Towing to Heavy

[Old Blue]

Here is a post from Dodge Talk.com about a family that was towing a 35' TT with a Dodge Durango with bad results 3 died and 2 to Hospital

http://www.wsls.com/sls/news/local/n...7_crash/13507/

http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212092
its under Ram Truck 3rd Gen
3rd Ram Towing talk
title: Please read
I thought that it might save somebody some trouble.

[Crabman]

What a horrific sight. There`s nothing left of the Durango.

[NACSKINS]

Anyone have the mobil link?

[mustang]

Thanks for sharing. It is a good reminder to us all to be careful while traveling towing our RV and more important when selecting our Rv and TV

[pjsl01]

Now I'm extra paranoid. I have an extended Envoy and a 26BH with WD hitch and friction sway control. I've only pulled it twice for about 15 miles each and both times seemed to go ok. Anyone think I'll have a problem with this rig stability wise?

Thanks for sharing!

[NACSKINS]

What's your wheel base? What's the cap of your tv? I can't see the article but from the post on the dodge forum it was longer than 30' ?

[Old Blue]

I dout that you would have a problem pjsl01 just wanted to make people aware of this. I know that a lot of people drive way to fast when pulling TT as far as I am concerned if you hit a sudden cross wind and trailer starts to whip an it has happened to me I want to get it under control as soon as I can so I dont pull anything above 60. Now with that said I know that a lot will not agree with me but I can only control what I do.

[pjsl01]

The WB is 129" and the capacity by the book is 6500#. The trailer dry is 4800# and we pack light. I don't anticipate us being over 6000# for the camper.

[NACSKINS]

I agree with old blue. Take it easy and you should be ok. Most important thing is to be cautious and aware of what happening while you are towing and what others around you are doing also. Be mindful of the weather, I always check a few hours before I leave as I'm sure most do. Use common sense and pay attention. IMO your right at the limits but if you take it easy you should be ok.

[pjsl01]

I agree that I am right at the limits. Got a good deal on the camper and couldn't pass it up. I'll definintly take it easy especially since I am new to towing and we'll have four little boys riding with us.

Thanks guys for your thoughts!

[rray32539]

Dodge Durango SUV towing a FIFTH WHEEL? I think someone is confused.

[dg1971]

You know how the news media is......

[NACSKINS]

Originally Posted by pjsl01

I agree that I am right at the limits. Got a good deal on the camper and couldn't pass it up. I'll definintly take it easy especially since I am new to towing and we'll have four little boys riding with us.

Thanks guys for your thoughts!

Good luck and have fun! I dont think there is a better thing to do with kids than family time camping!

[29BHS ECO]

Based on the pics of the wreckage one can't tell if the tt was a 5'er or whatever. S

[29BHS ECO]

I hate to say it but for all the newbies this is a perfect case of the tail waging the dog ie you have to have a tv big enough to handle the tt , Forget the gvw's, tongue weights, dryweights ect, look at what your towing add in some commone sense and look at what your towing it with.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by pjsl01

The WB is 129" and the capacity by the book is 6500#. The trailer dry is 4800# and we pack light. I don't anticipate us being over 6000# for the camper.

Towing safely I'm sure comes to the front of all our minds anytime we hear that an accident includes an RV, especially when there is loss of life.

If anyone feels that they (including myself) may be approaching the limits on our TV when towing, we should make an extra effort to insure that our TV/TT brakes, brake controller, WD hitch, sway control, tire pressures, etc., are installed, sized, and adjusted properly.

Pjsl01...., I found on the Jayco web site that a 2009 26BH specifications are GVWR 7,500lbs, UVW 4,445lbs, Dry hitch 580lbs, and the TT has an overall length of 29ft. Of course we all know that "loaded" weights are the real numbers to work with, after all who tows an empty TT.

The only consideration that you may want to consider is upgrading your sway control from a standard friction sway control arm to a Reese HP Dual Cam sway control. You will find that the standard friction sway control arm is recommended for TT's up to 25ft in length, beyond that other considerations should be incorporated.

I only reference the Reese HP Dual Cam because there is a high probability that it can be added to your existing WDH, best cost effective solution with enhanced sway control abilities. IMO the Dual Cam sway control will greatly enhance your TV's handling in less than desirable towing conditions should a sway event arise.

To put a little more piece of mind on the table, take your TV/TT to a local CAT scale to confirm your loaded weights.

Just food for thought, and safe travels.

Bob

[Denise]

OMG. How heart breaking. Wow, this is a good video/thread to direct newbies to at the forum who are questioning whether they are too heavy. How sad

[kjohn73]

Very sad.

In my line of work, I spend a fair bit of time on our highways here in Saskatchewan, and see big, long TTs being pulled at high speeds, too fast for safety. It seems that the drivers have a need to prove that their big (you fill in the make and model) pickups can pull these trailers at 120 kph.

Take it easy. You will get there.

[clutch]

What a sad thing to happen. You always see people with too little truck or too much trailer. I am a firm believer that you can't have too much truck.

[Seann45]

I will bet too little truck towing way too fast... How many people realize that ST tires are only rated to 60 mph?