now i have to worry about wheel base

[dragonquilt]

My hubby and I are looking to buy a TT and were looking at the surveyor 294 (since we also will have a daughter and 2 grandkids camping with us). We have a Tacoma 4x4 double cab, can tow 6500, hitch weight can be max 650. From reading posts I now have to worry about wheel base to figure if my tacoma can even pull the TT. I am lost. It seemed so easy, find a TT lite enough to be below 6500 "with stuff". Now i am not so sure we know anything about buying a camper. Wanted a TT big enough that I don't have to fold up/down dinette now don't know if I can tow anything bigger than a pop up with my truck. Really need some help with this

[LadyWindrider]

Well, you didn't mention your wheelbase, but the rule of THUMB is "wheelbase in inches divided by 5 will give you the max trailer length in feet." Will you break any laws by going over, no you won't, but sway may become a problem. Will need a good "anti sway" hitch, regardless of length. Good luck with your search.

[dragonquilt]

I don't even know what wheel base is. I have seen long TT being pulled by SUV's, Vans, and trucks. Also read all about gear ratios and other "number" that I have no idea what they are or where to find them. I suddenly feel very lost.

[tcalhoun777]

for wheel base, measure from the center of the front tire to the center of the rear tire .......

[donn]

You do realize that that trailer is OVER 33 feet long and has a GVWR of OVER 7500 pounds don't you? Minimum truck I would ever consider for that trailer is a 3/4 ton. You are going to be waaaayyy under truck for that trailer IMHO. Forget wheel base concerns, think trailers in the 25 foot range or think a lot more truck.

[milzat]

This may help on what wheel base is. Center of front axle-to-center of rear most axle.

[dragonquilt]

guess we know even less than we were thinking. will soon be looking for a new truck, then a TT. thanks to all of you for the replies and info.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by donn

You do realize that that trailer is OVER 33 feet long and has a GVWR of OVER 7500 pounds don't you? Minimum truck I would ever consider for that trailer is a 3/4 ton. You are going to be waaaayyy under truck for that trailer IMHO. Forget wheel base concerns, think trailers in the 25 foot range or think a lot more truck.

Donn is right. The 294 on FRs specs shows 33' overall length, a quick Google search on the net for Toyota Tacoma wheelbase came up with 127.8 for a double cab standard bed which would equate out to a maximum trailer length of 25'.

As a sobering example of what can happen. A friends sister bought a 26' travel trailer last week and she intended to use her Land Rover discovery to pull it. She spent more than $800 on a good WD hitch and air bags for the rear suspension. Per the manual for the Land Rover the trailer was within the weight limits for towing but since the Discovery has short wheelbase (100") it is not what I would call "capable" of towing that trailer. Per wheelbase recomendations she should not have towed over a 20' trailer. On her way home with it on I5 near Tacoma Washington the wind from a passing semi shoved the trailer, the tail wagged the dog and she lost control. The trailer which she hadn't even loaded or used yet is destroyed.

Hard lesson learned in selecting the right tow vehicle or RV for the tow vehicle. Don't let this be you. Look for a shorter trailer or a bigger tow vehicle.

[grhodes50]

NWJeeper,

First of all, I hope your friend's sister wasn't injured in the accident.

That's learning the hard way. Hopefully others will read your post and avoid having that happen to them.

[skeeterbait8]

It looks like after reading this that I'll be doing only short trips - in fair weather towing. I knew that I was pushing it using our 2002 Silverado, but we can't afford to buy another truck. NO way. NOW I knew that we were pushing it toward the limit of our tow capacity, but now to really read and understand WHY it isn't so good to use our short wheelbase truck..... This scares me. So far so good. WE have had it on the interstate (coming home with it), and towing on the 4 lane here (that is all there is other than our approach road). So far I've not had any problems. Sorta glad now that we did cancel that trip up to Fries from here. I'd been a nervous wreck the whole time.

[donn]

skeeterbait8
There are some options if you are concerned about it. Look up Hensley towing products. The Hensley Arrow has some good reviews and it very useful for marginal towing situations I understand. While not ideal it might be a solution to give you some peace of mind.

[NWJeeper]

Originally Posted by grhodes50

NWJeeper,

First of all, I hope your friend's sister wasn't injured in the accident.

That's learning the hard way. Hopefully others will read your post and avoid having that happen to them.

Thanks for the concern, she is fine, luckily the TV stayed on it's wheels but the trailer is another story. It stayed attached the entire time so the WD setup is all bent up. The State Patrol said he was glad she invested in the hitch at least as it kept it from being much worse for the others on the road around her.

[MtnGuy]

skeeterbait8, what trailer do you have ?? A Silverado, especially a crew or super cab ought to have a pretty long wheebase.

[skeeterbait8]

Short wheelbase 02 Silverado, 4.3 V6 Vortec pulling 07 Roo 23ss. I know that on the hills around here it handles it just fine. I've not tried to break any land speed record, and it breaks just fine (installed new Prodigy II break control system).Not exactly a powerhouse going up hill, but I don't try to push it for speed. I don't lug it but I keep a steady pace. Hubby is wanting to buy a newer truck, but right now there is no way. Maybe if we win the lottery!

[MtnGuy]

skeeterbait8, I am usually the naysayer around here concerning TV wheelbase to total trailer length ratio. The shortest wheel-based Silverado (Regular cab, short bed) that I could find was listed as a 119". According a popular calculation (truck wheelbase in inches divided by 5 = maximum overall trailer length), that puts you right around 24'. The Roo 23ss has a listed length of 24'6". That ain't too far off. If you had a lighter truck, then that difference might be a concern, but a Silverado is a full sized truck.

[skeeterbait8]

Whew! That makes me not worry so much. I always use the sway bar with it, just in case. We do have a lot of truck traffic on this road, but hardly ever am I going slow enough for them to pass me. NOW if it was the speed limit of the interstate it could be a different story.

I really like my short wheelbase truck. I like the ease of putting it anywhere I want with out any trouble.

I do have to confess something though. Driving something BIG doesn't bother me either. Although it's been a few years I used to drive "tractor/trailer"... and of all things I pulled a "Bull Wagon"! Grew up with horses so having to muck out stalls isn't any worse then cleaning up after cattle. Best thing was that the smell was always behind me! Felt sorry for those following though. hehehe

Thanks for the info mtnguy. I hadn't gone out to check out the book on our truck to see exactly what the base is.

[grhodes50]

skeeterbait8,
Here's the chart mtnguy has generously posted many times.

110" 20' ******* 150" 30'
114" 21' ******* 154" 31'
118" 22' ******* 158" 32'
122" 23' ******* 162" 33'
126" 24' ******* 166" 34'
130" 25' ******* 170" 35'
134" 26' ******* 174" 36'
138" 27' ******* 178" 37'
142" 28' ******* 182" 38'
146" 29' ******* 186" 39'

Hope this helps you.

[skeeterbait8]

I just had been to lazy to go out and

#1. look it up in the book
or
#2. get out the tape measure


Thanks, I'll keep that in mind when we do go hunting for a newer truck. Again, Thanks!

[MrT]

Originally Posted by dragonquilt

guess we know even less than we were thinking. will soon be looking for a new truck, then a TT. thanks to all of you for the replies and info.

You might think about doing that in reverse: That is, choose your trailer, and then the tow vehicle. Speaking from some recent experience, I am probably at the limits of what I should be towing (wheelbase wise etc.) with mine, even though all the weight numbers are in line.

[The_Stuff]

even taking it easy on the highway i noticed the sway in my trailer on the highway. 42' trailer w/ ford super duty long box crew cab wb of 14'6" (which is actually too short for the spec chart grhodes posted)