What are you guys towing?

[Rhino]

Just be careful when looking at/considering a cheaper/low cost trailer, or a "light weight" rig.
Their cheap or light for a reason, usually in the construction. Their cheap or light cause they cut back on material quality/strength.
As an example. many cheaper rigs or light weight rigs will tell you NOT to walk on the roof simply because the roof materials/trusses are made from 2 inchx2 inch materials, and may be further apart than 12-16 inches. There may not even be a ladder attached to the back, and/or no provision for a ladder simply cause the manuf dosen't want you walking on the roof.. Roof material itself may just be a sheet of luan covered by the roof material and glued down.
Our Jayco uses marine grade plywood, on 16 inch solid roof trusses, screwed down, and 2, 3 people can easily walk on it without any problems.
Construction and materials are the big differences between trailers and their costs.
As far as washers/dryers....most regular trailers don't carry enough water to use a washer, and most campgrounds will charge you extra if you have/use a washer. Dryers usually need a 50 amp electric supply to power them and unless you order one with 50 amp (may not even be an available option....on our Jayco it was available) a dryer is useless. In almost 60 years of camping we only had one rig that had a w/d....class a motorhome, and in 6 years never used it once
In your position I would be looking at a newer used rig....thousands of them available now as many owners are looking to trade for newer models. If buying new, you will loose around 30% the minute you tow it off the dealers lot. At the same time, you can get deals on a used rig cause dealers want to unload them to make room for new stock....and you can make a real lowball offer on a used rig.....NEVER EVER pay their asking price...always offer at least a third less than their asking, cause they probably only paid half of what their asking.
Same for new....never pay retail....offer 25-30 % of retail and bargain from there. Our Jayco, a 2022, listed for $44.000 with the custom items we wanted, ended up paying $35,500.

so cheaper im looking at used tbh the trailers we have looked at are forest river auroras and stuff another model? cant remember what it was called?

that is a good point thou on the roof ill have to look into that one more on some of the campers we are looking at. the reason for light weight is yes my truck can tow more then my mid size trucks and has more power to do it which is great! buuut i dont care to have massive heavy trailers personally so if i can get what i want in a smaller light weight package then im happy lol.

ya i dont get the washer and dryer thing? it makes no sense tbh to me... just take it all home and wash it there lol.

ya thats what im leaning to do is get a used newer model for a good price.

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[ControlNode]

well thats the good thing lol i dont have a ranger anymore. i sold mine when i had the dreaded trans issues so i have a 17 f150 now.

all very good points thou! and trust me i know about the 20ft vs 30ft lol id prefer smaller so it takes up less space and easy to move about. the gf was the one that liked the 30 ft ones haha but id say ideally anything between 16-30ft we really need to look at and see if we can rent some for a weekend and try out and see what truly works.

id be fine with a 16-20ft i personally like how small they are and would rather have the camper as a base to eat and sleep but get out of the camper to do stuff and not stay inside...

sounds like a great camper! we had a jayco years ago when i was a kid it was a great one!

So, you're asking about towing a TT on a Ranger forum but no longer have a Ranger.... Well for the F-150 the answer is different than it was for the Ranger. It's also a lot more complex as the Ranger has few options that impacted the tow rating. For the Ranger there are two: does it have the heavy-duty hitch; does the trailer have working brakes and the truck have any needed support hardware for the brakes on the trailer. While for the F-150, you'll need to consider the engine, axle ratio, cab and bed configuration, and very likely even options beyond that.

If you plan to tow off-road, the F-150 is only really usable to 5,000lb towing since that truck requires a WDH for towing over 5,000lbs, and every WDH I've looked at were for on-road use, going off-road can damage them or the truck.

For that 2017 F-150, make sure to review the towing guide Ford published.

 

[Rhino]

figured id ask in here on what others are towing for travel trailers! as much as i love using a rtt (still plan to get another one) the gf has been wanting a travel trailer so we can take the dogs and the dirtbikes out and enjoy a weekend with everything. so what travel trailers does everyone have and which ones do you recommend to stay away from?

So, you're asking about towing a TT on a Ranger forum but no longer have a Ranger.... Well for the F-150 the answer is different than it was for the Ranger. It's also a lot more complex as the Ranger is few options that impacted the tow rating. For the Ranger there are two: does it have the heavy-duty hitch; does the trailer have working brakes and the truck have any needed support hardware for the brakes on the trailer. While for the F-150, you'll need to consider the engine, axle ratio, cab and bed configuration, and very likely even options beyond that.

If you plan to tow off-road, the F-150 is only really usable to 5,000lb towing since that truck requires a WDH for towing over 5,000lbs, and every WDH I've looked at were for on-road use, going off round can damage them or the truck.

For that 2017 F-150, make sure to review the towing guide Ford published.

correct... but if you look at my orignal post i had asked what travel trailers others have and what brands do you like or dislike the reason i asked here is unlike the toyota forum which im still heavily part of(shoot on tw that puts me up for mod status since a lot of them dont have a tacoma lol).... most of them are younger or have no real desire for a travel trailer. meanwhile a lot of you over here no offense are older and have had a few trailers and would have first hand knowledge of "oh i hated this one or i really liked this one and we still have it to this day!"....

im also still active on this forum but mainly in my little thread that use to be for my ranger but i now post stuff for the f150 once and awhile...

i know the differences on what a ranger can do and what my f150 can do and all the fun stuff i was more interested in the stuff that people liked and disliked about the trailers they have owned or currently owned.

thats a good point for offroad tbh id rather not take a travel trailer offroad unles its a service road haha. i can always build a small camping setup again like i had years ago for the bed of the truck.

correct ive looked at all that i know the guide and all that information. was just asking about trailers in general.

 

[Rhino]

Basically an expensive hobby - over and above the trailer cost you have license and reg fees, insurance, propane, WD hitch recommended, campground fees, then depending on your rig towing it will destroy your mpg, wear the tires faster, might need more maintenance.
But at age 72 tent camping got a bit difficult, and once inside the TT tunes out most of the noise people make in campgrounds - generators running, music blaring, dogs barking, children wailing and so on.
Sometimes you can snag a newer one on the used market that people bought and didn't use much and they want to unload it. Earlier today I saw my neighbor headed out with one of those really small teardrop rigs - basically room to crawl inside and sleep, kitchen on the outside, glad I could afford something more accommodating - but he does drive a Tacoma which has it's limitations.
good luck

agreed! but tbh what hobby isnt anymore! we have been looking into all that information as well thankfully where i live i can get Permanente tags on trailers so then i wont have to do it but once.

ya thats the main reason ive always hated campgrounds tbh... id always take my trucks out into the middle of nowhere tbh and camp in my tent and love it! but with injuries and a gf that requires a toilet and ac haha im now looking into something i never thought i would!

ya ive been looking on marketplace and also a few websites for camping trailers and looking for good deals. i looove tear drops but again no bathroom so thats a no haha. a tacoma is a lot more capable then you think tbh yes they tow a bit less then the ranger but it can still tow a decent sized little trailer idk if id want to tow a 5k trailer thou with one haha.


appreciate and thanks for all the info man!

 

[ControlNode]

correct... but if you look at my orignal post i had asked what travel trailers others have and what brands do you like or dislike the reason i asked here is unlike the toyota forum which im still heavily part of(shoot on tw that puts me up for mod status since a lot of them dont have a tacoma lol).... most of them are younger or have no real desire for a travel trailer. meanwhile a lot of you over here no offense are older and have had a few trailers and would have first hand knowledge of "oh i hated this one or i really liked this one and we still have it to this day!"....

im also still active on this forum but mainly in my little thread that use to be for my ranger but i now post stuff for the f150 once and awhile...

i know the differences on what a ranger can do and what my f150 can do and all the fun stuff i was more interested in the stuff that people liked and disliked about the trailers they have owned or currently owned.

thats a good point for offroad tbh id rather not take a travel trailer offroad unles its a service road haha. i can always build a small camping setup again like i had years ago for the bed of the truck.

correct ive looked at all that i know the guide and all that information. was just asking about trailers in general.

Cool, sorry I may have gone a little overboard on the information, but to me, the tow vehicle and TT are a combined experience. I've only rented, but my feedback would be very much based on the limits of the Ranger.

I've only used a couple TTs. A 2019 Forest River x-Lite (I don't know the exact model as the renter renamed everything), but it was good enough for maybe a week, but weekend is more doable with wife and teenage son in it. The other was a 2018 Heartland - Mallard M27. The 2018 was much nicer, but it had the slide and was several feet longer. I could see extended stays in this.

 

[Rhino]

Cool, sorry I may have gone a little overboard on the information, but to me, the tow vehicle and TT are a combined experience. I've only rented, but my feedback would be very much based on the limits of the Ranger.

I've only used a couple TTs. A 2019 Forest River x-Lite (I don't know the exact model as the renter renamed everything), but it was good enough for maybe a week, but weekend is more doable with wife and teenage son in it. The other was a 2018 Heartland - Mallard M27. The 2018 was much nicer, but it had the slide and was several feet longer. I could see extended stays in this.

All good. I do see what you are saying which is one thing I've found difficult haha I know I can tow more but I still desire a lighter smaller camper like if I still had my old Tacoma or ranger haha.

Ah nice we have looked at a lot of Forest rivers and so far they have been nice but haven't tried them out. How much has it been to rent the trailers with the insurance thing? I've seen it kinda fluctuate like crazy! I don't think I've heard of a heartland mallard I'll have to check it out. Appreciate the info man!

 

[ControlNode]

All good. I do see what you are saying which is one thing I've found difficult haha I know I can tow more but I still desire a lighter smaller camper like if I still had my old Tacoma or ranger haha.

Ah nice we have looked at a lot of Forest rivers and so far they have been nice but haven't tried them out. How much has it been to rent the trailers with the insurance thing? I've seen it kinda fluctuate like crazy! I don't think I've heard of a heartland mallard I'll have to check it out. Appreciate the info man!

Not bad, I had the Forest River for 3 days and it was just under $300 + ($2,000 deposit) + the camping fees at Norwood. That was the oddest rental I've done, really high deposit and the owner was saying it didn't have brakes, turned out the owner was towing it with a mid-size truck without a brake controller. It also had a leaky towel valve for the fresh water in, so I would have to leave the water to the TT turned off unless we were actively using the water. The Heartland I pulled to Carolina Motorsports Park while I was working at a race there, again 3 days and was ~$350 + ($500 deposit) + camping electric hook fees at CMP. On the Heartland, I plan to rent that one again and next time take the owner up on the WDH, last time I didn't use it, but I remember how it towed on the wet roads with standing water in areas.

I've never had to use the insurance, but I've paid for it every time.

But I feel renting is 100% the way to go as you start looking. Try different layouts and brands.

 

[Rhino]

Not bad, I had the Forest River for 3 days and it was just under $300 + ($2,000 deposit) + the camping fees at Norwood. That was the oddest rental I've done, really high deposit and the owner was saying it didn't have brakes, turned out the owner was towing it with a mid-size truck without a brake controller. It also had a leaky towel valve for the fresh water in, so I would have to leave the water to the TT turned off unless we were actively using the water. The Heartland I pulled to Carolina Motorsports Park while I was working at a race there, again 3 days and was ~$350 + ($500 deposit) + camping electric hook fees at CMP. On the Heartland, I plan to rent that one again and next time take the owner up on the WDH, last time I didn't use it, but I remember how it towed on the wet roads with standing water in areas.

I've never had to use the insurance, but I've paid for it every time.

But I feel renting is 100% the way to go as you start looking. Try different layouts and brands.

oh wow! a 2k deposit is wild!

dang that is a bit sketchy to not have a brake controller and no brakes on a tt... for sure annoying about the water part of it thou. the heartland isnt to bad for a few days tbh, most of the ones out near me have been mroe around that range on deposit and roughly that price for a few days. ill have to try it out sometime this summer.

thats good you havent had to use it, is it something you just add to your policy for a short time or is it some package the owner of the trailer basically sells you for that time frame you have it?

agree on renting and trying it out first! gonna have to try it sometime this summer if we are not to busy with projects lol.

 

[ControlNode]

Go be clear, the TT did have brakes, I did an around the block test before I would sign off on taking it and they worked fine with the Ranger's brake controller.

I've rented through RVShare, so there is an option there to add insurance.

Good luck. I will add, if there is a CAT scale between your pickup and destination, seeing the actual weights can be interesting. Knowing your GVW/GCW/axles weights are all in limits is not a bad thing. You can also get the tongue weight, but that requires a disconnect and reconnect with a second pass over the scale. I just trust my WeighSafe hitch is within 50lbs and have never done that step. But I say that because not all of the people renting units know the actual weights.

Before I bought my Ranger, I installed hitch on my Focus that is rated for 2,000/200lbs (trailer/tongue). I rented a small 1,500 TT with stated 150lbs tongue weight. But when I went to pick it up, we had not even transferred all of the tongue weight to the car (jack still supporting weight) and the squat was too much. Felt like he was thinking I would still have to pay the rental because it's not his fault I didn't bring a car that could tow it. I told him his information on the tongue weight was not right, there is no way that is 150lbs and that it's over the 200lbs my hitch is rated for, and I informed him of that prior to the rental offer. We disconnected the trailer, and I moved the car up just clear of the tongue and I stood on the hitch, and it was about an inch lower with the trailer, I'm 230lbs. He cancelled and refunded everything after that. I didn't bring a tent that trip and had already paid for power hook-up at the track. I attempted to reach the owner of another TT between that pickup location and the track, but they never replied. Luckly a friend let me sleep on the floor in their car trailer that weekend.

After I got the Ranger, I did reach out again to him about wanting to rent it again, but he had removed it from the site and working to sell it. I figured it was still on my short list of TT interest (when properly loaded) as all of our vehicles (Focus, Ranger, Wrangler-JKU) could tow it. It was one of those small E-Pro models.

 

[Rhino]

Go be clear, the TT did have brakes, I did an around the block test before I would sign off on taking it and they worked fine with the Ranger's brake controller.

I've rented through RVShare, so there is an option there to add insurance.

Good luck. I will add, if there is a CAT scale between your pickup and destination, seeing the actual weights can be interesting. Knowing your GVW/GCW/axles weights are all in limits is not a bad thing. You can also get the tongue weight, but that requires a disconnect and reconnect with a second pass over the scale. I just trust my WeighSafe hitch is within 50lbs and have never done that step. But I say that because not all of the people renting units know the actual weights.

Before I bought my Ranger, I installed hitch on my Focus that is rated for 2,000/200lbs (trailer/tongue). I rented a small 1,500 TT with stated 150lbs tongue weight. But when I went to pick it up, we had not even transferred all of the tongue weight to the car (jack still supporting weight) and the squat was too much. Felt like he was thinking I would still have to pay the rental because it's not his fault I didn't bring a car that could tow it. I told him his information on the tongue weight was not right, there is no way that is 150lbs and that it's over the 200lbs my hitch is rated for, and I informed him of that prior to the rental offer. We disconnected the trailer, and I moved the car up just clear of the tongue and I stood on the hitch, and it was about an inch lower with the trailer, I'm 230lbs. He cancelled and refunded everything after that. I didn't bring a tent that trip and had already paid for power hook-up at the track. I attempted to reach the owner of another TT between that pickup location and the track, but they never replied. Luckly a friend let me sleep on the floor in their car trailer that weekend.

After I got the Ranger, I did reach out again to him about wanting to rent it again, but he had removed it from the site and working to sell it. I figured it was still on my short list of TT interest (when properly loaded) as all of our vehicles (Focus, Ranger, Wrangler-JKU) could tow it. It was one of those small E-Pro models.

ahh i gotcha odd he stated it didnt thou?

ya thats the one we have been looking at to use as well.

that is true it would be neat to see the full weight of things. i have taken the truck to the dump and it was weighed there but forgot to take a pic of the after whoops!

dang! glad you got the refund on that one! only down side is sleeping on the floor it seems haha.

ya that would be nice to have something that all the vehicles could tow. idk if id want to tow with the focus personally but ive seen people do it oveseas so it can be done.

 

[k1w1t1m]

My wife and I bought a few acres and had to trade our pop up for a hard wall trailer that we could live in for a short while until our house was finished.
We had to buy in a hurry and ended up with a 26' bunk house. It worked out well because with three dogs and two cats the bunk space worked out as a great storage space and the cats food and dirt box was safe from being raided by the dogs.
Trailer bathrooms suck, and even more so if you are a big guy.
Towing the trailer sucked. I only towed if for four trips of about 150 miles each. At the time I was between Rangers and towed it with a Land Cruiser. Due to the fact it was bought to live in and not for camping trips I never did anything to improve the experience.

 

[ControlNode]

ahh i gotcha odd he stated it didnt thou?

ya thats the one we have been looking at to use as well.

that is true it would be neat to see the full weight of things. i have taken the truck to the dump and it was weighed there but forgot to take a pic of the after whoops!

dang! glad you got the refund on that one! only down side is sleeping on the floor it seems haha.

ya that would be nice to have something that all the vehicles could tow. idk if id want to tow with the focus personally but ive seen people do it oveseas so it can be done.

My Focus as the same engine as the Ranger and better brakes. Suspension and hitch are the only real limited factors. I made a custom 4+2 to 7 pin adapter that takes the standard 4 pin along with 12v lead to make a 7 pin that works with a BT trailer brake controller for the car. So, it's more capable than most realize.

 

[Rhino]

My Focus as the same engine as the Ranger and better brakes. Suspension and hitch are the only real limited factors. I made a custom 4+2 to 7 pin adapter that takes the standard 4 pin along with 12v lead to make a 7 pin that works with a BT trailer brake controller for the car. So, it's more capable than most realize.

i know those bits its the suspension and the unibody that would worry me instead.
neat that you can tow with it thou and it makes sense that it can since over seas you see people do it all the time with family sedans and such.

thats for sure nice tbh! do wish other cars were capable of that lol cough cough type r cough cough lol.

 

[WhyNot21]

Cross posting, but I think this belongs here. With the help of many on this forum, I was finally able to take my first trip while towing our new TT (Vintage Cruiser 23RSS). The Ranger pulled it without any drama. Looking forward to our first camping trip with it next weekend!

 

[dtech]

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