I've read on here that short whellbase tow vehicles shouldn't pull long trailers. As long as the weight is within the limits, I don't see why this would matter. I like pulling with my Av. Where I park my TT I have to make 2 tight turns backing up and when I leave, I need to make the same 2. With a longer TV, I'd never make those turns. I use an Equal-i-zer, Putnam XDR reciever, and Tekonsha P3 brake controller. I like the setup I have now. Can someone please explain the length issue??
Short wheelbase tow vehicle and a long trailer could result in uncontrollable sway under certain situations (i.e. tail wagging the dog)...with the end result being nothing happening at all or ???
The longer the WB the more stable of a towing platform. When you use a W/D hitch you are using the strength and length of the frame to stabalize your combo, so the longer the better when it comes to towing. If my 30ft TT gets hit with a gust of canyon side wind, it will have to be very powerful to move my 1 ton, CC, LB Dually, now replace my TV with something with a short wheel base, you now have what we call the tail wagging the dog and it isn't a good feeling!!! I live at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, highway 77 makes the decent down the mountain and it is known for strong cross winds that come out of no where. My neighbor owns a body shop here in town and he has contracts with the local wrecker services. Every time those winds kick up you should see the TT, Fvers and TV's that end up in that place. He even had a TV like mine with a 34 ft fver that flipped right over on it's side, but the vast mijority of them are folks towing longer trailers and short WB TV's, and yes many of them have the famous "Hensley magic cure all hitch" sure didn't do these folks much good. It is all about having a stable platform and combination when it's all hitched up. It doesn't take a canyon wind either, this can happen when a big rig passes by to close to fast. I am 55ft+/- all hooked up, yes it can be a pain getting around some CG's but I manage, I would much rather have a stable platform on the highway, and have to back up a few times in a CG. I hope this helps you.
NCH
2000 Ford F350 4X4 PSD,CC, DRW
4:10's, BTM Muffler, Isspro Gauges,
Coolant Filter,CCV Mod
FTVB , Ford AIS
6.0 Cooler,SCT2 W/DP's 40 tow & 80 econo,Zoodad mod
2005 Keystone Hornet 30BHSS
Reese Dual Cam
Family of 4 saved by Grace!!! MY TRUCK OUR TRAILER
M GO BLUE wrote: Short wheelbase tow vehicle and a long trailer could result in uncontrollable sway under certain situations (i.e. tail wagging the dog)...with the end result being nothing happening at all or ???
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I am aware of some very stable shortish wheel based vehicles that will out perform and be more resistant to external forces than many longer wheel based vehicles.
There is so much more to vehicle/combination stability than just the wheel base alone.
M GO BLUE wrote: Short wheelbase tow vehicle and a long trailer could result in uncontrollable sway under certain situations (i.e. tail wagging the dog)...with the end result being nothing happening at all or ???
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. I am aware of some very stable shortish wheel based vehicles that will out perform and be more resistant to external forces than many longer wheel based vehicles.
There is so much more to vehicle/combination stability than just the wheel base alone.
Read closer...I said it "COULD" happen and I didn't say it "WILL" happen
A longer wheelbase makes a vehicle more stable for towing. If you like the way your setup is now, the keep using it! Those 3/4 Avy's are hard to find these days!
2006 Hornet 28BHDS-Bunk House, Dual Slides
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 HD
5.7L Hemi, Factory Towing Package
Reese Brake Controller, WD Hitch and Sway Bar
It is not just the wheelbase issue. The closer the hitch to the rear axel the more stable. Also it depends on what percentage of the trailer weight is away from the trailer axels. if 100% of the trailer weight was within one foot of the axel there would be no sway except for what ever the wind would induce against the bigger trailler. bigger trailer the more wind effect but it is that weight away from the axels that starts to magnify things. In engineering terms this is referred to as moment of inertia. the further away from the axels you put a 100 lb sack of sand the more it can contribute to sway because the moment of inertia has been increased in proportion to the distance away from the axel.
there are a number of ways that a short wheelbase vehicle can be configured to do a good job of towing. Unfortunately most of them just aren't practical.
I had a short wheelbase dodge van once that I rigged a hitch ball just forward of the rear bumper about 4" because I was pulling a long trailer. The rear bumper was closer to the rear axel than most vehicles and with the ball 4" forward it could tow really long trailers without a hint of wag. I got the idea from the pullrite hitch design. All it does is pivot the hitch close to the rear axel.
Off course my setup did not allow for very short turns and only worked for me because it did what I wanted it to do. Just throwing out some ideas for you to work with to see if something works for you. Do not be intimidated unnecessarily by the short is bad idea. it is just that longer is better. Most people need to seriously consider just getting a really good TV and let it go at that but there are other ways to deal with the sway and length issue such as getting a trailler with a low moment of inertia. Its not the length it's the moment of inertia and total weight that you are really dealing with. Longer usually means higher moment of inertia but not necessarily.
My current 27 foot kodiak has a center kitchen and all the heavy stuff is very close to the axels. I haven't tried it but I think I could pull this thing with a jeep. It has no where near the tendency to sway as other similar length trailers I have dealt with.
A hensley hitch will do wonders for a short wheel TV. I have seen some F350's and F450's in some nasty wrecks so the fact that a hensley hitched trailer wrecked means little in the overall scheme of things.
2008 Dutchmen Kodiak 27CDSL, 94 Dodge 4x4 Cummins, Trailer mods: Automatic switchover for Honda EU3000IS generator w/extension plug to back of truck. Propride 3P hitch Plan to do mods for camping in cold weather.
I just returned from a 4444 mile trip towing a big loop from Indiana down thru Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and home to Indiana.
I tow a 9000# 35' hitch to bumper TT.
On the way to Arizona (1800 miles) I fought a VERY stiff cross/head wind (depending on road curves)...the wind blew like CRAZY from Indiana to Arizona. Four NON STOP DAYS OF FREAKIN' WIND in the 30++ mph category.
I was able to pull 2 600 mile 12 hour days and 2 300 mile 6 hour days in that wind. I would NOT do it without either of the following towing MY TT.
1) My 138" of wheel base on my 3/4 ton Excursion
2) My Hensley Arrow
In addition to the non-stop winds in the flat lands...I got into many many canyon areas that had very gusty cross winds.
There is IMO no substitute for proper TV to TT match up. Sure there IS more to stability than simply wheel base...but a long wheel base TV for the average newbie goes a LONG WAY to aiding that person to stay on the RIGHT SIDE of the stability equation. Most folks are not techincally astute enough to understand which knobs to tweak to make a short wheel based vehicle into a safe and stable tow vehicle for a LONG and HEAVY trailer.
Joe,
I agree with you 100%, In a lot of ways I believe people who tow TT should need a special classification on their DL. The reason I say this is because what I have seen while on the road. People who have neevr towed anything before go to a RV show where they believe everything the salesperson tells them and they drive out of there towing a TT that is way to big for their TV and they have no experience towing anything. They get on the highway and drive like they do normally. I have been passed several times by people going way over 80mph while towing a 30 ft + TT on the way to Myrtle Beach. I shake my head and get out of the way!!! Very few folks come to forums like this and understand tow ratings and what they mean. I do agree with the post above about weight distribution, but even the magic Hensley is no excuse to exceed your TV's limits and drive like a idiot. You need a TV with substantial WB not for the majority of situations, but for those crosswinds that can come out of nowhere, or those quick maneuvers you have to make because of road debri, accident in front of you, blow out etc.... It is times like these when a well matched TV to trailer combo comes into importance. I had a friend who has towed a TT for 10 years and just the ball of his bumper. I urged him all the time to get a proper hitch set up but he was convinced he didn't need one because it towed so straight and smooth. Then it happened, on the way back from a fiddlers convention in GA the car in front blew a tire and hit the center divide, my friend had to change lanes quickly and the TT started fish tailing, he said the TV went up on two wheels and it took him several seconds to bring it under control. It scared him so bad I had to drive down and tow his TT home for him. He went out the next week and bought the Reese Dual cam set up. When I was looking for a new TV I didn't want a dually, but I found a real gem and got a great deal. After towing with it for the first time I was so glad I did. Those extra two tires and the width of the rear end makes all the difference in the world!! Plus I have the longest wheelbase possible with the CC LB configuration. Now not everyone needs a truck like mine to pull their TT, many say it is overkill for mine, but I enjoy it and I like the way it pulls.
There is a lot that goes into selecting the components of a properly matched RV combination, so take your time, ask a lot of questions and do your own homework. Don't listen to the ones who say " I don't even know it's back there) I towed a 27ft trailer, no slides, about 5,500 lbs and even with my big dually I knew it was back there. If I can be of any help just PM me and I will help you or others the best I can.
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Plan to do mods for camping in cold weather.
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