Travel Trailer question - Page 3

nursecrickett · 10-19-2004, 09:02 PM

Hey guys,

What are your thoughts on buying privately vs from a dealership??

I also am still wondering about the lifting of the truck in my last post. Any thoughts???

Thanks!
Crickett

DStewart · 10-19-2004, 10:27 PM

You can probably get a better deal buying private, just like buying a car. You just can't get any kind of warranty coverage or anything like that.

Towing with a lifted truck, depending on what size tire you run will take a little away from the impressive amount of weight these trucks tow. I was thoinking about lifting mine as well, but I do not want to take away from the trucks ability to tow the hefty weights I need to tow. You also have to worry more about rear sag I would think. The only lift I am thinking about doing myself is the front leveling kit with a nice 18" wheel and slightly larger more agressive tire(probably a larger 33").

nursecrickett · 11-01-2004, 07:15 AM

Well, I finally did it......

Bought a 2005 25' Keystone Sprinter this weekend!!! The interior seems to be better made than any others I have seen for the money, as well as lots of storage.
I am looking forward to going on my first outing Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanks for all you help guys!!

Oh, one more question......do I need to have a sway bar??? The dealer said no, and if I feel uncomfortable towing it, he will add it for me later. He said if you forget to loosen them when you are turning hard, it can be trouble. He said they are mostly for the SUV V8s that can only tow about 7500 lbs. I'm open for opinions!

I'm also open for suggestions on you So Cal guys on nice parks where you may go camping.....

Thanks again!
Crickett

Crickett

tinytitan · 01-05-2005, 09:58 AM

We have a 30ft Trail-Lite TT and are very pleased with it. Just bought an 04 Titan CC LE 4x4 with Big Tow (<2000 miles) and want to take the trailer out. However, I have not installed a brake controller. The trailer weighs 4500lbs dry. How do I know if I need one and if so what is a good brand. I've noticed everyone saying good things about the Prodigy controller so I guess I'm leaning that way so far.

QWIKWHIP · 01-05-2005, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytitan

We have a 30ft Trail-Lite TT and are very pleased with it. Just bought an 04 Titan CC LE 4x4 with Big Tow (<2000 miles) and want to take the trailer out. However, I have not installed a brake controller. The trailer weighs 4500lbs dry. How do I know if I need one and if so what is a good brand. I've noticed everyone saying good things about the Prodigy controller so I guess I'm leaning that way so far.

Any trailer over 1000 pounds requires a brake controller by law in most states. Besides, it's just much safer to have one, it cuts your stopping distance almost in half.

Steamguy · 01-05-2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytitan

We have a 30ft Trail-Lite TT and are very pleased with it. Just bought an 04 Titan CC LE 4x4 with Big Tow (<2000 miles) and want to take the trailer out. However, I have not installed a brake controller. The trailer weighs 4500lbs dry. How do I know if I need one and if so what is a good brand. I've noticed everyone saying good things about the Prodigy controller so I guess I'm leaning that way so far.

Tiny,
Something weighing this much will push the truck around in any kind of stopping situation.

You MUST have a brake controller for this kind of weight. Do NOT leave the lot without it, you are taking your life in your hands. An antisway mechanism is highly recommended also. And let me add my voice to those who say the Prodigy is a good controller.

Like Quik says, it is the law in most states. And that's for a reason.

Sorry to be so shrill about this but I've had the experience of having no trailer brakes and trying to get both truck and trailer stopped without ending up in the middle of a steel sandwich.
(The idiot that installed the brake controller on that truck used a thermal circuit breaker on the BRAKE line to the trailer, and when it got hot under the hood of the truck, suddenly I had no brakes!)

I can tell you that without a controller, you might not notice it so much if you are stopping gently and straight, but in any kind of a corner, the trailer will try to push the back of the truck right toward the ditch.

The old mechanic in me says, "Get a controller. Period. End of discussion."

akangl · 01-05-2005, 01:42 PM

I've said this many times to many people..........NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER tow a trailer that's over 1000 lbs without a brake controller. I don't care if your Uncle Joe towed a 20k trailer 5000 miles with no brake controller and could stop on a dime. Its the LAW and its a SAFETY issue, not just for you but for me and everyone else on the road around you.

Also, DO NOT exceed your GVWR or your GCWR, another safety issue. If you are in an accident guess what, the cops are going to look at the numbers.......over your numbers and you @ss is grass, they WILL get you for it. Cause a fatality and you can kiss your life and everything you had goodbye. I don't care if your neighbor, friend, boss, whatever tows 10k with a Ford Ranger, just don't do it!!! Check all your numbers, the Titan is a hefty truck with a LOW GVWR, that means you need to watch your tongue weight. Watch your GCWR (truck loaded + trailer loaded), go over that and you could be asking for major trouble. Don't go by what the weight on the registration says, load your truck up with you, your dog, your cat, a full tank of gas, and whatever else you will carry (family), then go to the scales, weigh the darn thing. We did and were shocked, the truck loaded with the 4 of us, the darn dog, full tank of gas and all our junk was a very hefty 5900 lbs.......GVWR 6499, max tongue weight: 599.

Keep the length of the trailer and your wheelbase in mind, go too long and the trailer will sway you right off the road. Sure I've seen Expeditions pulling 32' travel trailers.......that don't mean its SAFE!! I've also seen them in the ditch upside down, truck and trailer destroyed.

Yes, you do need an anti-sway system and weight distribution system, its all in the name of safety, travel trailers are big wind blocks and can have quite an impact on what the truck does.

Go to RV.net and read some of the stories in the forum, if that don't scare you straight into keeping within the limits of your truck nothing will. The Titan is a HALF ton, treat it as such and keep its limitations in mind.

BTW, I DO tow with the Titan and our Ram 3500, we tow a lot with the Ram for our firewood business, but we also keep our limitations in mind.

cttitan · 01-05-2005, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinytitan

We have a 30ft Trail-Lite TT and are very pleased with it. Just bought an 04 Titan CC LE 4x4 with Big Tow (<2000 miles) and want to take the trailer out. However, I have not installed a brake controller. The trailer weighs 4500lbs dry. How do I know if I need one and if so what is a good brand. I've noticed everyone saying good things about the Prodigy controller so I guess I'm leaning that way so far.

1. Do not try to pull that trailer without brakes.
2. Install the Prodigy controller.

tinytitan · 01-08-2005, 08:32 AM

Wow, that's what I call unanimous advice! I expected as much but just wanted to ask to be sure. It's a little odd that the dealer never mentioned a brake controller even when I was clear what I was towing. However, in all fairness, he never told me that I didn't need one either. No matter, if any of you guys see me on the road towing a trailer with my Titan rest assured there will be a brake controller installed!