newbie to towing

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supertramp

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Newbie to towing . Have a enclosed 24' trailer with 2 side by sides total weight combined is 6700lb. Will 1500 big horn 5.7L V8 do the job safely? Do I need "Trailer reverse steering control" for hook-up? What all do I need to tow? Building 2023 Looks like "Trailer Tow Group" package has the reverse steering contol. Is this what I need?
What about anti spin diff and trailer brake control and 3.92 axle for more tow capacity?
 

crash68

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Given the weight of the trailer at 6700 lbs a Weight Distribution Hitch is recommended. You'll want the factory trailer brake controller.
The 3.92 will be nice to have while towing but necessary for that light of a trailer unless you'll be in the mountains a lot.
As for the reverse steering control, it an electric gimmick that if you know how to use your mirrors properly you'll have no problems backing a trailer up anywhere.
 

dhay13

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You should be fine but like said, I'd get a weight distribution hitch, tow mirrors, and make sure your truck has the trailer brake controller. The backup thing is just an option. I would never waste money on it but I have been towing trailers since I was 11 (literally) and can parallel park a trailer. If you are inexperienced at backing a trailer then you might want to add that option. Nothing wrong with that as we all started somewhere, just depends on your level of experience and comfort.
 
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i agree with the thread as well. if you have never backed a trailer then try to not get yourself into a position where you have to back if you can help it. sometime you cant help it i understand. the reason i say that is backing is a skill that can be learned and taught easily. However, Backing is the most dangerous thing you can do in lieu of the fact that you cant see. there is nothing wrong with backing a foot at a time and getting out to look where you are going. (safety!!!)

Also i do recommend a weight distribution hitch. the idea behind this hitch is to not overload the rear axle of the towing vehicle thus replanting the weight back on the front axle. you will want to set it up with the trailers front leg still in place with the load already on the hitch. this can take some time to even out the weight but when you stand back you want to see basically both the frame of the trailer and the frame of the truck being as parallel to the road as possible. once this is set then you can raise the front leg of trailer and finish hooking the trailer to the truck.

A brake controller is a must! set it up to where the trailer brakes grab right before the truck brakes and you will almost stop the rig on a dime!

Sounds like a lot but it ain't that bad.
 

crash68

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A brake controller is a must! set it up to where the trailer brakes grab right before the truck brakes and you will almost stop the rig on a dime!
Um..no
You want the trailer brakes adjusted so you don't feel the trailer pushing or pulling on the truck when braking. I hear way to many people want to have their trailer brakes lock up, that's how a trailer will take off on its own and make the truck it's beetch while you go for the ride.
There's a procedure in the owners manual on how to adjust the OEM brake controller
 

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Just be mindful of the Vehicle Gross Mass and Combined Vehicle Mass and your payload you'll carry in the Truck. You'll have rule of thumb that 670 pounds will be transferred to your Tow vehicle, this directly effects your Payload. In the America you guys have different term for the above GCWR & GVWR and you must count driver, passengers and anything else you load into the Truck. Just don't overload the vehicle! You'll have no insurance in the event of a accident.
 

Travelin Ram

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A friend tows that exact size trailer and load with a 1500 Hemi no problem. He doesn’t have the 3.92; with the 8 speed transmission it’s not necessary. Personally I’d get a 3.92 if I lived in the mountains or I was towing often. Otherwise I would not because fuel economy will be less with that gearing.

My recommendation is don’t use the trailer backup system that works like a video game. Unless you want to be forever a ***** to tech and unable to back up on your own. Learning to backup a trailer is not hard to learn. And a longer trailer is easier to back up than a short one. A 24’ will be easy. What’s hard is the 8’ utility trailer hidden behind the tailgate you can’t even see.
 

tron67j

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The important thing to do with your trailer is load it properly with most weight over trailer axle. Putting both ATVs up front with gear in your bed could max your rear GAWR. I am basing my comments on friends and how they travel with ATVs, they carry a literal ton of gear beyond the ATVs, such as tools, gas, clothes, tents, food, etc. and they are probably closer to 1400 pounds in the hitch in a comparable trailer. You may want to really consider a 2500. Your truck could have as little as 1700 pounds of payload capacity. 2 people, the hitch, kids or pets, aftermarket add-ons, and stuff in the bed add up quick.
 

gofishn

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Newbie to towing . ... What all do I need to tow? ....


You need:
Trailer Brake Controller

Weight Distributing Hitch, set properly

Trailer ball, set to correct height for the trailer being pulled.
Which you find by leveling trailer,, with a level, and measuring from ground to top of ball socket.

Then you put trailer on truck, with a WDH, and measure trailer ball height, again, to see how much up or down trailer needs to be. you adjust that by moving you insert Ball, up or down.

Figure out your trailer weights, Tongue weight, total weight, etc, when loaded with your gear, and keep tongue weight within 9-12%, ideally.

Figure out truacks towing capacity. Since you are new to towing, do not go over 75% of that number. If you go over 75% of that number,
do all your camping within a 50 miles radius of your home. You need to know how to handle atrailer before you get crazy and push the limits.

That's all you need ot get started.

Now, what should you add?

Experience. Tow, at night, when roads are less congested. In all kids of cooditions, keep to mild or no winds, at first, and as confidence increases, then increase how much wind you tow in. again, stay within yoru abilites. DO not care how old you are, you're sentialyy a 16 y r old jsut getting his locense. You do not know, just how much you do not know and the cost, for screwing it up, could be high.

Upgrading springs, if need, would be first thing I;d doo.
Then,if need upgrade shocks or even tires or both. if ya need more,a fter tha,t you need ot get a bigger turck because you are too darn new to twing to mess with air bags. If you need air bags, aftr springs shocks and tires, yo got too much trailer, for right now, with your experience level.


Ask old capers at teh campgroudn who look liek they know what they are doing. gusy who pull in wit perfectly setup rigs.Campers tedn to be friendly sorts.

wish you the best. post up ppics of your rig.

oh yeah, 8 speed tranny doe not matter what rear end you have, 3.92 would be nbice but 8 speedr really does help a ton.

Good Luck adn ask questions, we will try to help and you got grea adice, thsu far.
 
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Um..no
You want the trailer brakes adjusted so you don't feel the trailer pushing or pulling on the truck when braking. I hear way to many people want to have their trailer brakes lock up, that's how a trailer will take off on its own and make the truck it's beetch while you go for the ride.
There's a procedure in the owners manual on how to adjust the OEM brake controller
So let me clarify then. Im not disagreeing with you. In my experience it all depends on the load your pulling. I personally like my trailer - under load - to START grabbing as I push on the brake pedal. Thus stopping both together at the same time. This is what i meant when i said that i wanted the trailer to grab before the truck. With that said, ill back the trailer brakes all the way off if im empty. Keeping the brakes on full time is dangerous and wears your brakes and tires out. It all is situational based is what im saying. This is why you need to have access to the brake controller to adjust the "Gain" inside the truck,
 

1 MEAN66

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backing is easy!!! but a pain in the ass your first few times. Do not overthink it! Practice it. AS IT WILL BE NEEDED somewhere and at some time. Go to a parking lot with a set of cheap soft rubbery cones ( so you can drive over them forever without damage to truck or trailer. The way I was taught at a tractor trailer school (learning so I could get my class A license and drive OTR- over the road) was: Going forward or backward you ALWAYS do the same thing!!!! Move the front end of the "towing vehicle" in the direction you want the "backend" of the towed vehicle to go. If you are going forward you move the front of your truck to the right or left and the back of the trailer follows you. Going in reverse : steer the trucks wheels to the right the front of the truck goes left! PERIOD. If the trailer is back there when the front of your truck moves to the left SO WILL THE BACK OF THE TRAILER! The hard part is how are you will need to move to get the trailer to start to move and how soon/fast you need to "chase it" to finish the process. Sat. and Sun. are good days to use a school parking lot to practice. Keep a car and trailer toy set and prove it to yourself. The longer the trailer the easier it is to learn. The shorter the trailer the faster it reacts and you over react. Have fun, be safe, Remember more weight longer stopping distance. Take your time enjoy the ride and get to where you are going each and every time. There is a lot of country out there to see.
 

crash68

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So let me clarify then. Im not disagreeing with you. In my experience it all depends on the load your pulling. I personally like my trailer - under load - to START grabbing as I push on the brake pedal. Thus stopping both together at the same time. This is what i meant when i said that i wanted the trailer to grab before the truck. With that said, ill back the trailer brakes all the way off if im empty. Keeping the brakes on full time is dangerous and wears your brakes and tires out. It all is situational based is what im saying. This is why you need to have access to the brake controller to adjust the "Gain" inside the truck,
That's a clear as mud way of describing that you need to adjust the trailer brakes when the load in the trailer changes.
Sounds like you maybe accustom to using time delay style brake controllers, hence the "trailer brakes grab" before the truck brakes. This is not something you worry about with the OEM brake controller as it uses not only braking force but along with vehicle speed to determine how much trailer brake to apply.
 
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supertramp

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Wow, that is a lot to digest! Thank you to all! Think I will stay home! Can ride my Polaris here without having to tow them somewhere
 

KoboldTaco

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Wow, that is a lot to digest! Thank you to all! Think I will stay home! Can ride my Polaris here without having to tow them somewhere
Watch a few YouTube videos, and just get out there and try it. Pay attention to your payload number (on the frame inside the drivers' door) and don’t max it out. I’ve seen far too many crashes because rigs were at the limit and without a distribution or sway control hitch, inexperience and then blam.

When backing up - use a spotter viewable in your mirror. The cameras always help in a pinch but there is nothing better than a live person.
 

dhay13

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Best advice when learning to back up...go to an empty lot and try to back into spaces between the lines. Very small movements on the wheel. The bigger the trailer the bigger the wheel movements can be. Shorter trailers are harder and need very small steering wheel input. When you are pulling up to start your backup pull up far enough to get the trailer straight with the truck. That makes it so much easier to get started. If you get out of whack pull forward and start over.
 
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That's a clear as mud way of describing that you need to adjust the trailer brakes when the load in the trailer changes.
Sounds like you maybe accustom to using time delay style brake controllers, hence the "trailer brakes grab" before the truck brakes. This is not something you worry about with the OEM brake controller as it uses not only braking force but along with vehicle speed to determine how much trailer brake to apply.
Ok you got me!
I have never had a truck that had a factory brake controller. I understand that the onboard computer most likely takes all that into account. Maybe Im missing something in that. Im just used to having my own control of my rig.
With that said please help me fill in the blanks.
 

Gr8bawana

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Watch a few YouTube videos, and just get out there and try it. Pay attention to your payload number (on the frame inside the drivers' door) and don’t max it out. I’ve seen far too many crashes because rigs were at the limit and without a distribution or sway control hitch, inexperience and then blam.

When backing up - use a spotter viewable in your mirror. The cameras always help in a pinch but there is nothing better than a live person.
By all means use a spotter for backing up when possible. And make sure they know that if they can't see your mirror you can't see them.
 

mtofell

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For backing up we all have our methods but I gave up on spotters years ago. Sure, in some situations they may be helpful but what about when you're by yourself? Needing someone to help you park is a crutch and one you need to be able to do without. Stop, get out and check your progress as many times as you need to. Start over to get the right line and do it again. Unless you want to needlessly fight with your spouse or friends learn to park your trailer solo. If you don't want to take my word for it go to a nearby loading dock and tell me how many 18-wheelers are being guided by people standing and screaming, "just a bit more right.... not my right, your right.... what? I thought you heard me and saw me point." LOL..... no thanks!

The final straw: I pull into a KOA campground and it's one of these situations where they INSIST on the campground guy "escorting" you to your site and helping you park. Fine... so we get to the site and the elderly "******" says he'll guide me in. I say no thanks... he insists so I foolishly start to back up. I've got my eyes glued to him in my mirror and he's giving me the "keep going" signal. All of the sudden a lady in the next site screams and I slam on the brakes.... I get out and go back to see I'm about a foot from backing directly into a tree. "******" dude was just standing there clueless.... I'm not sure what his deal was but parking trailers was not his calling. I actually felt bad as I lit him up and took out a long day's travel on him. He apologized profusely for not paying more attention and wandered away. Anyway, I park my trailer... end of story. It keeps my marriage intact and keeps me from berating elderly camp hosts.

LOL.... the site sensors the word "e s c o r t". WTF?
 
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tron67j

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Agree with crash68, trailers should be adjusted so the stopping does not reach the point where you feel it pulling back. Vehicles are designed to have the front wheels perform more of the braking function to keep control under all braking conditions. Changing that behavior is a recipe for disaster.
 

itscody

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Wow, that is a lot to digest! Thank you to all! Think I will stay home! Can ride my Polaris here without having to tow them somewhere
Don't give up traveling to new areas. It's def not a lot, being put down in text on a forum it seems that way. But in reality its not.
 
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