Bought my first travel trailer ... now what!
A few questions guys - I'm new to this.
The trailer weighs about 2500# with empty tanks. I'm towing with an '07 Silverado extended cab/long bed 5.3 automatic. Do I need sway bars and a weight distribution hitch? I do have the factory tow package. I have a button on the shifter to disable the converter lock. Is it bad for the transmission not to use this? I see folks spend the night at the wal-mart down the road from me. Is wal-mart generally cool with that everywhere?
Thanks guys.
I'll probably have more questions after I pick it up Friday.
The trailer weighs about 2500# with empty tanks. I'm towing with an '07 Silverado extended cab/long bed 5.3 automatic. Do I need sway bars and a weight distribution hitch? I do have the factory tow package. I have a button on the shifter to disable the converter lock. Is it bad for the transmission not to use this? I see folks spend the night at the wal-mart down the road from me. Is wal-mart generally cool with that everywhere?
Thanks guys.
I'll probably have more questions after I pick it up Friday.
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2500 LBS is a lightweight and should not require sway bars. Especially if it is a tandem axle trailer. 0 -
1st: I'm not sure what your trucks specs are. But as general rule... Do NOT pull your trailor w/your transmission in overdrive.
2nd: What you may need a far as towing assessories can depend on several factors.
Weight distibution. Your trailor is almost certainly designed w/good empty weight distribution.
But now alot depends on what you put into the trailor and how you distribute the weight. Believe me, you'll eventually begin to pack more and more stuff into that trailor. Think about where you put it and try to distribute the weight as evenly as possible.
Next: Is your tailor a 5th wheel or bumper hitch type? If a bumper hitch, is it fixed hitch or hitch receiver type w/removeable hitch?0 -
You shouldn't need at the weight distrubution stuff, But I would use the tow button. You really don't have that much weight. Just make sure you balance your trailer when you load it with gear and you'll be fine.
I think the wind resistance will be more of a factor for you than the weight. Becareful with semi's coming at you and semi's you pass on the interstate. The wind can do some funny stuff to your rig.
Practice driving it at you local Walmart parking lot. Practice backing it up. With a longer truck it's more of a challenge.
Becareful of other drivers. Something about hooking up a trailer brings out the idiot in other drivers. You get people pulling out in front of you alot amoung other things. Remember you need more room to stop.
I park at the Wal-marts all the time. I usually go in a buy something. That way I'm a customer and not just parked there.0 -
Also when traveling be sure and use low gear to go down a hill when there is a sign telling you to. I was heading west out of Sheridan Wyoming and took ALT 14 over the Bighorn mnts and at the top there was a sign that said 11% grade for next 10 miles/ Use Low Gear with trailers.
I was cruising along in about 3rd gear and hitting the brakes to keep my speed when all of a sudden my brakes got mushy then all the way to the floor. Not an ounce of brake left in my truck but I was able to stop with me electric trailer brakes and when I did get stoped there was smoke rolling out of my front discs. I Got back in the truck and put it in second gear and tried to go fast enough to get airflow to cool the brakes and since I was about 1/2 mile from the bottom I was able then to get up to about 60 which cooled my brakes enough to get them working again.
The sign at the top of that mountain said it was illegal to tow a trailer (Semi type) in anything other then 1rst gear. There were runwys for brake failer about every mile on that hill. Be careful on the mountains.0 -
MVP: when you wrote of brakes overheating, it brought a particular
incident to mind. Although it may not be such an issue with smaller
vehicles, it's still something to keep in mind.
When I was working in the dump truck industry, a driver had a brake
that had been grabbing. He'd pulled over to see how hot the brake
was, and when leaning over the dual tires to inspect the brake. With
his head between the dump bed, and the duals...enough heat had generated
to the tires that they blew up at that time, and near took his head
off. Severe and permanent face scarring, and trauma to the back of
the head from collision with the dump bed.
Just something I think about any time over-heated brakes are brought up.0 -
Check the trailer GWV and the max allowable, tongue weight on the truck hitch.
Get a Camping World catalog for accessories, sway dampener etc.0 -
quote:Originally posted by MVP
Also when traveling be sure and use low gear to go down a hill when there is a sign telling you to. I was heading west out of Sheridan Wyoming and took ALT 14 over the Bighorn mnts and at the top there was a sign that said 11% grade for next 10 miles/ Use Low Gear with trailers.
I was cruising along in about 3rd gear and hitting the brakes to keep my speed when all of a sudden my brakes got mushy then all the way to the floor. Not an ounce of brake left in my truck but I was able to stop with me electric trailer brakes and when I did get stoped there was smoke rolling out of my front discs. I Got back in the truck and put it in second gear and tried to go fast enough to get airflow to cool the brakes and since I was about 1/2 mile from the bottom I was able then to get up to about 60 which cooled my brakes enough to get them working again.
The sign at the top of that mountain said it was illegal to tow a trailer (Semi type) in anything other then 1rst gear. There were runwys for brake failer about every mile on that hill. Be careful on the mountains.
+1 ...I did it on a 9% grade, makes you appreciate flat land.0 -
A tip i have learned...... If ya do alot of pulling/ towing...ie
(boats, utility trailers, campers) with a mid size or 1/2 ton truck. You may want to consider upgrading the front rotors to a slotted design. They will last alot longer(warping etc...) and they saving your pads also, by not getting so hot, cause they disipate heat alot faster. Example...My 1/2 ton 99 dodge had aproblem warping rotors(overheating) from pulling our 20 foot pleasure boat, and using my 16ft. utility trailer. I was having to replace/ turn rotors every 6 months. I installed a set of SSBS (Stainless Steel Brake Corp.) slotted rotors on the front and a good set of carbon mettalic pads. Guess what the truck stopped quicker, Never had a problem with wet brakes, they never overheated and they lasted 2 years, before having to turn them or even put new pads on. The cost is only about $20 apiece more than the stock replacements. I recommend them on any truck. Oh if i pull anything at all i always turn O/D off.0 -
Would you guys quit scaring the guy with all this steep hill/brake loss talk.
Don't worry cbx if you brakes do give out your truck is designed with crumble zones, air bags, bumpers, and seat belts. And they are doing wonders with reconstructive body surgery anymore, like total face reconstruction and they have some great metals now they can wire bones back together with.0 -
I'm going to try to get my money back! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by cbxjeff
I'm going to try to get my money back!
That there's funny.[;)]0 -
What size is your truck, 1500 or 2500? 0 -
I gotta ask - do you have a CBX, and if so, are you going to pull the trailer with it ??
I know it has enough power.
I've wanted one since they were introduced - maybe '76 or '77 ??
Doug0 -
2500 lbs is a pretty light trailer, that Chevy shouldn't have any problems dragging it around.
This is important! Come down hill in the same gear or one lower than you went up and let the engine compression hold it on the way down. Keep brake use to a minimum.
Wally World is a good place to spend the night while traveling, a lot of folks do just that. Be courteous to others, don't leave a mess, swing in and buy something. Have used them a lot for overnight stops, even ran up on some good gatherings/fellowship in a Wally World p-lot.0 -
The last thing I hauled with my half ton Ford was a Chevy 1500, so I doubt your Silverado will have any trouble pulling a 2500 pound travel trailer. Make sure you have good trailer brakes and maybe a sway control and you'll be fine. 0 -
Thanks to all (well almost all!) for the info folks. I'll try to reply in order.
I wish it was a tandem axle but I'm on a limited budget.
The Silverado has the factory tow package and has a receiver below the bumper.
I thought the tow button just disabled the converter lock. Does it keep the transmission in 3rd?
Yeah, I've seen those run-offs. I went to Sturgis for about 25 years and there is one on 385 entering the Deadwood/ Lead highway.
I'll keep an eye on the brakes. I don't have a brake controller yet and will have to bring this home (about 150 miles) with just the truck brakes.
The truck is a 1500. I wish now, after towing a little 5x8 cargo trailer, that I had a 2500 with the 6.0. Oh well, it's too late. This is the last truck that old Jeff is going to buy!
I have had 3 CBX bikes. The first I rebuilt from a wreck back when I was rebuilding cars as a side-line. The second I just made beautiful. The previous owner wasn't much for upkeep. Unfortunately, it looked so good that some SOB stole it. Both were '79's. I had the second insured and bought a new '80. Took it to Sturgis about 20 years and many times I had the only one there. You should hear one of those with 6 into 1 pipes at 7K or so!0 -
Your truck'll do fine dragging that trailer around. I wouldn't even be afraid to haul it with out trailer brakes, they're just one of those things that make it a bit nicer to pull with. 0 -
quote:
Bought my first travel trailer ... now what!
I think you are supposed to go somewhere now...0 -
Heck Matt, I can't afford to go anywhere. I've got all my money tied up in this darn trailer. I'll let you guys know if I make it home Friday. If I have a problem I have Cutie's offerings to comfort me! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Cutiegirlracing
Would you guys quit scaring the guy with all this steep hill/brake loss talk.
Don't worry cbx if you brakes do give out your truck is designed with crumble zones, air bags, bumpers, and seat belts. And they are doing wonders with reconstructive body surgery anymore, like total face reconstruction and they have some great metals now they can wire bones back together with.
You got a mean streak, girl. It's ain't wide, but it goes all the way through[:D]0 -
I've been pulling a 4500# RV with an '01 5.3 Silverado for about 3 years now with no problem. 0 -
I made it home. Thanks for all the input folks. 165 miles one way and it went well. The truck would jerk and bounce a little on dips in the road. The converter would unlock often but the trans would rarely downshift to 3rd unless the cruise was on. Brakes were not a problem but we just have modest hills in S. IN. I plan on getting a Prodigy controller. Biggest surprize was that all the semis that passed me (I was only going 60-65) didn't affect the rig at all.
Wilderness - her I come!0 -
Good luck in your travels, be careful of the grades, and yes, Wal-Mart seems to have a policy that allows travelers a place to park for the evening. They have never turned me down. Park as far from the entrance to their storefront as possible, and then ask to see the manager in their customer service department. Ask the manager if it's okay to park your travel trailer on their lot for the evening. It's not unusual to see people staying for two or three nights in their lots, either. 0 -
Check your state law how much you can tow before having to put a brake controller in your truck. I would put one in anyway if your trailer has brakes.. After you get the truck up in high gear on a level road, slip it in overdrive. It will drop the rpm's and you will get better fuel economy. 0 -
I've pulled a trailer every year to go hunting for many years. My hitch has the 2 sway bars with chains on the end so as to adjust and level your truck with the trailer. I would definetly recommend having those. Really helps in traveling to keep truck and trailer in unison. While I have never stayed at a Walmart, they are known for being camper/resting friendly with their parking lots(farthest away from the store) while you are traveling. 0
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