Max TT length?

[steadyhand]

I am in need of a travel trailer to stay in on some land I just bought while our house is built. This will be a one way trip, about 1500 miles from Missouri to Arizona. The camper will never be moved again unless it is sold. I am aware of the weight limits for my Mountaineer.

I have a class III/IV hitch with 5000/6000lb WD limit. I also have the weight distribution hitch with anti-sway.

I need to know the max length I can pull, assuming the weight limits are within the suv's limitations.

I have not purchased a travel trailer yet, but I need the longest I can get because it could be a while before our house is completed. I've been shopping around and almost every TT I find is 26-30 feet long. I am certain 30 feet will be too much. Even if the weight was ok my concern is a strong wind would yank the suv off the highway.

Would 24-26 feet be ok IF I can even find one? I tried to find one in the local area I am moving to so I wouldn't have to tow it more than a few miles, but so far no luck.

Would it be safer to rent a U-Haul truck to tow it? U-haul says they don't have a brake controller in their trucks so while a rental truck might have more power and weigh more I am not sure stopping power will be any better.

 

[jay1028]

I have a 96 XLT 2WD V8 and it's rated to pull 6700lbs. I have a 26ft TT that weighs 5400lbs loaded and I have no problems with it for 15 years.

Your main concern is the weight of the TT and what your vehicle is rated to tow. Length is a function of the weight.

 

[steadyhand]

I have a 96 XLT 2WD V8 and it's rated to pull 6700lbs. I have a 26ft TT that weighs 5400lbs loaded and I have no problems with it for 15 years.

Your main concern is the weight of the TT and what your vehicle is rated to tow. Length is a function of the weight.

Thanks for the reply. I plan to stay within the weight limits for sure. I just wasn't sure if a longer trailer, even if within a reasonable weight, would be too much to control if winds became an issue.

Once I hit the panhandle of Texas and into New Mexico the winds tend to be stronger due to the open prairie. I just want to make sure my Mountaineer is capable of keeping control of the load it's pulling. I would probably stay at 55 mph most of the way just to be safe.

 

[jay1028]

Just tighten the friction say bar really tight. Besides the handle, use a wrench to tighten the bolt on the bottom. I get it very tight, but it will still move as it needs to. This will help a lot. 18 wheelers will still move you around, so you always have to be aware of them coming up on you. After a while, you will know how to handle situations.

 

[colintrax]

For a single trip I wouldn't put to much concern into the trailer. With trailer brakes and a WD hitch 10,000+lbs is fine. Just remember your explorer is small, and a big trailer will push it around at speed. A trans temp gauge and a trans flush before and after is a real good idea if you plan on pulling 5+ tons

FYI you're rated for about 7,000lbs.