Advice on dealing with a travel trailer?

[MrBlue]

Hi all,

I have a friend that just purchased a travel trailer last month, I have a number of concerns about said trailer, and I wanted to get some opinions from the experts.


The trailer is a 1979 20ft dual-axle road ranger. I found a blue book weight online that listed 3450 lbs, and my friends mechanic estimated around 2500. I said they should take it to a scale to find the exact weight, but it's not a high priority for them.

The tow vehicle is a older ford explorer with a V8, that has a listed tow capacity of around 6500 lbs.

None of us have ever owned a travel trailer or RV before this, and we don't have any experience towing anything larger than a 4x6 uhaul.


My friend's plan is to haul the trailer, 4 people, and a large amount of camping gear (I'm estimating 1500-1800 lbs) to the Nevada desert (burningman) next month from the Seattle area. As I might be one of the people in this vehicle, I have a vested interest in this trip happening without mishap. My calculations put the trailer + gear + people weight at over 6000 lbs, which would be near the vehicle tow capacity.

Assuming that everything is in a good state of repair (hopefully this will be verified before leaving), does this seem like a reasonable plan?

What are some major concerns that I should bring up?
What type of gear would be good have in case something did go wrong?


Thanks in advance for any advice you have. I'm just trying to make this trip as safe as possible for me and my friends.


TL,DR: My friend with basically no towing experience wants to haul a trailer that will be approx 90-100% of the vehicle tow capacity over mountain passes. How good/bad of a plan is this?

[Cliffmeister2000]

a 20' trailer is a big trailer. I found the same information you did (except I got 3430, not 3450). The website did not specify if that was dry weight or GVWR - the max loaded weight.

1,500 to 1,800 lbs in camping gear seems excessive for 4 people? I would try to bring that down to 800 lbs.

Make sure the trailer has brakes, the Ranger has a brake controller, and the braking system works. You will probably have to re-set the controller when the load is in place, pretty easy to do.

Looks like you've got 1,300 miles of travel, and will have to cross some mountains. I'd get the trailer weighed.


You might consider a longish trial run, up over some elevation. I'm sure you can find some hills nearby.

[bobhenry]

You could always offer to drive the "safety / rescue " vehicle !

[Ratkity]

I was under the impression that tow capacity was in addition to a full car. The tow capacities in the USA are way lower (liability?) than in Europe, so it's probably able to tow way higher poundage.

The thing that would concern me is the age of the Explorer and when it was last serviced and how it is serviced. Does he change the oil regularly? Flush the transmission? Will it be thoroughly serviced before the trip? How are the brakes? What is the hitch rating? He needs electric brakes put in the Explorer if he doesn't have them already.

Taking a heavy tow into the mountains means using less speed and lower gears, so plan trips accordingly. If Google Maps says 6 hours, add double if in the mountains. Use the transmission to go down the mountain rather than heavily using brakes. If the truck has a tachometer, you can see that the revs never reach high speeds. Never ever use overdrive when towing something that huge. Adding a transmission cooler before you leave would be best. If it overheats, pull over.

Have the trailer bearings and tires checked before leaving as well as electric brakes, tow chains, coupler and hitch. Do you have a functioning spare? A can of "fix a flat" type stuff can be handy. In some states, a break-away cable to activate trailer brakes is mandatory. I believe it's connected to the battery. What is the condition of the trailer battery? Is it needed to run a generator?

Have anyone in the car with AAA. Have more than one cell phone. Cell service is spotty over mountains. Stay on major roads and interstates.

All the things I've mentioned are common sense stuff when towing. If you want to be extra careful you could have a spare serpentine belt for the Explorer, spare radiator hoses and clamps and extra coolant.

Hugs and a safe trip!
Ratkity

[wa_flyfisher]

I would take a look at the sticker in the door for the max towing and payload for the Exploder. I tow our 21' trailer (4500#) with my f150 that has a tow max of 6500. With minimal supplies we rarely get over 5000#.
In washington anything of 19' requires WD and Sway control on the trailer.
Take your clothes with you and food/water to consume on the way down and then buy for the campout when you get closer. When going up the passes keep it in 2nd as well as going down the passes. In strong winds tow with overdrive off and you should be fine. Make sure the Exploder has a tranny cooler. Be Safe and have FUN!

[MrBlue]

a 20' trailer is a big trailer. I found the same information you did (except I got 3430, not 3450). The website did not specify if that was dry weight or GVWR - the max loaded weight.

1,500 to 1,800 lbs in camping gear seems excessive for 4 people? I would try to bring that down to 800 lbs.

Well, burningman is pretty much all about excess. I could be overestimating the load, but keep in mind we pack in about 500 lbs of water for the week.

Make sure the trailer has brakes, the Ranger has a brake controller, and the braking system works. You will probably have to re-set the controller when the load is in place, pretty easy to do.

I convinced them to get a brake controller installed, which they have done already, and they plan to get new tires. I've told them to check the brakes and bearings, but haven't gotten a definitive answer on that yet.

You could always offer to drive the "safety / rescue " vehicle!

I've been considering this option quite a bit recently.

[green_eyed_diablito]

i would not ride in that vehicle.

i currently own a 30' 5th wheel that i pull with a F250 super duty, but before this set-up, i had an 18' travel trailer that i pulled with a V8-powered Expedition.

i can tell you with certainty (and with fear for your safety) that your friend's set-up is not safe. my expedition had the 5.4 liter V8 (not sure what the explorers come with, but i think it's the 4.6 V8s) and pulled my 2006 18' with no problems. but there are two big differences to consider. my '06 trailer weighed less that your friend's '79 because of advances in design and materials. the other is that although they may have the same engine, the explorer has a shorter wheelbase and less mass than my old expedition. i felt that i was at the limits of safety with my old set-up, so i feel that your friend's set-up puts the physics of it all at a dangerous level.

i don't mean to come across as preachy, but this really does scare me. take care.

[MrBlue]

i don't mean to come across as preachy, but this really does scare me. take care.

This is pretty much inline with what I have been thinking about this plan. At this point I'm just trying to confirm if I'm being over-cautious or not. I would feel really silly if I insisted on driving seperately, but later discovered that my fears were unfounded.


My friends seem to underestimate the danger of dealing with a trailer this size, and when I bring up my concerns they are glossed over or sometimes ignored entirely.

[Larry C]

You could always offer to drive the "safety / rescue " vehicle !

+1

You beat me to it!!

Larry C

[green_eyed_diablito]

i don't mean to come across as preachy, but this really does scare me. take care.

This is pretty much inline with what I have been thinking about this plan. At this point I'm just trying to confirm if I'm being over-cautious or not. I would feel really silly if I insisted on driving seperately, but later discovered that my fears were unfounded.


My friends seem to underestimate the danger of dealing with a trailer this size, and when I bring up my concerns they are glossed over or sometimes ignored entirely.

i think you're right to be concerned. i hope you can convince them to change their plans...it's not just their safety, but that of other people sharing the road with them.

good luck.

[Ratkity]

Something my little sis just told me:

Uhaul does not rent to people with Ford Explorers in my area because of the wheelbase problem and frequent accidents.

Perhaps driving the extra vehicle wouldn't be a bad idea. You could sell it to your friend by saying it would help carry some of the "dirtier" stuff that you wouldn't want to haul inside the camper, like chairs and other things you keep outside and could get wet.

Hugs and stay safe,
Ratkity

[Larry C]

Youthful adventure is what life is all about, and Burningman is on my list of my not so youthful body to someday attend.

I know you don't want to look like a wimp, but offering to be the back up and taking 1 or 2 passengers yourself, may make the trip more appealing to all. Just offering to carry some of the water needed would be a big load off the tv/trailer.

I had a similar dilemma many years ago. I would have been the 6th guy (plus gear) in a car for a road trip. I backed out for similar vehicle concerns.

However, in my case I have regretted my decision for the rest of my life. You see.. the road trip was to WOODSTOCK!!! (the original). Joplin, Hendrix, Dylan, etc, etc, etc!!

Anyway.......do the prudent thing and drive yourself!

Larry C

[MrBlue]

I know you don't want to look like a wimp, but offering to be the back up and taking 1 or 2 passengers yourself, may make the trip more appealing to all. Just offering to carry some of the water needed would be a big load off the tv/trailer.

Yeah, I'm hoping to spin this as a "It's much safer for all involved to distribute the load" rather than "I don't trust your judgement". My friends are all on a tight budget, so I probably won't get any help paying for gas, but I figure its a small price to pay for peace of mind.

[bdosborn]

The trailer is a 1979 20ft dual-axle road ranger. I found a blue book weight online that listed 3450 lbs, and my friends mechanic estimated around 2500. I said they should take it to a scale to find the exact weight, but it's not a high priority for them.

Be aware that the weights they post for trailers are completely empty: no batteries, no spare, no propane tanks, no water, no nothing. Most people are unpleasantly surprised when they weigh their travel trailer as the real weight is often much more than they expected.

Bruce

[2bits]

I can +1 on the test drive. Sure it's a hassle to load up and take a road trip to the hills to see how it feels.

I can also +1 on with such a long trip, it is only prudent to have a backup vehicle

I can also +1 that a completely inexperienced driver who will probably distracted on the way there with a bunch of people in the car, plus drained on the way back is a concern.