Towing a Pop up Camper

Hey Gang. I'm finishing up the purchase of a new Rockwood 1910ESP pop up camper and I had some questions for the group here. My truck has the factory tow package and all. This pop up has electronic brakes, dry hitch weight is approximately 260lbs, and the dry trailer weight is around 1950lbs. My questions are what brake controller do you guys recommend and do I need any special weight distribution hitch or sway control devices for this size trailer. I appreciate your responses.

 

Probably will get as many opinions as responses. I use a P3 with the plug and play connector - somewhere on the 3rd gen is a thread on towing. I have a 1500lb popup but don't use a sway control. Think the referenced thread also has comments about sway. Good luck and enjoy!

 

Tekonsha P3 is about the best, look at reviews. With the weights you listed I’d try without any form or weight distributing hitch first. You can actually make the trailer towing experience worse if you use one when it’s not needed. I just lent my 1ton diesel van to a friend to tow a 4.5k trailer 4000 miles, he used his weight distribution hitch, but took it off after about 500 miles said it towed far better without it. With a 10k tow vehicle and 4.5k trailer he didn’t need it and its only going to make things worse. With only 260lbs on the tong as you listed, you probably wont need one.

 

What about a friction type sway control?

 

Not sure if my opinion is relevant as I'm a 2nd gen owner, but that's like....no weight. I tow about 3-4k single axle trailer with my utv and no trailer brakes and it's fine. 80k on the pass and they are fine. Rotors are fine. Zero issues stopping etc.

2015 access can trd sport with tow package and 33s fir reference. I would think you should be fine if not better off.

My hitch weight is also about 300lbs

 

That’s going to depend on so many factors, that’s it’s going to be trial and error. Main factor is where the trailer has / holds its weight once loaded with your stuff.

 

With that trailer you shouldnt need a weight distribution hitch, and your truck has a good electronic sway control when towing. Mutely is right- try it out first. If the trailer ever gets squirrely on you, just tap the ebrake control and that usually puts it straight again- but dont do this on ice or slick roads. Here’s what you need for your ebrake setup:

$178 Tekonsha 90195 P3 Electronic Brake Control , silver, Single

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-901...ekonsha+p3&dpPl=1&dpID=41gdjHN3MKL&ref=plSrch

$25 Tekonsha Trailer Brake Controller Harness, Compatible with Select Toyota Tacoma, Tundra

https://www.amazon.com/Tekonsha-303...p+tekonsha&dpPl=1&dpID=41drrczqNTL&ref=plSrch


Edit: vvv Stealthmode is right also vvv. But if your trailer is prewired and has ebrakes, there are times when they are handy, like while descending steep grades as stealthmode described below, and to help stop swaying. Another thing - double check to see if your trailer needs power to apply brakes during an emergency break away- it’s important to maintain that battery in it for sure if it does.

 

In my opinion anything under 3000 you shouldn't need a brake controller, unless you are doing alot of grade during trips.

 

I just figured if it has electronic brakes already installed on the trailer, then I might as well use them and save a little wear on my truck brakes.

 

If it does have electric brakes, it probably uses those for break away emergency brakes too. Keep that trailer battery in good shape. I put a solar charger in mine

 

Yeah fair enough. How many miles you think you're going to run with it each summer?

Other problem I find is locating the P3. I have the same controller but really haven't seen a mounting spot i like yet. In my Gen 2 it was a bit easier because of the coin holder in the dash by right leg.
These trucks have a pretty low leg clearance when jumping in and out. Ive bashed my shins a few times on the piece that sticks out at the cargo lamp switch. Adding the controller there is the most logical but deff not ideal IMO

 

The Gen 3 has the little cubby space on the left side of the steering wheel that I never use. I was wondering if @mesojdm had already solved this problem with a custom made part for the Tekonsha P3 to mount on the third gen. I saw a custom plate for the P3 to mount on a Tundra but not for our Tacos yet... I'll probably run the camper maybe 1k or so over the whole summer, nothing too crazy.

 

I bash my shin enough getting in and out that I now have perpetual bruise/scab on my right shin. I couldn't imagine putting in a break controller anywhere near where my knees or shins are going. I went with the Redarc brake controller and am happy. Out of the way install and a control knob.

 

This is where I located my P3, and I like it. I am just a hair under 6ft tall, and haven't had any issues at all smacking my shins and knees into it (although, I still hit them in the usual places). The only thing that took some getting used to is the glare/reflection on my driver side window. Takes a few days to get used to it, then you don't even notice it.

https://www.esptruck.com/product-page/2016-2017-tacoma-prodigy-p3-brake-controller-mounting-kit

 

Lin

Link is broked for me ....

 

If you find a plate post it up!

 

Weird, it is working for me still.

Here is a quick screen shot.

 

The link works- try it again. Thats a nice plate mount! I just drilled a hole using a paddle bit in the rear of my cubby to pass the wires through and wedge the P3 in the cubby, but it does stick out of the cubby a bit. If I decide to sell the truck, I can easily cover the hole with a piece of plastic. Be sure to not hit the wires behind the cubby if you do drill it OP.

However its mounted, its important to be sure the P3 does not move while driving- it has a sensor for detecting deceleration thats part of the brake control circuit.

 

If you don't mind spending the money on the controller and setting it up, then sure it's worth it. I pulled a 4k boat a few weeks back and it was fine. But AZ was mostly straight roads.

 

Brake controller for sure, I like the Tekonsha P3. I think a load distribution and sway control setup is an option but not a necessity on a low profile trailer under 2,000 pounds. They often making towing more comfortable regardless of load, but you have to weigh that against having to unhook it for any off-pavement driving which can be a pain.

By coincidence, I just uploaded a video about this for anyone curious of my experience pulling a travel trailer...