otrfun
On The Road
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ssthrd wrote:otrfun wrote:Dick_B wrote: . . . the length of the trailer has no affect on the tow vehicle . . . Definitely disagree. A 33 ft. TT has a lot of real estate on each side. Acts like a big sail when there's high side winds. The only thing that counters that twisting/swaying motion brought on by high side winds is the sheer weight of the truck. The heavier the TV the more stability.
We've towed a few 30+ ft 8k-10k TT's with a 1/2-ton (5.5k weight) and 1-ton SRW truck (8.2k weight). The 1-ton SRW truck's almost 3k of additional weight brings a lot more stability to the table when there's high winds.
Lastly, even a trailer that only weighs 8k-10k could be handful for 1-ton SRW truck with a tow rating of 16k **IF** the side surface of the trailer is extremely high with high side winds. At some point excessive side surface area on a trailer can easily make the truck's tow rating completely moot. For a 33' travel trailer, the side force with a wind of 30 mph blowing perpendicular to the travel direction is about 2.3lbs/sq ft. Side area of the trailer is about 264 sq ft, so 264 x 2.3=(approx) 600 lbs of force.
An increase of 10 mph to 40 mph will cause a side force of 1080 lbs on that same trailer.
From www.engineersedge.com
The formula is 0.00256 x V^2 (in mph)= lbs/sq ft where V is wind velocity and 0.00256 is a constant.
Just sayin............ ![[emoticon]](https://forums.trailerlife.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") Thanks. I believe p=mv addresses the weight differential between the TV and trailer. This differential and the wind force determines the final outcome
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Cummins12V98
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Me Again wrote:Tow a 8k TT with overall length of 27' with 3500 SRW Ram diesel back and forth to Arizona. I would not want to do it with a 1500. Been in windy conditions and the 8500 lbs truck keeps it planted.
YEP, a 1500 can tow it but can it "HANDLE" it in unforeseen conditions.
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joelc
Cedar Point, NC
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If I am correct it is only weight and trailer distribution that matters. You want the weight to be with=in tow limits of your truck and the distribution so you don't get tail wag going down the road. The rest is up to the expertise of the driver.
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noteven
Turtle Island
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A ProPride or Hensley Arrow hitch will eliminate the zig zags from the bow waves of large vehicles sharing multi lane roads with you, and the weathervane sway effect of cross wind.
I towed with a used Craigslist ProPride for a couple years. Truck and trailer ran like on rails.
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APT
SE Michigan
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There are people comfortably towing 38' 10k pound loaded TTs with 2000-2006 GM SUVs. OP truck likely has longer wheelbase, more power, better gearing, just weaker suspension. Go for it. Get a WDH with integrated sway control though, and learn how to adjust it for 100% front axle weight restoration.
7500 pounds loaded, with 900-1100 pounds of TW is at the high end for what I recommend for half tons, but there are far worse combos on the roads!
* This post was
edited 01/16/21 09:43am by APT *
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Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
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Cummins12V98 wrote:
YEP, a 1500 can tow it but can it "HANDLE" it in unforeseen conditions.
How is it less safe to pull a (the OP) 9-10klb trailer with a 6000lb+ truck rated to tow 11k,
than pulling almost 30k with a 8000lb + truck rated to tow almost 30k?
Seems like you are both at roughly the same % of max capacity...
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Huntindog
Phoenix AZ
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Grit dog wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:
YEP, a 1500 can tow it but can it "HANDLE" it in unforeseen conditions.
How is it less safe to pull a (the OP) 9-10klb trailer with a 6000lb+ truck rated to tow 11k,
than pulling almost 30k with a 8000lb + truck rated to tow almost 30k?
Seems like you are both at roughly the same % of max capacity... How many 30,000# TTs are out there?
AFAIK, the only way to approach that weight is with a flatbed loaded with bricks, concrete etc... Such loads do not have the large sidewalls that TTs do, making them a more stable tow
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rhagfo
Portland, OR
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Grit dog wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:
YEP, a 1500 can tow it but can it "HANDLE" it in unforeseen conditions.
How is it less safe to pull a (the OP) 9-10klb trailer with a 6000lb+ truck rated to tow 11k,
than pulling almost 30k with a 8000lb + truck rated to tow almost 30k?
Seems like you are both at roughly the same % of max capacity...
Two major differences.
#1 Cummins12v98 is towing a 5th wheel which is 100% more stable than a TT in cross winds and not affected by semi's bow waves.
#2 He also has four tires under the hitch, six total.
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Me Again
Sunbird(Wa)/snowbird(Az)
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Grit dog wrote:Cummins12V98 wrote:
YEP, a 1500 can tow it but can it "HANDLE" it in unforeseen conditions.
How is it less safe to pull a (the OP) 9-10klb trailer with a 6000lb+ truck rated to tow 11k,
than pulling almost 30k with a 8000lb + truck rated to tow almost 30k?
Seems like you are both at roughly the same % of max capacity...
So, I drove a 15,000 lb(mostly aluminum) Class 8 Chevy Titan 90 tractor with 65,000 lbs of aluminum trailer and gasoline(8500 gallons) behind it. Was that an unsafe combination? The tractor was twin screw with heavy duty components and tires. 150/1500 can not be counted as heavy duty compared to their bigger brother 250,2500 and 350,3500's. Having the right tool for the job has always been important when stuff happens.
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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I`m waiting for the 4500/5500 guys to show up and say how dangerous it is to tow anything with the puny 3500 dually! LOL
a properly equipped 1500 at ???? % of max capacity is just as safe as a 2500/3500 at the same ???? % of max capacity.
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