First Trailer Tow with max tow

[samiam]

Well I have a 2020 max tow that finally got used for towing a new 241 VFL Sonic travel trailer and here is my first impression. Its 4600lb dry weight, dual axle with a 545 lb hitch weight. Pretty light for what its got. I followed other posters recommendation and used a decent weight distribution hitch (blue ox 8000lb). For our first trip we decided to just go a couple hundred miles to get a good gauge of what to expect. Even though the truck is rated for the weight you certainly knew it was there. And we went light with not carrying extra weight such as water. The terrain was half freeway (I-10 in mostly flat Florida) and half backroads. Stopping was zero issues with a good tuned electric brake....but i also didn't have to slam my brakes either. On the freeway i used the manual mode and kept it between 2.5 and 3k rpms ish for just under 12 mpg at 63 mph. Back roads mostly keeping it in drive for low 11 mpg at 60 mph. Over all it did well and when i needed to pass it did it ok. Later this summer I will take to and through the Rockies. I think that 11 mpg will be wishful thinking.

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[56cbr600rr]

Nice!

IS the last pic on Eglin AFB?

 

[Labswine]

I LOVE my Sonic. I have the SN220VBR. It weighs around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need and I don't fill the fresh water tank. I tow it with a stock Overland. I have the BlueOx WDH and Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller.

I get around 13 MPG towing (east coast). I ONLY shift manually and can cruise at 65 MPH around 2,100 RPMs.

My Overland handles my trailer with ease. Yes, you know it's back there but it still moves it well.

For mirrors, I bought the ones for the JK on Amazon and got the adapters from Thorne Engineering (look them up as he's on here and sells them through E-Bay). They work perfectly and there is zero vibration in them.

 

[samiam]

Nice!

IS the last pic on Eglin AFB?

Eastpoint Fl (near Apalachicola)

 

[samiam]

I LOVE my Sonic. I have the SN220VBR. It weighs around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need and I don't fill the fresh water tank. I tow it with a stock Overland. I have the BlueOx WDH and Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller.

I get around 13 MPG towing (east coast). I ONLY shift manually and can cruise at 65 MPH around 2,100 RPMs.

My Overland handles my trailer with ease. Yes, you know it's back there but it still moves it well.

For mirrors, I bought the ones for the JK on Amazon and got the adapters from Thorne Engineering (look them up as he's on here and sells them through E-Bay). They work perfectly and there is zero vibration in them.

I actually looked specifically at the sonics based on your posts!

 

[Labswine]

I actually looked specifically at the sonics based on your posts!

We'd actually looked at that model but, felt that having to go through the bathroom all the time just to go to bed was not something we wanted. Yours also has a heavier tongue weight than ours...ours is 420 lbs and yours is a little over a foot longer in overall length.

But, they are nice and comfortable. Mine feels bigger inside than it is which is nice and I really like the outdoor kitchen on mine. I can cook bacon or grill on the flat top I have for the two burner stove there without the whole trailer smelling like cooking for a few days.

One of the other plusses with ours is that when the table is folded down into a bed, I can fully stretch out at 5'10". We have a friend who (when the war is over in Ukraine) can visit us and go camping with us, and be able to stretch out on the bed there in the bump out. She's 6', blond, thin, and drop dead gorgeous. A childhood friend of my wife. She's been here before and has ridden in the back seat of my Gladiator and stated that there was plenty of leg room for her, even with my 5'8" wife's seat set for her comfort too. These are great trucks!!!

Good luck with yours. I know you'll enjoy it

 

[56cbr600rr]

Eastpoint Fl (near Apalachicola)

Got it. Thought it was Postal Point Campground on Eglin AFB. Grew up there.

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