towing

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vicjen
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Joined: 07/22/2014 - 19:35
I have had 8 travel trailers

I have had 8 travel trailers in my life time I found using a weight distributing hitch is the easiest and safest way to tow. We bought a 16 ft deluxe and tow it with a chevy uplander. I towed it home from 200 miles away with just a regular hitch it was OK but the backend of the van sunk 3 inches. The front raised 2 inches in the front. I needed a taller hitch anyway. So we bought a weight distribution hitch with a sway bar for $250.After installing and setting up, the rear is 1/2" low and the front is 3/8" higher than un hooked. The bars are max 500lb the lightest I could find. The trailer tongue is right on 21".It does not matter how we load the trailer or the van it remains even. This gives my front wheel drive good traction and positive steering. I'm glad I went this way.

2002. 16ft Deluxe layout A
2015 Chevy Traverse LT 3.6L

Flyboyscamp
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Joined: 01/01/2014 - 15:17
Scamp Towing

Well then, maybe good cause to tow the Scamp with a full water tank too! 12 gallons at about 6 pounds per gallon, 72 pounds of help there! We tow with it full, as we too have a front wheel drive and it lowers the tongue wieght too.

<p>Doug Allen 2016 Ford F-150 2018 Lance 1575</p>

JDHaggerty
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Joined: 11/02/2013 - 20:13
Front wheel drive and towing

One of the cons about towing with a front wheel drive car is that you are trying to pull more weight than just the car itself, while at the same time some of the weight is shifted off the front wheels due to the addition of weight behind the rear axle of the tow vehicle. This makes starting up a hill on a freshly wet road especially challenging. If your tow vehicle allows a weight distribution hitch, that could be a big help in putting the weight back over the drive wheels in the front. All Wheel Drive like we have on our Subaru is also a plus in those situations. 

John/Dave and Marilyn Haggerty

2005 Scamp 16 standard side dinette

04 Dodge Dakota Quad cab 4.7

17 Dodge Durango 3.6

19 Ford Ranger Supercrew Ecoboost

 

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