Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hi

I have a ford escape 6 cyl tow capacity is 3500 lb. I currently tow a pop up loaded it is about 2000lbs no brakes on the trailer and I have no problems at all.


I would like to convert a 6x10 or 6x12 V nose with enough head room so I can stand in it I am 6'2". The total weight loaded will probably be close to the same as I tow now, it will be a very simple conversion no plumbing or electrical.

I have never towed something that high before. What should I expect? Will the escape tow it easily? How much drag from the extra height vs the pop up will their be?

Thanks in advance for the replies

Tony

you will get drag from the trailer but not as much as a flat front. you can do it

My 2000 Mitsi Montero has a 6 Banger rated initially at ~175 HP or so. It has ~210k Miles on it, and does just fine dragging my 15' Play-Mor TTT around. Guesstimate towing weight is 4k lbs., tops. It's rated at 5k lbs, Towing.

I let the Tranny Gears do the work, both up- and down-Grade. Redline Tach is 6,200 RPM from memory, but I max it out at around 4,000. A howling Headwind around Palm Springs dropped my mileage one Trip from ~24 MPG to ~9 MPG, but we got by. I have an oversize Tranny Cooler and adjustable Airbag Shocks inside the rear Coil Springs.

I pull over a lot, but I do that even when not Towing. As the old Bumper Sticker says: 'Easy Does It'.

You will feel the wind resistance more than the weight.

I towed a camper similar to yours in size (6'x13') with my Sienna V6 (HP - around 200 and torque around 200 ft/lbs)

My fuel economy dropped to around 15mpg from around 24mpg. Head winds and climbing up Mt Whitney to Whitney portal campground have a detrimental effect on fuel econ.

The danger is not in the pulling, though; it is in the stopping or slowing.

On the plus side, for the most part the wind resistance of the trailer works as a brake when descending hills and unless you are descending Mt. Whitney the lack of brakes on your trailer should not be a problem. In my case even when locked in first gear I was forced to periodically pull off to let my brakes cool descending Whitney. Brakes can only take so much heat before they begin to feel like ice.

As was said before "easy does it"...

I pull my 6x10 v-nose with a 2011 Chevy Colorado with the i-5 engine....tows nice with the camping gear and Harley inside....trailer is all aluminum....I did add brakes to the trailer axle after downsizing from an extended cab Silverado....

Invest in a electric brakes....the wear will be noticeable if you don't. We use to pull about 2500 lbs without brakes with a 6x12 v nose...on an f150 with a towing capacity of 8800 pounds, and it chewed up brakes. Not to mention it really added to our stopping distance.

I consider myself lucky not to have had a couple accidents.

We have a 6x12 flat front that we pull behind our 2002 Trailblazer. The trailer is 6' interior height and right now I forget overall height. The biggest thing we notice (empty weight not converted just yet) it the wind resistance. It has dropped my MPG on the TB by about 3-4 MPG already. Our trailer does not have electric brakes but has the flanges on the axles, and I will be adding them onto the trailer. I figure we will be in the 2000-2500# when all converted. We will be doing like others suggested, slow and easy. I have no doubt the TB will pull our trailer when completed but I am not planning on breaking any speed records when we go out. I would think you would be fine if you're within the weight pulling limits of your TV. Slow, easy, and trailer brakes.

Jake Musselman
Indianapolis, IN

Tony
By the weight numbers you should be fine. John is right when he said “You will feel the wind resistance more than the weight”. If a rear spring upgrade (air springs or helpers) is available go for them, and brakes will help with stopping. My 6X12 Haulmark, converted, weighs in at 2100 LBS (no 4 wheeler).
You can do it, just remember “easy does it”.
Jeff