[SouthernLion]

I try to avoid the newbie questions here, but I'm new to pulling a travel trailer. Normally the landscaping trailers I have pulled are 18-22 feet. So here goes:

I'm going to Bonnaroo next week with a couple of friends. We have rented a travel trailer to camp in while we are there. I'm picking it up in Nashville and taking it down to Manchester, TN for the festival. One of the other guys rented it and volunteered me to pull it since I'm the only one with a truck. Lucky me! Link below is the same model trailer that I will be towing. It is 37 ft long, dry weight is 6713 lbs, hitch weight is 865 lbs. I will be using a WD hitch. My truck is rated for 923 lbs tongue weight & 9,230 lbs. Anyone see any issues with it or words of advice?

I do have access to a 2017 Titan XD with the Cummins if I need it. That's rated for 1,203 lbs tongue weight & 12,030 lbs. I'd rather not borrow it unless I have to though.

New 2017 Keystone RV Bullet 335BHS Travel Trailer at PleasureLand RV | St Cloud, MN | #1060-16

 

[4mula1fan]

The tail would wag the dog pulling that one. It would be sketchy at best. You would be maxed out completely. No passengers, gear, beer.... I would go for the bigger truck, and it will be plenty for it...

 

[FishnAlaska]

that is a long *** trailer, wagging the dog is about right.

 

[SouthernLion]

Yeah the length is what worries me more than anything. I was hoping for one under 25' or so, not this monstrosity. Probably smarter to just swap out with the XD for the trip.

This weight distribution hitch that I'll be using for the trip has the anti sway bars as well, so hopefully that will help out.

 

[4mula1fan]

That TT is more for a 3/4 to 1 ton weight truck. It will be not so pleasant in the XD. It's a monster.

 

[AZPRO4X]

WwaThat is way too much trailer for a Titan. That will be a white knuckle drive. Borrow the XD.

 

[honda250xtitan]

XD for sure man. Even tho the XD isn't rated to pull much more all the feedback so far has been the XD tows heavy trailers 1000000 times more comfortably. Longer heavier truck just handles it better.

 

[SouthernLion]

XD for sure man. Even tho the XD isn't rated to pull much more all the feedback so far has been the XD tows heavy trailers 1000000 times more comfortably. Longer heavier truck just handles it better.

Yeah I've already got it set up to borrow the XD for next week. Haven't had a chance to drive one of the diesels anyways, so I'll get to test her out a little. Should be roughly 66 miles in a straight shot.

I don't know much about TT's, but that one seems lighter than I would have thought for how long it is.

 

[4mula1fan]

8600 lbs isn't light. :lol: It's a hell of a rig to cut your teeth on, for sure! Just go easy and no fast lane changes and you'll be fine. I wouldn't pull it over 60mph either.

 

[SouthernLion]

8600 lbs isn't light. :lol: It's a hell of a rig to cut your teeth on, for sure! Just go easy and no fast lane changes and you'll be fine. I wouldn't pull it over 60mph either.

Yeah I will definitely be taking it easy. Not going to be in any rush to get there. Slow lane for me!

 

[carbonduc27]

I would do it but take it easy. I am guessing with the higher tongue weight that the axles on the TT are set back so that will help with stability. But 32ft for sure will twist you a little. Passing semis or wind can get sketchy. Whenever my trailer gets out of shape and am quick to apply just the trailer brake manually. Just a little to calm it down.

Hopefully it is a pretty straight shot and not a long haul. Balance the load in the trailer and keep as much as you can over the trailer axles. I would also try to get water when i arrive and not haul a full water tank. Same going home - dump as soon as you can.

 

[HRTKD]

You're going to be hating life unless you use the bigger truck. It will be one long white knuckle ride otherwise.

When connecting to a new trailer, budget at least an hour (more like 3) to configure the WDH to the truck/trailer. Is the WDH already set up on the trailer? Access to a tongue scale would be helpful to ensure that you have enough weight on the tongue to reduce the chance of sway.

if it was me, I would try to get a shorter trailer also.

 

[Indy]

I'm 33', 7,600 lbs dry, 830 lbs tongue.

Length of the trailer isn't an issue, actually a longer trailer will track better and pull better than short trailer. Your tongue weight is high, that's going to be the biggest concern. To help with this, be smart about backing the trailer by moving weight behind the axle to not over load the tongue.

 

[Indy]

But 32ft for sure will twist you a little. Passing semis or wind can get sketchy.

Haven't noticed it to be noticeable enough to even think about it.

Of course, maybe I'm just an insane old farm boy who's been towing far more than I probably should my entire life. I do pay attention to ratings now, not that I overly stress about them. Last trip, forgot to put the sway control on until I was half way there. Kids needed a bathroom brake, so since I was stopped, figured I might as well put it back on.

 

[RobKar]

I'm 33', 7,600 lbs dry, 830 lbs tongue.

Length of the trailer isn't an issue, actually a longer trailer will track better and pull better than short trailer. Your tongue weight is high, that's going to be the biggest concern. To help with this, be smart about backing the trailer by moving weight behind the axle to not over load the tongue.

Not even knowing what configuration is on that 37ft TT you are you to give that advice ...

I would not pull that with my Titan ... I would question it in an XD ...

 

[Indy]

Not even knowing what configuration is on that 37ft TT you are you to give that advice ...

I would not pull that with my Titan ... I would question it in an XD ...

I'm someone who's quite familiar with TT's. He linked to it, know exactly what he's talking about and regardless of what you think, am confident in my advice based on personal experience towing pretty much all kinds of things.

Of course my advice is assuming he knows what his truck is and he has big tow.

I'd tow that setup in a heartbeat as I'm basically already doing and doing it frequently. And if you are worried about towing it with an XD, then I hope you never tow anything as this is exactly what the XD is designed for. I've read up and studied the XD design, how they did it, what components were chosen and why. The RV market was pretty much their target audience and it's numbers are very much under rated according to components used and design of the truck.

 

[RobKar]

I'm someone who's quite familiar with TT's. He linked to it, know exactly what he's talking about and regardless of what you think, am confident in my advice based on personal experience towing pretty much all kinds of things.

Of course my advice is assuming he knows what his truck is and he has big tow.

I'd tow that setup in a heartbeat as I'm basically already doing and doing it frequently. And if you are worried about towing it with an XD, then I hope you never tow anything as this is exactly what the XD is designed for. I've read up and studied the XD design, how they did it, what components were chosen and why. The RV market was pretty much their target audience and it's numbers are very much under rated according to components used and design of the truck.

It's nice that you can do it, Really, that's Nice. Hey guys ^^^ this guy can do it and will do it for you or, that's not quite what you said...
I stated you have NO idea what the setup is, <-- that is still true. Giving advice and not knowing, is that good advice?

So my point to the OP, unless you know what you are doing, I would not do it. Wait ... 37ft, I know what I am doing and I still would not do it. Oh, and to put this in perspective, (my dog is bigger than yours kinda thing) I have a lot more towing under my belt then most people will drive in several lifetimes.

Setting up the WD hitch can be tricky, do you have a brand? I set them up all the time and have some recommendations, but I am thinking this is coming as part of the rental?

Oh, and the XD is still small for a 37ft TT. Would I use the XD??? Yep, giving the choice between a Gen1 and the XD.

 

[RobKar]

Specs of that TT

2017 335BHS Specifications
Sleeps 10
Slides 3
Length 37 ft
Ext Width 8 ft
Ext Height 11 ft
Int Height 6 ft 6 in
Interior Color Saddle
Hitch Weight 865 lbs This will be closer to 1050lbs fully setup with the tanks dry.
Dry Weight 6713 lbs Dry weight, as from the factory without amenities setup.
Cargo Weight 1887 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity 43 gals
Grey Water Capacity 30 gals
Black Water Capacity 30 gals
Tire Size ST225/75R15D
Furnace BTU 30000 btu
VIN 4YDT33522HD420666

 

[HRTKD]

Keeping things in perspective, this adventure is going to be no more than 100 miles one way I think. I have no idea what the terrain is going to be on that route. If that was in Colorado, 100 miles would involve at least one mountain pass and that would make things a bit more difficult, especially in the non-XD Titan.

Does the 2017 non-XD Titan come with a brake controller? As I recall, the XD does come with one and that is a big plus for the XD.

 

[Indy]

Specs of that TT

2017 335BHS Specifications
Sleeps10
Slides3
Length37 ft
Ext Width8 ft
Ext Height11 ft
Int Height6 ft 6 in
Interior ColorSaddle
Hitch Weight865 lbs This will be closer to 1050lbs fully setup with the tanks dry.
Dry Weight6713 lbs Dry weight, as from the factory without amenities setup.
Cargo Weight1887 lbs
Fresh Water Capacity43 gals
Grey Water Capacity30 gals
Black Water Capacity30 gals
Tire SizeST225/75R15D
Furnace BTU30000 btu
VIN4YDT33522HD420666

No one carries that much cargo weight, 1000 is closer to reality 2k on the extreme end. Tongue weight changes is completely dependent on how you load the trailer and no way to predict what it will change to.

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