Okay gentlemen. In a couple of weeks I'm going to be towing a 30' travel trailer for the first time. It will be a bumper pull with an equalizing hitch and dual sway bars.

Now let me say this......I've pulled lots of trailers in my years of driving.....and I have lots of experience driving with heavy loads because of the four years I spent driving trucks for a local lumber yard (up to 30,000 pounds) as well as driving full length buses. However, I've never pulled a trailer as heavy as this one will be and I've never pulled a trailer as long as this one will be.

I guess I'm just looking for advice on anything I haven't thought of. Not so much trailering and driving, but all of the other stuff that maybe I haven't thought of.

My buddy I'm borrowing it from is checking with his insurance company to see what is required to make sure it's covered while I pull it....and I'm checking with my insurance company to see if there's anything special that I need while I pull it.

Anyway, I'm all hears if you guys have any pointers, suggestions or advice for me.

Thanks.

 

Please let us know which interstates you will be on so I can avoid them...
J/K Remember you have a trailer when turning. You will need more road. Better to take another lane where you are then turn a corner sharp and be stuck. (turn wide). Buy an exhaust brake. Just because. Practice backing up. Remember it is easier to drive out of somewhere than back out of same spot. Have a good trip.

 

Spots, I'm headed straight for Florida.

Actually, I'm not going that far. Just about 75 miles away.

Good advice. I'm not so worried about the driving part as I feel pretty comfortable with that. It's all of the "other" stuff that I might not be thinking about that has me wondering.

 

Basically what spots said. When I bought my first TT (30') the longest thing that I had towed was my 20' boat. The principles are the same. Also, be sure and leave yourself plenty of stopping room. I didn't have nearly as much trouble backing my bumper hitch TT as I did when I first got my fiver. Check your tires whenever you stop. They usually are fine, but it can ruin your day to have a blowout, and not know it for several miles. Look for bulges and feel for heat buildup.

Have fun Hoss!

DeWain

 

Hoss
Just a few pointers...try to tow with near empty holding tanks (extra weight)...be sure the trailer has a spare tire in good shape....before moving the trailer double check to be sure every thing inside is secure....do a walk around before moving to check lights-tires-tv antenna is down and the entrance step is folded in

Remember allot of tunnels forbid propane this includes travel trailers

 

Tunnels?? I'm in Texas. Won't be seeing any tunnels.

I will have a city water connection so if necessary I can leave the holding tanks (I assume you mean the water tanks....I'm not down with all the RV lingo) pretty much empty if I want to.

Thanks for all the pointers. Keep 'em coming!!! I want to make sure that I've thought of everything ahead of time.

 

If your headin to Florida and go thru Moblie AL theres a tunnel under the bay

 

That's a switch!

Just a couple of things Hoss,
Make sure the camper has wheel chocks and some type of leveling aids (like the plastic blocks or even short pieces of boards to put under the trailer wheels if ya have to park on uneven ground),,, always use the wheel chocks if you unhook (almost lost the first 20' tag-along when I unhooked it from the truck and it started rolling with the wife inside,,,,, she found NO humor in that!),,,,, if you do leave the trailer hooked up to the truck during the night, you might want to unhook the trailer's wiring from the truck just to be sure it does not draw on your truck battery. As Pappyman said,,,,, walk around the rig at least twice before pulling off to check for water, electric, antenna, leveling jacks in up-position, all outside compartment hatches secure,,,, everything inside the trailer secure (fridge door latch locked for travel,,,, nothing worse than to find everything that was in the fridge,,, is now all over the floor when you stop for the night!),,, windows shut (Note: if the camper has the roll out windows,,,,, be very careful when walking around outside the camper,,,,,, most are at forehead level and will put a nice gash in your head when you run into them). It doesn't hurt to carry about ten gallons of fresh water onboard to have for use when on the road (most times, the bathroom in the camper is always cleaner than the rest areas or service stations),,, not to mention,, the wife and I like to make a pot of coffee sometimes when we stop for a break. These are just a few that I can think of at the moment and I'm sure that you will get many other helpful tips.

One other thing to remember:
There are quite a few folks out there on the roads that are going to assume you can stop on a dime,,,,, they will be behind you when you pass a slower vehicle and before you can pull back into the right-hand lane,,,,,,,, they will try to shoot up beside you to pass in the lane you're trying to get back in (I've come close to taking a few front bumpers off yahoos like this)
Most of all,,,,, Take your time and ENJOY!

 

Create two check lists one for setting-up and one for getting ready to leave, so you won't forget anything. Check with your buddy you are borrowing the TT from he may already have a check list of some sort. I am suggesting two list because there are some things you will do when you leave that you did not do when you arrived, such as: dumping the holding tanks.
As has already been stated turn wide and remember when you change lanes that you need more room.
You should do fine, be safe and have a good trip.

 

I don't have to worry about dumping the tanks. He's going to take care of that when I return it to him. Heck of a deal, huh?

Pappyman, I was just joking about going to Florida. I won't be leaving Texas. In fact, I'm only going about 80 miles from my home.

Dennis, I'll be on fairly level ground, and from what I understand the trailer is self leveling with electric jacks.....so I think I won't need leveling blocks?? Regarding wheel chocks, I'm assuming he has some but I'll have to check and see. Regarding drain on the battery, I will unhook the trailer when I get to my destination and it won't be hooked up again until I get ready to leave.

Roger, good idea on the checklists.

I just ordered a Jordan brake controller that should be arriving within the next couple of days. Then I'll get to experience the pure joy of installing that mess.

 

Hoss,

Another Item you may not want to try is to back and turn trailer sharply with the load equalizer bars still in the "up " position. I have a friend that put a substantial "tweak" in his trailer frame while jack-knifing his rig into a tight parking spot. I have never had the problem arise with mine, but then again I look for nifty pull through type spots. Also as far as electricity hook up goes, make sure if you are using micro, elect water heater, A/C and blow dryer all at once that you are plugged into the 30 amp plug at the campsite. DO NOT use 20 amp adapter plug on 20 amp circuit when using all of the above. The adapter plug tends to get all hot and gooey where the prongs come out of it, not to mention that it wreaks havoc with the circuit you are plugged into.

Just my $.02 worth.......happy trails to you!!!!

 

Interesting comments on turning with the equalizing hitch. I've never used an equalizing hitch before, so that thought probably wouldn't have occurred to me. I'm wondering if I even need them. I don't know what the trailer weighs or what the tongue weight is. I asked the guy I'm borrowing it from but he didn't know either. All I know is that he tows it with a half ton Chevy pickup....which probably ain't the brightest idea. He even told me that I didn't need a brake controller as long as I was careful.

Just the same though, he's letting me borrow his trailer and I'm grateful....even though I question some of his towing sense.

 

Hoss you really are much better off with the weight dist hitch and the bars. Why don't you stop by the local TT shop and have someone go over the proper set up of the hitch. as far as the brake you also need the electric brake set-up I think towing that much of a rig without it is a the weight of the trailer will push you around without it kinda like Be safe above all it's not a big deal use a little common sense. The biggest thing I noticed abou TT's is how the wind effects these big boxes be careful with cross winds. have a good time

 

Wow lots of great advice. Another thing 5verHoss is test the brakes within the first 100 feet of driving. Then you are sure the trailer brakes are working before you need them. I don't tow a travel trailer only a float but whenever I stop I always walk to the store/bathroom whatever on one side of the truck/trailer and go back the other side, leaving lites or 4 ways flashing to check them out. Check your load chains after the first 100 miles also, wrap your binders and wire them.

 

Another thing is, make sure the TT wheel bearings have been packed recently,nothing worse than a wheel flying off at highway spped and having to call a flatbed to come and get your trailer.