Towing Problems

[simty04]

We purchased a 31 foot rockwood travel trailer in the fall and are towing it with a 2014 yukon XL. We had a horrible time pulling it empty home from the dealership and and home from our storage barn this spring. I towed it full with water and our things for our first camping trip and it pulled great. On the way home from our trip last weekend it was swaying and pulled poorly again. I had purchased an E2 round bar hitch system which was recommended by the RV dealer. I am not sure what to do to help the pulling of our travel trailer. Any one had similar issues? Should I be pulling with a equalizer hitch with a sway bar? Thanks in advance for input!

[Crusadernoob]

If it pulled great with water and "stuff" you need to pay attention to where the load is. Is the water tank ahead of the axles, all storage ahead of the axle? My point is are you increasing or decreasing the tongue weight. Many threads on this topic.

[elchilero53]

Originally Posted by simty04

We purchased a 31 foot rockwood travel trailer in the fall and are towing it with a 2014 yukon XL. We had a horrible time pulling it empty home from the dealership and and home from our storage barn this spring. I towed it full with water and our things for our first camping trip and it pulled great. On the way home from our trip last weekend it was swaying and pulled poorly again. I had purchased an E2 round bar hitch system which was recommended by the RV dealer. I am not sure what to do to help the pulling of our travel trailer. Any one had similar issues? Should I be pulling with a equalizer hitch with a sway bar? Thanks in advance for input!

Since you didn't say what model of Rockwood you had, I looked at the weights for similar models of Rockwood Ultralights and you are at the limit of your tow capacity of the 2014 Yukon XL. The dry weight of the trailer is about 7300 TP 7700 lbs. The max tow rating for the Yukon XL is about 8200 lbs (without passengers or gear). You add water to that trailer and there is a good chance you are over weight. I would check it on a scale. You may need a new tow vehicle. And yes, you do need a Weight-Distributing Hitch with a Sway Controller, though your Yukon probably has Stabilitrack and a sway dampener but that doesn't replace the Sway Control Bar.

[Bluepill]

1. A good W/D hitch with sway control. Don't skimp on this item!

2. Correct tire pressures

3. Correct tongue weight

4. SUV and trailer within weight specs.

[davel1971]

not a good tow vehicle for that much trailer. SUVs are people movers, and have soft suspension for the nice ride they have. A properly equipped 1/2 ton truck would yield a much better ride.

[RSchleder]

I agree!! I'm not a member of the weight police, however, you are asking your current tow vehicle to do a bit too much. You actually need a 1/2 ton pickup with a trailer towing package, a towing capability of over 10,000 lbs and a hauling capacity of 1,400+ lbs. Also, a good WDH like a Blue Ox Sway Pro will be your friend!

[simty04]

Originally Posted by Crusadernoob

If it pulled great with water and "stuff" you need to pay attention to where the load is. Is the water tank ahead of the axles, all storage ahead of the axle? My point is are you increasing or decreasing the tongue weight. Many threads on this topic.

The fresh water tank is behing the axles. which would tell me that with no fresh water in the tank it would be better on tongue weight?

[simty04]

Originally Posted by elchilero53

Since you didn't say what model of Rockwood you had, I looked at the weights for similar models of Rockwood Ultralights and you are at the limit of your tow capacity of the 2014 Yukon XL. The dry weight of the trailer is about 7300 TP 7700 lbs. The max tow rating for the Yukon XL is about 8200 lbs (without passengers or gear). You add water to that trailer and there is a good chance you are over weight. I would check it on a scale. You may need a new tow vehicle. And yes, you do need a Weight-Distributing Hitch with a Sway Controller, though your Yukon probably has Stabilitrack and a sway dampener but that doesn't replace the Sway Control Bar.

We purchased a Rockwood ultralight 8312ss. According to the trailer the dry weight was 6950# and we are able to pull 8500 per our manual. I know we are probobly close on weight but thought we would be ok. We have the E2 weight distribution system and that has no additional sway bar.

[stevensmith2859]

I was also sold the same bill of goods from my dealership about my avalanche having now problems in pulling my 28DBUD Wildwood. Needless to say, after a few white knuckle events and a blown tranny, my wife and I had to upgrade to a Ram 1500 with a 5.7 Liter Hemi....A lot of times, just because it says it can handle it, doesn't mean it can.....Kind of like people who need a 2x shirt, but can fit in a medium, just because its fits, doesn't mean it fits.

[fonzie]

Here are some threads on towing with a Yukon....

https://www.google.ca/search?q=yukon...X1B5GsyALgsKNY

[Flybob]

Lots of comments here on what the manual says it can tow. In the majority of the cases you run out of load capacity long before you run out of tow capacity. Check the load capacity on the yellow drivers door sticker. Subtract the weight of passengers and equipment in the TV and 100 lbs for the hitch. This is the max tongue weight.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by simty04

We purchased a Rockwood ultralight 8312ss. According to the trailer the dry weight was 6950# and we are able to pull 8500 per our manual. I know we are probobly close on weight but thought we would be ok. We have the E2 weight distribution system and that has no additional sway bar.

One of your problems is that your using the E2, for a 31' TT.

NO WAY you should be using that WDH, on a short wheelbase SUV and a trailer that long.
Your dealer should have set you up with the real Equal-i-zer 4 point WDH for your combo.
The E2 is fine for shorter and lighter trailers but only has 2 pt sway control vs the 4 pt sway control of the better one.

[DocGTO]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

1. A good W/D hitch with sway control. Don't skimp on this item!

2. Correct tire pressures

3. Correct tongue weight

4. SUV and trailer within weight specs.

THIS^^^^^

You can make it work well but in the end, you are asking a lot from your Yukon. My buddy had a Yukon and didnt check the air pressures and they were 15psi off of max for towing and his sway control was not tightened down correctly. We adjust both and reduced sway by 60-70%.

[shorthorn]

My experience pulling a 30' light weight TT with a Chevy 1/2 ton pickup was miserable. It had enough motor to pull it, and as long as I was the only one in the cab of the truck I wasn't over weight, but towing it was an aweful experience.

Light weight 30' trailers, in my experience, are hard to keep straight as they don't have as much weight to plant them to the ground to combat the forces pushing on the long sides of them.

I was using an Equilizer 4 pt hitch. I upgraded the trucks tires to E load and I was never remotely comfortable towing that trailer until I went up to the 3/4 ton diesel... Even then that trailer would move around some but with the long wheel base (QCLB) and weight of the 3/4 ton diesel truck it was much more comfortable to drive.

[Bama Rambler]

In addition to the things said above, make sure that the WDH is set up correctly.

If the dealer set it up, they're not known to take the utmost care in setting it up correctly. You also need to set it up with the unit loaded and ready to camp.

Also, which WDH model do you have? There are three different ratings of the E2 round bar hitch.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by bikendan

One of your problems is that your using the E2, for a 31' TT.

NO WAY you should be using that WDH, on a short wheelbase SUV and a trailer that long.
Your dealer should have set you up with the real Equal-i-zer 4 point WDH for your combo.
The E2 is fine for shorter and lighter trailers but only has 2 pt sway control vs the 4 pt sway control of the better one.

I concur. Most "local" dealers sell the Equalizer 4 point for $700+ installed- which is about $200 too high. They can overprice the E2 and make a killing and the price still be palatable to the average consumer, which is why I think they push it. You need a MINIMUM of the 4 point Equalizer or similar, such as the Blue Ox Sway Pro, Centerline, etc.

[Total Loss]

Why are folks so quick to tow at the maximum limit...or over?
I do not understand.
No margin for error usually creates error.

While I am not the "weight police", I do get away from the "overtowers" on the highway...for my own sake.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Total Loss

Why are folks so quick to tow at the maximum limit...or over?
I do not understand.
No margin for error usually creates error.

While I am not the "weight police", I do get away from the "overtowers" on the highway...for my own sake.

What if you see five "large" people in a small car? Move away from them? Cause they're likely over GVWR of the car. If you do, I find that quite "insensitive". Even loading 6 good size guys into many 1/2 ton trucks will "overload" it.

[W5CI]

I would suggest leaving the water out of the tank to Tow, then fill it up when you reach your destination only if Dry camping. the weight of the water will make a big difference in you tow experience. I have very little if any water in my tank ever.

[Total Loss]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

What if you see five "large" people in a small car? Move away from them? Cause they're likely over GVWR of the car. If you do, I find that quite "insensitive". Even loading 6 good size guys into many 1/2 ton trucks will "overload" it.

Yes.

And if you can fit 6 Large fellows into a half tom and you are overweight...you need a new 1/2 ton...

Round here, we call that "gardener style"...

And BTW- my "sensitivity" is ALWAYS in question.