What to expect?

[geekything]

I pickup my 2800lb 21ft travel trailer in May. I've never towed before, so that will be an adventure.

Someone has said to me that "towing 2500lbs in like having 500lbs in the bed" in terms of experience. While I don't literally believe what he says, is there any correlation between a load in the bed and how trailering feels?

I've had 1500lbs in the bed of my V6 before and it was NOT fun. I really hope a 2800lb trailer doesn't feel like that.

Note that I have 3.21 final drive, so I'm limited to 4400lbs in towing on this truck because of that.

 

[mtofell]

It should be pretty simple but you have to get the low hanging fruit. Be sure you have a good brake controller and read up on how/what it does (it can save your ass when things start to go wrong - and more than just stopping the trailer). Look into a weight-distributing hitch too. Also, just do some reading on general towing advice. There is a ton of info out there. Towing trailers is a learned skill just like anything. A good amount of it just comes from experience but you read and learn a lot about it as well.

Also, be sure you have proper anti-sway setup.... this could be the most important thing of all.

 

[GsRAM]

I don't think you'll have any issues. As said invest in a good wdh with built in sway control and set it up properly...there are lots of videos out there.

Install a factory brake control or a prodigy (aftermarket) don't buy a cheap timer based unit.

Take your time, leave extra following distance. Air your factory P rated tires to max sidewall pressure before you hitch up for extra stability or get LT tires.

Your V6 will run 4,000 plus on the grades. Don't worry it's working as designed.,let her rev, you won't hurt it, the new V6 has as lot of juice. I had one as a loaner last month.

Camping is awesome! I love it...good luck!

 

[averageguy]

You need towing mirrors, its hard to change lanes or back up if you cant see past the back of the trailer. Remember there is a trailer behind when going around corners or changing lanes. Don't make fast turns, lane changes or jerk the wheel. Brake early until you get a feel for your stopping ability. Set your brake controller to give the trailer just enough resistance you feel it just before or at least just as the truck brakes. Other wise the truck is stopping and the trailer wants to pass it. In a curve, turn, or emergency it will jack knife. If you know someone that tows a lot, get them to drive your set up and explain what they are doing and why. Then you take over and let them give you advice and suggestions on what you're doing. I've been driving with trailers since I was 12, driving semis for 20 years, and while the learning curve eventually levels out a little bit, I still learn and get a little better as time goes on. A huge part of it is being confident and staying calm when things get rough. I'm hope I didn't make it sound scary, you just have to respect the situation.