RV/Truck newbies here and need some advice.

[jleonard]

https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...874fdbac642ad3b522c4e987d0fc3962&action=click


This very simple short video demonstrates the tongue weight dilemma.

 

[eveilleu]

https://video.search.yahoo.com/sear...874fdbac642ad3b522c4e987d0fc3962&action=click


This very simple short video demonstrates the tongue weight dilemma.

Thanks! Just showed this to my wife. Now we're getting a 250 for sure!!

Eric

 

[NB Canada]

Thanks! Just showed this to my wife. Now we're getting a 250 for sure!!

Eric

Okay. Good idea if that is what you want to have but unsure what you took from these videos?

A bigger truck will not stop sway


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Chewwi]

. . . You should never adjust TW to fit a tow vehicle. TW needs to be based on trailer weight

Light tongue weights are almost 100 percent responsible for sway. Heavy tongues do not sway

Physics don’t allow it

Never say never!!

I agree that tongue weight needs to be based on trailer weight, 10 - 15 % according to my RVs owners manual as well as my tow vehicles owners manual, and pretty much any guidance on this I’ve ever seen anywhere. I never said otherwise, but the tongues weight must also not cause the tow vehicle to exceed its applicable limits. I’ve seen nothing in your statement that would contradict adjusting the tongue weight to meet all the applicable limits.

Other than just stating it, to use your own expression, do you have any article or other evidence proving this?

Tongues that are TOO light will cause sway. Heavy tounges may not cause sway but those that are TOO heavy can exceed the tow vehicle’s payload, axle ratings, tire ratings, hitch ratings, not to mention the guidance in both the vehicles owners manuals.

Nothing in Newtonian’s physics is violated and relativistic physics is just not relavent in this case.

 

[eveilleu]

Okay. Good idea if that is what you want to have but unsure what you took from these videos?

A bigger truck will not stop sway

We took from this video that we need to make sure we have enough weight up front. That means more payload requirements. So there you go, we need more truck than what we thought of initially. We were heading in the different direction, trying to figure out ways to have less weight on the truck.

Eric

 

[RV Sailor]

How to stop the tail wagging the dog. Good Explanation. First....don’t have the combo over the payload capacity. But....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0ndz92IWY&feature=emb_rel_end

 

[NB Canada]

Never say never!!

I agree that tongue weight needs to be based on trailer weight, 10 - 15 % according to my RVs owners manual as well as my tow vehicles owners manual, and pretty much any guidance on this I’ve ever seen anywhere. I never said otherwise, but the tongues weight must also not cause the tow vehicle to exceed its applicable limits. I’ve seen nothing in your statement that would contradict adjusting the tongue weight to meet all the applicable limits.

Other than just stating it, to use your own expression, do you have any article or other evidence proving this?

Tongues that are TOO light will cause sway. Heavy tounges may not cause sway but those that are TOO heavy can exceed the tow vehicle’s payload, axle ratings, tire ratings, hitch ratings, not to mention the guidance in both the vehicles owners manuals.

Nothing in Newtonian’s physics is violated and relativistic physics is just not relavent in this case.

I would rather “overload” the suggested payload of a vehicle before I would attempt to lighten a tongue

You do you but any attempts to lighten a tongue to match a vehicle is disastrous

And 10 percent is not enough

When the wind hits the front of a trailer it lifts the tongue decreasing weight and control

Boats can have 10 percent not a tt

Sway is caused by improper loading. Period. Having a heavy tongue will eliminate sway


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[NB Canada]

How to stop the tail wagging the dog. Good Explanation. First....don’t have the combo over the payload capacity. But....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nc0ndz92IWY&feature=emb_rel_end

You keep saying this but being over payload does not cause sway
This statement will have people believing they should lighten the tongue weight which will create sway
Payload capacity has nothing to do with it

Yes yes I know what you are getting at. “Don’t exceed the limits”
But these are two entirely different issues

Sway is caused by improper loading


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[WeirdAl]

You keep saying this but being over payload does not cause sway
This statement will have people believing they should lighten the tongue weight which will create sway
Payload capacity has nothing to do with it

Yes yes I know what you are getting at. “Don’t exceed the limits”
But these are two entirely different issues

Sway is caused by improper loading


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

Improper loading for sure. Additionally, when we had our 297RSTS (which I towed VERY WELL with a 1500 Silverado) it towed best with about 1/2 tank of fresh water for our setup. I used a 1500# Husky Centerline hitch and it towed rock steady like a dream. You definitely have to watch what you load in the rear of the trailer, keep more weight up front, and stay within your truck capacity. (The 1500 Silverado could EASILY pull the Reflection we had, and it had a payload capacity of 2031#, and we were well within that on the 297RSTS)

MY ADVICE (from a comedian/Polka aficionado) is to try and not become a member of the two truck club. Maybe someday we will be allowed to visit the Great White North again for some poutine. Have a good one!

 

[Chewwi]

I would rather “overload” the suggested payload of a vehicle before I would attempt to lighten a tongue

You do you but any attempts to lighten a tongue to match a vehicle is disastrous

And 10 percent is not enough

When the wind hits the front of a trailer it lifts the tongue decreasing weight and control

Boats can have 10 percent not a tt

Sway is caused by improper loading. Period. Having a heavy tongue will eliminate sway


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

I could point out the multiple weaknesses in your argument, point by point, but that would likely just turn into mockery. I’m comfortable with having my RV’s tongue weight and tow vehicle’s weights within all limits. No sway and no disaster.

Clearly you are comfortable being tongue heavy even it it means exceeding other applicable limits.

 

[eveilleu]

MY ADVICE (from a comedian/Polka aficionado) is to try and not become a member of the two truck club. Maybe someday we will be allowed to visit the Great White North again for some poutine. Have a good one!

We're eating poutine right now!!

 

[NB Canada]

I could point out the multiple weaknesses in your argument, point by point, but that would likely just turn into mockery. I’m comfortable with having my RV’s tongue weight and tow vehicle’s weights within all limits. No sway and no disaster.

Clearly you are comfortable being tongue heavy even it it means exceeding other applicable limits.

There are no “weaknesses” in my comment in regards to SWAY

Go ahead
And btw on edit. I am not over weight anywhere. Unsure why you are making that statement

2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Chewwi]

There are no “weaknesses” in my comment in regards to SWAY

Go ahead
And btw on edit. I am not over weight anywhere. Unsure why you are making that statement

2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

As to the weaknesses in your previous statements regarding never lightening tounge weight, others can judge for themselves.

The statement regarding being overweight came from your own words and I quote, “I would rather “overload” the suggested payload of a vehicle before I would attempt to lighten a tongue.”

 

[NB Canada]

As to the weaknesses in your previous statements regarding never lightening tounge weight, others can judge for themselves.

The statement regarding being overweight came from your own words and I quote, “I would rather “overload” the suggested payload of a vehicle before I would attempt to lighten a tongue.”

Yes if given those only two choices I would not lower the TW to accommodate a recommended payload number. I would choose to go over payload and maintain a safe TW


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Chewwi]

Yes if given those only two choices I would not lower the TW to accommodate a recommended payload number. I would choose to go over payload and maintain a safe TW


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

Over payload means also over GVWR. Hard to imagine being a safe TW when your tow vehicle is over its GVWR.

 

[NB Canada]

Over payload means also over GVWR. Hard to imagine being a safe TW when your tow vehicle is over its GVWR.

It won’t sway that I know

What do you think will happen if you are over payload by 200 pounds? A catastrophic failure?

We can continue this all day but sway is the biggest issue towing. The heavier you can get the TW the likelihood of sway is reduced. Period. Has nothing to do with payload but by reading your first post a newcomer might think adding weight to the rear to make payload numbers work is good advice and it is not


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Chewwi]

It won’t sway that I know

What do you think will happen if you are over payload by 200 pounds? A catastrophic failure?

We can continue this all day but sway is the biggest issue towing. The heavier you can get the TW the likelihood of sway is reduced. Period. Has nothing to do with payload but by reading your first post a newcomer might think adding weight to the rear to make payload numbers work is good advice and it is not


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

No more likely to have catastrophic failure than to cause sway by reducing tongue weight from 15% to 13% to stay within tow vehicles payload limits and within the generally recognized tongue weight guidance.

It’s not clear to me where you ascertained sway is the biggest towing issue. I see far more tow vehicles with sagging rear ends and obviously overweight hitches than swaying trailers. Westlake tires and spring hangers also come to mind.

Can’t be seponsible for what a newcomer thinks, but only for what I said, which was to maintain with limits and within the sweet spot for minimizing sway.

 

[NB Canada]

No more likely to have catastrophic failure than to cause sway by reducing tongue weight from 15% to 13% to stay within tow vehicles payload limits and within the generally recognized tongue weight guidance.

It’s not clear to me where you ascertained sway is the biggest towing issue. I see far more tow vehicles with sagging rear ends and obviously overweight hitches than swaying trailers. Westlake tires and spring hangers also come to mind.

Can’t be seponsible for what a newcomer thinks, but only for what I said, which was to maintain with limits and within the sweet spot for minimizing sway.

Oh. You are one of those China bomb guys

Btw. You forgot disc brakes. Drums are unsafe

Have a great camping season


2021 Imagine 2400 BH
2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew

 

[Sthorpe72]

I purchased a Transcend 240ML and love it. When we bought it we had a 2022 Ram 1500 Bighorn. I don't know much about towing capacity. The dealership I bought it from said our truck would be able to pull it. We purchased it and did a 600 mile round trip shortly after. We kept it light. We used paper plates and plastic cups, didn't buy food until we got close to our destination, and didn't fill our water until we got there. I did notice, we were gassing up at every gas station we saw. It didn't like pulling up grades. I know the truck drivers weren't happy with us. It made it a pretty stressful trip. I didn't notice any sway as previously mentioned, it handled great on the highway, with the storage in the front most of your weights in the front near the tongue if you ask me.

 

[Bikerguy4all]

My husband and I are looking to get our first travel trailer and truck, and are finding ourselves OVERWHELMED by all the options, information and advice we're finding (or not finding). We would love to get some straightforward guidance from folks who have done this before.

Our family consists of my husband and I + 3 German Shepherds. That's about 650 pounds in passengers alone. We're looking at the Transcend Xplor 240ML (UVW 6265lbs, Hitch 598lbs, GVWR 7495lbs, length 29'9") or the Transcend Xplor 220RB (UVW 5389lbs, Hitch 510lbs, GVWR 6995lbs, length 26'10"). Those are manufacturer specs, so I understand those weights are give or take a few pounds depending on customizations, add-ons, etc. I figure we'll be traveling with bikes, dog cages/gear, all of our human junk, and potentially a generator/firewood/extra propane if we want to boondock. Also, I overpack everywhere we go For our first few trips, I imagine we'll be staying relatively local (we live in SoCal) but eventually want to travel farther. At this point, almost nothing is out of the question, until we figure out how/where we do and don't like to travel.

We've been looking at RAM trucks to tow either one of these trailers and are debating whether or not we need to get a 1500 or 2500. The 1500's claim they have tow capacity of 10,000lbs no problem, and people I know keep telling me the half ton truck should be plenty. In the tow calculators I've found, we're always over payload in a 1500. Does that matter? What does it mean for tow performance / wear & tear on the truck? Is a 1500 good enough, or do we need to get the 2500? Should we get a gas or diesel truck? Does fuel type matter for towing performance? Do we need any of the extra/upgradeable features like a larger axle ratio, air suspension, engine cooling, anti-spin differential, etc.? What does the weight distribution hitch do (distribute weight, yes, but what does that MEAN?)

Does anyone have opinions on either of the trailers, be it "the models you're looking at are missing XX feature that you MUST have" or "as a newbie, don't get anything over XX feet".

Any advice or words of wisdom you can provide is much appreciated. Thank you <3

I share some of your concerns. We have a 2020 Yukon XL Denali that we love. We also love the Transend 240ml. We are negotiating a deal 1300 miles away. I am concerned about rear kitchen due to this model being rear heavy. Trying to come up with ways to put more weight in front of axles. One major consideration is the location of the fresh water tank and whether to fill if in front of axles or drain if behind axles. I believe a ProPride 3P hitch would be the ultimate solution. I own an Equalizer and wonder if I can do my 1300 mile trip to get it home, so I have more time to find a used ProPride 3P. Any ideas appreciated.