Truck Wheel Base VS Trailer Length

[jwedell]

Does anyone have a rule of thumb on the trucks wheel base (standard cab short bed vs. crew cab long bed) and the length of the trailer with the Trailer GVWR being the same.

[TURBS]

That's a pretty debatable question.

Experience plays a big part!

IMO I could safely pull a much long trailer then say a newbie or someone with minimal experience.



Turbs

[RhoZeta]

Lots of debate indeed...

[RhoZeta]

Just don't ask this guy..

[TURBS]

Or this guy.

Notice he's "landed" in the wrong direction. Lol


Turbs

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

Or this guy.

Notice he's "landed" in the wrong direction. Lol


Turbs

But we have no idea what caused the accident to begin with based purely on that picture. Was it equipment failure, sideswipe, drunk driver? Any high center of gravity vehicle can be rolled over easily under the right circumstances regardless of what might or might not be behind it. I think the TV to TT length ratio's have less to do with most roll overs than the driver themselves. Too often people seem to push the envelope just to arrive a few minute earlier setting themselves up for potential problems.

[DDC]

That age old question' does size matter'.

[chuckw5kav]

In my 30 years of driving over the road I
have seen it all, the good, bad, ugly along with
idiots

I will say not all but some dealer's will sell a new
to trailer owner far more they can handle and
not lose sleep over it

If you have never pulled a trailer before or just
pulled a U-haul then you need to find someone
you know who has a trailer and talk to them
about what they have done, the in's and out's
of pulling a trailer Talk to differant dealers
and independed trailer repair shop's about
hitches, do your homework.... This form and
other camping forms is great to read advice but
reading and doing are to completely differant
things

Once you feel that you have somewhat of a
handle on what you feel is safe for you the rent
a camping trailer that you my figure is within
your capablity to pull for a short distance, do a
short camping trip.....

Remember, be safe, do not let a dealer sell you more than you think you are able to handle...If
you buy a trailer once hooked up do a walk
around, look and see if there is a sag between
the trailer and you car or truck. Look at weights,
make sure you car or truck and handle the
weight, remember when traveling down the road
you will have far more stopping distance when
hooked to that trailer than when not hooked.

I have seen to many campers doing down the road were the trailer is wagging belind the tow
vehicle, the driver holding In the steering wheel
for dear life, this is a accident just waiting to
happen...

If your travling out west make sure you have a vehicle that can slow you down going down hill
as well as uphill...The rule is that you drive down
the hill at the speed and gear that you went up
the hill in, in other if you top the hill in 3 gear at 40mph don't go down the hill at 70mph.

There wi be hot rods that tell you that am full of it and they can do such, well I have seen many of these
with loseing brakes, half way down, the DW screaming at them at
the kids hinding under the seat because they could see the accident
around the next curve about to happen...

Be Safe, drive safe and have fun

[jwedell]

The reason I asked is because at Camping World the salesman tried to sell my cousin a Cougar that was 35 ft 6 in long and he was going to pull it with a short bed regular cab ram 1500. He called and asked my opinion and I said to walk away as soon as possible. IMO that is a combination for death.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by jwedell

Does anyone have a rule of thumb on the trucks wheel base (standard cab short bed vs. crew cab long bed) and the length of the trailer with the Trailer GVWR being the same.

There are many variables to that equation (Truck weight, dual or single rear wheels, etc.). One that many people fail to consider is hitch type. I'm pulling a 34.5' trailer with a 145" WB F150 and have no sway problems because I have a ProPride 3P. I'd want something definitely less than 30', but less than 27' would be better, if going to something like an Equalizer 4 point. I'd probably never go back to a chain type WDH with friction bar by choice, but I would be fine towing a TT that was low 20's or less with one. I pulled our previous trailer, a 33.6', with an Equalizer 4 point. It never felt dangerous or caused me to feel as though I was going to lose control because of sway, even in stout winds. But it was more work when it was windy. Not much fun to tow more than a couple of hours with it windy conditions.

[Cover Dog]

I have seen this on several sites. General rule of thumb is take the trucks wheelbase and divide by 5. This is a safe length based on the trucks wheelbase.

Limiting factor will always be your payload capacity.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by Cover Dog

I have seen this on several sites. General rule of thumb is take the trucks wheelbase and divide by 5. This is a safe length based on the trucks wheelbase.

Limiting factor will always be your payload capacity.

I've heard the same and agree with your payload statement.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Cover Dog

I have seen this on several sites. General rule of thumb is take the trucks wheelbase and divide by 5. This is a safe length based on the trucks wheelbase.

Limiting factor will always be your payload capacity.

If I may expand on that a bit.

Take the TV wheelbase in inches, divide by 5, and that should be the maximum overall length in feet of a bumper pull trailer. I figure that would be SUVs and 1/2 ton trucks with properly setup WDHs and a good sway control system. 3/4 or 1 ton trucks should be able to pull a bit more length....again with WDHs and sway control.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

If I may expand on that a bit.

Take the TV wheelbase in inches, divide by 5, and that should be the maximum overall length in feet of a bumper pull trailer. I figure that would be SUVs and 1/2 ton trucks with properly setup WDHs and a good sway control system. 3/4 or 1 ton trucks should be able to pull a bit more length....again with WDHs and sway control.

That makes a lot of assumptions, but if looking for a general rule I would say that's about as close as you will get.....IF you are planning to use a standard friction based sway control system- which is everything out there besides the ProPride, Hensley Arrow, and PullRite. With one of those 3 you can throw that rule out the window as you will NOT have sway.

[DDC]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

That makes a lot of assumptions, but if looking for a general rule I would say that's about as close as you will get.....IF you are planning to use a standard friction based sway control system- which is everything out there besides the ProPride, Hensley Arrow, and PullRite. With one of those 3 you can throw that rule out the window as you will NOT have sway.

I'll echo this.

[GreenImp]

Speaking of assumptions, the OP never did mention whether he was referring to a TT or a 5th wheel, and he DID ask about a "Rule of thumb".

Those mentioning payload capacity are spot on. And on that note....the OP's cousin has a distinct advantage over most others in that he only has a standard cab and short bed...even more so if he is 2wd. All else equal (Ram 1500 of whatever year and engine etc.), less TV weight = higher payload.

Using the mentioned Rule of thumb, he would want to be about 24' max, but there are some 35' Cougars within the official towing specs of some Ram 1500's, and as mentioned above there are premium hitch setups to help with sway.

If the OP's cousin were to ask me, considering his payload advantage, I would suggest he consider going with a "1/2 ton" 5th wheel instead...especially if he "needs" to be in that length range.

[Crusadernoob]

If the OP's cousin were to ask me, considering his payload advantage, I would suggest he consider going with a "1/2 ton" 5th wheel instead...especially if he "needs" to be in that length range.



Oh boy, here we go with the 1/2 ton 5er debate!

[Canadiancrew]

After seeing this topic I knew I had seen a chart someplace and found it back. It is in here:

http://www.slaga.net/RV/How%20to%20Tow-version%202.pdf

See page 18 for a chart.

Yes its a little dated and a lot of factors are going to change things like suspesion and tires.

[bud121156]

I am comfortable pulling my 25ft TT with my 157in wheelbase truck. (157 divide by 5= 31)

[RPAspey]

My setup: 165"/5= 33' I'm pulling a 31' TT that weighs in at 8k+ fully loaded. I have HD sway bars front and rear on truck, air bags, and a 1200# WD hitch. I am an experienced CDL driver and feel comfortable driving with my set up.

With that being said, I think my setup would be too long for a less experiences driver, especially if the truck isn't set up properly. I think that "rule" of wheelbase/5 is a little generous for the average driver.