Towing advice

[s_tartt]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

 

[GarlicDude]

Many of us with smaller trailers like the Andersen Hitch:

Weight Distribution Hitch w/ Sway Control | Andersen Hitches

Our sturdy weight distribution hitch or sway control hitch reduces any unwanted movement. It's rated up to 16,000 lbs and is available in different sizes.

andersenhitches.com

 

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Congratulations on your new trailer. We really enjoy our little rig and I hope yours brings you a lot of good adventures and great memoires.

We started out with a Trailblazer 6 cylinder, but it was a difficult chore in headwinds and impossible at over 9,000' elevation. Now with our 5.3 Tahoe we have no problems cruising at 70 mph, facing strong winds, crossing the Rockies above 11,000', controlling steep down grades like 14A in the Bighorns. To have a bigger-than-you-think-you-need tow vehicle or disbelieving a salesman's "Sure, you can tow it with that" tow vehicle has paid for itself many times over in ability and piece of mind. We have never needed an anti-sway or weight distribution hitch.

Best wishes with your rig - and of course a good part of selecting a tow vehicle is determining use. Putting on 8,000 miles a year through a number of states will require a different rig than heading 40 miles off to the lake for a week or so.

 

[RogerR]

X2 on the Andersen. Not only weight distribution but fantastic sway control. I watched a big pickup pulling a smaller trailer swaying back and forth in the wind last week with no sway control.
Andersen is light weight, easy installation. Easy on/off when hitching up.
In addition to total weight you can haul you have a limit on tongue weight. Keeping the tongue weight down with the lighter Andersen WDH is also a plus. Last one is seasonal storage, Andersen is lighter and easier to store away. Watch some youtubes on the Andersen and feel free to ask more about which WDH is best for you.

 

[Millertyme76]

I would suggest looking into your owners manual to see if the car is compatible with a WDH. There is a chance your vehicle is not designed to handle the forces of a WDH.

 

[Grumpy]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

Hope you get it all figured out,, also

 

[RogerR]

Not sure if you understand the 15% rule which actually varies a little from 12% to 15 or so. Taking the total weight of the trailer filled with clothes, tools, LP gas, water, etc. including bikes on back. Multiply by .15
times 3,500 ( which probably the listed max, not actual factory empty weight) equals 525 pounds. That weight is effectively on the back bumper which would tend to lift the front wheels a bit and make steering and front wheel braking a bit iffy and unsafe. The WDH equalizes this problem.
Your vehicle has a max internal weight limit. Adding to much weight on the back axle is a bad idea. The Andersen's lighter weight is a plus if you are maxing out your tow vehicle as it weights much less than typical bar type hitches.

 

[Ricodnte]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

Welcome! JMO:
1. Plan turns well ahead.
2. Make certain you have sway control.
3.Either have a companion or a back up camera.
3. do another dry , walk around and speak to the other campers and get ideas on the stuff you definitely want to take with you and the stuff you don’t need.
4. RELAX.. it is definitely an experiential learning curve.

 

[Dave A]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

You've gotten some pretty good recommendations here so far. I would also add running your rig across scales when you have it all loaded up and get all your axel weights just so you can be sure where you're at.

 

[ColoradoBit]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

Welcome to the channel! I towed a Jay Flight 195RB with a 2006 VW Toureg V6 for on and off 8 years. Although the Atlas fits the specs I suggest looking for an upgraded tow vehicle in the future. All the advice here as been great and I have heavily leaned on the experience in the chats. The ratings rely of horsepower and mass distribution, they do not take into account physics. Between wind forces, elevation and road conditions I found that a larger than needed tow is always a good choice.

All that being said, I towed a similar rig for years with few issues. I did go through a ton of breaks.

Good Luck and Welcome.

 

[Skyline]

Assuming everything is mechanically sound, at 3500 of your 5000 capacity you are well within the limits your vehicle was designed for . Happy towing!

 

[Marksdad]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

X2 Mutthauler plus my then newbie experience......2016 we drove our 6cyl Santa Fe, same tow Specs as your VW, to Denver then hooked on a 16 ft Jayco Feather rental for 4 weeks CO, UT, etc. No problems. 2020 decided to buy 2018 Jayco Hybrid 19XUD for 8 weeks FL CA adventure. 19XUD GVWR as yours. No tow problems I figured.

HAHA Dummy.......

First test drive on I-75 near Tampa I could definitely tell something was chasing me. Found myself behind an 18-wheeler at 60mph. OK, I'll see if I can pass him at 65.......duh. Half way around I hit his wind gust and could feel the rig begin to fishtail. Fortunately light traffic, plus 18 driver saw what was happening and hit his brakes so I could ease thru the sway. I couldn't wait to find the next exit.

Lesson learned....DO NOT PUSH the TT or TV specs.

Parked the Santa FE and shopped for a TV with way more umph than I required. Found a low mileage 2007 Navigator with every bell and whistle available that year, inc. HD tow package and air suspension, that boosted the 6500lbs rating to 9400. Then on conservative side, added anti-sway WDH The 8 weeks towing thru western mountains with passes to 11k was easy-peasy. Still have both Tank and Trailer.

My 2 cents.....I'd never again come even close to matching the specs. For me MORE is Better.....much easier on my nervous system, and definitely makes travel more pleasurable.

Good Luck

 

[JFlightRisk]

Here's some articles on google about a WDH on an Atlas. Some good, some questionable.

Google Search

 

[Skyline]

I don’t know if there are recommended specifications as to the dimensions of the trailer when towing. By the name Jay Feather it’s obvious it was made to be light weight. Its size vs light weight makes it more susceptible to crosswinds. For example a 3500# car on a trailer would have totally different towing dynamics. All 3500# trailers are not created equal. Definitely something to consider.

 

[Mikemc423]

I would suggest looking into your owners manual to see if the car is compatible with a WDH. There is a chance your vehicle is not designed to handle the forces of a WDH.

I'm pretty sure my TV, '21 4Runner, is NOT compatible with a WDH. I did have already a friction sway bar from my popup. Works just as well on my X17Z.

 

[Mbana]

Hello! Total newbie here. We just purchased our first camper and now own a 2016 Jayco Jay Feather 7 with a GVWR of 3500lbs. I drive a Volkswagen Atlas AWD V6 with tow package / towing capacity of 5000lbs. We took the camper out for the first time over the weekend and did try to pack 15% of the weight at the tongue hitch like I read. You can definitely feel the camper back there and we plan to go to Camper World and get an anti sway hitch this weekend. Is there anything else I should consider? Thanks!

2 yrs ago I purchased a Jayco 195rb 4000lb max weight and tow with a v6 Kia Sorento. WITHOUT A DOUBT GET A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH WITH ANTI SWAY and Don’t go over 60mph!!
We went to Tenn to Kentucky and home to Massachusetts. And while it did well
When those truck come it can be nerve wracking and you know that anti sway is working hard back there.
I now upgraded to a f150 truck and don’t even know it’s behind me at 65.
Night and day
Be smart and stay under 60
State laws like VA also say 55 is the max speed when towing with trailer

 

[Willey]

Hollander is Spot On. Used my V6 Grand Cherokee with a 3k+load Himmingbird to Glacier from VA. Headwinds and drag taxed the driveline in power /RPM over 60, and mountain travel was unsatisfactory. Switched to a F150 5.0. Much better handling and trailer, doesn’t push me around on rough highways, and can load up the truck with necessary but seldom used equipment, bins for extra clothes, boots, dry goods, drinking water, cooler, whatever. Tacked the Rockies both ways, just adding a trans cooler.