Sequoia and Tundra owners with the 4.7L. Some people think you can't tow a pop up without a three quarter ton truck and others say hold my beer and watch me tow 15% over capacity and it's no problem. Maybe I'll end up in a 200 as a result of my miscalculations. :)
 
Not sure why those went sideways.

The more I look at "conventional" travel trailers, the more I realize they are just slapped together with little to no consistent quality control. Most take liberal use of staples and "marine grade" plywood to the extreme. Ever checked out the wiring in any of them? Heck, I've been looking and longing after the Black Series and Crux trailers because they are designed to be hauled on rocky trails I like to frequent and cost about half of a Patriot of Turtleback (those cost more than my entire LX with every single bell and whistle I've added and all maintenance AND fuel over the past 3 years combined). Their frames and suspensions are incredibly stout, but their electrical leaves a LOT to be desired (on the Black Series and Crux). Figure I'll bide my time and buy a used one from someone who has already done all the necessary rewiring correctly. And the wheel bearings they throw in these trailers are absolute crap. First thing I'd do with any trailer (did it with my small one last year) would be to pull the provided bearings and source some genuine Timken bearings.
 
The more I look at "conventional" travel trailers, the more I realize they are just slapped together with little to no consistent quality control.

That is exactly why my wife and I chose to have a trailer custom made. My father-in-law has been in the RV business since the 70's. According to him trailers are built with a 5 year lifespan in mind. Sure many make it past that mark, but that doesn't change the fact that they are quickly and cheaply made. As far as towing (to keep this tech), our LX with king spring has about three thousand tow miles with no issues. Of course our trailer is very light so that helps.
A1A7FC5D-87C5-4728-9E46-67DEBF690E96.webp
66E3E38D-5A8D-425A-B794-BC423EEF4793.webp
 
That is exactly why my wife and I chose to have a trailer custom made. My father-in-law has been in the RV business since the 70's. According to him trailers are built with a 5 year lifespan in mind. Sure many make it past that mark, but that doesn't change the fact that they are quickly and cheaply made. As far as towing (to keep this tech), our LX with king spring has about three thousand tow miles with no issues. Of course our trailer is very light so that helps.View attachment 2289423

5 years on pavement is what it feels like to me. Seems like even light off-roading would rattle most trailers apart. I wound up hacking together a Morris Mule knock-off to meet my very specific and somewhat "unique" needs. Towed it over numerous CO off-road passes including Medano, Tincup, Marshall, Los Pinos, Cinnamon, California and Hurricane Passes last summer along with towing it all over Big Bend NP and Big Bend SP including Black Gap and Old Ore (VERY rocky off-road trails). Your trailer looks really sweet BTW and your white LX gets my thumbs up :)

IMG_3990.JPG


IMG_4065.JPG
 
I can report that the Curt BT proportional brake controller works well. Bonus is that I didn't have to find and plumb a brake line to the 7 pin connector. +12V and reverse signal were easy enough since I have an aftermarket stereo and backup cam already installed.

I can also report that it is not advisable to tow a 4000lb car (2008 BMW M5) on a Uhaul flat vehicle tow platform in the 100 series. The amount of sway was scary, and the Uhaul trailer only has breakaway emergency brakes and doesn't allow a WD/AS hitch to be used.. After 4 hours of driving in decent weather, my nerves were wiped out, and the truck was not happy maintaining 70mph on flat ground. It was much, much happier 60-65mph.
 
I can report that the Curt BT proportional brake controller works well. Bonus is that I didn't have to find and plumb a brake line to the 7 pin connector. +12V and reverse signal were easy enough since I have an aftermarket stereo and backup cam already installed.

I can also report that it is not advisable to tow a 4000lb car (2008 BMW M5) on a Uhaul flat vehicle tow platform in the 100 series. The amount of sway was scary, and the Uhaul trailer only has breakaway emergency brakes and doesn't allow a WD/AS hitch to be used.. After 4 hours of driving in decent weather, my nerves were wiped out, and the truck was not happy maintaining 70mph on flat ground. It was much, much happier 60-65mph.

What would that Uhaul trailer weigh, 2,000 pounds? What year 100 were you towing with? I know tongue weight is important so positioning a car on the trailer could have a pretty big impact I bet, they recommend 10-15% of trailer weight be on the tongue. So for a 6000 lb tow, approx. 600-900 pounds tongue weight recommended.
 
2250 lbs for the trailer, car only loads one way (engine forward). There are front wheel straps that help position the car properly. 01 LX. I didn't mind rolling slow, but the rear swaying was unnerving.
 
5 years on pavement is what it feels like to me. Seems like even light off-roading would rattle most trailers apart.

Thats quite a set-up you have! Looks like you are rather well prepared. The only thing I would do different would be to go with a more off-road oriented design. It works for the rougher forest service roads and logging trails we have here in Montana, but I'm sure we'll have to leave it behind for some of the driving I plan to do in Utah/Colorado. The company that built ours recently did an off-road version using our design that turned out really nice.
 
The reason these little M416 military trailers are so sought after is they use willys/jeep cj2a front suspension underneath. Simple but built tough for war duty. These three have seen tons of trails and will go anywhere the trucks will and survive.

#southerncruisers
@ntsaint @Bloomer

IMG_3505-X2.jpg


IMG_20180712_125800.jpg


IMG_20170725_083348169.jpg
 
Last edited:
The reason these little M416 military trailers are so sought after is they use willys jeep cj2a front suspension underneath. Simple but built tough for war duty. These three have seen tons of trails and will go anywhere the trucks will and survive.

#southerncruisers
@ntsaint @Bloomer



View attachment 2289554

I LOVE those little 416s. Looked for one for quite some time and typically only found ones with rusted tubs and were commanding top dollar. Would have absolutely gone that route had I found the "right" one. Almost went M1101, but those things are HUGE.
 
My 416 rarely gets used these days, but I still can’t see letting it go. They really are great trailers!
73921127-DE85-42BF-85AA-5A2683EA2D95.webp
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom