Towing a 29BHS with a......

[NLCobra]

I was driving around today & while stopped at a light I saw a guy coming through the intersection towing a 29BHS G2 probbaly 2009 or 2010 being towed by what I thought was an older Tundra. I thought the truck was a little light for that trailer but when I went caught up to it a few minutes later it was actually being towed by a V6 Tacoma.....yikes. I think they're only rated for 6500 max and I have no idea how much he must have been over with his payload as he had 2 or 3 kids in the back & the bed of the truck was full as well and obviiously sagged. I struggled with the idea of getting my 28BHS with my non-max tow F150.

[Crabman]

Yep, the longer you camp the more of this you see. I have seen some strange combinations both on the road and pulling into Campgrounds.

[usmc616]

We camped over the 4th of July. Most folks left the CG on the 4th, we were departing on the 5th. I watched all different types of TT/TV combo's as they passed me on their way out the CG.

[NLCobra]

Yes, the more you read and hopefully educate yourself on the do's & don'ts the more you notice what other people are doing. Some setups seems marginal then there are others like Mr. Tacoma that seem really out to lunch. While campping last week I also saw a Honda Ridgeline with its 5000 lb towing capacity towing a 26BH.

I blame some of it on the trailer salepeople who will almost never tell someone their vehicle is not capable of towing whatever trailer they're looking at.

One really up-front local dealer I know told me a story about a guy with an Explorer Sport Track who wanted to buy a 26BH Zinger off him and he wouldn't sell it to him because of his TV. The guy went somewhere else & bought a comparable trailer and didn't make it 50 miles outside of town before ending up on his roof with the trailer & TV destroyed. By some miracle no one was seriously hurt.

[jeeperx2]

Camping this weekend I saw a similar set up on a larger scale -A ram 1500 pulling an eagle 324bhds! I havent looked at the rams tow rating but im guessing thats overloaded .

[TexasA&M]

Many/most of the new half tons have tow ratings near or over 10k lbs (if properly equipped), so there is a good chance that the Ram you saw was within it's limits. Still not necessarily ideal, but not necessarily overloaded either.

[tjdrew]

I tow my 2004 JayFlight 29FBS with a 2008 F-150 crewcab 5.4 3.73 and it surprisingly tows pretty well. I am sure there are people who would say I am overloaded, but the tow rating is 8800# and the loaded trailer is 8000# with a max of 8500#GVW. I would prefer a little lighter unit but I got a great deal on it and love it once on site.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by TexasA&M

Many/most of the new half tons have tow ratings near or over 10k lbs (if properly equipped), so there is a good chance that the Ram you saw was within it's limits. Still not necessarily ideal, but not necessarily overloaded either.

Your correct about the 1/2 tons having high tow ratings, but often they go over their low Cargo Capacity Weight limits do to the heavy loaded tongue weight of the larger/heavier TT's.

Bob

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by tjdrew

I tow my 2004 JayFlight 29FBS with a 2008 F-150 crewcab 5.4 3.73 and it surprisingly tows pretty well. I am sure there are people who would say I am overloaded,.....snip

Tjdrew,

Welcome to the Jayco forums.

You may or may not be over your TV's weight limits, only a CAT scale can confirm your weights. What many folks don't know is that the published tow ratings are based on the particular base model vehicle's "curb weight", so these tow ratings can be a little misleading.
http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=3866

Bob

[tjdrew]

thanks Rustic Eagle. I agree with the misleading tow ratings. I figure there is a 10% fudge factor in either direction and I am on the lower side. I have seen some pretty crazing towing set ups.

I drive slow and alway in control. The brakes on the Jay Flight rock and could stop me on thier own and I keep the sway control good and tight. Thankfully no white knuckles as of today

[villain2000]

I have been towing for only a little over a year now, but I feel like I have learned so much. Why? Because I became a student of it. I talked to experenced people. I did countless hours of internet research. I watched Youtube videos. Then, I took all those things I learned and applied them to my real life towing experinces. My number one goal in doing this was to keep my family safe when travelling. You have to wonder what these people could possibly be thinking. A Tacoma towing a rig like that lacks so many things. Horsepower, transmission capability, weight, wheelbase, suspension, brakes. Hopefully his transmission went out before he got too far. It would be a case of fate saving someone from their own stupidity.

[newrvguy68]

I was very hesitant to buy the TT I did and it's only a 26BH, to tow behind my Avalanche, yet I see so many people towing much larger trailers with what seems to be a very inadequate TV and wonder how they do it. I can't imagine an enjoyable drive with some of the setups I've encountered.

[cekkk]

Well, Cobra, clearly the weight police were slacking. If they aren't around to guide you, just ask your RV salesman if a TV can handle a rig. Seriously though, I think you're pretty wise to be concerned with overloading. Welcome.