Mods to Safely Upgrade Towing Capacity?

[albonismo]

tell ur wife if she wants that big ol TT, then you demand a new truck! if i were you, i wouldnt risk safety for anything.

[jschikore]

Thanks for the useful info!

2 Questions: What is the stock gear ration the XE comes with?
What ratio would I need to upgrade to to maximize the towing capacity?

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Stock non-tow gearing is 2.94:1 VS the tow packages 3.36:1

[hstiny]

The only way to make the Titian safe to pull that length is to cut the frame and weld an extension on so that you could have a longer whell base. I have a 30 ft. Sandpiper with simular weights and have a dual cam wt dist. system. Have not been able to get sway out no matter what. I was like you and thought only of weight to pull and not length. No matter what mods you do, it will not be safe.

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Originally Posted by SAMSAR

Assume for a moment that money isn't the issue...

My wife has fixated on a specific Travel Trailer she likes and I'm trying to see if there is a way I can safely tow it without buying a new truck. I would buy a 250/350 type truck but am having a hard time justifying it for only a dozen towing days a year and would be overkill any other time.

My 2007 CC came with every option I could select and has been fine for the snowmobiles/motorcycles but now I'm starting to push the limits of the truck.

The TT we are considering is the 2008 Jayco Jay Flight G2 32BHDS. Sorry, I'm not able to post a URL for you as I have too few posts on record. Here are the key stats though:

Gross Vehicle Weight (lbs.) 9,750
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs.) 7,855
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs.) 1,895
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs.) 920
Exterior Length 35' 6"
Exterior Height with A/C 13' 4"
Fresh Water Capacity (gals.) includes water heater 46
Gray Wastewater Capacity (gals.) 32.5
Toilet/Black Wastewater Capacity (gals.) 32.5

In the cab would be 2 adults/kids/dogs. I don't have to bring firewood with me while towing and can drain the tanks before I tow. We live in the northeast so while mountains exist, we're not talking the Rockies.

In reading through previous posts, I've identified the following possibilities to safely increase towing capacity:

Prodigy Brake Controller
Equilizer Trailer Hitch
Firestone Airbags
Stillen Front/Rear Swaybars

AEM Bruteforce Cold Air Intake
Magnaflow Muffler
2 Degree Timing Advance

Tires: ?
Brakes: ?
Rotors: ?
Shocks: ?
Anything Else?

By doing these things and anything else you recommend:

What capacity would I gain by reinforcing the truck.
What will I not be able to solve for?


Thanks!

Paul

It's been a while now, did you buy a TT yet? I was going to say...with only 2 kids, maybe a smaller TT is a better idea...especially if you're not used to towing that big with your truck. I have the 31 BHS that's 32'6" long and it tows fine but also now have a longbed Titan. I'm at what I concider to be the longest TT that should be attempted with this truck. The 26 or 28 BHS may be more sensible...unless your wife is like mine. In that case, you'll have to do whatever she says! lol.

[Rntmake3]

I hope you did not buy a trailer that size. Shame on your dealer if you did. I am a dealer and I pull all sizes everyday. I have pulled trailers that dry weight close or more that what you are looking at....and it will control your truck. I would suggest to stay below 30ft or no more than 30ft with all half ton trucks...look these trailers will eat the new Tundra as well so it is not a MACHO contest weight distribution hitch just levels the towing and even with dual sways which I don't recommend the trailer weights so much more than your truck. If the trailer starts swaying you are going with it..period.

[SAMSAR]

Hello Again Hudson,

Was thinking on my way home from camping today that I should post something up for the board on what I ended up doing...

Just so everyone knows... Sometimes the TitanTalk newbies do listen to towing advice. When that happens, there are a couple choices here: Downsize on the Trailer or Upgrade on the Truck... I chose the latter.

At the end of April, I did a straight up trade with a guy for my Titan in exchange for his 2004 Ford King Ranch F350 Dually Long Bed. A little over 30K miles and came loaded with CAI, Exhaust, Superchip, and custom toolbox/ladder rack. I added a 12K Equalizer Hitch and P3 Brake Controller then figured if this beast can't tow that TT, then nothing will.

Travel Trailer is a Keystone Sprinter 311BHS. There is a YouTube video out there (not mine) that shows what it looks like from the inside.

Here a link to a picture from this afternoon of the new rig...



Wish I could post a picture but I can't properly insert or hyperlink it for everyone as I don't have enough postings to qualify.

There are a lot of days when I miss my Titan (much more intuitive interior) but the new (heavier) rig is actually still cheaper to drive, though not by much with the high price of diesel. With the mods, I am realizing 19+mpg on the highway and 10.5mpg when towing the trailer fully loaded.

Thanks again to the board for your thoughtful feedback to my questions.

Paul

[Carbeaux]

You made the right choice, IMHO. The Titan, though it's obviously a favorite around here is only a 1/2 ton truck and you needed more.

Thanks for the update, and best of luck with that new diesel!

[Z-Hauler]

Forget the Jayco and get an Airstream.

[TitanBlue]

So nice to see the happy ending! Too often, we get stuck, and aren't willing to change. Good job guys.

[HudsonValleyTitan]

Enjoy your new rig. You made the right choice.