doublenot7

Clear Lake, Texas

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Joined: 03/14/2011

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I was in a similar situation just this year, bought a 31' TT and towing with a 1/2 ton. It was just as some here suggested to me "too much trailer" and "it will tow but you won't like it". In the end I moved up to 3/4 ton truck and towing is like night an day compared to before. Your families safety is the most important factor.
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mrb1953

NEW HAMPSHIRE

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Joined: 10/21/2011

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doublenot7 wrote: I was in a similar situation just this year, bought a 31' TT and towing with a 1/2 ton. It was just as some here suggested to me "too much trailer" and "it will tow but you won't like it". In the end I moved up to 3/4 ton truck and towing is like night an day compared to before. Your families safety is the most important factor. I agree thanks
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troll3193

SouthWest, MI USA

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Joined: 07/07/2004

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doublenot7 wrote: I was in a similar situation just this year, bought a 31' TT and towing with a 1/2 ton. It was just as some here suggested to me "too much trailer" and "it will tow but you won't like it". In the end I moved up to 3/4 ton truck and towing is like night an day compared to before. Your families safety is the most important factor.
I am a member of that club as well :-)
2006 RAM 3500 MegaCab w/Cummins Turbo Diesel
Mopar Exhaust Brake
2004 Dutchemen 31BK
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JN_B

Calgary, Alberta

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Joined: 06/12/2008

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I have no problems getting into spots with my trailer. Although lately it seems having a longer TV is an issue. I usually end up getting some good scratches on the truck trying to get into an ideal spot on the campsite. But that's why I have a 9 year old truck..
2003 GMC Sierra 1500HD SLT
2010 K-Z Spree 318BHS
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2112

Texas

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Joined: 07/16/2011

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I have a 35' tongue to bumper (32 box) with an advertised weight of 7300 lbs dry and an 840 TW. After loaded and ready to camp without fresh water it weighed 8600 with a 960 TW. I had sway issues from the word go. It was a freaking nightmare to the point where I dreaded taking it out. I sorted it out by pitching the ball back a notch, added a 2nd sway bar and put more weight up front. I have more TW now but haven't remeasured. It's so much better but the F150 swd EB is just too light and not enough wheelbase for it.
I had my first CG issue this weekend trying to back into a spot. The road was too narrow compiled with a tree and a ditch on the other side from the spot. After a few attempts I had to abort and search out another one. I do find this one easier to thread the needle given enough room compared to our previous 24'er.
FWIW: I have been towing for 15 yrs and still learning and found stepping up to a 35' TT to be a challenge.
2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost SuperCab, Timbrens, PullRite SuperGlide 2700 15K
2013 KZ Durango 1500 2857
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fla-gypsy

North Florida

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Joined: 04/19/2005

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32' overall at about 9k, tows like a dream with the Reese HP Dual Cam system.
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
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ktmrfs

Portland, Oregon

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Joined: 06/22/2005

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Ours is 35' overall, no issues at all towing it, really tows well, no sway even in heavy crosswinds. But at 35' you do have to watch and know what the trailer is doing behind you on turns. And at 35' it does limit our choice of campsites, not in RV parks, but in older FS and State campgrounds. I find it easier to back than my 18' overall cargo trailer. And there are roads we are to long for. For example we are over the length limit going through Zion NP and Lassen. But like most everything else, it is a tradeoff, and we choose based on the floorplan and what we wanted to do realizing it limited us on a few opportunities and opened up other opportunities. Overall, after a little over a year, 90+ days camping, almost 10K miles I'd pick the same or similar trailer in a heartbeat. IMHO one key to making such a trailer an enjoyable experience is making sure you have a more than adequate tow vehicle. One more than capable of handling the trailer weight, the tongue weight, and a long enough wheelbase to help with stability, and a suspension stout enough for an extra margin of control. IMHO a 1/2 ton truck is not a good candidate for a 35' trailer, although there do seem to be lots of folks following this path and doing ok.
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
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mister_d

Southeast, MI - hardly qualified to be a

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Joined: 09/17/2006

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Towing anything takes practice and cautious experience. So long as you have parking lots and roads around you, you'll be able to get plenty of that in. Make sure you have the right tow vehicle for the trailer you're looking at and you'll be fine.
As far as CGs go, the longer the combination you have will equal less campsites available.
Our Adventures
2011 F150 4x4 Ecoboost 6.5 SCREW 3.73 Max Tow
2011 Lacrosse 296BHS video tour
Hensley Arrow
Me '77 DW '78
DD '04 DS '07
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mike54

Crystal Lake,IL. GO BEARS

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Joined: 04/23/2005

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Good Sam RV Club Member
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mrb1953 wrote: OVERALL THOUGHTS OF PULLING ONE OF THIS SIZE .JUST WONDERING HOW THEY HANDLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALSO GETTING IN AND OUT OF MANY CAMPGROUNDS. THANKS
I went from a 13'TT to a 17'TT to a 27'TT Now I have a 33' Rockwood Signature light and they all pull the same to me I have made sure my hitch was setup right for each travel trailer. For this camper and the 27' I use a Equalizer 4 point sway control hitch. As far as backing into a campsite I no more problems with this one than my 13'er I just keep in mind I have 33' back there not 13' or 17' or 27'. I also I upgraded my truck as the camper got longer and heavier. I now have a Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel to pull my Rockwood.
Mike & Marsha 
West Allis Sunshiners
Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8319SS
2005 dodge ram 3500 5.9 cummins diesel
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