1/2 Ton Safe Travel Trailer Length

[Tux20]

Hello!!!
I am new to RV'ing looking into purchasing in the next few months. Dont trust these salesmen so I am doing my research! My plans are to get us into a travel trail that sleeps 5. After reading information posted websites, YouTube, and forums. I am skeptical about length. I have a 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 that has the upgraded tow package. The numbers tell me that I am good for 9,600, but after shopping we liked the 2019 STARCRAFT LAUNCH OUTFITTER 24BHS and the 2019 JAYCO JAY FLIGHT SLX 264BHW my only reservation is that both of the trailers are 30 Ft or real close, so with a dry weight of 4550 I am still thinking that a 30 Ft trailer is abit much regardless of weight. Can someone offer their advise?

 

[lynnmor]

The length appears to be the overall and not the "box" size.  From what I see, you should be OK with either trailer, just keep in mind that the payload capacity of the truck might be exceeded.  Don't think for a minute that the tongue weight will be anything close to what the manufacture gives in the brochure.  Since you want accommodations for five, the truck might be overloaded with passengers plus their supplies.  Do all the math using real world weights of passengers, hitch, water, propane, battery, luggage, food and all that stuff normal to camping.

 

[Arch Hoagland]

I agree with you Tux20.  They'll tell you anything to sell a trailer.

You can pull those trailers but when you get in the mountains you'll be wishing you had something bigger. Another thing to worry about is panic stops and how well it will handle in a bad situation.

I had a 1999 1'2 GMC with the 5.3 engine. Bought a 27' Komfort trailer.

Three months later I went and bought a 2003 3/4 GMC truck with the 8.1 gas engine.  That was one of the best decisions I've made.

 

[Tux20]

Thanks for your help, I will start with real numbers and make sure that I don't exceed payload. Safety is the priority!

 

[SpencerPJ]

I am always skeptical on length as well.  It does seem that both those trailers would fit your pulling criteria, as long as you kept the bed of the truck fairly empty.  Payload will become an issue if you fill the truck with extras.  Others will disagree, many that have done it, understand.  You are a going to be new to a Trailer?  How comfortable and confident of a driver are you.  The longer the trailer, the more the wind gets it, and the more it acts like a sail.  Here is a video that helps explain, it might be slightly over cautious.  My general rule from experience, and input from many others, that a box over 25' on a 1/2 ton starts to get more than they like.  Also, what are your plans?  Local weekend warrior in state parks, or across country to the mountains?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M75Sm7XaIdY

 

[jackiemac]

Thanks for your help, I will start with real numbers and make sure that I don't exceed payload. Safety is the priority!

)

 

[Tux20]

SpencerPJ,
I am new to RV'ing but not new to towing trailers, I had alot of experience while I was in the Army. The missing variable is that while I was in the Army driving around 5-ton Tractor/Trailer and hauling tanks, I had equipment that was specifically for that purpose. I tend to naturally be hesitant before I do anything new; having said that thanks for the video link and taking all into account I am definitely going to keep shopping and see if I cant find a 20-25 ft. trailer that would suite our needs. We don't plan on doing the cross country thing till the kids graduate in a few years so maybe by then I can get into a 3500/F-350 that would allow for safer towing.  Thanks again!

 

[SpencerPJ]

) Sounds like a great plan.  Nothing wrong with doing your homework, tends to save on the pocketbook.  The bigger the pricetag, the more homework I do. 

 

[jame]

I just pulled home a Wildwood 263BHXL that has a 31' overall length from Omaha to Des Moines.  I pulled it with a 2018 Ford F150, 2.7 Ecoboost, and 3.55 rear end.  With the addition of a wdh and electric brakes, it pulled and stopped just fine.  I did suffer from a 20 mph crosswind, and that did add to the pucker factor somewhat.  It handled the semi truck buffeting just fine.  As long as you check your speed, and stay in the flatlands, you should be just fine.

 

[Frank B]

Jame:

Depending on options, it looks to me that you may be about 800 lbs overweight even if that trailer is dead empty.


Trailer specs at 5895 dry, and regular cab Long box is rated to pull 5000

 

[jame]

Jame:

Depending on options, it looks to me that you may be about 800 lbs overweight even if that trailer is dead empty.


Trailer specs at 5895 dry, and regular cab Long box is rated to pull 5000

I have a 2018 Screw 2.7 Ecoboost 4x4, with factory installed hitch and connections, 20" rims, and oil cooled transmission cooler.  With the Ford published spec at 7600#, I'm in at 1700# under, assuming dry weight, of course.  It's just me and my wife, (and Miniature Pincer named Walter.  he's fat, at about 9#).  We came from a fold up A-frame, and I can tell you that all of our "stuff" weighs in at about 860# across our local grain cooperative scale.  We travel w/o fluids, of course.

Also, worthy of note, here in Iowa, slope (or "grade" if you prefer) is from 2 to 4%, and we camp local, rarely more than an hour or two from home, usually back roads at lower speeds.  I'm an old farm kid, and I've pulled vey heavy stuff for a very long time.  I'm not saying I won't push the lower side of the limit and drag along the generator from time to time, but at less than 6000# dry, I'm GTG.

 

[pip]

OP: I think you're in the right range for a 1/2 ton truck.  Don't bother with dry weight, it's a useless number.  I've yet to see a camper that is at the published dry weight.  My Rockwood Minilite 2509S is about 65lbs over the manufacturer's UVU published on the website based on taking the dry weight listed on the door of my unit and adding propane and battery, which is what they base UVU on. I saw several grand design imagines that were 100+ pounds over the weights published in their literature.

When towing a travel trailer with a 1/2 ton truck, max capacity is rarely the limiting factor.  It will almost always be the payload (yellow sticker on your door jamb will give this).  That weight is what the truck can carry with a full tank of gas, and a 170lb driver.  Everything else you put in the truck (people, cargo, accessories on the truck) takes away from that number. 

My 18 F-150 XLT FX4 crew cab with 3.5 ecoboost, 3.55 gears and max tow package has a payload of 1875lbs. I weigh more than 170, plus my wife, 2 year old and 4 year old, their car seats, and the 60lb boxer take roughly about 700lbs.  I just picked my trailer up from the dealer.  With propane, batteries, and nothing added to it yet my tongue weight on a sherline scale was 650lbs.  That leaves me with 500lbs of stuff in the truck and the front of the trailer before I'm maxed on payload.  That will happen well before I hit the max totals of the trailer, or combined weight. 

 

[Tux20]

Thanks for the advise!!! We are still shopping and I will have a pencil and paper handy so I can keep track of numbers!!! Last thing I want to do is invest 20g?s in a tailer that gets destroyed on the highway due my inabilty to put safety first. Again thanks everyone!!!