Sway control

[AwesomeDad]

That is nice ,very aero, going to tow great, I would still do the WDH though. Enjoy the camper!.....Jack

Thank you, I think initially I will see how it tows without and then maybe add the WDH later, I have read fitment issues with this camper and some WDH's...

JJ

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[ShadowsPapa]

With the shape and curves, I suspect the drag should be less than your standard trailer - even better than - gasp - Airstream. Just looks like it's made to reduce the low pressure at the rear.

 

[AwesomeDad]

With the shape and curves, I suspect the drag should be less than your standard trailer - even better than - gasp - Airstream. Just looks like it's made to reduce the low pressure at the rear.

Actually its and Airstream Basecamp they have 2 models a 16 and 20 trying to cater to the off road crowd I guess....

JJ

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Actually its and Airstream Basecamp they have 2 models a 16 and 20 trying to cater to the off road crowd I guess....

JJ

I was thinking of the more standard shape which has been around for what, 70 years?
It would be interesting to know how it pulls compared to a more standard shape - it's got to be better.

 

[Labswine]

Absolutely, I have a 23’ long camper 3200lbs. Dry and 4100 GVW, used a Blue Ox combination WDH called Sway Pro worked great, talking to Blue Ox factory the bars have to be the right rating, I have 500lb. bars which I should not exceed, next step is 750pounds. Just towed it not set up perfectly for 6.5 hours tried some sway movements on empty straight highways and was very impressed. Whatever WDH someone has will be the best, so yup, mine is the best!…..Jack

Nice looking rig. I also have the BlueOx set up and it performs wonderfully. My trailer is 27' overall and around 5,300 lbs. loaded.

 

[jsalbre]

As a former Airstream owner, Airstream is notorious for completely fictional tongue weights. My 30’ was listed as under 900lbs. Unloaded it was a bit over 1000, and loaded it was 1200.

I definitely recommend WDH for your trailer, and suggest checking AirForums for someone who has posted actual measured tongue weights for your trailer.

You’re probably going to love the trailer. Nothing tows better than an Airstream.

Some advice for everyone: Don’t ignore recommended safety equipment because you’re “only driving a short distance”. Do you not wear a seatbelt on short drives because somehow you’re less likely to get in an accident? Strong wind gusts, passing trucks, and tire blowouts don’t care how far you’re driving on a trip.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Some advice for everyone: Don’t ignore recommended safety equipment because you’re “only driving a short distance”. Do you not wear a seatbelt on short drives because somehow you’re less likely to get in an accident? Strong wind gusts, passing trucks, and tire blowouts don’t care how far you’re driving on a trip.

You said it.
In fact, at least in my experience, and where I've lived, you are most likely to get hit by a deer or have an accident closer to home than farther away.
It doesn't take much wind to whip a high profile vehicle - and trailer - badly.
I've had more close calls within 30 miles of home than I have out 100 miles away.

 

[AwesomeDad]

As a former Airstream owner, Airstream is notorious for completely fictional tongue weights. My 30’ was listed as under 900lbs. Unloaded it was a bit over 1000, and loaded it was 1200.

I definitely recommend WDH for your trailer, and suggest checking AirForums for someone who has posted actual measured tongue weights for your trailer.

You’re probably going to love the trailer. Nothing tows better than an Airstream.

Some advice for everyone: Don’t ignore recommended safety equipment because you’re “only driving a short distance”. Do you not wear a seatbelt on short drives because somehow you’re less likely to get in an accident? Strong wind gusts, passing trucks, and tire blowouts don’t care how far you’re driving on a trip.

The forums seem to confirm 5-550 tongue weight for the basecamp...

 

[jsalbre]

The forums seem to confirm 5-550 tongue weight for the basecamp...

Well that’s surprising, but good to hear. I guess they’re not as unrealistic with the Basecamp specs as they are with the traditional trailer specs. Either way, with a 500lb unloaded tongue weight you’re definitely going to want WDH. That front axle is going to feel very light without it.

 

[kevman65]

Short wheel base pick up with a high center of gravity.

Yup, you want all the help you can get. The JT is already a wind catcher, the camper even more so. The JT and the camper will be hit by different winds because of height differences.

WDH, sway control, and electric brake controller. Most people don't realize it, but States have laws dictating over a specific weight and electronic brakes are required. No, just because the 7 pin is hooked up doesn't mean the trailer brakes are functioning, that's what the controller is for.

 

[dcmdon]

Short wheel base pick up with a high center of gravity.

Yup, you want all the help you can get. The JT is already a wind catcher, the camper even more so. The JT and the camper will be hit by different winds because of height differences.

WDH, sway control, and electric brake controller. Most people don't realize it, but States have laws dictating over a specific weight and electronic brakes are required. No, just because the 7 pin is hooked up doesn't mean the trailer brakes are functioning, that's what the controller is for.

Do the laws say ELECTRONIC brakes required. Or just brakes? I asked because for years I towed a 12,000 lb boat around and all we had was reaction brakes. (it was tough on boat ramps because the trailer brakes weren't triggered)

One other quick point. The Gladiator isn't short wheelbase by any means. Its longer than some F150s. 137 inches is actually pretty huge. Its 41 inches longer than a 2 door wrangler's wheelbase.

 

[Jaxmax]

Boats as a rule don’t use electric brakes as they are put in water. My Whaler has an electric hydraulic pump that operates disc brakes which are awesome.

 

[kevman65]

Wrangler isn't a truck. Can be plated as a truck in some states, but not a truck.
You can also plate minivans and station wagons as trucks in some States.

Good luck finding anything but electric powered brakes on a camper. In order to utilize such brakes you HAVE to have the controller. Again, just plugging into the 7 pin connector doesn't put POWER to the trailer brakes, only the controller does.

In Indiana, if your boat and trailer is over 3,000 pounds, you better have working brakes on that trailer if something happens on a public road. The State Boys won't hesitate to get the ticket book out. I got pulled over and weighed in Tennessee in my private 3/4 ton diesel and then got ticketed because my trailer was 5 pounds over their State requirement for trailer brakes. YES, they can and will get you.

Oh, and as to the point about wheelbase, a standard F150 with an 8' bed, yes I know they don't exist anymore, is still the standard wheelbase of a full size truck. Yes now you have to go up to 3/4 ton to get that set up, but it's still the standard for full size, standard wheelbase. The JT is a midsize truck, always will be. The payload is lower, wheelbase is shorter, and again the CoG is higher.

 

[dcmdon]

Wrangler isn't a truck. Can be plated as a truck in some states, but not a truck.
You can also plate minivans and station wagons as trucks in some States.

Good luck finding anything but electric powered brakes on a camper. In order to utilize such brakes you HAVE to have the controller. Again, just plugging into the 7 pin connector doesn't put POWER to the trailer brakes, only the controller does.

In Indiana, if your boat and trailer is over 3,000 pounds, you better have working brakes on that trailer if something happens on a public road. The State Boys won't hesitate to get the ticket book out. I got pulled over and weighed in Tennessee in my private 3/4 ton diesel and then got ticketed because my trailer was 5 pounds over their State requirement for trailer brakes. YES, they can and will get you.

Oh, and as to the point about wheelbase, a standard F150 with an 8' bed, yes I know they don't exist anymore, is still the standard wheelbase of a full size truck. Yes now you have to go up to 3/4 ton to get that set up, but it's still the standard for full size, standard wheelbase. The JT is a midsize truck, always will be. The payload is lower, wheelbase is shorter, and again the CoG is higher.

I'd never suggest that a Gladiator is anything other than a mid sized truck. Its width and overall mass are much less than a full sized truck.

It is however long.

The standard 8 ft with a single cab F250 has a 142" wheelbase.
The Gladiators is 137. 5 less than an F250 with an 8' bed.

The Chevy Suburban's is 134 inches.

So the Gladiator is "full sized" as far as wheelbase. Though its not a full sized truck. I'm only harping on this because wheelbase plays a big part in towing stability. And the Gladiator has plenty of wheelbase.

Midsized Competition.
Chevy Colorado - 128 inches. 9 less than Gladiator
Ford Ranger - 126 inches 11 less than Gladiator.

I was actually startled when I parked my Gladiator next to my friends Suburban and saw that it was almost as long. the Suburban has a much larger rear overhang so its still longer. (218 vs 225 inches). But the Gladiator's wheelbase is actually 3" longer than the Suburban's.

Boats as a rule don’t use electric brakes as they are put in water. My Whaler has an electric hydraulic pump that operates disc brakes which are awesome.

I never thought of this. Ha. That makes perfect sense.

 

[kevman65]

A standard full size pick up is also 5" wider on track width. Again making it much more stable.

But we're digressing, you guys keep talking about boats and trying to compare apples to peanuts.

The OP asked about a camper, I answered about a camper.

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