aj8544
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
My wife and I are looking at travel trailers for our family of 4 soon to be 5. After looking at several brands and layouts we have narrowed our search down to 2 models:
Grand Design Imagine XLS 21bhe
Dry Weight 4698
Tongue Weight 456
Length 24’ 11”
Grand Design Imagine XLS 23bhe
Dry Weight 5325
Tongue Weight 504
Length 27’ 11”
The price difference between trailers is negligible, making the 23 alot more trailer for the money, more spacious due to it’s slide (21 doesnt have a slide), and has the nicety of a separate front bedroom. It is for sure my wife’s pick and likely the trailer we would be happier with long term.
However, my JT is a Rubicon auto- 7k max towing and 1198lbs payload. I am fairly comfortable with the weights of the 21bhe, thinking if we pack light I can stay in the 5500 lb range and keep tongue weight under 600lbs. With the 23bhe even packing light I’m sure we will be over 6000lbs and pushing 650 on the hitch. Will obviously be using weight distribution with sway control for either trailer, and already have a Curt Spectrum installed.
I’ve towed 6000lbs with the JT in the form of my 18ft utility trailer with JD tractor loaded. It did better than I expected, but the sidewall profile of a travel trailer is a whole different ballgame.
Anyone have experience towing travel trailers in this weight range? Going over 5000lbs dry worries me a bit- is the extra couple of feet in length and 600lbs total/ 50lbs tongue weight that big of a deal?
Grand Design Imagine XLS 21bhe
Dry Weight 4698
Tongue Weight 456
Length 24’ 11”
Grand Design Imagine XLS 23bhe
Dry Weight 5325
Tongue Weight 504
Length 27’ 11”
The price difference between trailers is negligible, making the 23 alot more trailer for the money, more spacious due to it’s slide (21 doesnt have a slide), and has the nicety of a separate front bedroom. It is for sure my wife’s pick and likely the trailer we would be happier with long term.
However, my JT is a Rubicon auto- 7k max towing and 1198lbs payload. I am fairly comfortable with the weights of the 21bhe, thinking if we pack light I can stay in the 5500 lb range and keep tongue weight under 600lbs. With the 23bhe even packing light I’m sure we will be over 6000lbs and pushing 650 on the hitch. Will obviously be using weight distribution with sway control for either trailer, and already have a Curt Spectrum installed.
I’ve towed 6000lbs with the JT in the form of my 18ft utility trailer with JD tractor loaded. It did better than I expected, but the sidewall profile of a travel trailer is a whole different ballgame.
Anyone have experience towing travel trailers in this weight range? Going over 5000lbs dry worries me a bit- is the extra couple of feet in length and 600lbs total/ 50lbs tongue weight that big of a deal?
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