Post pictures of your dual axle travel trailers

You guys have the earlier models with the external trans cooler. 2019+ across the lineup Tacoma/Tundra/Sequoia deleted the aux cooler.

Punk move IMO, went from proper engineering to under-engineered. TFL did the Ike Gauntlet test with a 2020 Tundra and hit 246 degrees at the pan. That's bunk, pushing the limit to save $300 per unit.

Mike "Seatbelt Bracket" Sweers claims 250 degrees isn't a big deal. A bean-counter decision IMO, "operates in the expected parameters".

 

My numbers are including a 24K tranny cooler that I added. Still hit 220 on a hill but drops quickly. But it is the engine oil temp that drives it. AT Pan temp is within a couple degrees of oil temp all the time.

 

2nd trip.

 

2014 Keystone Bullet Premier 19FBPR, Dry 4800, Loadout about 5100. Fastway E2 Weight and Sway hitch (Amazing), Brake controller. Front Axle weight good, rear axle good, Tow weight good, GCVW good, payload pushing it a bit over since I added the leer camper a year ago. Been pulling this set up now for about 5 years, does well put like others said, keep plenty of distance and not over 65. And for the next question no, the deuce and a half is not mine (batteries not included sold separately) this belonged to the harvest host that we were staying with.

 

Very similar to my setup. Nice

 

how are you liking the interior and storage space? I much prefer these over a used airstream or scamp.

 

Absolutely love the Bullet, perfect for just my wife and I. The slide makes such a HUGE difference, even with it only being 19'. Lots of storage space in the front storage area, can easily fit my honda 2000 in there. Did the soft start mod to my ac so that only one honda is needed instead of two in parallel. Also modded the gas cap with a fitting so that I can pull from a 5 gallon gas can and run much longer than normal.

 

Just swapped out the ole pop up for a real TT 21 2306bhs Micro Minnie. Dry she’s just under 4500 loaded 4800 Curt 600lb WDH plus sway control need to add the extra leaf in my Dakar’s out back cuz with almost 500lbs on the tongue and the hitch really ratcheted down I still have about 1.5” drop in the rear axle.

 

Apparently I haven't shared any pictures since originally picking it up (also since replacing the black fenders with color-matched ones)

 

horse/stock trailer at Savona, BC.

 

Hi guys, I'm going through the process of trying to find the right travel trailer right now and I did some calculations the other day on how much weight I'll be loading into the TT. You both are only saying you put 300lb into the trailer from the dry weight, have you actually weighed your rigs on scales? I'm genuinely interested.

Even just the simple stuff like 2 x lp bottles, 1x battery, 6 gallons in the water heater and Power cables that comes out close to 200lb and that doesn't include any other RV, camp or kitchen gear.

Regardless of the above have you guys done any serious travels (hundreds of miles/mountain passes), how'd it go? I'm really trying to keep the dry weight to 4000lb but all the TT's that have the right layout are 4400 and above TIA

 

It is not so much the TT weight, but more along the lines of what your tongue weight is going to be and where you stand in relation to total cargo capacity. I have my NoBo 19.6 and my tongue weight on a ball weight scale (seen below on ebay in the products discussed) put me at about 550#. Loaded with a 100# generator and some other goodies in the bed, I was pushing within about #100 of maxing out my cargo capacity and it is just me and the GF (though our combined weight is a bit....high). You need to keep a minimum of 10% on your tongue to travel safely, ideally 12-15%. I was at ~11% guestimated based on weighing everything I added to the trailer and adding about ~250# for clothing, food, etc. that gets loaded day of departure. You will exceed cargo capacity of the truck before you will exceed GCVWR. The Tacoma would never handle that.

 

I weighed my stock DCLB OR with wife, dog, I, full tank of fuel, WDH, bed mat and roll up tonneau cover and came out at 5240lb (GVWR 5600) That officially only leaves #360 for tongue weight.

I really want the TT to stay under 5000lb wet and according to my checklist of stuff we are going to be adding 800lb of crap (this includes all batteries, LPG, and general RV stuff.

I guess amongst all my calculations and head scratching and trying to do the right thing… is exceeding the cargo capacity of the truck by a few hundred pounds but staying 10% under the GCVWR okay?

 

Don’t exceed the GAWR front & rear is a rule of thumb for me if I’m ever faced with having to possibly overload my tow vehicle. Make sure to scale your load to know for sure.

If your trailer is weighing 5000#, loaded, you’re going to have to accommodate, at the least, 500# trailer tongue weight, plus the weight of your WDH with the above tule of thumb in mind.

You may have the wrong truck for your trailer or the wrong trailer for the truck if changing to a higher rated vehicle is not an option.

 

Weight on the axles is the important thing. If you ever did get into an accident, you may have some splaining to do if your trailer is weighed and you are over your cargo capacity. I don't think you will be adding 800# of stuff. You need to shop like an ultralight backpacker to keep weight down. I used the camping and kitchen section of Wally world to get as much stuff in plastics as I could. Also Amazon for collapsible/nesting cooking accessories. I have a breakdown of what I added in this thread..

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-tow-experience-with-a-nobo-19-6.690623/#post-26276741

A lot has to do with distribution in the trailer to maintain the best tongue weight you can get away with without significantly increasing your risk of sway.
What is the cargo capacity of your truck?

 

When you talk about weight on the axles are you talking the truck or TT? I'm safe with the truck axle weight but not with the GVWR.

This is what I worked out...
GCVWR = 11290 lb
GVWR = 5600 lb Truck

TV = 5240 lb (includes 2xpeeps, 1xdog, fuel and all accessories including WDH - weighed on CAT scales)
5600 - 5240 leaves only 360lb for tongue weight

11,290 - 5240 = 6050

6050 x.8 = 4840 (20% margin)

Thanks I did read through that thread. You yourself added 800# of stuff to your dry camper and I intend to be in this thing for 2-3 months so I know I'm going to be adding a bit more.

About insurance... my taco is rated to tow 6400lb max, is that considered the weight listed on the TT VIN label... if we use the nobo 19.6 the GVWR of 7500lb or is it the actual dry weight of TT + any gear added. ie the actual physical weight?

 

This is what I'm working out, unless I get a TT with a tongue weight of no more than 360lb I'm going to be officially over the 5600lb capability of the taco. As it sits right now with the taco I have 1,120lb grace on my rear axle and 70lb on my front. Doesn't really help me because of the 360lb cargo capacity left...

Am I worrying about things too much. The right TT for us sits at 4,000lb with all of our gear we'd be sitting at 4,900lb loaded. That puts us 10% under our GCWR...

 

@mosccat , I’ve mentioned this before but with different weights: if your loaded TT weighs in at 4900#, you’ll need at least 490# tongue weight plus the weight of your WDH added to that. You will be exceeding the GVWR of the truck based on the weights you’ve reported as cargo so far plus the tongue weight. Do not exceed the GAWR, front or rear, of your truck. The only way to know for sure is to scale your rig, truck & trailer, loaded.

A CAT Scale is a good place to find out what your actual weights are: steer axle, drive axle, trailer axle.

 

I ran the truck through a scale the other day, that’s where I got my weights from and how I’m trying to calculate what I should be towing.

With the above weights I will be under on all GAWR but will exceed GVWR on the truck by 130#.

I see so many tacos with big rigs (over 4300lb dry) everyone must be exceeding the truck GVWR unless they’re driving by themselves. We’ll I guess it depends, a 2wd SB probably has a larger cargo GVWR.

 

You need to take the weight of the WDH into consideration as well. So by your calc it would be the 490# + whatever your WDH weighs as your tongue weight (excess of 360# more than 130#). Another thing to consider is that you might need more than 10% of your TT weight on the tongue. Maybe 11% or more up to 15%. Too light on the tongue (relative to trailer weight) increases the chance of tail wagging dog (sway).

Long story short, I had the same dilemma when I bought my first TT in 2015 and discovered that my weights would be maxed out towing with an SUV. Had to go a different model, lighter weight, TT.

You have a situation where your TT weight is not a problem but your truck payload is. And, you can’t move the bulk of your truck cargo to the trailer to fix it. (Technically you could but they wouldn’t like it and it’s not legal )

Bottom line for me would be a higher rated tow vehicle if I was set on this particular TT.