Uncertain about towing performance

I have an old travel trailer that weighs about 2000lbs. I have it loaded properly with about 200lbs tongue weight and it's towing pretty level. Additionally, I have the latest recall 4 leaf springs, 5100 shocks front and back (fronts set for lowest lift, 0.8"?).

I find that even this trailer seems to really "wag the dog", giving us all a little bit of seasickness from the rear bouncing. It never seems to bottom out, and I have limited towing experience, so I ask, does the Tacoma just kind of suck for towing or is this how all smaller vehicles feel? Should I bother investing in some Timbrens or other spring helpers or just take some Dramamine before we head out?

 

my 09 pulled a 2700 lb trailer well, no bouncing at all

what tire pressure? if too low it will bounce a bit

 

wagging the dog, and bouncing are two different things.

"Wagging the dog" is a side to side motion. VERY DANGEROUS. if this is what you are experiencing, you need more tongue weight. I personally like 15-20% tongue weight. you are at 10% which is right on the cusp of almost too little.

Bouncing up and down is simply a symptom of extra weight out back, So long as you are not bottoming out you are good. If you really do not like this sensation get a weight distribution hitch, this will solve things up real quick.

 

+1 for weight distribution hitch set up. I pull over 4600lbs and it does not bounch, i should note I have the old man emu dakar leafs

 

Do you have a profile pic of the truck and trailer? Also, how much gear is in the bed of your truck?

FWIW, I tow a travel trailer that is just over 5k lbs loaded and I think the Tacoma tows it pretty well.

 

Sorry about the confusion in terms...I have no side to side sway, only a pretty good amount of up/down motion.

The truck bed had a few kid's bikes, a camp stove and some lanterns and the rest was in the camper.

The Tacoma is a DC OffRoad and has BFG A/T...I think 265/75. They are aired to 35lbs and the trailer tires are aired to 30 (was 35, but I lowered to try and get a less bouncy ride).

Here's the best photo I could find right now...it's pretty level when on flat ground and the rear is about 1-2 inches lower than normal with the trailer hitched up.

 

id suggest a smidge more tongue weight and get a weight distribution hitch setup. Cheap easy insurance to cover all your bases.

 

Something ain't right. You shouldn't even know that is behind you. A little more tongue weight might be the answer, and a WDH shouldn't be needed for that little trailer. Your trailer, loaded out may weigh more than you think. Ever had it on scales.

 

Never had it on a scale, but it's only about 14 feet hitch to bumper and they built them pretty light back in '65. I rebuilt it from the frame up and it's 3/4" plywood floor, 1x wall framing and 1/8" ply interior cabinetry. The wife and I could easily lift each side wall into place. Similar sized campers I've seen weighed were around 2000lbs, but I guess I should get mine weighed before any extended trips.

It has a size 27 battery and full propane tank on the tongue. Inside, there's not much room in there to add more weight forward of the axle, but I guess I could fill the 7 gallon waste tank in the front and dump it when we get there.

 

I tow a popup that has got to have a good 450lbs tongue weight (carrying two group 29 Interstate batteries and two Viking propane cylinders) and the camper is probably 2800lbs loaded, and it tows like a dream - no sway and no bounce.

 

Looking at your picture, your ball should sit up higher. Trailer nose is to low.

 

Andersen rapid hitch with the 4 inch drop would work great for you. You can adjust it excactly where you need it.

 

I agree with @jake72, if you can adjust the nose of the trailer by raising the hitch you should be better off. Also be sure the weight in the trailer is evenly distributed, I understand that this may be hard to do because you rebuilt the trailer and you are unsure of the current weight. But rear weight and front weight makes a big difference with a single axle trailer. IMO, you will always have some bounce...the idea is to alleviate as much as possible.

 

Not very experienced with Towing so I can't give advice about weight distribution or anything fancy, but with my Trd OR I did a bit of towing boats and trailers. It think the trick is to just take it slow. There is no reason to hit the fast lane when towing. Take it even slower if there is wind.

 

Optical illusion...that site had a sloped entry and flatter area in the rear. It leveled out exactly where the hitch was, so it makes it look low. A low hitch should actually increase the tongue weight though?

 

With this old thing that wasn't built to be towed by a modern vehicle, I always tow at 55.

 

That's great. I used to tow too fast when I was young and dumb, got speed wobbles once and it scared me straight. Now a days, I always get annoyed when I see some douche nozzle in his brodozer towing some crap tail gating people and flying in the fast lane.

 

It looks okay to me. Nose down is better than nose up but lower in the front will not give you more tongue weight. Get it weighed and maybe look into a WD hitched it turns out to be heavier than you think.

 

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to get a feel for. It didn't feel unsafe, but so many folks post about towing 5000lb trailer that they can't even feel, so it makes me wonder how much bounce is too much. Taxifornia roads are pretty terrible, so maybe it's fine.

 

Believe what you like, but that trailer would pull better with the nose up higher.