Thoughts on Being a Little Heavy

[Blue Thunder]

What are your thoughts on being a little heavy?



I am in the market for a TT. The one I'm interested in is a 31' long 'Toybox'. It weighs 8K dry and unloaded, with a 5K payload and a 1300lb. tongue weight.



According to owners manual I am allowed only about 9K total with a 1000lb. TW.

 

[klenger]

I'm a little heavy, but I don't like it. My truck is too when I hook up my 5er. In your case, you should be OK with the all weights except the toung weight, and you will be over by more than just a little. There are after-market hitches that have better capacity. Others will offer more info.

 

[Elk]

With that much weight I would look into a 5er. My 33 foot 5er toybox when loaded is close to 13k and it pulls like a dream with my 97, have not got to try it with the 03 yet because nobody has the adapter kit so I can put the hitch in.

 

[roadranger]

Well, I see you've upgraded your transmission, so that's no problem.

The factory hitch would need upgrading to handle your tongue weight.

With an anti-sway type hitch, and a quality brake controller, you should be good to go!



Course, like said above, a 5er would be much easier tow...

 

[bmoeller]

If you decide to get the TT vs. a 5ver, make sure it comes with a load distributing hitch. Without one on a a long, tongue heavy trailer, it could be quite interesting in windy conditions or passing 18-wheelers.

 

[Steve Campbell]

"it could be quite interesting in windy conditions or passing 18-wheelers."

Try some of those air tabs. They are reported to really abate these problems.

 

[Blue Thunder]

Thanks for the info.



Looking at the owners manual, it suggests that the proper ratio of trailer weight to tongue weight is 10%. I believe that is where they get the 1000lb. tongue weight from. (10000lb. max trailer, 1000lb. max tongue) I feel that the factory hitch can actually carry more than stated. The reason I think that is because I already went to at truck ass. store to order a new hitch, and they said that any 2 inch square hitch is at least a class III which can carry at least 3500lbs. What do you think?



B. T. W. a 5'er is almost out of the question, since I have a full lumber rack that would be a pain to take off every time. I do agree though, that if not for that I would get a 5'er.



Yes I am getting a weight distributing hitch and an anti- sway device.

 

[jbone]

Kind of like being a little pregnant!!! R, J. B.



P. S. Sure it will tow and stop, but would worry a little about the cross winds and big truck!!!!

 

[COBRAJET]

The 3500lbs is total trailer weight, not the tongue weight. 1K on the ball is getting close to the limit and this needs to be done with a weight equalizer. Without the equalizer you will not be a very happy driver. You will have more sway and bounce than you care for, and your drive will be a PITA. I would upgrade the hitch to a Titan with the equalizer before I yanked around 1300lbs of tongue weight. Make DOUBLE sure that you get a ball that is rated for that kind of trailer weight (10-14K) ... most 2 inch balls are no where near that kind of weight. It will have to have an awful big shank... maybe 1 1/8 Your insert needs to be SOLID 2" steel. Do not use one of those hollow inserts!! Make sure you use very thick safety chains. This trailer is a lot of weight for a bumper pull and only the finest products on the market should be used to tow it. Do not skimp... CJ