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Old 11-26-2016, 10:28 PM   #1
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Opinions on towing Rockwood Mini Lite with Larger SUVs

We plan to get back into camping with short trips (2-4 Weeks) with a small trailer rather than the full timing we did with our 5th wheel and motorhome. We are considering the Rockwood Mini-Lite 2304ks with a dry weight of about 4450 lbs and a payload capability of about 1400 lbs.
My question is: does anyone have an opinion or experience with this size trailer being towed by a Chev Tahoe (8500 lbs towing/1774 lbs payload) rather than the traditional truck TV? Thanks.
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Old 11-26-2016, 11:01 PM   #2
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I would prefer a Burb over the shorter wheelbase Tahoe.
My Avalanche is a Burb with a pickup bed and built on the same chassis as the Tahoe, just longer.

But with a quality WDH with integrated sway control, it should work.
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Old 11-26-2016, 11:05 PM   #3
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My first thought is short wheel base. Other than that, your ratings are better than my 2009 Silverado 1500 were (7500 lbs towing/1511 lbs payload). I had no problems pulling my 2503S in the midwest, but I wasn't looking forward to any kinds of real mountains with it. I took some problems with the 1500 as an opportunity to get a 2500HD.
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Old 11-26-2016, 11:57 PM   #4
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I pull our 2504s (4900lbs) with my Nissan Armada and it pulls fine.
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Old 11-27-2016, 01:25 PM   #5
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Pay attention to payload first and then towing capability. An SUV with a 1/2 ton chassis should be OK. Any SUV with lighter chassis is likely to be both under powered and overweight is close to it. Even a medium sized crew cab truck like my old Tacoma would be borderline capable.
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Old 11-27-2016, 01:31 PM   #6
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We have a 2016 2304KS that we tow with a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. We have put about 7,000 miles on it with no towing problems. We haven't tried towing through mountains yet ?
Your Taho has a larger towing capacity than the Pathfinder, so you really shouldn't have any problems.
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Old 11-27-2016, 01:55 PM   #7
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I agree with the other comments regarding the short wheelbase. I think a Suburban or Yukon XL would be better. I tow our Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite, 8315BSS with a 2010 GMC Yukon XL, 2500 with no problems.

Good luck. Welcome back.
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Old 11-27-2016, 02:00 PM   #8
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I towed a 21frbs (4000 lb) for 9000 miles with a 2013 (FWD) PATHFINDER. no problem but I wouldn't want to do the rockies.
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Old 11-27-2016, 02:40 PM   #9
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I pull a 2109s with a Yukon. Pulled 7000 mile trip this year with no problems.
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Old 11-27-2016, 04:13 PM   #10
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Our friend has told a 26 foot Sunnybrook travel trailer with the Tahoe for the past 10 years with no trouble whatsoever. We've been through all the Canadian Maritime provinces. We told it all around the Great Lakes. Her trailer weighs about 54 or 5500 pounds.
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Old 11-27-2016, 04:14 PM   #11
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TOW ED not told
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Old 11-27-2016, 04:17 PM   #12
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2500 HD would most likely be overkill for that small trailer.
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Old 11-27-2016, 04:51 PM   #13
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Towing with a Tahoe

I tow my Micro Lite 25DKS with a 2011 Tahoe (5.3L engine and all the heavy duty towing options) and it tows great. I assume you are using a WD hitch. If not, you should get one. You'll be glad you did. I would also recommend that you get two anti-sway bars. The shorter vehicle wheel base pretty much demands it. We have towed thousands of miles with our set-up and we love it! Good luck with your new camper!
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Old 11-27-2016, 05:41 PM   #14
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A properly equipped Tahoe will tow your trailer with no problems. We tow a 25 ft SolAire 20RBS with a dry weight of 4410 lbs (add 283 lbs with a full tank of water) with our 2014 Tahoe and it runs fine (it does have the HD Tow Package and a tow rating of 8200 lbs). Even with what we usually carry the weight doesn't exceed 6000 lbs max. We stay away from really long steep climbs in the Rockies (mainly because it's slow and hard on gas mileage) but the Tahoe will tow it. The newer models have a little higher tow rating but not by much. With a WDH and sway control, you will be fine. One of the guys at my Chevy dealership said there is a new model of truck and SUV come next year with tow capacities around 12,000 lbs centered around a re-engineered drive train. Probably cost an arm, a leg and your first-born child (or grandchild).

The next vehicle will probably be a 2500HD, so we can upgrade to a larger trailer, though.

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Old 11-27-2016, 05:52 PM   #15
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I've pulled both a 4400 lb loaded Mini Lite and a 7300 lb loaded Ultra Lite with our 8500 lb rated Tahoe. Put heavier rated tires on the rear and a good hitch and you'll be fine. Mileage and trans temp were almost identical with both trailers although I find that the larger trailer actually pulls better for some reason.
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Old 11-27-2016, 07:10 PM   #16
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I have been following this forum ever since I was contemplating selling my pop-up and buying a 21 ft. FR Surveyor SV210, back in April. I pulled my rather heavy pop-up with two different Toyota Sienna's, a 2000 and a 2006, with no problems for 10 years.
My next statement is the most important statement I will ever make on this forum...without this forum, I would be entering this abyss with a blindfold on. It has been invaluable and continues to be my go to source for all things RV !!! There seems to be a tendency to sway ultra conservative in one direction or pull a 40 footer with a subaru in the other direction. All I can tell you is that I have now pulled my 21 footer Surveyor through the white mountains of Vermont and down Interstate 81 to Myrtle Beach SC from Knowlton Quebec Canada with zero issues, travelling at 62-65 mph on the flat and 58-61 mph on long upgrades. And, by the way, I am pulling my 3250 lb. empty trailer (aprox. 4200 lbs. loaded) with a 2016 Kia Sorento (v6) which has a 5000 lb. tow package.
I am a firm believer in the theory that the hitch is a most important factor.
My trailer came with an Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch. I had it adjusted by a knowlegable Kia technician and I also have a well adjusted braking control box.. I acknowledge that I am probably near my limit and will not attempt to cross the Rocky's with this combination, but I would not be afraid to travel just about anywhere else in the US or Canada. I am sure that some will consider me very lucky but I know that my combination is safe.
PS: Read as much as you can on this forum, ask as many questions as you need to, and you will be fine.
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Old 11-27-2016, 08:36 PM   #17
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I pulled a Wildwood 28dbud (5847 dry, around 7500 loaded, tongue weight just over 800, 30 feet long) using a Husky Centerline TS weight distribution anti sway hitch with a 2013 Tahoe HD towing package. I was just under my max cargo number with the tongue weight, four family members, and the two big dogs in the Tahoe and, as you can see, not far off of the max tow weight. The hitch performed beautifully. I really like the fact that you can back up without unhooking anything. Did not have any problems with bouncing or sway, so as long as you have a decent hitch the shorter wheelbase of a Tahoe vs a Suburban shouldn't be a problem. As long as the road was flat or only had moderate hills it pulled just fine. I got an average of 8.2 mpg on a recent 2000 mile trip (I live in TX). However, after going up the mountains in norther AZ and New Mexico this summer I traded up to a f250 with the 6.7L. The trailer you are looking at is lighter than mine but I thought I would share my experience towing with a Tahoe.
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Old 11-27-2016, 11:28 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChillinOut View Post
My question is: does anyone have an opinion or experience with this size trailer being towed by a Chev Tahoe (8500 lbs towing/1774 lbs payload) rather than the traditional truck TV? Thanks.
As shown in my sig, we've used a 2005 Durango with a 5.8L Hemi V8 to pull our Shamrock 21DK. According to truck scales, we were within payload capacity. Weights for both are very similar to your TV/trailer combo. FWIW, Durango model years 2005-2007 were a traditional frame, I believe.

While I never felt at serious risk, we definitely were under the influence of headwinds from trucks and other large vehicles. When the tires needed to be replaced I switched to LTs and got a little benefit. Even so, the short wheelbase of the Durango meant we still got pushed around. We also struggled with high transmission temps on long grades.

The Durango was aging so we just replaced it with an 145" WB F150 SCrew. I haven't even had a chance to take the trailer out, yet. The F150 CCC (1736) is only a few hundred pounds more than the Durango but I anticipate major handling improvements due to the length difference (145" vs 119" wheelbase). It also has a 3.5L EB. The torque of that engine leads me to expect no problems pulling anything having a tongue weight that doesn't exceed the payload capacity.

In short, I think you'll be fine if the drive train power is adequate for pulling in the terrain where you'll travel. You won't feel as in control as you did in your bigger vehicles. I liken the experience to a comparison between a small private plane and a 747. Both are safe but the pilot of the small plane probably is far more sensitive to wind and aware of the power limitations.
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Old 11-28-2016, 05:59 PM   #19
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Thanks to everyone who helped me with this question. While I haven't bought one yet, I'll be getting a quality weight distribution hitch and serious sway control. I won't skimp on that for sure.
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Old 11-28-2016, 09:51 PM   #20
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Be sure that GCVWR is not exceeded. You will find that many vehicles max tow rating can't be safely attained if you loaded tow vehicle to max payload. Differential ratio and transmission cooling should be also investigated. You should have more capability than you actually tow. Good luck.
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