Towing First Travel Trailer With Gladiator

[gwpeaks]

We purchased a Grand Design Imagine XLSBHE yesterday. We haven't brought it home yet and it is over two hours away so I am supposed to go get it next week. I've never pulled a trailer of any kind and I'm very nervous about my first time being a two hour drive with a brand new 4500lb travel trailer. I posted another thread regarding weights and such so I'm not looking for insight there. I'm wondering what the experience will "feel" like and if there are any tips anyone who has experience can offer.

I will be using an Equalizer E2 WDH with sway control and a CURT Echo brake controller. There is one stretch of road that is two lanes (not particularly narrow) on which I will pass several 18 wheelers going the opposite direction at a high speed. This stretch of road concerns me the most as I'm worried about one of them making contact with the trailer or the blowback causing me to sway and lose control. I will also pass through a couple of towns with stoplights and such. The rest of the drive is straight, flat highway that I'm not very concerned about.

The trailer is 8' wide, do I need to worry about it crossing the center line and getting hit by one of the 18 wheelers or am I just being apprehensive? Is the blowback from and 18-wheeler traveling the opposite direction going to cause the trailer to sway very much? I've spoken with several people and they all say I will be fine and after a few minutes I will get the "feel" of it but having no experience I have a lot of anxiety. I would prefer to practice on local roads near my home before taking any sort of trip.

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[azeeb]

I’m towing a 25’ airstream that weighs a little over 6000 lbs. I have a blue ox sway pro hitch. I notice more movement when I get passed by vehicles going faster than me on the highway ( I only tow at 65 mph). Oncoming traffic on two lane roads doesn’t seem to have an effect on my setup. When I get passed on the highway I feel a slight pull to the left while the vehicle is next to me, and then a slight push back to the right as the vehicle goes past the front of my camper.

 

[Buck1ze]

I am assuming you have a 21BHE. I pull an Imagine XLS 17MKE which is very similar. The main difference is I have a Rubicon which has the 4:10 gearing. I also have the Equalizer WDH, but the Redarc tow pro elite brake controller.

I am new to towing as well. I have had my trailer for only a few months now. I can tell you that you will definitely feel the weight behind you! Braking is good with the brake controller set to the midpoint. Little disappointed in the lack of power from the 3.6 Pentastar engine. Thought it would pull this trailer a little easier.

Take your time and don’t feel rushed. Allow plenty of room between you and any traffic ahead of you. You will gain more confidence the more you travel. You will have no problem staying within the lines with this trailer.

Good luck and enjoy your Grand Design. We sure do!

 

[eaglerugby04]

Have you towed before? Most of my experience is in a minivan with a 16ft landscape trailer. Jumping to a JT with a camper was a huge difference. Two lane roads were chalenging since I did command the entire side of the road. Mine end to end is 31ft. Biggest thing for me was loss of the rear. I couldn't see anything right behind me anymore. That really took some getting used to since 95% of the time I drive my JT without side mirrors, lol.

Make sure to try to tune in your brake controller before leaving the parking lot. I didn't and it required a lot heavier application than my landscape trailer. I felt the trailer pushing me.

Also your WDH needs to be properly done. Check the manual. I have heard of dealers messing those things up a lot. Mine was private party, but I don't think it was doing much for me sine I didn't know what I was doing.

 

[azeeb]

Do you know if your trailer comes with a rear view camera? They help with the visibility problem. If it doesn’t come with one, halo vision makes one that has a monitor that mount on your rear view mirror. It looks pretty slick. Also I have the rampage towing mirrors with the adapters to make them fit on a JT sold by someone on this forum. My trailer is 8’ 6”, so yours should be a little better.

I usually air my tires up a bit more when I tow. I run 40-42 psi.

Honestly, stability wise the gladiator is pretty good, especially if you are towing less than 5000 lbs. I was surprised and impressed. The biggest thing you will notice is the how much more load is on the engine. Don’t be afraid of it revving up to make the power it needs. That is what it is designed to do. Just take your time and don’t drive faster than you are comfortable with. Speed is what gets people into trouble. Slowing down even 5 mph can take a lot of stress away towing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m towing a 25’ airstream that weighs a little over 6000 lbs. I have a blue ox sway pro hitch. I notice more movement when I get passed by vehicles going faster than me on the highway ( I only tow at 65 mph). Oncoming traffic on two lane roads doesn’t seem to have an effect on my setup. When I get passed on the highway I feel a slight pull to the left while the vehicle is next to me, and then a slight push back to the right as the vehicle goes past the front of my camper.

Well said. You have a Rubicon, though, and the other is a more narrow Overland, but your description is spot-on - you are describing the wake.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Some EXCELLENT responses from Rubicon owners - well stated, good advice - but being an Overland owner myself, would love to hear from Overland owners since they are more NARROW (axle-wise - so inherently more stable) and have a different gear ratio than Rubicon.

 

[gwpeaks]

Thanks to all. I ended up buying a 2010 Tundra to use as a dedicated tow vehicle. My Overland is my daily driver and I was just too close on the payload max to chance it. Got a steal on a Tundra that is in good shape. Nothing compares to the Gladiator though!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's what's happened to me - I bought the JT to be my truck, maybe put 6,000 miles on it in a year - with 2 or 3 car shows in other states, and occasional trips for supplies and lumber - already have almost 8,000 on it - it's become my daily driver and there's been no car shows at all this year!

 

[eaglerugby04]

Do you know if your trailer comes with a rear view camera? They help with the visibility problem. If it doesn’t come with one, halo vision makes one that has a monitor that mount on your rear view mirror. It looks pretty slick. Also I have the rampage towing mirrors with the adapters to make them fit on a JT sold by someone on this forum. My trailer is 8’ 6”, so yours should be a little better.

I usually air my tires up a bit more when I tow. I run 40-42 psi.

Honestly, stability wise the gladiator is pretty good, especially if you are towing less than 5000 lbs. I was surprised and impressed. The biggest thing you will notice is the how much more load is on the engine. Don’t be afraid of it revving up to make the power it needs. That is what it is designed to do. Just take your time and don’t drive faster than you are comfortable with. Speed is what gets people into trouble. Slowing down even 5 mph can take a lot of stress away towing.

Haloview is the way to go. Put a 3 camera system in mine, install wasn't bad and now I have a nice 7in display that gives me a full view down the sides and behind. Tow mirrors are ok, but this thing gives such a good picture.

 

[sroberts1519]

Thanks to all. I ended up buying a 2010 Tundra to use as a dedicated tow vehicle. My Overland is my daily driver and I was just too close on the payload max to chance it. Got a steal on a Tundra that is in good shape. Nothing compares to the Gladiator though!

and I was waiting to hear your tow experience with the JT Overland.

Even with the Tundra, the advice above is good advice if you have never towed before.

Research this forum or other forums on proper WDH installation - while I was RV shopping, I saw several rigs in the parking lots where the dealer had improperly setup the WDH. Generally, with WDH, your trailer should sit level tongue to bumper. Measure your wheel height of the tow vehicle unhitched vs hitched. When hitched, your front end should not raise up any (maybe a slight squat of 1/4 inch or so), and your rear of your tow vehicle shouldn't squat considerable. When hitched up, your trailer and truck should look level.

If your truck dont have extending tow mirrors, get some clip on ones. The Grand Designs come pre-wired for a backup cameras - you may want to consider getting one. I originally looked at the XLS 17MKE, but then decided that was too heavy of a camper for the JT Overland (if I remember right, the 17MKE has a dry weight of around 4650).

Drive safe, don't tailgate, and always give yourself plenty of room to stop. you may want to drive a few miles around the city/town and get the brake controller adjusted before you get on the road. When properly adjusted, when slowing, it shouldn't feel like the trailer is pushing the truck, nor that the trailer is over braking, pulling back on the truck.

Dont speed (drive moderate speeds on highway), drive safe, and enjoy the ride. you should do fine.

 

[kclendaniel]

Have you towed before? Most of my experience is in a minivan with a 16ft landscape trailer. Jumping to a JT with a camper was a huge difference. Two lane roads were chalenging since I did command the entire side of the road. Mine end to end is 31ft. Biggest thing for me was loss of the rear. I couldn't see anything right behind me anymore. That really took some getting used to since 95% of the time I drive my JT without side mirrors, lol.

Make sure to try to tune in your brake controller before leaving the parking lot. I didn't and it required a lot heavier application than my landscape trailer. I felt the trailer pushing me.

Also your WDH needs to be properly done. Check the manual. I have heard of dealers messing those things up a lot. Mine was private party, but I don't think it was doing much for me sine I didn't know what I was doing.

What are you towing at 31ft? I am looking at a Kodiak Ultra Lite that is about that length and although the weight is low relative to the length I am curious how it rides when properly set up.

 

[gwpeaks]

and I was waiting to hear your tow experience with the JT Overland.

Even with the Tundra, the advice above is good advice if you have never towed before.

Research this forum or other forums on proper WDH installation - while I was RV shopping, I saw several rigs in the parking lots where the dealer had improperly setup the WDH. Generally, with WDH, your trailer should sit level tongue to bumper. Measure your wheel height of the tow vehicle unhitched vs hitched. When hitched, your front end should not raise up any (maybe a slight squat of 1/4 inch or so), and your rear of your tow vehicle shouldn't squat considerable. When hitched up, your trailer and truck should look level.

If your truck dont have extending tow mirrors, get some clip on ones. The Grand Designs come pre-wired for a backup cameras - you may want to consider getting one. I originally looked at the XLS 17MKE, but then decided that was too heavy of a camper for the JT Overland (if I remember right, the 17MKE has a dry weight of around 4650).

Drive safe, don't tailgate, and always give yourself plenty of room to stop. you may want to drive a few miles around the city/town and get the brake controller adjusted before you get on the road. When properly adjusted, when slowing, it shouldn't feel like the trailer is pushing the truck, nor that the trailer is over braking, pulling back on the truck.

Dont speed (drive moderate speeds on highway), drive safe, and enjoy the ride. you should do fine.

Thanks. I'm a very cautious person so I'm getting the backup camera installed before I pick up the camper and I have a family friend that has worked at an RV dealership for years go with me to pick it up. I didn't trust the dealership (even though they've been outstanding) so I'm taking him to help get things set up correctly. Also to help me learn to pull it safely.

One thing is for sure after driving the Tundra for a couple of days now, nothing compares to my Gladiator!

 

[Sandia]

Thanks to all. I ended up buying a 2010 Tundra to use as a dedicated tow vehicle. My Overland is my daily driver and I was just too close on the payload max to chance it. Got a steal on a Tundra that is in good shape. Nothing compares to the Gladiator though!

Wise decision.

 

[eaglerugby04]

What are you towing at 31ft? I am looking at a Kodiak Ultra Lite that is about that length and although the weight is low relative to the length I am curious how it rides when properly set up.

Jayco Jayflight Swift with a bunk house. 28ft, but 31 overall. I haven't driven it since I got it yet, been doing upgrades to it. But I did move it yesterday and I can say with the WDH set up properly it made a huge difference. Weighs 6200lbs including propaine.

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