Small Toy Hauler

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nc3310

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Looking for someone with real world experience towing a small toy hauler. I'm looking at a Forest River Wildwood FSX 180RT. 3100 pounds Dry. About 5000 pounds max. Listed 430 pounds tongue weight. 21'9" long. Pulling with a 2018 1500 QC 4x4, leveled with stock sized BFG KO2s.

Load will be; me, the wife and the dog. Cargo; normal camping stuff plus a toy... a golf cart, a Ural w/side car or a Harley Street Glide depending on the destination.

I'm guessing it should be an easy pull. The camper has electric brakes. My question is do you think I'll need a weight distribution hitch? I should have one of the toys in the back 80% of the time. and I'll generally travel with empty tanks.
 

AFMoulton

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You will need a WD hitch for sure. Something with sway control as well. Looks like there is only about 1800lbs of payload on that trailer, so you will need to be particular about what you load in it and how. Depending on the toy you put in it.

What does the payload on the truck say? Door Sticker? That’s the first place to start. You should be well within your payload limits even with 500-600 lb tongue weight, but always good to know before you buy a trailer.


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dearchristopher

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100% agree on WD hitch. you should load the trailer on your truck without doing the WD bars and tow it around at speed. then put the WD bars on and get it set up right and feel the difference. we had WD bars on a 2900# camper, I consider them a must. especially if you’re new to towing a TT.

like said above, also get some sort of sway control. great peace of mind when you’re in a white knuckle situation.


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Ratket

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I think you should try it first- See how it feels/ tows.
 

Thendrix

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I agree with be careful how and what you load. Remember with a toy hauler the weight of the toy is on the back of the trailer with probably most if not all of it behind the axle. Just be sure you ballast correctly in front of the axle
 
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nc3310

nc3310

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Thanks all. The Ural sidecar will be the most hauled toy. Only about 700 pounds. I'll be careful to keep things balanced out when packing. The golf cart is the heaviest but I should be able to back it in therefore keeping most of it's weight close to the camper's axle. I'll post pics once a get the toy hauler.
 

novelmike

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Don't be silly. You should get a WDH. Just today I was driving and my friend said "look, no way that guy has a WDH!" We were driving on the highway and coming up behind this truck pulling a small Rv trailer. It was probably a 22' his trailer wasnt insyc with his truck. And sure enough, we looked and no WDH.
You might think it tows ok without a WDH. But it will tow great with one! Plus your truck will be safer.

I have a 28' toy hauler I pull with my 1500. I have never experienced any sort of sway, so far. When a big truck or a gust of wind hits. My truck and trailer move as one and not independently.
 

domestic_muscle

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Don't be silly. You should get a WDH. Just today I was driving and my friend said "look, no way that guy has a WDH!" We were driving on the highway and coming up behind this truck pulling a small Rv trailer. It was probably a 22' his trailer wasnt insyc with his truck. And sure enough, we looked and no WDH.
You might think it tows ok without a WDH. But it will tow great with one! Plus your truck will be safer.

I have a 28' toy hauler I pull with my 1500. I have never experienced any sort of sway, so far. When a big truck or a gust of wind hits. My truck and trailer move as one and not independently.
Do you have any pics of your setup? I'm about to have the same come May

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nc3310

nc3310

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I'll grab some pics next week. Loading the golf cart and heading out of town for a side gig, upstate PA. We have only used it once so far. No toys along. Love the small size. Easy tow, easy to place and simple to use. Love it so far!
 

Firebird

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Post some pics of the bikes, would love to see the Ural
 

GsRAM

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Congrats man! Happy camping!
 

novelmike

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Do you have any pics of your setup? I'm about to have the same come May

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

Dry weight is 6670lbs
Empty tongue weight is somewhere around 950lbs.
Truck still sits pretty close to level thanks to my WDH set up and about 10-15psi in the airbags.

IMG_1321.JPG
 
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nc3310

nc3310

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Dry weight is 6670lbs
Empty tongue weight is somewhere around 950lbs.
Truck still sits pretty close to level thanks to my WDH set up and about 10-15psi in the airbags.
.

Looks good! Much bigger load than I’m pulling.
 

novelmike

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Thanks. I only posted the pic because the guy wanted to see it.

I it tows and pulls great. I did go with a larger transmission pan to help with the cooling. Motor doesn't get hot, but I do keep an eye on the engine oil temp.
 
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