What can I tow safely with my TV

[UntetheredExplo]

Hello all wise ones out there! I plan to hit the road full-time next spring. I will drive a fair amount to explore much of this grand country I call home-including some mountain areas (Rv at the park and unhitch is an option) and boondocking on BLM.

I have a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4X4, Summit with tow package, V8, 5.7L. Max towing 7200lb, max payload 1050lb, GVWR 6800lb.

What is the max TT weight I can safely tow?

I have my eye on a Dutchman Kodiak 2500rbsl, ship wt 5400, hitch weight 596, cargo max wt 1185. If so, any recommendation on anti-sway bars and WDH? I will need to add trailer auto brake, right? What else?

I LOVE my Jeep and really do not want to sell for a truck. Hope this works but if not, what weight do I need to be under? I will need to re-do my TT search options!

Thank you, in advance all you kind folks!

[Anniewhereugo]

Hi, I have a Chevy Suburban 1500 4x4 with a max tow of 7k, I wanted to go as light as I could with as much room as possible. I looked at the Rockwood Mini Light 2405S (20'9" end to end 19 foot box with a slide) at 3650 and ended up with a keystone passport 199 at 3560 (dry) and it is pretty easy to tow. I don't want to stress out or blow my truck up so went with a little less room for safety sake. A dealer will sell you something bigger (although the gal where I purchased the Passport was very concerned about weight and TV) so research and know what you can tow. Happy trails and I envy you getting out there.

[rbpru]

Do not confuse the merits of canvas with the amount of additional labor involved. Everything has it price.

I have no problem packing my PUP wet and opening it up when I get home. So too my tent.

But in my case, I often want to stop and go, sometimes not even unhooking for the night. So that means a TT. It is just shear convenience.

[Terryallan]

SoundGuy wrote:

Ralph Cramden wrote:
This is the unit we were looking at back in 2013, actually a 254DSX.

Terryallan wrote:
That bunk end would be a deal breaker for me. We got out of Pups, Which I like a lot. But I just don't want to mess with canvas any more. 25 years was enough. High maintiance

Which only means you don't understand the target market for this trailer - grandparents who want to take the grandkids camping. It's also a wonderful solution for those who only occasionally may take another couple with them camping and want to offer completely separate sleeping accommodation from the main bedroom. In point of fact the 254DSX was brilliant but the problem was that most potential customers were like you and didn't understand it, and that's the reason it was pulled (too soon IMO) from the Freedom Express lineup. 😞 We sure could have used a 254DSX recently when we took friends of ours from Downunder camping - solved it with a tent but being able to offer their own sleeping quarters within the trailer would have been a much better solution. :B

Or it could mean that after Camping for more than 25 years under canvas. I no longer want to mess with it Maintaing canvas is a royal pain.

As for taking extra people. Our camper sleeps 10 comfortably The rear bedroom besides having two full size beds. also has curtains to separate it from the rest of the camper, plus their own AC vents. Plenty of room for all. And light weight on top of it

[SoundGuy]

Ralph Cramden wrote:
This is the unit we were looking at back in 2013, actually a 254DSX.

Terryallan wrote:
That bunk end would be a deal breaker for me. We got out of Pups, Which I like a lot. But I just don't want to mess with canvas any more. 25 years was enough. High maintiance

Which only means you don't understand the target market for this trailer - grandparents who want to take the grandkids camping. It's also a wonderful solution for those who only occasionally may take another couple with them camping and want to offer completely separate sleeping accommodation from the main bedroom. In point of fact the 254DSX was brilliant but the problem was that most potential customers were like you and didn't understand it, and that's the reason it was pulled (too soon IMO) from the Freedom Express lineup. 😞 We sure could have used a 254DSX recently when we took friends of ours from Downunder camping - solved it with a tent but being able to offer their own sleeping quarters within the trailer would have been a much better solution. :B

[rbpru]

In the end the best TT is the one with the floor plan you like. Floor plan remains when all else is accepted or forgotten.

Aluminum vs. wood frames, insulation values, stick and tin (aluminum siding) vs. laminated panels, and most of the other "features" of various models mean little floor plan is not right for you.

[Terryallan]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

Thank you for confirming that it is well built

You're welcome, it's as well built as any other Forest River brand / product, or other manufacturers products, or maybe it's not depending on what way the wind was blowing on the production date. One thing it's not is some new and improved rig that is leaps and bounds above what else is out there, but if it makes you feel good believing it is, have at it.

This is the unit we were looking at back in 2013, actually a 254DSX. I looked at 4 different ones, they were touting the Azdel. The build quality on all 4 of them was nothing special compared to lots of other brands. The only thing special about it was the floorplan and they only made it for 2/3 model years.

That bunk end would be a deal breaker for me. We got out of Pups, Which I like a lot. But I just don't want to mess with canvas any more. 25 years was enough. High maintiance

[dodge_guy]

drsteve wrote:

UntetheredExplorer wrote:
Thanks, KerrlakeRoo-but I'm not sure I follow. If max Jeep payload is 1050 and person, TT hitch wt, sway bar (170+596+100 = 866), that leaves me with available tongue weight of 184? Is this right? Does not take into account Jeep cargo, front TT cargo, propane tanks or batteries...I am missing something?

Yes. Passenger weight is 170. Weight of the WD hitch is 100. Your proposed TT will probably run around 6000 or so when loaded for camping IF you pack really light. Tongue weight of 15% of that loaded weight, is 900 lb. That puts you at 1170 with NO cargo in the Jeep.

You need to look as a smaller TT.

900lbsTW on a 6500lb trailer!!!! why, that isn't even necessary! 12% is the normal TW for a TT which would put a 6500lb loaded trailer at 800lbs at most. 15% is too much.

[Ralph_Cramden]

Terryallan wrote:

Thank you for confirming that it is well built

You're welcome, it's as well built as any other Forest River brand / product, or other manufacturers products, or maybe it's not depending on what way the wind was blowing on the production date. One thing it's not is some new and improved rig that is leaps and bounds above what else is out there, but if it makes you feel good believing it is, have at it.

This is the unit we were looking at back in 2013, actually a 254DSX. I looked at 4 different ones, they were touting the Azdel. The build quality on all 4 of them was nothing special compared to lots of other brands. The only thing special about it was the floorplan and they only made it for 2/3 model years.

[Fordlover]

UntetheredExplorer wrote:
Thank you, everyone, for your insight. Looks like I will need to make different choices!

There are so many different campers out there, I'm sure you can find one that is within the limits of your Jeep.

Keep in mind travel trailers tend to be the hardest type of trailer to pull, much more difficult than a boat, utility trailer or car hauler. I'd tow a car hauler trailer close to the max rating of a tow vehicle, but never a tall sidewall TT or cargo style trailer.

[Terryallan]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
I agree with all of the above!!
basically, that's too much trailer for the jeep
also be careful with "ultralite" trailers, build quality is very "lite" you'll have floors that feel like a trampoline, I had one, hated the bouncy floor. had a hard time selling it because the floors were so "soft and bouncy"

You must have had a cheap ultra lite. Mine is very lite, and the floors are as solid as a rock. In truth the whole thing is solid. But then it is made from really strong lite weight composite material that won't rot.

All I'm saying is "many" lite weight TT are made very well. You have to be careful what you buy.

A Coachmen Apex is made from really strong lightweight composite materials? Thats a good one.

Do you know what it is made of?????? I do, and I did research on the material. The walls made from a material that was only available on high end coaches for a long time. The material is 50% lighter, and stronger than luan backed fiberglass. plus it has a 50% higher R insulation value. It also will not rot. Why do you have a problem with that????


In truth. Many Coachmen RV have started using the same material, and I believe the makers of Coleman RVs now use it or a variation of it as well. My Apex is 6 years old. It looks like new, The inside is like new. I have no problem with space age material. Why do you?

Google can be your friend

You have bought into the sales brochure BS. I dont have a problem with it and I do know what you're referring to.

Its called Azdel. The only place it is used on a Coachmen product is for the layer in the wall lamination that the filon is laminated to. And only on the two sidewalls. Not the floor, roof, front or back walls, or anywhere else. On the 2 sidewalls the inner layer is 1/8" luan plywood with the wallcovering glued to it.

The Azdel will not delaminate or rot, but get water in that panel and the low VOC water based adhesives will still let loose and the filon can delaminate from the Azdel, or the Azdel from the foam' or the inner plywood from the foam. Delamination is delamination.

Your floor, roof, and end walls are built just the same with the same materials as almost every other trailer out there thats not stick and tin. I have done the research when I almost purchased a Coachmen back in 2014. It was a front bedroom travel trailer with a single hybrid style bunk at the rear, the 243 DSX.

You may think you have some bulletproof indestructible space age miracle trailer. You're mistaken.

Thank you for confirming that it is well built

[Ralph_Cramden]

Terryallan wrote:

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
I agree with all of the above!!
basically, that's too much trailer for the jeep
also be careful with "ultralite" trailers, build quality is very "lite" you'll have floors that feel like a trampoline, I had one, hated the bouncy floor. had a hard time selling it because the floors were so "soft and bouncy"

You must have had a cheap ultra lite. Mine is very lite, and the floors are as solid as a rock. In truth the whole thing is solid. But then it is made from really strong lite weight composite material that won't rot.

All I'm saying is "many" lite weight TT are made very well. You have to be careful what you buy.

A Coachmen Apex is made from really strong lightweight composite materials? Thats a good one.

Do you know what it is made of?????? I do, and I did research on the material. The walls made from a material that was only available on high end coaches for a long time. The material is 50% lighter, and stronger than luan backed fiberglass. plus it has a 50% higher R insulation value. It also will not rot. Why do you have a problem with that????


In truth. Many Coachmen RV have started using the same material, and I believe the makers of Coleman RVs now use it or a variation of it as well. My Apex is 6 years old. It looks like new, The inside is like new. I have no problem with space age material. Why do you?

Google can be your friend

You have bought into the sales brochure BS. I dont have a problem with it and I do know what you're referring to.

Its called Azdel. The only place it is used on a Coachmen product is for the layer in the wall lamination that the filon is laminated to. And only on the two sidewalls. Not the floor, roof, front or back walls, or anywhere else. On the 2 sidewalls the inner layer is 1/8" luan plywood with the wallcovering glued to it.

The Azdel will not delaminate or rot, but get water in that panel and the low VOC water based adhesives will still let loose and the filon can delaminate from the Azdel, or the Azdel from the foam' or the inner plywood from the foam. Delamination is delamination.

Your floor, roof, and end walls are built just the same with the same materials as almost every other trailer out there thats not stick and tin. I have done the research when I almost purchased a Coachmen back in 2014. It was a front bedroom travel trailer with a single hybrid style bunk at the rear, the 243 DSX.

You may think you have some bulletproof indestructible space age miracle trailer. You're mistaken.

[Terryallan]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
I agree with all of the above!!
basically, that's too much trailer for the jeep
also be careful with "ultralite" trailers, build quality is very "lite" you'll have floors that feel like a trampoline, I had one, hated the bouncy floor. had a hard time selling it because the floors were so "soft and bouncy"

You must have had a cheap ultra lite. Mine is very lite, and the floors are as solid as a rock. In truth the whole thing is solid. But then it is made from really strong lite weight composite material that won't rot.

All I'm saying is "many" lite weight TT are made very well. You have to be careful what you buy.

A Coachmen Apex is made from really strong lightweight composite materials? Thats a good one.

Do you know what it is made of?????? I do, and I did research on the material. The walls made from a material that was only available on high end coaches for a long time. The material is 50% lighter, and stronger than luan backed fiberglass. plus it has a 50% higher R insulation value. It also will not rot. and has aluminum cage construction. Why do you have a problem with that????


In truth. Many Coachmen RV have started using the same material, and I believe the makers of Coleman RVs now use it or a variation of it as well. My Apex is 6 years old. It looks like new, The inside is like new. I have no problem with space age material. Why do you?

Google can be your friend

[Ralph_Cramden]

Terryallan wrote:

stevemorris wrote:
I agree with all of the above!!
basically, that's too much trailer for the jeep
also be careful with "ultralite" trailers, build quality is very "lite" you'll have floors that feel like a trampoline, I had one, hated the bouncy floor. had a hard time selling it because the floors were so "soft and bouncy"

You must have had a cheap ultra lite. Mine is very lite, and the floors are as solid as a rock. In truth the whole thing is solid. But then it is made from really strong lite weight composite material that won't rot.

All I'm saying is "many" lite weight TT are made very well. You have to be careful what you buy.

A Coachmen Apex is made from really strong lightweight composite materials? Thats a good one.

[rbpru]

The problem with "towing safely" is it very subjective. One persons interesting trip can be another persons white knuckle nightmare.

Unless the rig is horribly miss-matched most folks just get in and drive. Even then I have seen others pulling a few strange combinations I would not drive.

I have an F-150 e-boost pulling a 25 ft. TT. I have been in the Rockies, the desert, winding hill country, intercity truck traffic and of course smooth sailing down the interstates.

My biggest concerns are high winds, snow, and the unpredictability of deer on the side of the road. I have never felt unsafe but then, if I do not like a particular situation; I will seek an alternate route, a temporary rest stop or find a campground and continue in the morning.