Brake controller

[loganjeeps]

The one he sent me we are liking is a 2021 Forest River RV Salem 178BHSK.

FWIW the picture I posted of mine was this ? exact trailer hooked to my Rubicon.

We only get to use it 3-4 times per year but its me, wife, 11 year old and 6 year old. We love this model and I would say we've never felt like temperature control was an issue with the slide out. I would also say this particular model the slide out is larger than some other brands we looked at and the space it creates inside is noticeably better, part of why we chose it for days we're stuck inside due to rain with 2 kids.

I see you are in NC. Even below 4000lbs get ready hear your pentastar howling when you're going uphill in the blue ridge mountain areas

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[loganjeeps]

Happy to answer any other Qs you have about specifically the 178BHSK . watching this thread now.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

FWIW the picture I posted of mine was this ? exact trailer hooked to my Rubicon.

We only get to use it 3-4 times per year but its me, wife, 11 year old and 6 year old. We love this model and I would say we've never felt like temperature control was an issue with the slide out. I would also say this particular model the slide out is larger than some other brands we looked at and the space it creates inside is noticeably better, part of why we chose it for days we're stuck inside due to rain with 2 kids.

I see you are in NC. Even below 4000lbs get ready hear your pentastar howling when you're going uphill in the blue ridge mountain areas

Yeah for sure. Mine does pretty good up there though. I towed about 5000lbs of rock/trailer combined weight from the Boone area,done it twice for my father in law and still managed to average 13 mpgs for the trip there and back. It maybe less pulling a camper since the wind resistantance is gonna be different. My wife prefers the beach anyway over the Mountains for whatever reason so I'm not sure how much time we will spend with it up that way. Some for sure.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Happy to answer any other Qs you have about specifically the 178BHSK . watching this thread now.

Thanks and I'll definitely be asking. We are gonna drive around locally this coming Saturday and look at some in person and see what best suits our needs.

 

[mstrpoz]

Is the bluetooth Curt any good for someone that doesnt tow all the time? Might be good for the situation

This is what I use and love it. I especially like it can swap vehicles with me. works like a charm

 

[MemphisMississipp]

I'm new to the pulling a camper life. The wife and I are about to pull the trigger on a small camper and am looking for advice and tips. Mostly the brake controller thing. The sales man I spoke to on the phone said my Gladiator may or may not need new diodes to install the brake controller but if it didn't it would be $499 for them to install one on the jeep. He said he pulls his with a Rubicon Gladiator and he needed something done at the dealership before they could install the brake controller. Any advice on Thai would be great. I got a Max Tow if that helps. The camper we are looking

I also went with Redarc and installed it myself. I installed with one arm and hand, my left doesn’t work. So I’m sure you could install one with two hands.
at is around 3100lbs.

 

[MemphisMississipp]

Why I got some your ears just curious what size campers do any of you tow, weight wise. We were looking at a Hybrid camper last night but I think we are gonna pass on it because of some of the cons as far as moisture in the pull outs and it being hard to keep them temps regulated in the pullout sleeping areas. The guy sending us a few non hybrids to take a look at. I'm trying to keep the weight under 3500lbs on one. Is that a smart move? I'm figuring about 4700lbsive got
to 4800lbs gross weight once we load it up and that's at the higher end honestly probably way less. They said I should give a 1200lb buffer on the weight. I'm new to it so any advice on that would be awesome.

I’ve got a 2022 NuCamp Tab 400 and just love it. Weighs in right at 3000lbs and is built really well. I paid a visit to the factory before I bought and was very impressed. Their cost is on the high end but they are built with way better materials, check them out.

 

[Primer Gray]

Mopar controller works fantastic for us — also matches the design motif of the dash.

 

[K7WWA]

Why I got some your ears just curious what size campers do any of you tow, weight wise. We were looking at a Hybrid camper last night but I think we are gonna pass on it because of some of the cons as far as moisture in the pull outs and it being hard to keep them temps regulated in the pullout sleeping areas. The guy sending us a few non hybrids to take a look at. I'm trying to keep the weight under 3500lbs on one. Is that a smart move? I'm figuring about 4700lbs to 4800lbs gross weight once we load it up and that's at the higher end honestly probably way less. They said I should give a 1200lb buffer on the weight. I'm new to it so any advice on that would be awesome.

I went with the AIM 15RB. No slide to leak, aluminum framed walls, appears to be well insulated, rear ladder, you can walk on the roof but don’t step on the 200 watt solar panel from the factory. Definitely in the correct weight class.

 

[K7WWA]

FWIW the picture I posted of mine was this ? exact trailer hooked to my Rubicon.

We only get to use it 3-4 times per year but its me, wife, 11 year old and 6 year old. We love this model and I would say we've never felt like temperature control was an issue with the slide out. I would also say this particular model the slide out is larger than some other brands we looked at and the space it creates inside is noticeably better, part of why we chose it for days we're stuck inside due to rain with 2 kids.

I see you are in NC. Even below 4000lbs get ready hear your pentastar howling when you're going uphill in the blue ridge mountain areas

Along with the gas gauge dropping faster. ?

 

[Jeeperjamie]

So tomorrow we get serious about finding one. Crunching numbers we think we want to stay $20,000 or under on price and under 4000lbs of weight to tow, preferably under 3500lbs but for the right priced one I'd be willing to go to around 4000lbs on one. Trying to avoid a regear and I believe at those weights it can be achieved. Any advice on things I need to consider when getting everything I need to tow it as far as the setup. Once again I'm a newbie to towing these things. I've towed a small boat with a XJ and regular trailers full of rock or mulch with the JT but never nothing this large. Also when looking at different Campers, what should I look for if I'm looking at a used one. Any advice here would be super helpful. I've read a few things online and watched a few YouTube videos but figured I'd get some thoughts from you guys as well.

 

[Gren71]

So tomorrow we get serious about finding one. Crunching numbers we think we want to stay $20,000 or under on price and under 4000lbs of weight to tow, preferably under 3500lbs but for the right priced one I'd be willing to go to around 4000lbs on one. Trying to avoid a regear and I believe at those weights it can be achieved. Any advice on things I need to consider when getting everything I need to tow it as far as the setup. Once again I'm a newbie to towing these things. I've towed a small boat with a XJ and regular trailers full of rock or mulch with the JT but never nothing this large. Also when looking at different Campers, what should I look for if I'm looking at a used one. Any advice here would be super helpful. I've read a few things online and watched a few YouTube videos but figured I'd get some thoughts from you guys as well.

if you have 4.10s you will tow 4k -6k just fine.

Take a look at the sticker on the B pillar of the drivers side door and find the payload rating. I have a max tow and im rated for 1500lbs. That capacity includes you the driver, all passengers, stuff in the bed, AND the tongue weight + weight distribution hitch weight are subtracted from that payload total.

Be sure to watch the tongue weight specifically as each JT has a max tongue weight listed in your owners manual.

Be aware of the frontal area of the camper you are looking at. your model JT has a max frontal area listed in your owners manual. The frontal area is the total exposed portion of the camper, when you subtract the frontal area of the JT. you can find those numbers if i fart around the forum.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

if you have 4.10s you will tow 4k -6k just fine.

Take a look at the sticker on the B pillar of the drivers side door and find the payload rating. I have a max tow and im rated for 1500lbs. That capacity includes you the driver, all passengers, stuff in the bed, AND the tongue weight + weight distribution hitch weight are subtracted from that payload total.

Be sure to watch the tongue weight specifically as each JT has a max tongue weight listed in your owners manual.

Be aware of the frontal area of the camper you are looking at. your model JT has a max frontal area listed in your owners manual. The frontal area is the total exposed portion of the camper, when you subtract the frontal area of the JT. you can find those numbers if i fart around the forum.

Thanks for that and I got a Max Tow so I do got the 4.10 gears. That's info on the payload because the guy at the camper place told me it only accounted for the driver so I needed that

 

[Gren71]

Thanks for that and I got a Max Tow so I do got the 4.10 gears. That's info on the payload because the guy at the camper place told me it only accounted for the driver so I needed that

I think Jeep accounts for a single operator of 140lbs or some such preposterous weight.

so as an example i weigh 240lbs. So i as the driver subtract 100 lbs from the payload every time i sit in the truck. Then EVERYTHING you add subtracts as well. So that adds up quick if you’re not careful.

that said i can still take my entire family and two dogs while pull my 30ft/6k trailer and be in the 1450lbs area. So with a max tow you should be fine, just something to keep in mind

 

[Jeeperjamie]

I think Jeep accounts for a single operator of 140lbs or some such preposterous weight.

so as an example i weigh 240lbs. So i as the driver subtract 100 lbs from the payload every time i sit in the truck. Then EVERYTHING you add subtracts as well. So that adds up quick if you’re not careful.

that said i can still take my entire family and two dogs while pull my 30ft/6k trailer and be in the 1450lbs area. So with a max tow you should be fine, just something to keep in mind

He pretty much said that when considering one we should account for around 1200lbs of payload added to the Camper weight to get a total weight roughly of what would be towed. I'm assuming that's pretty good advice from what your saying as well.

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