Towing new camper

[Grumpaw]

Ok update the ranger pulled the camper just fine as long as I stayed under 55 mph. At 55 mph the trailer sway was terrible. I definitely wouldn’t want to tow the camper for hundreds of miles.

There's just something wrong with how your truck/trailer/hitch is set up. Reading your prior posts about your trailer, weights, ect, you should not be experiencing a lot of trailer sway, even above 55 mph.
The problem is that you, and we cannot determine what is wrong by just communicating on a web site....there are just too many variables involved and all we would be doing is guessing. Personally, I would have to physically drive your rig, and see how it's set up, and only then could recommendations and changes be made.
It's just not something that can be transmitted via posting on a forum.

Sponsored

 

[ctechbob]

A couple of things to add:

#1 - Forest river products include propane as part of their hitch weight on the website. Other manufactureres may or may not.

#2 When talking about towing, it is helpful to specify the difference between 'sway' and just outside forces acting on the trailer.

Sway is unwanted oscillations of the rig induced by improper loading, hitching, etc.

Reacting to wind, 18 wheelers, etc = Not Sway - and something you'll never be free of.

You'll always feel the effects of wind when you're towing something. You can watch 18 wheelers wander about in their lanes when they're passing each other, same goes for our trucks. Once you get used to it, it is easy enough to drive around.

Sway, on the other hand, is something you can get on a perfectly calm day trucking down a flat road, by yourself. This, you don't want. If you hit a bump or disturb the trailer and it doesn't immediately settle down and track straight, this is what you want to get rid of.

I, like @Grumpaw and a few others, tow a long camper (although mine is quite a bit lighter than his), and the setup I have tracks solidly behind the truck. Wind and bumps will disturb the setup, but then it goes back to tracking straight.

Moral of the story is, you can get there and you can be safe with a 'big' setup, but it takes some work and dillegence on your part to not just hitch up with whatever the RV dealer will sell you and take off. The first thing I did when I got mine home was to realize that I needed a drop shank, and 1 less washer in my hitch to get the weight distribution right. Dealer said nothing about any of that and had the trailer way over-distributed.

 

[ControlNode]

@ctechbob covered it pretty good. Read over the instructions for any hitch/sway control you plan to use, also read Ford's Fleet Towing Guide as well. If you don't understand something when you consider both the Truck's and equipment's instructions/manuals, contact the support for the product you are using, they should be glad to clarify anything since it's their name on the product and they want you to have a good/safe experience with it to share with others later.

 

[dtech]

Weight's, tongue weights, and sizes of the rigs you listed are both easily handled by the Ranger.
How easily depends on how you set up the Ranger, the type of hitch, the way the weight is distributed in the trailer, and most important, your experience.
Not trying to deflect, but there is a lot of info in the towing section from us who tow, what we tow, and how our rigs are set up.
Any of us, I'm sure, would be happy to answer any specific questions you have.
Several of us tow rigs that are larger and heavier than what your looking at, myself included, and have no problems.

Hi Grumpaw turns out I'm going to buy a NOBO either 19.5 (3,800 UVW) or 19.6(4284 UVW), 19.6 1st choice if I come to terms.

My Lariat is tow equipped so what kind of weight distribution/sway control hitches would you recommend, others feel free to chime in . and yes I'm too lazy to read thru the tow section. For a brake controller looking at the redarc elite.

thanks

 

[Grumpaw]

Hi Grumpaw turns out I'm going to buy a NOBO either 19.5 (3,800 UVW) or 19.6(4284 UVW), 19.6 1st choice if I come to terms.

My Lariat is tow equipped so what kind of weight distribution/sway control hitches would you recommend, others feel free to chime in . and yes I'm too lazy to read thru the tow section. For a brake controller looking at the redarc elite.

thanks

I have and favor Blue Ox hitches, and have a Sway Pro. Lot of different manufacturers, and some that are really nice, but expensive. If I were towing a very large trailer I would look at some of the higher tech hitches, but for what I tow the Blue Ox is just fine....and I have used their products for many many years.
As to your two trailer picks....both weight wise are well within the Rangers capability.
The 19.6 has an unloaded/dry hitch weight of 490-500 lbs which. . It is a dual axle and will be more stable when towing.
The 19.5 has a hitch weight of around 350 lbs so your well under the rating of the Ranger.
Just remember, the hitch weight ratings on the Ranger are more determined by the receiver hitch mounted to the truck rather than the truck itself.
Also, most, but not all manufacturers list their trailers "dry and hitch" weight as they pull out from the factory, and usually include the weight of the propane tank/tanks in that weight.
BUT, not all consider the battery/s weights as it is usually left to the dealer to add the battery/s. So, figure around 40 or so lbs for added weight to the front right from the start.
Either one is within the capability of the Ranger, so it comes down to personal choice.

 

[dtech]

I have and favor Blue Ox hitches, and have a Sway Pro. Lot of different manufacturers, and some that are really nice, but expensive. If I were towing a very large trailer I would look at some of the higher tech hitches, but for what I tow the Blue Ox is just fine....and I have used their products for many many years.
As to your two trailer picks....both weight wise are well within the Rangers capability.
The 19.6 has an unloaded/dry hitch weight of 490-500 lbs which. . It is a dual axle and will be more stable when towing.
The 19.5 has a hitch weight of around 350 lbs so your well under the rating of the Ranger.
Just remember, the hitch weight ratings on the Ranger are more determined by the receiver hitch mounted to the truck rather than the truck itself.
Also, most, but not all manufacturers list their trailers "dry and hitch" weight as they pull out from the factory, and usually include the weight of the propane tank/tanks in that weight.
BUT, not all consider the battery/s weights as it is usually left to the dealer to add the battery/s. So, figure around 40 or so lbs for added weight to the front right from the start.
Either one is within the capability of the Ranger, so it comes down to personal choice.

thanks , appreciate the info. I did buy the RV tow check app and it's conservative but indicated I was in the acceptable range for towing the 19.6 with about 1,400 lbs of cargo. A recent post indicated that Forest River products - they make No Boundries include propane tank in the tongue weight rating.

 

[Grumpaw]

thanks , appreciate the info. I did buy the RV tow check app and it's conservative but indicated I was in the acceptable range for towing the 19.6 with about 1,400 lbs of cargo. A recent post indicated that Forest River products - they make No Boundries include propane tank in the tongue weight rating.

Meant to add, I have a tried and true Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake control. Simple 4 wire hook up to the 4 wires under the dash. Have always used them and I don't rely on the emergency braking while towing, did not feel the need to get the Redac system.

 

[Frenchy]

Meant to add, I have a tried and true Tekonsha Prodigy P2 brake control. Simple 4 wire hook up to the 4 wires under the dash. Have always used them and I don't rely on the emergency braking while towing, did not feel the need to get the Redac system.

Unless one is traveling OffRoad with their trailer then feel the RedArc controller is probably a bit much. One of the nice features of the RedArc is keeping the trailer brakes off if you can figure out the modes

 

[Grumpaw]

Unless one is traveling OffRoad with their trailer then feel the RedArc controller is probably a bit much. One of the nice features of the RedArc is keeping the trailer brakes off if you can figure out the modes

All ours is highway...no off road.
And, I have been using regular brake controllers for more years than I care to admit, and before the electrics, I was using controllers that were tied into the vehicles master cylinder using hydraulics.
Not that I don't trust the emergency braking, but when towing a heavy trailer, just don't think that it would help that much in a real "sphincter tightening" emergency....too much weight and momentum pushing the truck, even with trailer brakes.
I actually turn that system and the trailer sway system off when towing (trailer sway system has a tendency to fight the hitch sway thats built into the hitch)
Then again, I don't text/phone/eat when driving/towing...all my attention is paying attention.
It's not that I have anything negative to say about the Ford system....I'm just old school and like to stick with stuff I'm used to and know it works.

 

[dtech]

Unless one is traveling OffRoad with their trailer then feel the RedArc controller is probably a bit much. One of the nice features of the RedArc is keeping the trailer brakes off if you can figure out the modes

this TT is equipped for light off road and "boondocking" however in speaking with the current owner he hasn't used a sway bar or an upgraded hitch, claims it tows fine and he's owned RVs in the past, however I plan on buying both the sway bar and trailer hitch, what I'm hearing from you and Grumpaw is that I probably don't need a real expensive trailer brake module, sway bar or hitch, it's a relatively light rig at 3,800 uvw and likely under 5 k lbs loaded up. So the feedback is appreciated.

 

[ctechbob]

I haven't used a Blue Ox product before, but I can recommend you look at the E2 WD hitch. Been working well for my setup.

 

[Frenchy]

this TT is equipped for light off road and "boondocking" however in speaking with the current owner he hasn't used a sway bar or an upgraded hitch, claims it tows fine and he's owned RVs in the past, however I plan on buying both the sway bar and trailer hitch, what I'm hearing from you and Grumpaw is that I probably don't need a real expensive trailer brake module, sway bar or hitch, it's a relatively light rig at 3,800 uvw and likely under 5 k lbs loaded up. So the feedback is appreciated.

Even if the trailer has a "OffRoad" package due to axle flipping(since most camper companies do just that) I can promise it won't go past a basic dirt road for the most part. That said it still doesn't hurt to have the CORRECT Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control. If not using sway control on the hitch then the electric sway control in the truck should suffice

 

[Grumpaw]

this TT is equipped for light off road and "boondocking" however in speaking with the current owner he hasn't used a sway bar or an upgraded hitch, claims it tows fine and he's owned RVs in the past, however I plan on buying both the sway bar and trailer hitch, what I'm hearing from you and Grumpaw is that I probably don't need a real expensive trailer brake module, sway bar or hitch, it's a relatively light rig at 3,800 uvw and likely under 5 k lbs loaded up. So the feedback is appreciated.

Basically comes down to whether or not you want to keep the emergency braking system active while you tow.
If you want it to be active then you have to use the Redarc system.
If you are comfortable with the system being not available, than any good aftermarket controller will work. All aftermarket controllers use a 4 wire hook up, and all are the same wire colors....industry standard, and easily hooked up to the 4 factory wires under the dash.
Underdash wires are a bit hard to locate, but there there in the main wire bundle. Lots of pics and info via google and very specific.

 

[dtech]

Even if the trailer has a "OffRoad" package due to axle flipping(since most camper companies do just that) I can promise it won't go past a basic dirt road for the most part. That said it still doesn't hurt to have the CORRECT Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control. If not using sway control on the hitch then the electric sway control in the truck should suffice

exactly , it has a little extra ground clearance and modest all terrain tires, not meant for any rugged roads, it's light so should tow easily, based on the advice here I'll buy a weight disty hitch and see how it tows, I can always add an anti sway bar later.

 

[dtech]

Basically comes down to whether or not you want to keep the emergency braking system active while you tow.
If you want it to be active then you have to use the Redarc system.
If you are comfortable with the system being not available, than any good aftermarket controller will work. All aftermarket controllers use a 4 wire hook up, and all are the same wire colors....industry standard, and easily hooked up to the 4 factory wires under the dash.
Underdash wires are a bit hard to locate, but there there in the main wire bundle. Lots of pics and info via google and very specific.

I'll go with a basic after market controller, thanks for saving me $$ . Have never used the truck's emergency braking system as I try to stay focused on the road,

Sponsored