Newbie help

[Gren71]

My set up, pictured. 27' trailer, about 5,300 lbs loaded, BlueOx equalizer/anti sway, Tenkosha trailer braking. No airbags in the rear springs but have not noticed a need for them. My Overland with the tow package handles it all with aplomb. Easy tow, easy to drive. Remember, drive your OWN drive, not what traffic is trying to make you drive. I don't go above 65 mph and as far as shifting, I find that shifting manually with the 8 sp. auto is the way to go. Unless nice level or down hill for 8th, 7th is the gear to use. If going up grade, and speed drops below 58 mph, then downshift to 6th until back up to about 62-63 mph then back to 7th. This keeps you in the 2,000-2,500 rpm range. 13 mpg and no issues what-so-ever.

The only time I noticed the 'tail wagging the dog' was when the road had some slight rutting from the 18 wheelers and the trailer wanted to follow them instead of where I was trying to run in the lane. Once I figured that out and adjusted my lane position, it was all good.

YES, decide on a trailer before buying the tow vehicle.

I did it the other way around but, had a reputable trailer dealer who knew what he was talking about and made sure the TT was within our towing capacity, and had the appropriate safety gear (based on his own towing experiences) added into the purchase. Plus, this was the trailer the wife liked. That is also very important

I really like this TT! never heard of these until I saw yours.

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[WILDHOBO]

My set up, pictured. 27' trailer, about 5,300 lbs loaded, BlueOx equalizer/anti sway, Tenkosha trailer braking. No airbags in the rear springs but have not noticed a need for them. My Overland with the tow package handles it all with aplomb. Easy tow, easy to drive. Remember, drive your OWN drive, not what traffic is trying to make you drive. I don't go above 65 mph and as far as shifting, I find that shifting manually with the 8 sp. auto is the way to go. Unless nice level or down hill for 8th, 7th is the gear to use. If going up grade, and speed drops below 58 mph, then downshift to 6th until back up to about 62-63 mph then back to 7th. This keeps you in the 2,000-2,500 rpm range. 13 mpg and no issues what-so-ever.

The only time I noticed the 'tail wagging the dog' was when the road had some slight rutting from the 18 wheelers and the trailer wanted to follow them instead of where I was trying to run in the lane. Once I figured that out and adjusted my lane position, it was all good.

YES, decide on a trailer before buying the tow vehicle.

I did it the other way around but, had a reputable trailer dealer who knew what he was talking about and made sure the TT was within our towing capacity, and had the appropriate safety gear (based on his own towing experiences) added into the purchase. Plus, this was the trailer the wife liked. That is also very important

You said it perfectly. Drive your drive. Ignore pressure from others. They can wait and go around.

My chosen trailer weight with an 8 speed is so I can go 80 without manually shifting. Out west there are several interstates with 75-80mph speed limits. 65 on those roads ends up being sketchy. I want to at least keep up easily with right lane drivers. Again, this is my choice. I wouldn’t be able to with 5k + behind me. I also want to be able to tow safely off road at 15+ degree inclines and declines. Where we camp usually takes some effort to access, which is how we like it. We like to thin the herd by going where big trailers and RV’s can’t access. That decreases our safe towing capacity, knowing the roads we intend to travel.

 

[Trickster]

You said it perfectly. Drive your drive. Ignore pressure from others. They can wait and go around.

My chosen trailer weight with an 8 speed is so I can go 80 without manually shifting. Out west there are several interstates with 75-80mph speed limits. 65 on those roads ends up being sketchy. I want to at least keep up easily with right lane drivers. Again, this is my choice. I wouldn’t be able to with 5k + behind me. I also want to be able to tow safely off road at 15+ degree inclines and declines. Where we camp usually takes some effort to access, which is how we like it. We like to thin the herd by going where big trailers and RV’s can’t access. That decreases our safe towing capacity, knowing the roads we intend to travel.

What sort of trailers tires are you running that you are safe doing 80 mph?

 

[WILDHOBO]

What sort of trailers tires are you running that you are safe doing 80 mph?

Finally found a picture I could zoom into. It’s in storage until spring. BFG Baja Squadron A/T. 33x12.5x17. Rated for 80psi. Running them at 50psi per trailer manufacturer specs. They’re Jeep tires. The trailer will actually take 37’s with no clearance issues, including it’s spare carrier, and I may put 3 matching tires and wheels on it, so I end up with two spares for it and the JT. Hubs are 5 on 5 to match Jeeps.

 

[Labswine]

I really like this TT! never heard of these until I saw yours.

Thanks

There's a bump out on the other side that is around 7' in length so someone 6' tall can stretch out when the dining table is converted to a bed. Also, that hatch on the side in the rear lifts up to reveal a stove, sink/cooking area and small refrigerator (110v only). The bed is in the front and is longways so when one or the other has to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night (usually me ) there's no crawling over the wife or her crawling over me. Also, that bed is a Murphy bed which can fold up and there's a sofa underneath. Quite the nice layout and feels very spacious. More so than other configurations of the same length by the same manufacturer, Venture RV.

 

[Trickster]

Finally found a picture I could zoom into. It’s in storage until spring. BFG Baja Squadron A/T. 33x12.5x17. Rated for 80psi. Running them at 50psi per trailer manufacturer specs. They’re Jeep tires. The trailer will actually take 37’s with no clearance issues, including it’s spare carrier, and I may put 3 matching tires and wheels on it, so I end up with two spares for it and the JT. Hubs are 5 on 5 to match Jeeps.

Okay that’s cool.
Was thinking you were running ST trailer tires that are rated for 65mph max.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Okay that’s cool.
Was thinking you were running ST trailer tires that are rated for 65mph max.

Hell no. Really old picture, but shows the tires.

 

[Trickster]

Hell no. Really old picture, but shows the tires.

Very nice set up.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Very nice set up.

Thanks. It’s been really fun. Bought the trailer before the JT, but the JT makes it way better. We can go places we never could with the Cherokee TH. We’ve changed a lot as well. Bikes typically are now on the back of the trailer to eliminate height. Jack is no longer on the trailer, so it’s with us when detached. And topper on JT let’s us bring more stuff and the dog.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

As I stated, Gladiator w/ max tow. I have recently gotten into overlanding and therefore would like to add front bumper/winch, leveling kit, new wheels and a set of 35's. I know this alters the towing capability a bit depending on the added weight. I have MT tires on my JKU. Any issues running MT's when it comes to towing or would AT's be a better choice?

FWIW, I have a coworker who immediately lifted his Silverado and put 35's on it when he bought it several years ago. He bought a travel trailer last year and now wishes he didn't have the lift and tires.

 

[WILDHOBO]

FWIW, I have a coworker who immediately lifted his Silverado and put 35's on it when he bought it several years ago. He bought a travel trailer last year and now wishes he didn't have the lift and tires.

Trailering and weight in the bed definitely needs to be taken into account when lifting. It’s not that you can’t do it, but how it’s done is critical so you don’t end up with a sagging rear end. The shop I’m working with is putting different springs in the back of ours, taking into account how we use it. Number one, we’re keeping the rake on purpose, so when it’s loaded, it ends up level, so no cosmetic leveling. Number two, the springs in the back are rated for more load than ones used for a strictly trail rig with less weight in the back. My advice is to find a shop you trust and tell them how you plan to use it. A good shop will help design a build that gets you your desired result.

 

[PicklesJ]

Curious if the stock mirrors are good enough for towing a trailer between 7’ and 8’ wide?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Curious if the stock mirrors are good enough for towing a trailer between 7’ and 8’ wide?

Ours is narrower than that and I haven’t had trouble seeing it at all. Ours is 6’, 4” wide and 10’, 10” long. But every driver and rig combination is a bit different. I’d think though that your wider trailer will be easy to see.

 

[Labswine]

Curious if the stock mirrors are good enough for towing a trailer between 7’ and 8’ wide?

Get the JK (or JL?) trailer extension mirrors from Amazon then do a thread search here for Thorne Engineering to get his adapters that will allow those Amazon mirrors to mount PERFECTLY onto your Gladiator mirrors.

That's what I did. They work VERY well in being to better see the lanes beside/behind you.

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