Travel Trailer question

pyromedic · 10-11-2004, 10:32 PM

For those who have experience towing, I want to get a travel trailer soon and will be towing with an 05' Titan CC 2x4. I was wondering if I should go with an ultra-light camper (5500lbs) or is a standard (6700lbs) trailer okay? Which will track better down the road with the least amount of sway if they are both 30' long.
Thanks for the advice

terryu1 · 10-12-2004, 05:42 AM

Tow capacity has little to do with sway. The Titan will pull either trailer with no problem. I have a hybrid myself, due to earlier tow vehicle, and with my Titan you sometimes forget it is back there. The most important element is your hitch. Be sure to get a quality hitch with load leveler and anti sway capability. They cost a little more but it is well worth it.

QWIKWHIP · 10-12-2004, 06:43 AM

I fully agree with terryu1. I also have a hybrid from when I towed with my Frontier. However I would say that if you have the option for a lighter trailer go for it. It will be just that much better on gas. But defenitly get a good weight distributing/sway control hitch and a good brake controller. It makes a world of difference with the right gear. I started with a cheap brake controller and just switched to a prodigy based on high recommendations and it is worth every penny.

Steamguy · 10-12-2004, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyromedic

For those who have experience towing, I want to get a travel trailer soon and will be towing with an 05' Titan CC 2x4. I was wondering if I should go with an ultra-light camper (5500lbs) or is a standard (6700lbs) trailer okay? Which will track better down the road with the least amount of sway if they are both 30' long.
Thanks for the advice

Pyro,

I tow an Arctic Fox 26J and the Titan handles it extremely well. The trailer weighs 6800# ready to go. We've been camping in one form or another for some 30 years, and have had a chance to try most everything. We've been happiest with the Titan, so that should tell you something.

There really is no other advice to give. For something that big, you need two things:

Get a load-distributing, sway-cancelling hitch. Period. Get something like a Reese twin-cam and you will have no problems. Ignore those stupid cheesy things with a little brake bar on them; you have to get out and take the tension off when you get in town or you will break them. With the Reese, you hook up and go, no worries.

And Quik is right: spend the money for the Tekonsha Prodigy. I've had cheaper controllers, and the hassle isn't worth it.

I posted a thread here back in June about our long trip to Colorado and back; it pretty much highlights the superior towing capability of the Titan, you might want to give it a read.

cttitan · 10-12-2004, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyromedic

For those who have experience towing, I want to get a travel trailer soon and will be towing with an 05' Titan CC 2x4. I was wondering if I should go with an ultra-light camper (5500lbs) or is a standard (6700lbs) trailer okay? Which will track better down the road with the least amount of sway if they are both 30' long.
Thanks for the advice

Less weight is better if you have a choice, but most important is to get the trailer you really like even if it is a bit more weight. You can pull either one of those trailers. A 30' trailer is a good size trailer for a shorter truck like the Titan so a good sway control hitch is very important to help keep the trailer in line.

The tounge weight will be 100-200 # less on the lighter trailer and that may make a difference in the amount of junk you can carry with you without exceeding your payload capacity. One thing I found out is that when you start looking at payload capacity you can run out quick when you throw the tounge weight, family, and other misc junk in the truck.

Like everyone else has said get a good hitch (Equalizer, Reese) and brake controller (Prodigy). Take the time to learn about towing and proper hitch set up so you get it all set up right and hit the road!! Check out RV.NET for everything you could ever want to know about towing and trailers.

Enjoy!!

pyromedic · 10-12-2004, 03:17 PM

Thanks for the insight guys,
I was really leaning toward the ultra-light only because I'm a little nervous of what I might encounter being that I'm a virgin at towing. I saw a nice Jayco the other day but it wasn't as light as I have been looking at. I like what you all have said about how well the Titan can tow. I really want to get the trailer that I want but, I have friends who tow with different vehicles ( Ford Expidition, Ford Diesel ) and they are urging me to get a Diesel for the towing power. That's not what I want but, I do want a good tow vehicle for if and when I go up to the mountains.
Thanks again for the support and experience.

CoachBoone · 10-12-2004, 03:34 PM

Hey, I have a Jayco 324G....32 foot, 4 bunk with slide out. What is the Jayco you're looking at? We love ours, learning new stuff every day.

pciley · 10-12-2004, 08:35 PM

If the vehicle is MOSTLY going to be used for towing, a diesel would be beneficial for power and milage. The Titan does great for towing and if you aren't going to be towing ALL the time then ... well then you will love your Titan.

I pulled a friend's 26' weekend warrior about 540 mile round trip to Glamis and home last weekend, it pulled great. I loved it. No brake controller. was doing 80 mph on the flats, slowed to about 60 mph on steep grades of interstate 8 near Alpine in 4th gear all the time, no big tow here.

The trailer did sway a bit when I went over 70, even though we used a weight distributing system. Recommend you stay at 55-65, not the safest thing to go over the limit.

The trailer's dry weight was 6500 lbs. and we had 4 quads, lots of gas jugs, full water and gas tanks on the trailer, and about 100 beers, bags of ice, etc. Probably was around 9k-10k altogether. The trailer had brakes, BUT I don't have a brake controller. No problems stopping in town without one. Not sure though in an emergency stopping manuever.

milleniamarv · 10-12-2004, 08:59 PM

Hello Pyro,

Looks like we are both heading in the same direction, except I'm looking at a '05 KC 4X2 instead of a CC. You might want to check out RVWholesalers.com for your trailer purchase. I've spent two months looking at all possible options and their prices seem to be the best. Haven't found any negative feedback on their deals.

Whatever you decide, seems that the Titan and a travel trailer is a sweet way to go.

Marv

nursecrickett · 10-12-2004, 09:18 PM

Hey there guys!

I'm not sure what type of travel trailer to get. Its like the truck shopping...too many choices and options.

Any advice about which is best? Prowler, Wilderness, Jayco, Cougar, Terry, whatever other ones there are???

Help!
Thanks!
Crickett

TitanicSE · 10-12-2004, 09:26 PM

Makes me want to go out and buy a camper now! Although I don't think I'd do something as crazy as hauling a 6500LB trailer with..EEEEKKKK...no trailer brakes!

Titanoholic · 10-12-2004, 10:54 PM

I just bought a used 1991 Fleetwood Terry, 19 foot. Even though it is a 1991, it looks and works like a 2004 model. Anyways, we are excited to go camping as soon as my Titan is delivered. It should tow really well, it is only 3035 lbs dry, so about 4000 lbs with water/food/clothes and such. It came with a load distribution and sway setup and the trailer itself has tandom axels which everyone says is a must. Anyone know of a good camping/map book showing all of the camp sights, rest stops and sewage waste dump sites in the northwest?

NorCal 4x4 · 10-13-2004, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titanoholic

---Anyways, we are excited to go camping as soon as my Titan is delivered. ---

Don't know how literal you are being when you say "as soon" but the owner's manual states not to tow until you have reached 500 miles and then only tow up to 50 mph for another 500 miles, (overall breakin on the '04 model is 1200 miles).

Quote:

Originally Posted by pyromedic

---will be towing with an 05' Titan CC 2x4. I was wondering if I should go with an ultra-light camper (5500lbs) or is a standard (6700lbs) trailer okay?

Crew Cab capabilities from nissanusa.com:
Maximum towing capacity (lbs.)

XE SE LE

Standard

6,500 7,400 7,200

With Big Tow Package

N/A 9,500 9,200

Maximum payload (lbs.)
4x2

1,585 1,585 1,585

4x4

1,453 1,453 1,453

Here is an interesting article comparing towing abilities of the Titan 4X4 SE Crew Cab, with Big Tow Pkg. and 2x4 off-road pkg. (no E-LOCK®, had VDC instead); the Silverado LT 1500 4WD Extra Cab; and a Ford F-150 Lariat SuperCrew 4WD.

Trailer and boat weighed 7,840 lbs. together. To make a long story shorter, the Titan was selected as the 2004 Tow Vehicle of the Year, Trailer Boats magazine, March, 2004
http://www.trailerboats.com/site_pag...e_page_259.cfm[If the link is stale, go to their home page, then "towing" tab, and then select "2004 Tow Vehicle of the Year".

TitanHauler · 10-13-2004, 12:55 AM

The Titan is a very capable tow vehicle. I pull a 25' Attitude Toy Hauler and all my friends told me I was crazy to buy that big of a trailer. Tows good and loaded I am nearly 8,500lbs with water, propane, a quad, and golf cart.

Titanoholic · 10-13-2004, 07:12 AM

[quote=swarren1]Don't know how literal you are being when you say "as soon" but the owner's manual states not to tow until you have reached 500 miles and then only tow up to 50 mph for another 500 miles, (overall breakin on the '04 model is 1200 miles).

I hear ya, I want to get a few thousand miles on the Titan before I hitch it up, but that won't take long at all!