We bought a camper! (Towing question/help please!!!)

[GoBraves95]

Hi all. My wife and I just put a non refundable deposit down on a camper that comes in at 4200 pounds dry.

Here it is for anyone who is curious:
https://heartlandrvs.com/rv-model/trail-runner-199bhs/


Like I said, it comes in at about 4200 pounds dry. I have a Sport S 3.6 with the 8 speed and the towing package (NOT THE MAX TOW). It is rated for 6000 pounds towing.

I wanted to be a little lighter weight on the trailer, but we locked this one down for just under 18, which is a pretty awesome deal if I am not wrong. We were in that price range looking at much worse trailers. Plus, it has some features that really change the game for us. We have a newborn and have been struggling with where we would put the pack and play. The folding bunk solves that issue.

I am a little worried about not only towing capacity but also payload. Could anyone with experience chime in and (hopefully) put my mind at ease? I do plan on a WDH and a brake controller. I have to find those in a brick and mortar store, since we pick up the camper saturday. Thank you very much for your insight!!

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[RudeJeepin]

The dealer should have the WDH, most are adjustable these days. Last camp trailer I got the dealer to throw in the hitch as a package deal. They sat it up and had it all adjusted and ready to go when we picked up the trailer.
Don't forget sway control also. Some wdh have sway control built in, some don't.

The usual brake controllers take a bit of time to install. Unless you do the Bluetooth one, but then you need your phone or some other device at your finger tips to adjust the power gain and potentially hit the panic/override button.

 

[Rokon]

Nice trailer but I don't think you will like towing it. Pretty easy to load up a camper to gross and it is big.
Start adding up realistic numbers for a 3 day weekend….
Actually weigh your stuff, you'll see it adds up pretty quick.
375lbs water, 40lbs propane, food, beverages, bottled water, clothes, bedding, toys (adult & kids), camp comforts. Should ask if listed tongue weight is dry or gross.
Course some can be carried in the JT… but you have to watch weight there too. People, 155lbs gasoline, WDH weight, any mods or add ons, tools, recovery gear.
The frontal area of the trailer and aero drag take their performance toll too.
Where and for how long drive should be considered. Turnpike vs secondary. Elevation and grades.
To much trailer and weight really takes the fun out of it.
If it gets ugly and your over gross your insurance company will stop taking your calls….and lawyers will be calling.
Thats my free opinion.

 

[Jefe1018]

Drive slow, be mindful of weight and take your time. You should be fine. Congrats on the purchase.

 

[Riding with Gladys]

Congrats on taking the leap. Definitely go with the wdh. Autow brake is another option that the dealer may be able to hook you up with. Otherwise redarc is pretty easy to install if you aren't afraid to get under the dash a little. Your tongue weight should be 10% of the trailer weight. Gladiator is rated for 500lbs of tongue weight. It is pretty standard to figure you will add 1000lbs to the trailer by the time you pack it up. Would leave the water tank empty if possible and fill it at your destination. Windage will impact your performance but not your stopping which is the biggest concern. Balance your load as you pack, make certain not to put too much weight behind the axle or you will be battling a lot of sway momentum.Take it easy until you get used to it and you will be cruising in no time.
Just my 2 cents

 

[MrClortho]

I tow a TT that probably runs about 4klbs loaded quite a bit with a non-tow package Gladiator. I also have another TT that weighs 7klbs and won't do that again. There are two groups of thought on this one.

One group gets stoked about how the Gladiator could actually perform the task and is super happy about it. I suggest a good weight distribution hitch with anti-sway, a brake controller is a must, and an adjustable height receiver hitch to get things dialed in. I use the Mopar brake controller (plug and play) with a Blue Ox hitch setup and never feel "unsafe". Overall, the Gladiator does the job.

The other group realizes that although the task can be accomplished and safely, it truly is an exercise in patience, lol. You will make it...eventually.

Buy snacks and a good audio book, relax, plan on the trip taking longer than you thought, ignore the other impatient drivers as you attempt to hold something close to the speed limit, manual shift the transmission to keep the rpm range happy, and maybe throw in a small gas can because it will swallow the fuel quicker than you expect. If you figure 8-10mpg, you should be safe.

 

[redriderjf87]

That's a neat trailer, I like the size. I'll be curious what you think of towing it. It's at least got the tear drop shape on the front so hopefully cuts through the wind all right.

 

[Labswine]

You'll have no problems with that trailer. Definitely get the WDH (I have the BlueOx installed and set up by the trailer dealership) and the electronic brake controller. Get the proper wiring harness and it's plug and play with the Jeep wiring.

My trailer is 27' long and around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need to take with us (tanks empty...) and my Overland handles it just fine. Pic below.

I would strongly suggest shifting manually. I shift up usually around 2,500 RPMs and once I get to cruising speed, NOT GREATER than 65 MPH, I'm in 7th around 2,100 RPMs. I almost never see 8th unless I'm going down hill. When my speed drops below around 58 MPH, I drop back to 6th at around 2,600-2,800 RPMs until I get back to 65 MPH or crest the hill. I average around 13 MPGs towing.

Also, mirrors, I bought the extension ones for the JK on Amazon then bought the adapters from a guy on here, Thorne Engineering (look up the thread in this forum), and they work awesome!!!

Good luck and enjoy

 

[smlobx]

I’m going to agree with everyone else about the WDH and brake controller. Both are absolute musts. Also, as some have mentioned try to keep your packing to a minimum. Things like water can be eliminated until you get to the campsite.
I would suggest a couple of short trips if possible until you get comfortable with how the rig handles. Take it slow, drive with your lights on and enjoy.

 

[GoBraves95]

You'll have no problems with that trailer. Definitely get the WDH (I have the BlueOx installed and set up by the trailer dealership) and the electronic brake controller. Get the proper wiring harness and it's plug and play with the Jeep wiring.

My trailer is 27' long and around 5,100 lbs with all we want or need to take with us (tanks empty...) and my Overland handles it just fine. Pic below.

I would strongly suggest shifting manually. I shift up usually around 2,500 RPMs and once I get to cruising speed, NOT GREATER than 65 MPH, I'm in 7th around 2,100 RPMs. I almost never see 8th unless I'm going down hill. When my speed drops below around 58 MPH, I drop back to 6th at around 2,600-2,800 RPMs until I get back to 65 MPH or crest the hill. I average around 13 MPGs towing.

Also, mirrors, I bought the extension ones for the JK on Amazon then bought the adapters from a guy on here, Thorne Engineering (look up the thread in this forum), and they work awesome!!!

Good luck and enjoy

Thanks, My main concern has shifted to payload. Can you share how you manage that?

 

[Jobofly]

Nice trailer but I don't think you will like towing it. Pretty easy to load up a camper to gross and it is big.
Start adding up realistic numbers for a 3 day weekend….
Actually weigh your stuff, you'll see it adds up pretty quick.
375lbs water, 40lbs propane, food, beverages, bottled water, clothes, bedding, toys (adult & kids), camp comforts. Should ask if listed tongue weight is dry or gross.
Course some can be carried in the JT… but you have to watch weight there too. People, 155lbs gasoline, WDH weight, any mods or add ons, tools, recovery gear.
The frontal area of the trailer and aero drag take their performance toll too.
Where and for how long drive should be considered. Turnpike vs secondary. Elevation and grades.
To much trailer and weight really takes the fun out of it.
If it gets ugly and your over gross your insurance company will stop taking your calls….and lawyers will be calling.
Thats my free opinion.

It will tow it just fine. A lot of people on here think that the Gladiator shouldn't tow more than 1000lbs even though it says it can tow 6000lbs. To this posters point, i would not load it down to gross but you can easily tow it at 5000lbs. I only travel with empty tanks in mine and it weighs in at 5100lbs + or - 150lbs with all of out food and clothing.

 

[LANGeek]

 

[Labswine]

Thanks, My main concern has shifted to payload. Can you share how you manage that?

I just put things I need in the front pass through. I'm guessing around 150 lbs of stuff (the heaviest is a piece of green fake grass carpet (6' x' 13') I put down when we're set up). The rest is distributed through out the camper. The fridge is aft of the axles as well as most of the storage for dry goods and dishes and the like. We travel light. Just food we want, and clothing which doesn't weigh much. If we bring a flat of bottled water, it actually sits over the axles under the dining table.

I actually measured droop when hooked up prior to engaging the WDH bits and pieces. With JUST the trailer, I measured a drop of around 1.5" (measured the bottom of the receiver to the ground). Hooked up the WDH and my drop was only 3/4". My trailer has a 'stated' tongue weight of 420 lbs. My WDH alone is like 45 lbs so, add all that up plus the extra weight in the front pass through and I'm still below the tongue weight limit for my truck. Plus, the WDH actually transfers some of that weight foreward on the truck and aft on the trailer to try and even things out.

 

[GoBraves95]

Well, I drove around what felt like my whole state today, but I ended up with a redarc pro brake controller and the harness for the normal price, and then an Andersen hitch for 300 dollars.

 

[GoBraves95]

Just a thought. Does removing my freedom panels and having my sunrider installed increase payload? ??

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