Which Travel Trailer???

[wendypooh]

Please forgive me if this question doesn't make sense, I'm posting without the knowledge of my DH, who would obviously know the better way to ask it!!! LOL

We are wanting to buy a travel trailer - We have an 06 Nissan Frontier with a short wheel base. (I assume it's short, since the bed is short) :rolleyes1

It states a towing cap. of 6500 lbs. but of course we wouldn't want to pull that much.

What would be the ideal choice for us as far as dry weight and length? It's tough since we are finding a lot of conflicting specs. with the Trailers.

We like the Coachman Spirit of America LT24RBQ, which has a dry weight of 4456, however in the brochure it states that it includes in that weight about 370 pounds which is generally NOT included in other TT specs.

Any advice would be highly appreciated, as we do not want to get into something that will be overwhelming for us.

Thanks so much!!!!

[stacktester]

Now we know why gas is so expensive. Wendy has burned it all up coming from Louisiana on all those trips. LOL. Just kidding. Personally I wouldn't pull a TT with a Frontier or any of the lite weight trucks. There was a post on here a few weeks ago where a guy wanted to pull with a Mercury Mountaineer. I just had a Frontier as a rental (crew cab) last week and although it's a great truck I wouldn't pull my 22' TT with it. If you were going to get a pop up I would say by all means go for it.

That truck is just too small a tow vehicle to safely pull a TT that large. If you were saying you had a Titan, now that's another story. From what I read the Titan can pull as much as my Silverado Crew Cab with a Duramax Diesel. I'm not trying to bust your bubble but you won't be safe in what you have. That trailer, in rain and wind, will own that truck and most likely be an accident waiting to happen. Maybe you could look at the Hybrids that aren't so heavy. FWGuy has one so ask him what he pulls with. I'm sure he'll chime in on this thread. Good luck.

Donnie

[wendypooh]

Thanks!!! I think........ LOL

Wow -- that is the exact info I want to hear, the guy at the dealership was not concearned at all about us pulling it with the Nissan. Of course he wants to sell the trailer, but for safety reasons....... sheesh!!

I do appreciate your info - I'm certain DH will be interested too!

[Gatordad]

your question is quite vague. here is a link to a board that will help you, but as for "the right" one, it's up to user preference, and if you ask 100 people, you'll get 100 responses, all different.

http://www.rvforum.net/SMF_forum/index.php

[wendypooh]

Thanks for the link! What should I add to my question to make it less vague? I'm not being snarky here, I'm serious. I really do want the help. When I asked about what would be ideal......... I'm not asking which camper, I'm asking what weight and length. The TT itself is not at issue until I have a weight and length that would work for our truck. I guess basically I'm trying to find out what we REALLY are able to tow with our truck.

I appreciate any info -- Thanks!!

[Gatordad]

read thru, they have a whole link devoted to threads of travel trailers. I'd ask just like you just asked me, you have a frontier, what legnth and weight would someone safely tow with it.

[wendypooh]

Thanks!! I appreciate it! I'm off to do more research !

[stacktester]

That's a good site it looks like. I've never seen that one and will be doing some research on other things as well. Thanks for the link. Wendy, don't let a salesman determine what you can pull. I've pulled horses for 24 years in bumper pull and gooseneck trailers. (My grandmom has horses and one day she decided on a long dirt road when I was 14 I was going to learn how NOT to throw a horse down in a trailer lol.)

A lot of people who have lite duty trucks like you all the way up to people who have a 1 ton dually pull trailers that may or not be safe to pull with their equipment. A lot of people think that if it says you can pull 6,500 lbs then by God hook up that TT that weighs 6,300 and haul butt. I hate to see people pulling with a small truck that has the front end lifted way up even if it's equipped with an equalizer and sway bar. At the very best a Hybrid is all your going to safely pull and that's fine. Just don't let somebody convince you that they can install a brake controller and equalizer hitch on your truck and if it meets the weight limit you're good to go. Another thing most people don't consider is that when your truck says it has a has that 6,500 lb towing capacity that is your trailer, cargo, passengers and water if you decide to fill your tanks up. I'm not saying you need an F-250 Super Duty but you do need something that can control and stop your trailer which in turn keeps your family safe and everybody elses around you safe too. I don't mean to sound like I'm an authority on this subject. I've just pulled a lot of different types of trailers all over the eastern U.S. and seen a lot of uninformed folks out there in accidents that could've been avoided.

[AuburnJen92]

Personally I wouldn't pull a TT with a Frontier or any of the lite weight trucks.

That truck is just too small a tow vehicle to safely pull a TT that large.

Donnie

I fully agree. We had a 21' Kiwi, similar to FWGuy, and we had to get a bigger truck because of it. It might seem just fine on a CALM, sunny day, but get a little wind (and we have had plenty of that in FL the past couple of months) or some rain and you are sunk. Even with our double cab Tundra, my father (who thinks he knows how to drive with a TT, :lmao: ) managed to get it "squirrely" when the wind kicked up in central FL going to a college football game. It even gave my mom's Navigator fits and it was well within the towing limits. I hate to burst your bubble further, but no one wants to see you in the paper or on the news with something bad happening to you.

I would go with a large pop-up to be on the safe side.

[wendypooh]

Thanks so much you guys!!! AND no one is "popping my bubble"!!! LOL
We have NOT decided on anything yet!! We did look at the coachman and we liked it, but my DH was NOT convinced by the salesman when he said, "OH yeah, you can pull it fine"!!! That's why I"m here asking!
You guys have been a huge help actually! I would much rather get advice from people with "real" experience and have no agenda other than helping us make the right decision!


Again, I appreciate all of your responses -- Thanks so much!!!

OH -- one more question - can any of you give advice on what size pop up or hybrid would be safe. Thanks!

[Gatordad]

don't be so quick to knock the salesman. Wait until you get our bill.

[KingTryton]

It looks like you are getting some sound advice here. Having towed a 26ft TT with a Explorer in FL for a short trip to WDW from Ocala. It does get a little white knucklish when being passed by 18 wheelers. But if you don't want to wait till you get to the parks for a "thrill ride" then go for it.
We also shopped a few dealers in central FL, the guy with the 12,000# FEMA TT said "sure you can tow it behind your Explorer". I laughed and quickly exited his lot.

Good luck!

Current rig - Dodge 1500 Hemi Quad-Cab and 28ft. Smokey TT- smooth....

[kmccain]

Lots of good advice here! :thumbsup2

I would like to just add something.

We still had sway with a Ford Excursion rated at over 12,000# pulling at 30' TT which has a GVW is 9,600#. We started checking into a different hitch. After some research we picked the Hensley and like the say "no more sway" :dance3:

[wendypooh]

don't be so quick to knock the salesman. Wait until you get our bill.

I'm not sure what this means, I wasn't knocking the salesman, but if one is sleazy, well then he's sleezy.


Thanks to everyone for your advice.

[bigdisneydaddy]

Now we know why gas is so expensive. Wendy has burned it all up coming from Louisiana on all those trips. LOL. Just kidding. Personally I wouldn't pull a TT with a Frontier or any of the lite weight trucks. There was a post on here a few weeks ago where a guy wanted to pull with a Mercury Mountaineer. I just had a Frontier as a rental (crew cab) last week and although it's a great truck I wouldn't pull my 22' TT with it. If you were going to get a pop up I would say by all means go for it.

That truck is just too small a tow vehicle to safely pull a TT that large. If you were saying you had a Titan, now that's another story. From what I read the Titan can pull as much as my Silverado Crew Cab with a Duramax Diesel. I'm not trying to bust your bubble but you won't be safe in what you have. That trailer, in rain and wind, will own that truck and most likely be an accident waiting to happen. Maybe you could look at the Hybrids that aren't so heavy. FWGuy has one so ask him what he pulls with. I'm sure he'll chime in on this thread. Good luck.

Donnie


I dont know how your CC Silverado Duramax runs but mine can out pull a "Titan" any day of the week. With diesel being higher than no lead for some time now I have to justify the diesels existance by knowing I can walk up any mountain in fifth gear and leave the gas trucks in the back.
Let me know if you need some tuning tips for yours :thumbsup2

[Gatordad]

I was saying, wait until you get the bill for our "free advice"

[stacktester]

Hey Dad, I was just saying weight wise it can pull the same. I have an 04 Duramax and always open to new ways to tune or get more mileage/power.

What do you got going on yours?

[Gatordad]

I was just busting her chops. I have a 2000 Georgie Boy Landau, 35foot.

[wendypooh]

I was saying, wait until you get the bill for our "free advice"


don't be so quick to knock the salesman. Wait until you get our bill.


OH -- I totally read this wrong!!! I thought it said "your bill", not "our" bill!!! Sorry!!! :crazy:

[Us3]

Hi Wendypooh. You are SO doing the right thing about researching! This is my favorite research site. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm We've had several campers and several different tow vehicles. I'd like to think that most salespeople would put your safety first, but it just hasn't been our experience (knowing what we do now). :sad2:

Anyway, hopefully that site will help you find the perfect camper! I will agree with the others....I don't think your current vehicle pulling a 24ft trailer (regardless of its weight) would be as safe as you'd like to keep your family. I think you could pull it down the road just fine...but safety would be jeopardized in wind, fast breaking etc. The weight of the tow vehicle itself is a big factor when those type of conditions exist too. This is just IMHO after all of the research I've done over the years.:flower3:

I've seen some really nice pop up's while camping lately! This might be a good option for you...and you could pull it with ease and no worries! (Or maybe hubby will get a shiny new truck so he can pull exactly what YOU want, hehehehe).

Let us know what trailer you end up with! Once you figure out the trailer you want, that site I gave you will help you get the best deal too! Yeah!;)

Sonya

[wendypooh]

Hey Sonya,

Thanks!!! We are looking - researching - and trying to decide!!! LOL about the shiny new truck........ we just got the truck, seriously, about a week ago!!! We didn't want a "big" truck........... :confused3 LOL

Anyway, I've been looking at the Trailmanors today, wow, they are nice and may be what we get!! I'm not too wild about a pop up, I've seen some nice ones during my searching, but........... not my flavor!!!

Oh, what about hi-lo's?? Would you guys rec. any of those? I've seen a few that look great.

[BearwithMouseEars]

Id like to add a little here if I may . Its not the towing capacity thats most important towing with your Nissan . Its the short wheel base . It allows the TT to "disturb" the balance of tow vehicle makeing it a scarier ride . Even with a good swaybar setup it will move your vehicle around when your near tractor trailers or in above average winds . Like others I dont want to discourage you but I would hate to see you buy something that you were to scared to tow .

Scott

[ftwildernessguy]

I was out of town and just read this thread. Someone asked what I tow my hybrid with - I tow with a 2005 Ford F-150 supercab with a 5.4L V-8.

[stacktester]

I think that's a great ride for your trailer FWGuy. Long enough and has a good towing capacity.

[djblu883]

Wendy see below you paragraph....this didn't go where I wanted it and I don't wanna type this all over lolThanks so much you guys!!! AND no one is "popping my bubble"!!! LOL
We have NOT decided on anything yet!! We did look at the coachman and we liked it, but my DH was NOT convinced by the salesman when he said, "OH yeah, you can pull it fine"!!! That's why I"m here asking!
You guys have been a huge help actually! I would much rather get advice from people with "real" experience and have no agenda other than helping us make the right decision!

Wendy I once rode with a gf to go camping in thier new trailer. They had a small truck and the travel trailer was too big for it...It almost pushed us off a mountain!!! Brakes alone would not stop it...I had to talk her into gearing down with the manual tranny as well to get is slowed down enough. WHen we were ready to come home at the end of the trip....her hubby came and got the camper and left us their family car...we got LUCKY!!! SO shop around and be sure whatever you get will work. I also made a mistake and got a truck that wasn't big enough for my old camper and it ruined my tranny...salesmen sure look for suckers like meeeeeeeee!!! I saure have learned a LOT about informed shopping after that last fiasco!!! Good Luck!!

Again, I appreciate all of your responses -- Thanks so much!!!

OH -- one more question - can any of you give advice on what size pop up or hybrid would be safe. Thanks!

[Gawain]

There is more science involved than people are letting you believe. It is not all just opinions.:wizard:

Take yer 6500lb towing capacity, subtract 1000 lbs for fuel, people and stuff (see below(1)), subtract another 500 lbs for safety factor (or not, depending on your comfort level) and consider the following equation (2)for allowable trailer length.

(1)Load to be carried as follows:
Passengers: 400
Weight of fuel, water, oil + equipment: 200
Weight of all after market items installed: 25
Weight of additional cargo: 200
Weight of miscellaneous items: 175
Total of above: 1000

(2)Towing Length
Assume normal ball, weight distribution hitch.
General rule: 110" of wheelbase gets 20' , add 1' for each additional 4" of wheelbase.

Then, check out R-Vision's Trail Sport 27FQ. Bunk Beds, full kitchen, queen size master bedroom, 3760 lbs dry weight. It's what we have and we love it. As a caveat, though, we pulled this with our dodge dakota and it did fine expect for some transmissions issues. We ended up upgrading TV to Ford F150.

Peace:hippie:

Gawain

[Gawain]

Hmmmmm maybe I was wrong... not as much science as I though after reading the following from RV.NET. :idea:

Hampy wrote:

Just a quick formula for trailer length vs wheelbase.( I think ths is what they told me a few years ago on this forum )
110" for 20' of trailer and 4" for every additional foot of trailer.
Personally I think it is a fair formula.
As mentioned a few times above, I concur that your wheelbase is a tad short for a 31' TT.
(but.... to each his own.!)


Actually that formula is pretty much a joke and hopelessly outdated. Yes, according to that formula. You will need a road tractor to tow a lawnmower trailer. Maybe. It is the reason so many on here scream 3/4 ton for anything over 5' long, and 1000lbs. Using it. I can't tow my TT with the 150 or the Expe. According to the formula. I am 5' over with the Expe, and 6' over with the 150. and both tow it very well, with no sway what so ever. "Usually". If the TT is within your weight rating. You can tow it.
That being said. That TT will be 33'+ on the road. Could be a tad much. As I, and other's have mentioned.
Mine is 27' 10" and 6000lbs with a 119' WB, on the Expe. Don't know what 6 more feet would do.