Not so sure we made the best decision...

[manning]

Stopping can be tricky. I can remember way back when I had a 1700 lb popup. I didn't connect it up right (I was new at it then) and did not have trailer brakes. Good thing I was stopping at a little travelled intersection. I finally stopped in the middle of the intersection. White shorts turned an instant brown. From then on I doubled checked.




I have a hunch that trailer is way over 3000 lbs. I wonder if they are looking at 3000 per axle.

OP, what is the make, model and year. without knowing we are just guessing.

I did that on e 40+ years ago with a 1700 lb Apache pop up. The car was not set up for towing and I was in the process getting it ready. Just had the trans cooler put and had an appointment to wire it up for the trailer brake. I couldn't wait the extra week and took it out. Luckily it was a isolated 4 way stop. That trailer litterly almost pushed me into the intersection. Never made that mistake again.

 

[manning]

Hi everyone, I hope that you all are enjoying the start of summer. I have gotten a couple of messages asking how we have made out with the trailer. Well we still have yet to take it out. Everyone we have talked to says oh just try it and see what happens but the thing is I don't have the funds that if something does happen to fix it. I really wanted a trailer and I got one but trying to get a truck lately has been impossible . WE thought about renting a truck and driving down with it but that would be an additional 400.00 to our trip if we chose to.We are planning with our tax return to buy a truck so that we are able to take it out hopefully next year. For the time being we have decided to start tent camping. It really excites my son and I just want to try and make DH and DS happy. Although I don't know what DS 1 and I will do. We were really wanting to come back down this year but I think it may have to wait which is a really big bummer but what can you do I guess.

Maybe something like this if you want to spend the money


http://www.realtruck.com/sportz-suv-and-minivan-tent/

 

[chartle]

Hi everyone, I hope that you all are enjoying the start of summer. I have gotten a couple of messages asking how we have made out with the trailer. Well we still have yet to take it out. Everyone we have talked to says oh just try it and see what happens but the thing is I don't have the funds that if something does happen to fix it. I really wanted a trailer and I got one but trying to get a truck lately has been impossible . WE thought about renting a truck and driving down with it but that would be an additional 400.00 to our trip if we chose to.We are planning with our tax return to buy a truck so that we are able to take it out hopefully next year. For the time being we have decided to start tent camping. It really excites my son and I just want to try and make DH and DS happy. Although I don't know what DS 1 and I will do. We were really wanting to come back down this year but I think it may have to wait which is a really big bummer but what can you do I guess.

Can you even use a rental to tow?

 

[Rland8228]

Yes you can for an extra fee and insurance. But we actually just got some good news the other day. We are getting a Nissan pathfinder which we had before it will be an older one 01 not an 04 like we had but it can still tow 5000 lbs and are is 3248 so we will be under the lbs which will be better. Just stinks because we bought the hitch for the van and break controller and paid to have it installed! So it looks like we will finally be going down maybe after march! I cant wait!

 

[bama_ed]

That's good news, Rland8228! I hope you will more at ease with this Tow Vehicle.

I noted you said "after March" but we've already got three of us who will be down there last week of March 2014. Would love to have you or anyone else there at the same time. I met several DISsers past and present on my last trip and it was fun to put a name with a face. Whatever works out for you, though.

Bama Ed

 

[asquared]

You need to double check all of your numbers. You will find that you will run out of payload very quickly. Yes the pathfinder is a much better choice than your van but you really need to know and understand all of your numbers first. I would hook up the trailer to your van and go weigh everything at a catscale these are at most local truck stops. If you don't have one near you, try your local feed store or landfill as they often have scales. What you need to do is weigh the van alone, and weigh the van with the trailer attached. The weight of the van with trailer minus the weight of the van alone will give you an idea of your real tongue weight. You can also weigh the trialer by itself (disconnected from the van) and figure 13-15% of that weight for your tongue weight. The tongue weight is the weight the trailer exerts on your tow vehicle and this must be factored into the payload of the tow vehicle. The pathfinder you are looking at will have a tire loading sticker inside the drivers side door. It will say the weight of all cargo and occupants should not exceed x lbs. From that weight subtract the weight of all passengers, pets and gear that will be in the vehicle when towing. The number that is left is your available payload. The tongue weight of that trailer needs to be subtracted from that available payload. If we go with the 3100 lbs I saw somewhere above then we can say your tongue weight would be around 400-465 lbs. Also you need to look at the hitch and see what it is rated for both load bearing and weight distributing as you may need to have a weight distribution hitch (WDH). You will definitely want some sort of sway bar (friction sway should be fine for that size camper but you can't back with it attached, so disconnect it to back up). Depending on what kind of hitch you have now, some hitches moan and groan just from their functionality. For example, I am running an F250 diesel and a 30ft 7000 lb travel trailer I have the reese dual cam for my WDH. It includes integrated sway control. The hitch pops and clangs. It just does. Thats what these hitches do. It scared me at first but I have since learned it is normal and not to worry about it.

There are more numbers you need to understand..... GVWR- gross vehicle weight. This is the most a vehicle can weigh. It is the sum of the vehicles weight plus all items in and on it. The curb weight of a car is its weight without options or passengers. The actual weight is what you get when you weight it. The GVWR of the vehicle minus its weight is your payload or what you have left for putting in or on the vehicle (ie kids, firewood, trailer tongue weight). The GCWR (gross combined weight) of the vehicle is the most it and what it is towing plus everything in and on both things can weigh. GCWR minus the weight of the vehicle (with everything in it) is the weight a vehicle can tow. THe GRAWR (gross rear axle weight) and GFAWR (gross front axle weight) are the most weight either axle can have... tongue weight will add weight to your rear axle. WDH helps transfer some of the tongue weight to the front axle to help balance the vehicle so you aren't too front end light or heavy loosing steering capablilities. It also transfers about 20% of the tongue weight back onto the trailer. Hopefully I haven't confused you too much. Good luck.

 

[Rland8228]

Well it is with extremely upsetting news that I have to say we sold the trailer last night for 4200.00. We found out this week that my husband although getting promoted will be taking a pay cut and the pathfinder we were supposed to get our friends decided not to sell to us. So I was not gonna let the trailer sit while someone else. The good news is the family that we sold it to enjoys Disney just as much as we do and is planning on going to the fort. I guess we are either back to getting a small pop up or trying to tent camp with DS 1 and DS 7. DH found a 1989 Class C he wants to go look at but I am not sure. Hopefully I will get done there at some point in my life.

 

[asquared]

sorry to hear that. Best of luck to you.

 

[2goofycampers]

Life's ups and downs stink. But, sometimes something good comes of it. Maybe that is in the form of a Class C for you guys. Keep open something will come along.

 

[Rland8228]

Life's ups and downs stink. But, sometimes something good comes of it. Maybe that is in the form of a Class C for you guys. Keep open something will come along.

I agree it's kinda the story of our lives. I'm just a little concerned about the age to be honest.

 

[photogal06]

I agree it's kinda the story of our lives. I'm just a little concerned about the age to be honest.

We had a 1989 Class C for a few years...just sold it a year ago. You're right to be cautious. Not that it can't be a good rig, but you have to think about things in a rig that old that you wouldn't have to in a newer one (like the fact that 24-year-old upholstery, foam, and cabinets just have a funky smell that may really bother you after a time, LOL!)

 

[Rland8228]

Well we bring home our new to us pop up camper which is way under our weight! Its a 2001 Starcraft. We are really excited I was hoping that we would have a little extra left over to come down this year but it looks like we will have to wait until next year. We are already planning our trips. Hopefully I can post some pictures when we get it!

 

[Rland8228]

That's good news, Rland8228! I hope you will more at ease with this Tow Vehicle.

I noted you said "after March" but we've already got three of us who will be down there last week of March 2014. Would love to have you or anyone else there at the same time. I met several DISsers past and present on my last trip and it was fun to put a name with a face. Whatever works out for you, though.

Bama Ed

Hey Bama Ed I think that is when we are now looking at going with the new pop up! March is bonus month lol! Hopefully I can get permission from the school.

 

[bama_ed]

Hey Bama Ed I think that is when we are now looking at going with the new pop up! March is bonus month lol! Hopefully I can get permission from the school.

Cool.

As a fellow popup owner, I saw welcome to pup camping.

Make a Fort ressie "just in case". Then take the popup out this fall close to home on weekends and learn its ins and outs.

BTW, just a suggestion but if you want to post pix of your new pup, start a new thread. This one has some doubt and worry. Let it go and start fresh with a new thread with excitement.

I'll be sitting right here with my big ol' barrel of popcorn waiting for pix.



Bama Ed

PS - I'm going to have to find some new popcorn GIFs....

 

[Rland8228]

Cool.

As a fellow popup owner, I saw welcome to pup camping.

Make a Fort ressie "just in case". Then take the popup out this fall close to home on weekends and learn its ins and outs.

BTW, just a suggestion but if you want to post pix of your new pup, start a new thread. This one has some doubt and worry. Let it go and start fresh with a new thread with excitement.

I'll be sitting right here with my big ol' barrel of popcorn waiting for pix.



Bama Ed

PS - I'm going to have to find some new popcorn GIFs....

LOL Thanks Bama Ed, we go to transfer the trailer title tomorrow morning and then wed we pick up our pop up. I will absolutely start a new thread with the new pictures as soon as it comes home. Any advice you can give me with having a pop up would be great, we are already planning on two maybe three weekends hopefully before the summer is over to the beach one to Hershey Park and jelly stone Park in Quaryviile Pa. Hopefully