Tacoma pulling 19' Escape fiberglass trailer

After much shopping I am moving on getting the Escape 19 travel trailer. Love this trailer and want to use my Tacoma 2014 with tow package to pull it. Ok now for all the geeky numbers. Dry weight trailer 3250 lb. Cargo 600lb. Maybe 150 lb water to rock back tongue wt to 400 lb. So total trailer wt is 4000 lb. Tacoma wt with cargo is 5000 lb. I think the on line calculators are giving me the green light but what about good old fashioned real world experience. Doable? Good idea? Will gas mileage eat me up? What about pulling in the mountains? All opinions welcomed.

 

You will be well within the trucks capabilities. Gas mileage will take a hit and you may get 14mpg. Pulling in the mountains will be fine but you won't win any races. Get a WDH with sway control to level it all out, monitor tranny temps, and install a larger transmission cooler. Not sure what you mean by "rock back tongue weight". If you are trying to take weight off of the tongue by loading down the rear of the camper you may cause the camper to sway more than it normally would.

 

Hi Bob, congrats on an awesome trailer. We were in southern Utah earlier this year for five weeks with a group of molded fiberglass campers that included two Escape 19's. One was pulled by a late model 1500 4WD Ram crew cab and the other by an 07 4WD 4Runner. We mostly boondocked on BLM lands while visiting the National Parks in that area and neither had any difficulties. IIRC, the folks with the Ram said they also towed their's with a Cherokee.

We've pulled a Scamp 19 (hybridized gooseneck hitch) over most of the US; First with an 05 4WD TRD OR DC and now with a similarly equipped 12. Gas mileage sucks at 12-14 but plenty of power, drivetrain and brakes. On longer trips, we carry two spares for both the truck and the camper, two rotomolded coolers, a 3KW Honda genset, tools, recovery gear and two 5 gal MFC's in the Tacoma (Baja roof rack). The trailer goes around 3,500 in camping trim so pretty sure I'm right up there with you in total weight.

Any chance you'll be at the Escape rally in BC next May? We've been invited by the couple with the 4Runner to join them there and continue on up into Alaska after its over. If you're not already a member, take a look at the http://www.fiberglassrv.com/ site. Lots of good people and info ther.

 

Congrats, Bob. I went to the opposite end of the spectrum on the weight/fiberglass camper thing... My 13' scamp weighs around 1500lbs. I have the I-4 engine, hence my small purchase Enjoy your Escape!

 

does this model Scamp have the toilet/shower setup?

 

Love the Escape trailers. I want an Escape 15, but unfortunately they are no longer made. I have been trying to find a used one, but so far no luck.

BTW: Nice trailer.

 

Which mountains are you referring to?

I towed a similarly sized camper through CO this summer and I hated it, even though it falls well within the weight rating. As long as you don't expect to go more than 25-30 mph up mountain passes while getting more 10-12 mpg you won't be disappointed.

 

No bathroom. Figured with the 13' I would lose to much usable space. Forgot to add mileage, averaged 20mpg going 75-80mph for the last 40k miles, 13-14 mpg going 65-70 with Scamp. Would probably be much better if I slowed down and took the highway vs interstate.

 

its cool seeing I4s pulling these campers

 

Toilet only or toilet with shower are options on the 13' https://www.scamptrailers.com/showroom.html

 

If you are really concerned about the weight, weigh it. The published weights are befrore everything is added. I recently contacted Bigfoot about their 17. They laughed when talking weights. Published 3275, sitting on lot empty they stated probably around 3600 "real".

 

This link is useful for *real* weights

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f51/trailer-weights-in-the-real-world-43010.html

 

Tried that page,^^non stop pop ups made it unreadable.

 

Subscribed. Looking at same trailer. Current set up is 16’ Jayco at about 400lbs less. Tows without issue currently.

Please keep us posted!! It’s an awesome trailer.

Clint

 

Taco and trailer should be fine. When you buy a trailer you know gas mileage is going to be lousy while towing. I tow a 3500lb boat with my 2009 trd 4x4. I get around 11 mpg while towing. Less than that when towing in the mountains. Don’t worry about mpg, it is what it is. Just enjoy the trailer.

 

I pull a 21' Camplite with very similar weights. Watch the tongue weight as well as the weight behind the trailer axles. Use a good WDH and take your time.

 

do any one of you installed a firestone air bags before purchasing trailers?? reason i am asking is possibly using them for leveling and weight load....

 

You might want to watch this before you buy air bags....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg

 

thank you very much!!! very informative !!! really answered my questions ....