Towing new camper

[Cabose-1]

I do a lot of towing. But not campers or tt's. As much as 7000lbs with a small backhoe. Ranger does just fine no problem with anything. Wear the brakes out thats it.
But make small trips to local vacation spots. Get the feel of a trailer, use proper equipment, drive slow and smart no need to prove anything, small trips to dialnin the wdh.

Good luck, and keep the rubber side down.

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[Frenchy]

I think it’s probably a little too much weight. Do you believe everything the factory tells you?

If the manufacturer has a rating and you follow it then its on the manufacturer if it fails(doesnt count operator error). Ford did a good bit of testing and had to go through a particular test(cant remember the name but its ran in Arizona) and pass it to certify it. Ford did just that and managed just fine.

I will also addbthat if you think its too much then get yourself a bigger truck.

 

[Big Blue]

If the manufacturer has a rating and you follow it then its on the manufacturer if it fails(doesnt count operator error). Ford did a good bit of testing and had to go through a particular test(cant remember the name but its ran in Arizona) and pass it to certify it. Ford did just that and managed just fine.

Yes it is SAE standard J2807 and it sets requirements for many towing performance standards. These tests are performed under very specific conditions. The towing number is also a MAXIMUM number and may be less under certain conditions. I wish people would stop using that 7500 number as some kind of absolute hard number.

SAE J2807, for the maximum tow rating they spec an empty truck with (2) 150 pound passengers. Not you typical family camping situation. Maybe towing a tractor on a flatbed, or a load of garden dirt

Say you load the truck up with the family, your pets and travel supplies. Load the bed up with camping stuff and supplies. Don’t forget your tongue weight counts as payload on the truck. You may or may not have 7500# left of your GCVWR.

 

[spieghts451]

The fact that you will rarely tow it is critical to a question about towing. Seems like that would be something worth mentioning in your original post.

As to my question…You bring up the Dry Weight and ask how the truck will tow it. Then respond to the answers with “Hopefully, I’ll rarely tow it”. So what are we doing here?

BTW, several members on here are towing trailers of similar weight with little issue. Including myself.

I’ve never towed anything bigger than a lawnmower trailer and I’ve got to leave camper dealership and head directly into Baton Rouge i10 traffic and I was wanting for experienced people to give me any heads up before I learn the hard way. True enough the camper is well within trucks towing capacity, but the dang camper dwarfs the size of the truck. Wind resistance, etc. but im more confident now I have heard from experienced camper haulers who commented on thread without trying to insult me for asking a question

 

[Flaharleyguy]

I have the Curt wireless controller works great with loaded tandem axle car hauler you should have no issues there

 

[WingShot]

I’ve never towed anything bigger than a lawnmower trailer and I’ve got to leave camper dealership and head directly into Baton Rouge i10 traffic and I was wanting for experienced people to give me any heads up before I learn the hard way. True enough the camper is well within trucks towing capacity, but the dang camper dwarfs the size of the truck. Wind resistance, etc. but im more confident now I have heard from experienced camper haulers who commented on thread without trying to insult me for asking a question

An inexperienced driver towing a large camper in city traffic at sea level. More critical factors that are just coming out. That's a different towing experience then trying to climb a mountain pass on a two lane road.

Insulted? Seriously? If you are imagining insults in any of my comments, then you are probably too sensitive for internet message boards. So as to avoid further damage to your delicate psyche, I'm moving on. SMH

 

[Big Blue]

An inexperienced driver towing a large camper in city traffic at sea level. More critical factors that are just coming out. That's a different towing experience then trying to climb a mountain pass on a two lane road.

Insulted? Seriously? If you are imagining insults in any of my comments, then you are probably too sensitive for internet message boards. So as to avoid further damage to your delicate psyche, I'm moving on. SMH

What he said!

Just trying to be helpful. Towing a large camper is serious business and not to be taken lightly. Full disclosure would have been helpful. No insults were intended.

 

[spieghts451]

An inexperienced driver towing a large camper in city traffic at sea level. More critical factors that are just coming out. That's a different towing experience then trying to climb a mountain pass on a two lane road.

Insulted? Seriously? If you are imagining insults in any of my comments, then you are probably too sensitive for internet message boards. So as to avoid further damage to your delicate psyche, I'm moving on. SMH

Nice burn

 

[pbethel]

Nice burn

What's your problem? We all started with years of experience and knew what we didn't know so had no need to ask questions

 

[Big Blue]

I’ve never towed anything bigger than a lawnmower trailer and I’ve got to leave camper dealership and head directly into Baton Rouge i10 traffic and I was wanting for experienced people to give me any heads up before I learn the hard way. True enough the camper is well within trucks towing capacity, but the dang camper dwarfs the size of the truck. Wind resistance, etc. but im more confident now I have heard from experienced camper haulers who commented on thread without trying to insult me for asking a question

If that had been the original question. The best advice to give you would have been to find an experienced friend to do it for you. You are definately jumping in to the deep end of the pool.

 

[Pinecrestjim]

Reread Big Blue's post #7, then read it again. He posted good information. I'll add that you definitely need a weight distributing hitch (WDH) and an anti-sway system if the WDH doesn't incorporate it into its design (like the Equalizer 4 point system does).

Something to be aware of since you are new to this. The sides of the camper are a huge surface area for wind to act upon. Add to that, the short wheelbase of the Ranger and you WILL feel wind effects, whether from nature or from passing trucks. This is especially true when using a WDH which pretty much locks the Ranger/camper as a single unit. When a semi or box truck starts to pass you, the air/wind they are pushing will push against the trailer and will have a tendency to steer the Ranger towards the passing truck. As the passing truck clears the camper and comes alongside the Ranger, the opposite will occur with the wind pushing the Ranger away from the passing truck. Anticipate this and you'll have a better towing experience.

Wind resistance against that frontal area of the camper will be what kills your mpg. Keep your speed at/under 60 mph for best mpg and better control of the rig.

 

[spieghts451]

Reread Big Blue's post #7, then read it again. He posted good information. I'll add that you definitely need a weight distributing hitch (WDH) and an anti-sway system if the WDH doesn't incorporate it into its design (like the Equalizer 4 point system does).

Something to be aware of since you are new to this. The sides of the camper are a huge surface area for wind to act upon. Add to that, the short wheelbase of the Ranger and you WILL feel wind effects, whether from nature or from passing trucks. This is especially true when using a WDH which pretty much locks the Ranger/camper as a single unit. When a semi or box truck starts to pass you, the air/wind they are pushing will push against the trailer and will have a tendency to steer the Ranger towards the passing truck. As the passing truck clears the camper and comes alongside the Ranger, the opposite will occur with the wind pushing the Ranger away from the passing truck. Anticipate this and you'll have a better towing experience.

Wind resistance against that frontal area of the camper will be what kills your mpg. Keep your speed at/under 60 mph for best mpg and better control of the rig.

I’m getting nervous

 

[spieghts451]

What's your problem? We all started with years of experience and knew what we didn't know so had no need to ask questions

?

 

[Big Blue]

What's your problem? We all started with years of experience and knew what we didn't know so had no need to ask questions

No we started small and worked our way up as we got experience.

 

[Grumpaw]

I’m getting nervous

Jason...
Your trailer may weigh 4800 lbs "dry", but you have to add weight right from the start, depending on how the manufacturer includes "dry weight". Most usually do not include the battery/batteries and the one or two full propane tanks to their dry weight. As an example, my trailer has two 30 lb propane tanks when filled are 50 lbs each. Then 2 batteries at 45 lbs each. That adds almost 200 lbs to the tongue weight. Then add the weight of all the stuff your going to carry, food, bedding, clothing, ect, and you can see how quickly weight adds up.
Its not so much the weight of the trailer and items added, as you will probably still be way under the 7500 lb weight, but you need to be concerned with the tongue weight. Yoy don't state what brand/model trailer you bought, or the "dry" tongue weight.
My 24 foot Jayco, with tanks and batteries and weight loaded into the forward storage compartment is very near the 750 lb tongue weight rating....and that rating is the rating of the hitch platform.
I'm at around 7000 lbs total and running around 725 lb tongue. I have a weight distributing Blue Ox hitch with 1000 lbs rated bars.
I have added better shocks, Sumo Bump stops, a Roadmaster Active Suspension set up, and am addind a set of 1 inch spacers on all 4 wheels for a little extra stability.
The Ranger does fine towing, has plenty of power, but the biggest factor I have found is wind, especially cross wind. The set up tends to be a bit "squirrily" in windy conditions. I'm hoping the addition of the spacers and going to a better set of higher rated tires will cure it as the stock tires on my 2 wheel drive are only very light duty c rated tires that I can "feel" flexing when driving.

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