Question for those that tow travel trailers

[beardking]

I'm looking to rent a travel trailer to drag to Hot Springs for my anniversary. I have a 2019 Ram 1500 5.7 4x4 Crew Cab short bed. I'm looking into weight distribution hitches and air bag systems. I keep coming across conflicting information about whether to use one or the other or both. To those of you that tow on a regular basis, or at least more than I have, which is exactly once, what are your suggestions? I'll be towing either a 23' travel trailer or a 31' travel trailer (I have to find out the specs on the longer trailer since it's my in-laws).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lee Beaittie]

If your truck already has the air ride rear suspension you can only go with the weight distribution hitch. I don't see you needing both. You can prob rent the hitch with the trailer, which most all have sway control on them and will benefit you. Will your truck have the tow capacity to tow a 31 footer?

 

[AKmoose]

Always been a fan of the equilizer hitches with sway bar, not sure about the air bags. That truck ought to be able to tow quite a bit. I worked on RV's going through A&P school and remember having to pick up a vehicle at J&I hitch, they had a demonstration where a small front drive vehicle (IIRC Geo metro) was hooked to a mid size trailer 22-24 FT. with an equilizer hitch with the rear wheels removed, looked like it was pulling just fine although not something I'd want to take down I-44.

 

[HoLeChit]

I rented a 21 or 22 foot travel trailer and drive with it for 3200 miles to North Carolina and back. Used my 2015 Silverado 1500 crew cab 5’8” bed LTZ Z71. no bags, weight distribution hitch, or anything. Went all over the smokies too. Packed with two weeks worth of groceries, fishing stuff, and dog stuff. Had zero issues aside from dismal fuel economy. Just a little longer braking times, had to play with our weight distribution in the trailer, had a little sway the first 150 miles.

 

[beardking]

If your truck already has the air ride rear suspension you can only go with the weight distribution hitch. I don't see you needing both. You can prob rent the hitch with the trailer, which most all have sway control on them and will benefit you. Will your truck have the tow capacity to tow a 31 footer?

It doesn't already have the air ride suspension. I was considering adding bags to make the ride better while towing, but I've seen conflicting information on whether you should or not. I'll be borrowing the WDH from my in-laws, whether I use their trailer or not. As far as being able to pull it, I SHOULD have plenty of capacity for it. They tow it with a 2017 Toyota Tundra and have had no issues with it. The main thing that's keeping me from just borrowing it is the length is kind of intimidating considering I've never towed anything that big before. Plus, of course, the fact that it's a pretty expensive thing to borrow.

 

[jbarnett]

A quick Google search shows a 2019 ram 1500 has towing up to 7500lbs. My 30ft trailer weighs 7000lbs and it gives my 1500 chevy all it wants. I would check the weight of the trailer and then decide. Does your truck have a brake controller? I have a brake controller, weight distribution hitch and air bags.

 

[Poke78]

Don’t forget you’ll need mirrors that will let see the end of the trailer when passing. If yours aren’t already wide enough, most auto supply places have add-ons.

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

I pulled a 27’ foot Jayco all over the US with our V10 Excursion and a equalizer Weigjt Distribution Hitch with anti sway bars. Add a good brake controller and you should be good to go.

 

[Chaparral]

What kind of electric brakes do you have? What experience? 1/2 tonne truck = small trailer.

FWIW I regularly tow about 10-12,000 pounds in cattle or hay or equipment or horses. Cannot stress enough how dangerous people are. Pass you just to cut you off so they can stop and turn. They can stop. YOU CANNOT!!!

Go smaller. Get proper brakes and harness installed. Go smaller. Load levelling helps to a point, it will NOT help you stop. Remember you are now really long. Bumper pulls act up when unbalanced. You may have a full safe load limit of 7,500 pounds. Use safety chains. I have seen three trailers so far this year going down the road without a drive vehicle.

Did I ask you how you plan to stop?

 

[TerryMiller]

Do not go by a manufacturer's "tow rating." Take your truck to a dealer and have them look at the specs to find the Gross Combined Weight Rating. (That combined weight is the weight of the truck and of the trailer.) Don't exceed the GCWR and also don't exceed the rear axle weight rating.

We once had a 26 foot travel trailer and a 1/2-ton pickup was not up to being able to tow and STOP the rig. I had to bump up a 3/4-ton truck.

I'm also not sold on airbags as they really don't do anything for handling the weight at the trailer's tongue. Definitely go with equalizer bars AND an anti-sway bar.