? for all those who tow the 20+ trailers

ensclark · 02-25-2005, 06:25 AM

What do you who tow the bigger trailers use to assist the rear springs to prevent any squat? Or do you see any? What would be the best way to go to tow a 24' car trailer with a full load?

rarjar · 02-25-2005, 07:34 AM

Other than the Superior Helper Springs, I've done nothing and tow 8500+/- lbs with very little rear squat. I've shown this picture before, but thought you might want to see what this load looks like hooked up to my Titan 4x4 w/BT. Since this picture was taken, I got rid of this trailer and bought a new 24' heavy duty trailer (with axles a little more centered) and now have even less rear squat.

Toolslinger · 02-26-2005, 10:50 PM

I pull a 26 foot TT with a tongue weight of 1100. A little too much for a half ton truck. I put air bags on it. It's carried close to 4000 lb of load in the bed with no squat. It's still too much for suspension and I would only consider a short trip with a heavy load on the truck. With an ezlift hitch for weight distribution some of the weight is on the front.

It is important for control to have the load shared front and back. My loaded weight of the trailer is over 8000. No trouble pulling. Breaks w/o dreaded judder @ 9K mi. As long as you balance your load with about 10% more weight on the front than back of the trailer you should be OK. If your trailer is a flatbed, sway shouldn't be a problem. With that much weight behind you, the trailer should also have brakes to assist the truck brakes. Many trailers have electric brakes. You will need a controler for them.

Good luck!

rizzo · 02-26-2005, 11:20 PM

I just towed my dad's Chev on a 18 ft tri-axle flatbed with zero noticable squat. The whole mess more than likely weighed about 6000 lbs give or take. Unfortunately the trailer didn't have trailer brakes which worried me a bit having a 3,000 lb vehicle on it but the Titan did really well. I'm used to towing with a 1 ton diesel so I need some time to acclimate to a half ton gasser. Overall (besides the gas mileage) I'm very pleased with how the Titan tows...and I'm a hard one to impress. A little better than my 2000 F150 7700 with a 5.4 but definitely worse than my diesel. It's not fair to compare the diesel to a gas though.

This was my last pull during the towing break-in period. From now on I'll be able to hammer on it a little and see what it will really do. So far, so good.

dalt1 · 03-11-2005, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ensclark

What do you who tow the bigger trailers use to assist the rear springs to prevent any squat? Or do you see any? What would be the best way to go to tow a 24' car trailer with a full load?

My 4x4 CC LE squats 2.5" with a tongue weight of 400 LBS on a 21 ft boat, 5,000 LBS towed weight. I too am looking for sugestions on preventing the squat. I am about to put on Gregs leveling kit and after that, my truck stance will be 2.5" lower in the rear when towing. Just the opposite of stock stance. I want to prevent some of the squat. Suggestions please? PRG said there are air bags out now but haven't had time to check them out yet.
Denny

MOTO-MAX-TITAN · 03-11-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dalt1

My 4x4 CC LE squats 2.5" with a tongue weight of 400 LBS on a 21 ft boat, 5,000 LBS towed weight. I too am looking for sugestions on preventing the squat. I am about to put on Gregs leveling kit and after that, my truck stance will be 2.5" lower in the rear when towing. Just the opposite of stock stance. I want to prevent some of the squat. Suggestions please? PRG said there are air bags out now but haven't had time to check them out yet.
Denny

Have you tried to re-adjust the stance of the boat on the trailer..
I redid mine for my 18' boat it's much better now

dalt1 · 03-12-2005, 09:04 PM

Not adjustable, plus 400 LB tongue weight already under 10% towed wieght. Any less will probably sway.

TitanHauler · 03-12-2005, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toolslinger

I pull a 26 foot TT with a tongue weight of 1100. A little too much for a half ton truck. I put air bags on it. It's carried close to 4000 lb of load in the bed with no squat. It's still too much for suspension and I would only consider a short trip with a heavy load on the truck. With an ezlift hitch for weight distribution some of the weight is on the front.

It is important for control to have the load shared front and back. My loaded weight of the trailer is over 8000. No trouble pulling. Breaks w/o dreaded judder @ 9K mi. As long as you balance your load with about 10% more weight on the front than back of the trailer you should be OK. If your trailer is a flatbed, sway shouldn't be a problem. With that much weight behind you, the trailer should also have brakes to assist the truck brakes. Many trailers have electric brakes. You will need a controler for them.

Good luck!

What air bags did you use???? I have had the Firestone Ride-Rite Kit on order for almost 2 months now and Firestone keeps pushing back the Re-release date. Here is my toad.

Baja170 · 03-14-2005, 01:26 PM

I to am interested in a solution. I pull a 28' Camper and my squat is a lot like TitanHaulers, maybe a tad lower. I would LOVE to find a way to get the back end of my Titan up about 2 or 3 inches.

Vegas · 03-18-2005, 08:37 AM

Any word on what make air bag is available? I'm very interested myself. I have the 2WD version with the Big Tow. There is a little squat in the rear. Enough to point my headlights right in the line of sight of oncoming vehicles.

Air Lift has a model available for the 2004 Titan. Unfortunately, its just for the 4WD version. I'm not sure if this works for the 2WD Titan.

cttitan · 03-18-2005, 09:09 AM

A WD hitch will shift the weight to the front axle and even out the squat. When adjusted properly you have the front and rear of the vehicle dropping about equal amounts.

QWIKWHIP · 03-18-2005, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas

Any word on what make air bag is available? I'm very interested myself. I have the 2WD version with the Big Tow. There is a little squat in the rear. Enough to point my headlights right in the line of sight of oncoming vehicles.

Air Lift has a model available for the 2004 Titan. Unfortunately, its just for the 4WD version. I'm not sure if this works for the 2WD Titan.

Vegas, that is an impressive setup you have there.

I have always loved those work & Play trailers. Looks great!

TitanHauler · 03-18-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cttitan

A WD hitch will shift the weight to the front axle and even out the squat. When adjusted properly you have the front and rear of the vehicle dropping about equal amounts.

In theory, but a weight distributing hitch alone will not level the truck with a substantial tongue weight (750lbs + for the Titan). A weight distributing hitch does not have the leverage to distribute equal weight front and rear.

mytitan · 03-18-2005, 11:18 PM

I just received the ride control air lift for my 05 4x4, i havent installed it, but here are some pics...

i will be towing 2 quads, not really alot of weight, but i am waiting for the dr coilovers to level my truck and i do not want the rear to sag..i will post after install...cost $225.

cttitan · 03-19-2005, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TitanHauler

In theory, but a weight distributing hitch alone will not level the truck with a substantial tongue weight (750lbs + for the Titan). A weight distributing hitch does not have the leverage to distribute equal weight front and rear.

If you use big enough bars it will!! If you use 1200# bars they will handle anything a Titan can tow. Reese has a hitch with 1700# bars.