Travel Trailer Debate- Experienced Opinions Wanted

[Muddzy]

No one has a comment on this question? I'd really appreciate some feedback please. Thx, Mark

which you are entitled to your option. Most people on here freak out when someone gets close to towing 7000, but no one seems to freak out when people go right to their payload. With your rule a rubicon owner should have more than 960 payload. That’s like 4 grown men and a couple snowboards with nothing else.

you can safely tow within the tow capacities as long as you do it responsibly. We have people on here towing >65, up to 85 mph, that’s dangerous! If you have your tow rig set up right and take it easy shouldn’t have a problem with 7000. Will it win races? No.

I agree, except for the >65. If everything is setup properly then 65 isn't a magic speed barrier. Sure, the slower one goes the less chance there is for accidents but that's without towing, too. On a flat highway with no wind/no traffic and everything properly setup I could feel comfortable doing 80mph. I probably wouldn't but I've seen tractor trailers doing 90 on straight roads in Kansas

I can't comment specific to the Gladiator since I just got mine but I have towed a lot of things with a variety of vehicles - most recently my JKUR. I've towed 2500lbs without trailer brakes but that was locally. I've had 4 passengers with gear in my JKUR towing about 4000lbs with trailer brakes 200 miles round trip multiple times and felt comfortable doing 70mph. That trip was mostly flat and some here will say that was unsafe but I never had any close calls or unintended sway (with anything I've ever towed). My JKUR had 35s and 2.5in lift and I was always amazed at how well it towed without a WDH (did have anti sway bars on 4000lb camper). The important things with the heavier loads are proper tongue weight, WDH, brake controller, proper trailer brakes, proper trailer/truck loading and driver experience.

IMO, if everything is setup the way it should be and you know what you're doing then it won't be a problem. Don't speed if you want to be really safe, leave room to pull out or brake and expect the JT to struggle going up inclines along with reduced gas mileage.

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[danielspivey]

I agree, except for the >65. If everything is setup properly then 65 isn't a magic speed barrier. Sure, the slower one goes the less chance there is for accidents but that's without towing, too. On a flat highway with no wind/no traffic and everything properly setup I could feel comfortable doing 80mph. I probably wouldn't but I've seen tractor trailers doing 90 on straight roads in Kansas

I can't comment specific to the Gladiator since I just got mine but I have towed a lot of things with a variety of vehicles - most recently my JKUR. I've towed 2500lbs without trailer brakes but that was locally. I've had 4 passengers with gear in my JKUR towing about 4000lbs with trailer brakes 200 miles round trip multiple times and felt comfortable doing 70mph. That trip was mostly flat and some here will say that was unsafe but I never had any close calls or unintended sway (with anything I've ever towed). My JKUR had 35s and 2.5in lift and I was always amazed at how well it towed without a WDH (did have anti sway bars on 4000lb camper). The important things with the heavier loads are proper tongue weight, WDH, brake controller, proper trailer brakes, proper trailer/truck loading and driver experience.

IMO, if everything is setup the way it should be and you know what you're doing then it won't be a problem. Don't speed if you want to be really safe, leave room to pull out or brake and expect the JT to struggle going up inclines along with reduced gas mileage.

I agree about the setup, but that’s irrelevant. It’s about the speed limitation of your trailer tires.

Is your trailer a single or tandem axel? A 4K single axel trailer would be far less stable than a 6.5k tandem.

Do you have trailer tires that are rating for going 80? I haven’t see any rated for driving over 65....?

Also, you were pulling a 4K trailer with a JKU wrangler???? Payload on those is like 1000, your hitch weight was likely 500, 4 passengers is like around 700 lbs and that’s not including the gear. You were WAY over payload!

fyi, driving too fast and going over capacities is typically why people get into wrecks. It’s just as reckless, if not more reckless than those who don’t use WDHs or brake controllers.

 

[Muddzy]

I agree about the setup, but that’s irrelevant. It’s about the speed limitation of your trailer tires.

Is your trailer a single or tandem axel? A 4K single axel trailer would be far less stable than a 6.5k tandem.

Do you have trailer tires that are rating for going 80? I haven’t see any rated for driving over 65....?

Also, you were pulling a 4K trailer with a JKU wrangler???? Payload on those is like 1000, your hitch weight was likely 500, 4 passengers is like around 700 lbs and that’s not including the gear. You were WAY over payload!

fyi, driving too fast and going over capacities is typically why people get into wrecks. It’s just as reckless, if not more reckless than those who don’t use WDHs or brake controllers.

Good points about the proper setup and that includes having the proper tires/axles/wheel ratings. I don't have access to the 4k trailer so I can't tell you exactly what tires were on there. I know on my boat I put radial tires on the trailer and 80 is within spec. On my landscape trailer, it doesn't have brakes and my speed depends on the load. But I would never do 80 in it with a heavy load.

The person asked for opinions and I gave mine. I've never had issues with single axle trailers. I've had to swerve several times at highway speed due to debris in the road and each time my trailers have tracked right behind me. But, I also don't overreact and/or hit the brakes. Giving it gas is better for control. I keep extra space around me and if it's windy or a lot of traffic I go slower. I've towed a lot and I always test a new setup by intermittently stopping, starting and swerving at various speeds before I start cruising. if people don't feel comfortable towing near max capacity or at highway speedlimits then they shouldn't. But IMO someone can have an accident towing at 80% capacity just like they can at 100% capacity. It's not like they don't need to have the proper setup and skills at 80% and it's not like the vehicle can't handle 100%. IT's a safety rating and engineers always factor in a safety margin even above the ratings. Everyone should do what they think is smart, comfortable and safe with the skill level they have.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I agree about the setup, but that’s irrelevant. It’s about the speed limitation of your trailer tires.

Is your trailer a single or tandem axel? A 4K single axel trailer would be far less stable than a 6.5k tandem.

Do you have trailer tires that are rating for going 80? I haven’t see any rated for driving over 65....?

Also, you were pulling a 4K trailer with a JKU wrangler???? Payload on those is like 1000, your hitch weight was likely 500, 4 passengers is like around 700 lbs and that’s not including the gear. You were WAY over payload!

fyi, driving too fast and going over capacities is typically why people get into wrecks. It’s just as reckless, if not more reckless than those who don’t use WDHs or brake controllers.

So true, everybody seems to forget the tires and the fact that the ones that come with most of them are absolute shit. And that for most people the tires will go bad due to age long before the tread goes bad. got mine used and going through this now, think probably has less that 1k miles on it but tires are almost 8 years old

The Goodyear endurance are pricey but they are rated for 87mph, good enough for US freeways but not time travel sadly.

 

[brianinca]

I'm still baffled by KEEPING the 80% rule of thumb from 1977 when EGR valves were overheating the undercooled big block T-Birds that were towing 7,000 pound trailers to the Ozarks.

SAE tow ratings are not rule of thumb. Do NOT exceed, for sure - but leave 20% of your payload off the table? I don't think so.

 

[tcramer11]

i went with an opus 4 for smaller form factor, big offroad maneuverability, and is under the weight restrictions of the gladiator. Tows great

 

[Ferg]

With reference to driving at high speeds, either with or without a trailer, I will say this: in my 28+ years as a cop, having worked wrecks, I can tell you that the GIGANTIC majority of crashes are because of driver error rather than hardware failure. What I mean by that is that you can have the best rig in the world, but if you drive in an unsafe way ("I have always driven this way!" or, "I am a great driver. I know my skill level!" or, "I see people doing this all the time!"), you're more likely to be involved in a crash. Most everyone thinks he's a great driver ... until he's not. If you want to roast away, go for it. I'll stick to my guns on this one because I've seen too many people who got hurt behind the wheel. People don't realize how much kinetic energy is stored in a motor vehicle that's traveling at high speeds. Sh*t happens faster than people can react and people get hurt.

If you want the TL;DR version, it's this: slow down. It's not worth dying to save five minutes. Slow and steady will get you there in one piece more often than any other way.

 

[Muddzy]

i went with an opus 4 for smaller form factor, big offroad maneuverability, and is under the weight restrictions of the gladiator. Tows great

That's a great setup. What's the steepest trails you've taken it on and how'd the JT tow it up and down?

 

[Mac Attack]

With reference to driving at high speeds, either with or without a trailer, I will say this: in my 28+ years as a cop, having worked wrecks, I can tell you that the GIGANTIC majority of crashes are because of driver error rather than hardware failure. What I mean by that is that you can have the best rig in the world, but if you drive in an unsafe way ("I have always driven this way!" or, "I am a great driver. I know my skill level!" or, "I see people doing this all the time!"), you're more likely to be involved in a crash. Most everyone thinks he's a great driver ... until he's not. If you want to roast away, go for it. I'll stick to my guns on this one because I've seen too many people who got hurt behind the wheel. People don't realize how much kinetic energy is stored in a motor vehicle that's traveling at high speeds. Sh*t happens faster than people can react and people get hurt.

If you want the TL;DR version, it's this: slow down. It's not worth dying to save five minutes. Slow and steady will get you there in one piece more often than any other way.

Thanks for your service...you are absolutely right...speed kills..drive slower and make it there safely.

 

[danielspivey]

Exactly how I ended up with a travel trailer. Was looking at camping gear and realized that a used TT wasn't much more than good camping gear. Having two daughters I knew this is the only way they will stay happy.

Honestly I think part of it depends on how far and where you plan on going. Mine is kind of at the limit of the JTR but I also tend to stay within my area to places I can get to avoiding highways.

With reference to driving at high speeds, either with or without a trailer, I will say this: in my 28+ years as a cop, having worked wrecks, I can tell you that the GIGANTIC majority of crashes are because of driver error rather than hardware failure. What I mean by that is that you can have the best rig in the world, but if you drive in an unsafe way ("I have always driven this way!" or, "I am a great driver. I know my skill level!" or, "I see people doing this all the time!"), you're more likely to be involved in a crash. Most everyone thinks he's a great driver ... until he's not. If you want to roast away, go for it. I'll stick to my guns on this one because I've seen too many people who got hurt behind the wheel. People don't realize how much kinetic energy is stored in a motor vehicle that's traveling at high speeds. Sh*t happens faster than people can react and people get hurt.

If you want the TL;DR version, it's this: slow down. It's not worth dying to save five minutes. Slow and steady will get you there in one piece more often than any other way.

I did a fairly long trip last fall and had a lot of highway driving. I found going 55 with all that space was better than the two lane roads that are 55. Passing a 18 wheeler on those two lane roads is def less fun on two lane roads vs highways. Don’t feel pressured to drive like a maniac going 85 on the highway, easy does it and you will have less stress![/QUOTE]

 

[Muddzy]

Agree. some of the "back" roads in Kansas and Colorado were basically 2 lane highways posted at 65mph. My Jeep hood was latched but I thought it was going to blow through my windshield anyway. If I'm doing 60ish and an 18wheeler is doing, who knows, but lets say 60ish coming the opposite direction, you will feel it hard head on and sideways and you have to stay focused. Give me a 4 lane highway at 75mph any day! Highways don't bother me and I've been in 4 lanes during rush hour outside of NYC many times going to Montauk towing a boat with idiot people doing 85-90 zipping in and out of small openings. It's almost dangerous doing 55 when the rest of traffic is doing 75. To me it's really simple: stay in the right lane and give yourself room in front of you. If you need to change lanes give yourself a lot of notice so you aren't rushed into making a quick lane change. And realize that there are a lot of idiot drivers out there and slow down and allow them to cut in front of you, even last minute. Don't try to squeeze them out because they are inconsiderate jerks. If you're towing a load it's simply going to take you longer to get there. But I've said it before... if I'm on relatively flat, straight, empty road late at night with no weather then I'm cruising the speed limit.

 

[brianinca]

I've wanted an Opus 2 for a while now, my wife is just laughing at me right now. I want to take her across the Mojave, but she pointed out we can park our big trailer and drive around the desert all day. One of these days......

i went with an opus 4 for smaller form factor, big offroad maneuverability, and is under the weight restrictions of the gladiator. Tows great

 

[aj8544]

I tow a similar set up... 6000 dry. Sounds like your conscious of payload which is good. Make sure you use:
1) WDH w sway control
2) brake controller (I have Redarc pro, works great)
3) tow mirrors (I have rampage set up)

4) rear view camera ( I don’t know how I did it without it)

I usually go around 55, don’t go over 60 mph.

My wife drives the SUV behind me as a second set of eyes with that SUV.
Is it glamoing? Yes, but we wanted the second bedroom to put that 1 year old in. It’s totally worth it.

we also use it for a quiet get away when my wife or I need to work done, it’s also a great COVID hang out... don’t have to worry about friends being in the house. We live on the river so it’s nice to have people come down and have a place to go.

Curious what the tongue weight is on your setup? Have found a better trailer option (passport sl221bh). However although it is only 5100lbs dry, the listed tongue weight is 685lbs. Rubicon max hitch weight is listed as 700lbs, 765lbs for a sport max tow. Is anyone paying attention to the max hitch weights or just payload and tow capacity?(Yes I know we should be mindful of all the ratings...)

 

[Muddzy]

Curious what the tongue weight is on your setup? Have found a better trailer option (passport sl221bh). However although it is only 5100lbs dry, the listed tongue weight is 685lbs. Rubicon max hitch weight is listed as 700lbs, 765lbs for a sport max tow. Is anyone paying attention to the max hitch weights or just payload and tow capacity?(Yes I know we should be mindful of all the ratings...)

He can answer your specific question but if your potential trailer tongue weight (TW) is 700 or less then you are good, as long as you keep in mind all of the other weight specifications. I don't know where your wet weight is located on your trailer but since you are close to 700 at 685 TW, then you will have to balance your trailer's packing load so the TW doesn't increase. It shouldn't be hard to move your packing load around to get a live, sub 700TW reading on a TW scale, or even using the bathroom scale/3ft piece of wood method.

 

[KVJ]

Is the tongue weight rating of the Gladiator affected by you carrying a load in the bed, like campfire wood or generator?

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