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

[windrider]

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.