3rd gen + travel trailer

It's a Vista Cruiser 19RBS, has a 23' over all length, 7.5' wide and a dry weight of 3400 lbs.

 

how does the single axle pull? Does it sway a lot?

 

I have experienced no sway with my setup. Last weekend we traveled 180 miles on back roads and hwys at speeds up to 65mph. I passed several trucks and we experienced no sway at all. I have not pulled without the WDH but I feel certain that the Eaz-Lift R3 WDH that has built in sway control has a large factor in no sway. I may have just gotten lucky with how the camper and truck have balanced out. In all honesty, I kind of wanted a tandem axle trailer but I also wanted to keep the weight down around 3000 lbs or so. At 3000-3500lbs, there were not many options that fit our needs(wants).

 

I have found single axle trailers to be much more sensitive to driver inputs whereas double axle trailers are more forgiving/ you have to be more deliberate with where you want to put them. Twitchy is how I describe my single axle(less) off road travel trailer. I am constantly having to make adjustments. The car hauler and the box trailer are much more predictable (less twitchy). I can move the steering wheel 15-20 degrees and will not see significant movement for a few feet on the double axles. My single axle 15 footer would instantly respond.

Edit: sorry, I left out that I am talking about backing up.

 

@rybern what tires did you get on the trailer? And as a new TT owner make sure you go around the exterior of the unit looking at all the seams double checking that there's enough sealant, typically sealant is rushed

 

I appreciate the suggestions. LOL, I learned pretty quick that buying a brand new trailer doesn't mean that everything is good to go like I expected. After talking with others that seems to be the norm. I lost count of the little things I've done, including some spots where silicone wasn't quite to all the way sealed around windows, bracing up under the floor in the shower, minor water leak under bath sink, bypass valves not being de-winterized.

Tires are Load Star Karrier KR35 with mid 2021 date codes.

Overall, it's been a great experience. I don't mind the set up or take down and sort of look forward to the next adventure. I added sewer hose storage under the trailer which is fantastic. Every piece of hose and sewer connection goes in these two tubes including (3) 10' sections of Rino.

 

It’s funny how the rigs become ongoing projects.

We bought our rig new and intended to “explore” for 2-3 months, here we are a year and a half later still exploring. Apart from a trip to Europe and an escape to Reno we’ve been in it every night since picking it up new!

Keep a periodic eye on all water connections they come loose after a while. Also the hot and cold flexible hose going to and coming from the water heater get hot, get brittle and expand over time and will leak, I just replace mine as they were weeping and I thankfully caught it before it ruined the bench woodwork, the wood/cardboard has swelled at the bottom but could have been much worse!

We’ve been in Bend OR for a while now, temps down to zero make you figure out the weak spots!

 

Man, that photo makes me cold just looking at it. I know what you mean about projects. Wow, a year and a half is quite an adventure and I've enjoyed reading about them. I'm amazed that your financially able to do that..... you've done something right. We'll be totally out of debt(again) in mid summer when I pay off the new truck but I got a late start on retirement and have some catching up to do.

Edited to remove bleak comment.

 

Just a weight distribution hitch...

 

2020 was sucky for us in too many ways. We’re not retired but in the middle of relocating, dealing with some medical stuff and exploring, then back to work, retirement is a ways away, need a home that’s not on wheels first

I really should add photos to my thread of all the awesome places we’ve been to, southern Utah was the most surprising.

That storage for your sewer hose is neat, all but the elbow fits in my bumper.

Heading down to AZ in May, swapping cold for crazy hot!

 

Good info. Getting ready to buy a NoBo 19.5, 22’8” and 4765 gross weight. A big step up from my 15’ Aliner. Did any of you mod your suspension to pull the trailer? I’m considering Sumo springs just wondering how necessary. I’m in the Pacific Northwest so there are plenty of hills.

 

I used the RAS - Roadmaster Active Suspension. Works great and rides better even with no towing. And ZERO maintenance! I have a Grand Design MKE17 which is about 5100 loaded up.

I am in Spokane and we tow up Lookout Pass into Montana. No isssues.

 

Just blue sumos for me, 5k lb loaded, Anderson WDH, no sag. Sumos barely touch the frame if at all when hooked up.
Photo of sumos unhitched…

 

Thanks for your response

 

Make sure you buy the right ones, some people buy the wrong ones then complain about the ride because they are already touching the frame, these do not affect day to day driving…

$282 SuperSprings SSR-612-40 | SumoSprings Rear for Toyota Tacoma, blue

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07679QKCG?ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

Hey all, the wife and I are starting down this road of pulling a travel trailer. It's been quite some time since we had one. I have a 2018 TRD Off Road with no suspension or gearing mods.
Just want to make sure we get something that it will be ok pulling.

Right now in the running is the R-Pod RP190. I really wanted to get into the Winnebago Micro Minnie 1808FBS but I am concerned about the weight on that one.

Anyone have any experience with this setup they would like to share? While we have had trailers in the past, I am going into the Taco pulling one, totally green. Any suggestions or must haves that you want to share would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

This is my take…
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...4-700lb-travel-trailer….760812/#post-27122598

 

With a dry weight of 3760 and a GVWR of 5000 you'll be fine. A good WDH with sway control is a requirement IMO.

I installed a 1.5" lift via 5100's and a progressive AAL in the rear. I haven't needed any additional helper springs but do have a good WDH and was meticulous in setting it up. My lift does keep the frame further off the bumpstops so with a stock height truck the sumo springs may be a nice addition.... can't say.

Edited to say my decision to lift 1.5" was not based on towing.... I just wanted to do it.

 

I did one trip with my 1708. It handled the load fine. It did well in the mountains, good on the flats, but is not geared properly for long, slight grades. It could not hold a gear. I think it’s less the weight, more the shape. It did it, but I cannot express enough how much better it is with a half ton.

 

Wife and I pulled trailer to Bucks Pocket State Park this weekend and I'm so happy to say that the Taco did awesome pulling up out of the "pocket". I had to start from a stand still at the base of the mountain and used S1 and S2 because the road had some rough spots and and had some winding turns. I kept the revs between 2500 and 3000 RPM and the trans temps never got over 190 deg. I do have the trans T-stat pinned open and I have KDmax 9.0 tune since my last tow. Here's the screenshots at the base and the top. 400' ascend in .8 miles. I'm very pleased with how the Taco pulls... just gotta shift like you would a manual and get the revs up a little(honestly, 3k is still pretty low but worked well with the speed I wanted to maintain).

At base just getting started:


At crest (you can see my max RPM was 3k):


I wish I would have watched what the load was at the steepest part.

Trailer Weight is just over 4k lbs.


Edited to add KDmax tune info.