Can my SUV tow this safely?

[Filterman]

Originally Posted by TURBS

They were ok.
They now have a 5th wheel and dually


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

Just go on line and you should be able to get a spec sheet on your TV that will give you actual answers re towing capacity etc.
Filterman

[Skyliner]

I pulled a 26 foot camper with my 07 Diesel Grand Cherokee for 4 years with no problems. I once got stuck in a thunderstorm that had 45mph wind gusts from the side on Southbound on I-25 just South of Pueblo, CO and it did just fine.

For every SUV pic of a flipover, I can probably find a dozen trucks and trailer flipped over pics.

You want to see extreme towing? Here is a pic of a diesel Jeep liberty towing a 26 footer! They used a $3,000 hitch to do it.

[madmaxmutt]

"was only going 60" in 50MPH cross winds, eating a burger, texting on the phone, looking at the GPS map. Now I can do all of this because "we got a 5th wheel with a dually". Look, we are right behind you now . . .

[drittal]

Surprised they didn't step up to a 42' 5th behind an EcoBoost.

[DreiHunde]

and you know....a "little" driver education on towing giant heavy shoe boxes down the road would go a loooong way! Wonder how many were asked if they have any experience towing by the dealer?

Very few I'm sure.

Again, not a "cure all" but it would benefit a few drivers and might even save a life or two.

[Mr. Dan]

From X00 miles away and without any evidence, I like the hitch set-up as our perp in this crime!

[dustman_stx]

Anyone else surprised at how good the camper looks after that wreck???? I think you could do a little buffing and it'd be good as new!

[Skyliner]

Nope, they do not need to fix it up and get back on the road.

They mostly likely didn't react properly when the trailer swayed and probably compounded the sway they encountered. I'm thinking they overcorrected with steering and slammed on the brakes causing the trailer to jackknife.

I hope they never return to towing.

[howie70]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Nope, they do not need to fix it up and get back on the road.

They mostly likely didn't react properly when the trailer swayed and probably compounded the sway they encountered. I'm thinking they overcorrected with steering and slammed on the brakes causing the trailer to jackknife.

I hope they never return to towing.

You hope they never return to towing? A lot of assumptions being made here.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Nope, they do not need to fix it up and get back on the road.

They mostly likely didn't react properly when the trailer swayed and probably compounded the sway they encountered. I'm thinking they overcorrected with steering and slammed on the brakes causing the trailer to jackknife.

I hope they never return to towing.

I hope they are back on the road and happy no one was hurt. No one can say what caused this or what the driver did. Until you are in a like situation you do not know what you will do either. In the early '70s I was pulling a 19' single axel camper when a semi passed and the trailer started to sway. Each time it would drop on a side the action compounded. I crossed 2 lanes several times and have no idea how we stayed on the road, The CB was on and a trucker said "he is going to lose it" the 2nd or 3rd time I neared the guard rails on the drivers side. Well, I did not lose it and do not know how or why. I do know I had both hands on the wheel and never touched the brake control ~~ would like to see someone do that. When I pulled out of it I stopped on the side of the road. Two cars stopped to see if we were OK. Both my daughters were tucked in car seats and slept through it but my wife was a basket case the rest of the trip ~~ only 200 miles from home. That camper was traded on a dual axel trailer and a 2nd friction sway control added as soon as we got home and 2 weeks later we were back on the road. Had we quit we sure would have missed a lot of great times.

[thebrakeman]

Originally Posted by doc73

Yeah.. The under wight part throws me... More like way OVER weight.

Maybe they meant they were tongue-light (as in less than 10%).

[aceinspp]

Biggest problem with suv is the short wheel base and add a 30 plus ft tt and you are asking for trouble. Dont'car what type tow system you have. See this a lot. Later RJD

[tjm]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Biggest problem with suv is the short wheel base and add a 30 plus ft tt and you are asking for trouble. Dont'car what type tow system you have. See this a lot. Later RJD

That's what I was thinking. Unless you drive an Excursion or bigger Suburban, the shorter wheel base of SUVs can make it a handful to drive.


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[thebrakeman]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Biggest problem with suv is the short wheel base and add a 30 plus ft tt and you are asking for trouble. Dont'car what type tow system you have. See this a lot. Later RJD

Are you saying that a longer wheelbase will make up for an improperly setup?

What would you rather see:
a. A properly setup pickup that is over it's weight limits.
b. An improperly setup pickup that is within it's weight limits.
c. A properly setup SUV that is within it's limits.

Of course, I'm not including the obvious option D (a properly setup pickup, within it's limits), because I'm making a point.
But given these 3 choices, I'll take option C, thank you.

[thebrakeman]

An improperly setup, or overweight, pickup can also make for a handful to drive.

I pulled a 3000 lbs popup behind a Chrysler minivan for 7 seasons (properly setup and within all ratings). Everyone on the popup forums said I needed an SUV or pickup with a truck frame to handle that much weight. You would not believe how stable the rig was, with a 400 lbs Single Bar WDH, friction sway controller, and Prodigy brake controller. Used about 8000 lbs of my 8300 lbs GCVWR.

Now I'm in our 6th season towing 5200 lbs behind a short wheelbase SUV. Using about 10,500 lbs of my 12,000 lbs GCVWR, with Equal-I-zer WDH kit, and that same Prodigy. Very stable. No sway. No bucking. Tracks well when I need a quick lane change.

Is a longer wheelbase inherently better, all else being equal? Absolutely. But it's just not right to imply that a properly setup SUV somehow is an accident waiting ot happen. That's just false.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by FordHauler

One thing that I believe to be missing is "certification by the manufacturer" of persons who install and give instruction to customers regarding WD hitches. Most dealerships I am aware of have NO ONE who truly knows solutions to WD hitch problems.
I detest more rules and laws as much as anyone, however if a dealer were required to have a certified person on staff to install and instruct on WD hitches most of these accidents would never happen.
Just my $.02 worth!
Travel safe

Good to see you in a Diesel!! Congrats!

[B and B]

According to this dealer they can tow anything with anything.

I saw a triple axle Airstream behind a Honda Minivan. Enough said...


Can-Am RV Centre | #1 Airstream Dealer in Customer Satisfaction Worldwide | Your Full-Service RV Dealer

[Happy Vibe]

Like this Can-Am RV :: T&C Van towing 34 Airstream
While I do not agree with Can-AM Rv, I do not know of another dealer that will set up a rig and then test it on a track to see how well it does.

[tjm]

Originally Posted by thebrakeman

An improperly setup, or overweight, pickup can also make for a handful to drive.

I pulled a 3000 lbs popup behind a Chrysler minivan for 7 seasons (properly setup and within all ratings). Everyone on the popup forums said I needed an SUV or pickup with a truck frame to handle that much weight. You would not believe how stable the rig was, with a 400 lbs Single Bar WDH, friction sway controller, and Prodigy brake controller. Used about 8000 lbs of my 8300 lbs GCVWR.

Now I'm in our 6th season towing 5200 lbs behind a short wheelbase SUV. Using about 10,500 lbs of my 12,000 lbs GCVWR, with Equal-I-zer WDH kit, and that same Prodigy. Very stable. No sway. No bucking. Tracks well when I need a quick lane change.

Is a longer wheelbase inherently better, all else being equal? Absolutely. But it's just not right to imply that a properly setup SUV somehow is an accident waiting ot happen. That's just false.

You are making straw man arguments. The comments were specifically about 30' plus trailers and SUVs. Nobody is talking about pop ups and minivans. The first sentence of your last paragraph is all that needs to be said.


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[doc73]

Now that Mini van and Mercedes slalom stuff is CRAZY!