Which Trailer To Rent & Tow Capabilities

[va32h]

We are military - so we can rent travel trailers from the MWR office at great rates.

Choices are Mallard, Prowler or Apache - any opinions on those brands in particular? I know without the model numbers it's hard to compare, but they don't list the model # on the websites, and there's no one to call on the weekends.

Also - how do I find out the towing capacity of my vehicle? We have a 2004 Ford Freestar, and a 2005 Ford F150 w/extended cab. We'd prefer to take the van, since we have 3 kids.

We will need to purchase a hitch. But we'd eventually like to purchase a trailer, so we don't mind doing that.

Now, if neither of our vehicles can tow a 22ft trailer, we can also rent a pop-up, although I'd really prefer the full size trailer.

We are booked at Ft. Wilderness from Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 in a full-site. If we have to, we'll crack out the tent, but we'd love to try trailer camping!

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

You can check Ford's web site for the towing capacities of your vehicles. Just offhand, I would say the best bet for towing the 22ft trailer is the F150. I tow with a 2005 F150 supercab 4X4, 5.4L V8 with a tow package. My towing capacity is 9300lbs. I tow a 2001 Jayco Kiwi 21C with a wet weight of around 4500lbs.

 

[Disney Campers]

the freestar has a maximum towing capactity of 3500 if its properly equipped, it will not be suitable for towing a fullsize trailer, the truck should not have a problem with a 22 foot trailer.

 

[Tinkmom]

While you might be okay, I would be very careful to see that your truck can pull any of these trailers. An F-150 without a tow package might struggle with one or more of these trailers, loaded.

It isn't even a matter of your truck pulling X pounds and a particular trailer itself weighing less than that figure. You have to factor in people and all the stuff you will take with you. With five people, it will probably involve much more weight that you would imagine.

I can't stress enough how important it is to have enough power in your tow vehicle. Please get the facts about specific models and, if you feel you are within safe limits and plan to make a trip, I would strongly suggest weighing your truck and loaded trailer (with the kids and all!) to make sure you are okay before you attempt a trip. Also, our rig was "within limits" with our old truck, but the trips are SO much more pleasant and we feel much more confident and secure with a more powerful tow vehicle.

 

[va32h]

Thanks for the quick answers. We are tent campers, usually, and didn't really think of the logistics of pulling a trailer. Do pop-ups weigh less, generally?

It would be pretty uncomfortable for all five of us to ride in the truck. We could take both vehicles, but that would be twice the gas, and twice the time, since my husband and I would both have to drive, vs. taking turns.

But, if we had two vehicles we would have room for lots more stuff....hmmm...

I really don't want to drive 17 hours myslef, though.

So if we end up tent camping, what is the weather like at the end of November? We have a pretty big tent, 17ft X 9ft with three rooms, supposedly guaranteed waterproof, but we've been lucky and never been rained on.

 

[christinou]

You could tow a pop-up with the Freestar, pop-up weigh less, and also are lower so better to tow.

 

[T. Lynn]

We have a jeep that can tow 3,500 and I won't attempt it with our 23 ft. travel trailer.

My husband has an older bronco and he's going to put a bigger motor in it and we should be fine.

 

[kmccain]

The towing capacities on vehicles aren't always the best! We have a Ford Excursion that can tow 12,000#. It is one of the biggest and heavyest vehicles on the road, but when we were on the highway we still got sway with our 9,600# TT when the tractor trailers passed us. DH used to drive Tractor Trailers and was aware of the danger of not being able to keep our unit under control at all times. Not only to our family but to others also. It drove him crazy so we went to the next RV show and checked out all the different hitches. We were sold on the Hensley. We love it! No more sway! Everything if under full control when we are being passed or if we have to stop quickly. The Hensley keeps everything in line so there is no jack knifing! We would not tow without one now! www.hensleymfg.com

I have seen the towing capacity on some vehicles and they say that they are enough to pull our vehicle but they look like an elephant being pull by a piss ant. It is scary! What the motor can pull is not always what the weight of the vehicle can handle.

I understand the control that you get from the Hensley will also allow you to tow with the smaller size vehicles described above.

Good Luck! Please be safe!

 

[T. Lynn]

Definately invest in a sway bar/hitch. It will help a lot. We got one as well to use.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The towing capacities on vehicles aren't always the best! We have a Ford Excursion that can tow 12,000#. It is one of the biggest and heavyest vehicles on the road, but when we were on the highway we still got sway with our 9,600# TT when the tractor trailers passed us. DH used to drive Tractor Trailers and was aware of the danger of not being able to keep our unit under control at all times. Not only to our family but to others also. It drove him crazy so we went to the next RV show and checked out all the different hitches. We were sold on the Hensley. We love it! No more sway! Everything if under full control when we are being passed or if we have to stop quickly. The Hensley keeps everything in line so there is no jack knifing! We would not tow without one now! www.hensleymfg.com

I have seen the towing capacity on some vehicles and they say that they are enough to pull our vehicle but they look like an elephant being pull by a piss ant. It is scary! What the motor can pull is not always what the weight of the vehicle can handle.

I understand the control that you get from the Hensley will also allow you to tow with the smaller size vehicles described above.

Good Luck! Please be safe!

You towed a 9600lb trailer without a sway control? I'd be more than a little upset with the dealer that let me off the lot without one.

No hitch or sway control will allow any vehicle to tow more than it is rated for. The tow rating of the vehicle is determined by the vehicle type and equipment it has installed, not the hitch type.

 

[kmccain]

You towed a 9600lb trailer without a sway control? I'd be more than a little upset with the dealer that let me off the lot without one.

No hitch or sway control will allow any vehicle to tow more than it is rated for. The tow rating of the vehicle is determined by the vehicle type and equipment it has installed, not the hitch type.

First of all we did not tow a 9600# trailer without sway control. We had a class 5 weight distribution hitch with a sway brake. DH is a truck driver and would not jeopardize others like that!

In the 2006 Trailer Life Guide to Towing: http://www.trailerlife.com/output.cfm?ID=1073737 on page 14, it gives you examples on how to figure the exact weight your vehicle can tow. It is determined by how much weight is on your axles and your hitch. The Hensley distributes the weight more evenly than a conventional hitch making it possible to tow a little heavier trailer. It works like a 5th wheel hitch.

I hope this clears things up!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Guess we'll have to agree to disagree. A weight distributing hitch transfers some of the tongue weight to the rear axle. The towing capacity is determined by the vehicle manufacturer. Exceed this and you void your warranty. Get in an accident and your insurance company may not pay.

 

[va32h]

Well, we may very well end up renting an RV, making the towing issue moot.

We first got the idea of camping when a friend offered us the use of his RV. Well, it turned out he meant "local use" and kind of freaked out when we proposed driving it 1060 miles to Florida! I don't blame him, that's a long distance.

But we loved the idea of camping - our kids love camping too, and would be so much happier camping than being in a hotel.

So at this point we have the following choices:

Drive in our van and tent camp.
Pros: Cheapest option, we already have a tent, cots, airmattresses, chairs, camp stove, and assorted gear.
Cons: Least "comfort" option; tight quarters in the van with all that gear in there. Will need to find a motel to stop over along the drive.

Rent a pop-up or travel trailer
Pros: More room and more comfort when we arrive, more room as we can pack stuff in the trailer. Might be able to stop at campground if we stop along the drive.
Cons: We will have to purchase a hitch and have it installed. Best vehicle for towing trailer also vehicle with least leg room and personal space for passengers! Cost of renting trailer adds $500 - $900 to trip.

Rent a Class C RV
Pros: Don't need a hitch! Plenty of room and comfort at Ft. Wilderness. Plenty of room to pack stuff for the drive, and to bring stuff back! Might be able to stop at campground vs stop at motel if we stay overnight along the drive.
Cons: Most expensive option (around $2000 for the rental alone). Won't have a separate car at WDW, so will have to depend on WDW transportation.

Can anyone think of any other pros/cons to add to the list? Thanks for all your help so far!

 

[kmccain]

That is a tough decision!

I guess since it has to do with money, your going to have to decide.

If the cost of the Motor Home wasn't as much, I would pick that! You wouldn't have to stop at a campground on the way, just pull over in a truck stop! You have electric from the generator and if you had to you could dump your tanks and re fill with water there too. You could cook all your meals in it and still keep moving down the highway. Maybe less travel time.

You said before that you were thinking buying your own TT so the cost of the hitch wasn't a problem. The rental of the TT is a lot less than a hotel room! Again, you could stay at a truck stop on the way. You would probably be making freqient stops to fuel up so you wouldn't be cramped for all that long!

The tent is definately the cheapest. You would need a hotel room on the way there. You would be cramped with all that gear. It would not be as comfortable to sleep in but how much time are you really going to spend there? The only think I would worry about is rain or storms!

Hope this helps and doesn't hinder!

Good Luck deciding!

 

[va32h]

Well the money...yes, that matters! We have a certain $$ amount budgeted for the trip as a whole, so money spent in one area comes out of another. In this case, if we rented the RV, we'd spend less on souveniers, meals out, and "extras".

Some silly questions - how fast can a class C RV drive? Like, ordinary 60-70 miles per hour? And how hard is it to drive? Can a woman who has never driven anything bigger than a mini-van handle it (even if she can't park it, or back it up?)

If we could take turns driving, that would help with travel time. And I didn't know about the truck stops - that is great!

I also found out that for $25 the rental place will give us a tow package to tow our personal vehicle. So the RV is winning so far...

 

[kmccain]

Well the money...yes, that matters! We have a certain $$ amount budgeted for the trip as a whole, so money spent in one area comes out of another. In this case, if we rented the RV, we'd spend less on souveniers, meals out, and "extras".

Some silly questions - how fast can a class C RV drive? Like, ordinary 60-70 miles per hour? And how hard is it to drive? Can a woman who has never driven anything bigger than a mini-van handle it (even if she can't park it, or back it up?)

If we could take turns driving, that would help with travel time. And I didn't know about the truck stops - that is great!

I also found out that for $25 the rental place will give us a tow package to tow our personal vehicle. So the RV is winning so far...

You can drive a RV as fast as you can your car once you get used to it! Espically if you are on the highway! Woman can certainly drive them and maybe even better than men! There are not like a TT they don't bend in the middle. It would just be a big oversized van!

My point was you wouldn't have to stop to fix food, you can fix it while you are on the road if you are careful. You would only need to stop for the driver to use the bathroom and to get fuel.

We always stay in truck stops while we are traveling. I wouldnt bother stopping and hooking up for one night. You go until you want to then find a nice truck stop for the night. Some times we eat in them but sometimes I cook in the camper.


Good Luck!

 

[malibuconlee]

Considering the cost of renting the travel trailers have you looked into Shades of Green the military hotel?

Just a thought.

 

[va32h]

malibuconlee,

we have considered SOG - it would only be $515! We could actually afford fly down with that price.

However, my husband hates to fly...really, really hates it. He only gets in an airplane when he absolutely has to - like when he is deployed and has to fly to Saudi Arabia.

But even if we drove and stayed at SOG - there would be pros and cons. Pro - big room, close proximity to MK and the monorail.

However, there are some intangibles to consider. Staying in a hotel...well that's sort of an experience you can have anywhere. Traveling in an RV and camping is more like an adventure.

And we always worry so much about the kids making too much noise in a hotel, it feels like we are always shushing them. And we all feel cooped up and on top of each other. At least when you are camping, you can go outdoors if you feel crowded! Of course we wouldn't let them run around screaming at FW, but at least they would have a little more freedom.