Towing a tiny travel trailer with a lifted vehicle?

[brian_nj2006]

I am curently building my trailer with off road ability in mind (read as a little over built . I am also planning to lift one of my tow rigs a 2003 Chevrolet s10 crew cab pickup. I am gpoing for a 6" lift and 33" tires on the truck. The truck curently tows a 3500 lb popup great and a 5600 lb boat with no problem. The question is will the lift greatly effect the towing ability of the truck?

[jagular7]

Only thing I've been told is the torque arm. The push/pull comes from the frame to the frame mount to the coupling to the ball to the tongue coupler. COG of the pulling truck vs COG of the trailer. However, I also think the weight is a big deal to add to the mix.
So basically, even though your going 6" of vehicle lift and another in tire difference, you want the tongue of the trailer to have a slight down attitude. Tongue high presents a balance problem. With a tongue even or down, you have better pull.

One thing to plan into your frame design is to triangulate the tongue of the trailer and have it secured 2 crossmembers deep. Triangulation and securing to 2 crossmembers provides force sharing in the shallow front frame section. (Never mind, saw your album....)

Congrads on joining.

[Endo]

The question is will the lift greatly effect the towing ability of the truck?

The lift will have little effect on the towing ability, but the increased tire diameter/increased weight will have an effect on the performance of your truck. A larger tire in effect changes your gear ratio. A larger tire will decrease your engine RPM at any given speed. So you may not be at the optimum RPM for maximum horsepower/torque production of your engine.

If you change your ring and pinions after the lift installation this will correct the problem.

With that said, I have a 6 inch lift and 35 inch tires. I have not changed my ring and pinion yet and I can tow my trailer without too much trouble. But.....A gear change is definitely planned.

I also agree with jagular7, the trailer should be set up in the proper position in relation to the tow vehicle. I don't take my trailer offroad. So I just used a drop hitch (with a very strong bumper/hitch).

[angib]

If you want to make the towing easier, it would make sense for the trailer to have the same sort of ground clearance as the tow vehicle.

This gets a bit tricky where axles are hanging a long way below the body, as in Endo's photo, but the basic idea is to make sure that whatever airflow is passing under the truck can also pass under the trailer.

Having a low trailer that provides an 'air dam' effect does increase drag.

Andrew

[Sonetpro]

I built mine with the same clearance as the Jeep. I have 33" tires and 235x70's on the tear. Good thing about it is no drop hitch. I had one tear up a bumper once.

[Nitetimes]

you want the tongue of the trailer to have a slight down attitude. Tongue high presents a balance problem. With a tongue even or down, you have better pull.

Just the opposite, you never want the tongue low it lets the tail end of he trailer wag. The best is level or an inch or two high in the tongue when loaded.

[jagular7]

you want the tongue of the trailer to have a slight down attitude. Tongue high presents a balance problem. With a tongue even or down, you have better pull.

Just the opposite, you never want the tongue low it lets the tail end of he trailer wag. The best is level or an inch or two high in the tongue when loaded.

I've towed several different trailers in my time, different lengths, with various weights, and all bumper pulls (no 5th wheel styles). Some weighed in more than 4 tons....the lower the COG the better. The better balance of a tongue with the weight (10-12% at best), the better. The level of the tongue with the trailer, the better. My comment on having the tongue down is respect to the overall height of the trailer. No, not to have the nose 10* down. However, with weight on the tongue, I'd prefer a low tongue than a high tongue. If we're talking about 1-2", then that's nothing, but all this also depends on the tow vehicle, GVW and driver driving habits.

[Gerdo]

One truck that I drive for work is a Ford F550. Stock it sits pretty high. I wouldn't doubt it is as high as your S10 w the lift. It tows with a "bumper hitch" and about an 8" drop. The trailer is about #16,000. You can't feel it back there. My TD tow vehicle is a 2000 4Runner with 2" of lift and 31" tires. I towed my TD when it was stock and now lifted, no noticeable differance. You will get more tire squirm with taller tires/bigger sidwalls. I doubt the weight of a teardrop will effect your proposed lifted truck.

[igofshn]

35's on the Jeep and 31's on the trailer.