30' bumper pull trailer ?

[Kyron]

OK, is this a bad idea?? No Flaming

I have a 03 3/4 suburban with the big block.

I would like to be able to take my 4runner and some type of camping trailer at the same time.

towing two trailers looks like a pain in the ass...... And those Toy Haulers are too big onece there big enough that the truck will fit inside.....

How does a 30ish" tandem axle trailer sound? I'd be able to put a tent trailer on the front and my 4runner on the back. Kinda like the "Stabbin Cabin"

But I havent seen many trailers "that" long....Do I have to go custom?

What should I look for in one OR is this just a STUPID idea?


I dont want an enclosed trailer for the truck and I "think" I would be happy with a tent trailer .........

[85 rocrnr]

They are all over the place get something like this and putt sleeping stuff in it. Has a 30' box would have plenty of room with one rig in it .

[pmurf1]

You're gonna get over the trucks weight limits real quick with something like that. A triple axle 28-30 bumper pull stout enough to handle the load you want to hand it is gonna weigh 2500-3000 by itself, plus you could get away with dual axles. A small tent trailer will net you 1500 plus #'s, depends how much comfort you want. Some of them are pretty crappy and overpriced IMO. Your truck is at least 4k, if not more. Start adding water, gas cans, spare parts, people, etc. and you're probably gonna be over 10k. That's a lot of weight for that truck. Why not just sleep in the back of the Burban? A smaller race trailer like azrockcrawler's may suit your needs too. His is a 28', but I wouldn't want that much weight behind a Sub. Don't forget shitty gas mileage from the gasser, storage, and insurance on it too.

[TEX]

Let me see if I understand this - Popup camper on first, then 4-Runner? You're gonna have your weight bias all @#$%'d up.

TEX

[Kyron]

Originally Posted by pmurf1

You're gonna get over the trucks weight limits real quick with something like that. A triple axle 28-30 bumper pull stout enough to handle the load you want to hand it is gonna weigh 2500-3000 by itself, plus you could get away with dual axles. A small tent trailer will net you 1500 plus #'s, depends how much comfort you want. Some of them are pretty crappy and overpriced IMO. Your truck is at least 4k, if not more. Start adding water, gas cans, spare parts, people, etc. and you're probably gonna be over 10k. That's a lot of weight for that truck. Why not just sleep in the back of the Burban? A smaller race trailer like azrockcrawler's may suit your needs too. His is a 28', but I wouldn't want that much weight behind a Sub. Don't forget shitty gas mileage from the gasser, storage, and insurance on it too.

The Sub is "rated" for 12,000 .........

I have two kids a a wife that I want to keep happy....... we've tried sleeping in the back of the burban.
I almost would be "happy" with those roof top tents, but those are over $1000.

I have the room to store the trailer and I was "thinking" I would only need insurance on the tent trailer?

I've seen pictures of azrockcrawler's trailer, I guess I should see if I can get a better look at it?







OK, so mabey a regular car trailer and a good tent

[windrockguru]

i have a pintle hitch trailer that extends out over 30ft long. it is designed to move storage sheds. that is what i do for a living. i also use it to tow my rig to the trails. last year i pulled my fullsize blazer and a toyota pick up to hot springs, arkansas from middle tennessee. it was a pain in the ass. felt like i had driven 10000 miles out there. i pull with a 2004 dodge dually. i would not reccommend going that long unless it is gooseneck. trade the burb for a crewcab dually and get a gooseneck. just my .02 cents. oh ya, if you do get one, buy a good seat in the burb cause it will beat you to death.

rhyn


this is it with my old truck.

[Azrckcrawler]

Originally Posted by Kyron

The Sub is "rated" for 12,000 .........

I have two kids a a wife that I want to keep happy....... we've tried sleeping in the back of the burban.
I almost would be "happy" with those roof top tents, but those are over $1000.

I have the room to store the trailer and I was "thinking" I would only need insurance on the tent trailer?

I've seen pictures of azrockcrawler's trailer, I guess I should see if I can get a better look at it?

I'd look at those Pak-rat trailers. They have a small camper on the front and room to haul a car out back. You may need to beef up the axles/frame a bit as they only have a 3500lb load capacity if I remember correct. I honestly wouldn't want to haul my trailer with anything less than a 3/4 ton diesel pickup. A big block could pull it but ask ReTodd what he was getting for gas mileage with his. I have managed to get around 10mpg average on our trips to Colorado and the Hammers (all AZ driving is at 75mph), total weigth is a hair over 19k.

[TheTonka]

Check out this thread about universal trailers. They may be out of your price range but apparently they will build you a trailer to your specs.

This is the route we will be going, but the tonka is also close to 6000# and I have a F350 PSD, so I can handle it.

[kblazer87]

Just a thought here, but are you allowed to pull double trailers in Arizona? A 16' or 18' flat bed trailer with a hitch attached to the rear of it to hook your tent trailer to. I don't know about your laws out there, but I have seen this exact setup here in Indiana and it works great. Might be worth checking into. Makes storing the trailer(s) easier as well. I have done this with 2 flatbeds when I towed a 16' flat bed with a 12' flatbed hitched behind it. The only down side is backing them up. You have to unhitch them and back each one separately. I think this would be a better option for you than a 30' flatbed. As far as the tow rig, I too use a gas Suburban and it does great for pulling. A diesel is probably better for towing, but for the cost difference in initial purchase price (usually about $4,500-$5,000 new) and the difference at the pump (diesel usually higher now) I don't think getting rid of your Sub. for something else would be worth it. Especillay if you are only going to need the extra grunt of the diesel a couple times a year.
Just my .02 cents worth.

Mike

[EMIEVEL]

I would get a triple axle trailer if you want to go that route. I'm sure the Burb would pull it, but it'll probably be a handfull. If the trailer has brakes on all 3 axles, stopping won't be a problem either. The biggest problems are the Burb having so much distance from the rear axle to the trailer hitch; it creates a bad leverage situation. Also, as someone else stated, your wieght bias is all wrong. You couldn't tow that configuration behind a dually without swapping. Especially with a bumper pull trailer, you need to have around 60% of the wieght towards the front. Don't listen to people who say it's a handfull with a 30' bumper pull. If it's loaded correctly and you have the right tow vehicle, you can tow at any speed. My business used to be transporting cars in bumper pull trailers, I know what I'm talking about. That trailer that 85 Rocrnr posted is my old trailer.
You what tows better than most pick ups? A standard length full size van (short distance from axle to hitch). It has a shorter wheel base than a Burb, so it's easier around town too. You can get diesel that's good for 18mpg not towing. Plus, vans are way cheaper than pick ups and you can sleep/camp in them better.
Chris

[weedwacker]

I just finished a 28 foot gooseneck that i plan on putting my camper (17tf with hold out front and rear) and samurai on. I pull with a dodge 2500, I would think a 30 footer bumper pull with a load like that would be kind of nerveracking to pull. Hell after driving a few hundred miles to the damn trail you would have to double up on the prozac just to calm down.

[weedwacker]

If you do go that route get a good weight distribution hitch and sway bar. I had a 25 bumper pull and got tired on f'in with all the hitch crap.

[ramv]

I own a 34' bumpr pull tandem 7 k axles. Pulled two rigs on it. Towed it behind an Excursion to Illinois from Denver, loaded at 13,750 lb. Pulled okay (with WD hitch). Pulled it around town a bunch with no problems (other then the tranny in the Ex heating up). Pulled it behind an '05 PSD dually to Moab, pulled like it wasn't even there. (other then the extreme lack of power, 40 mph sucks)



I got mine locally, but www.indianvalleytrailers.com almost got the nod, they have good prices.

I would recommend a good WD hicth with sway controll, well adjusted brakes, a good controller (we used the prodigy in the EX, but the oem one in the tree fiddy is that much nicer), lots of lights on the trailer, and I went with no dove tail to avoid dragging the back of the trailer. Also, not sure how stiff the rear springs are in the Sub, but the Ex were way too soft, you may want to look at airbags or helper springs.

Just my two cents,

[CanuckJeeper]

Originally Posted by ramv

I own a 34' bumpr pull tandem 7 k axles. Pulled two rigs on it. Towed it behind an Excursion to Illinois from Denver, loaded at 13,750 lb. Pulled okay (with WD hitch). Pulled it around town a bunch with no problems (other then the tranny in the Ex heating up). Pulled it behind an '05 PSD dually to Moab, pulled like it wasn't even there. (other then the extreme lack of power, 40 mph sucks)

Dang bro, what fuel were you running? Old unfiltered french fry oil?

I pulled 2 jeeps on a 32-ft flatbed behind my '04 PSD F250 (not even a F350). I pulled it up the big Saluda hill on I-26 (near the SC/NC border) @ 60mph without even breaking a sweat. I was passing semi's and waving at them!

The whole rig full of fuel, with crew, tools, gear (and beer), weighed in at 20,520#.

Check it out here:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jp_boi...14.jpg&.src=ph

JP

[ramv]

Running an '05 6.0 with 4.10s. Weighs about 23,000 lb. When the "bottom" of the mountain is 6000', you start to lose some oxygen. Eisenhauer tunnel is about 11,000' IIRC, and we are talking tens of miles at 7% grade. My Dodge needs to run at redline in second to maintain speed empty. This is the kind of grades where semis crawl up it and down with flashers going.

[rotozuk]

Originally Posted by ramv

I own a 34' bumpr pull tandem 7 k axles. Pulled two rigs on it. Towed it behind an Excursion to Illinois from Denver, loaded at 13,750 lb. Pulled okay (with WD hitch). Pulled it around town a bunch with no problems (other then the tranny in the Ex heating up).

Didn't you blow pistons out the bottom of the engine towing that load? I'd say that is a "problem"..?

-Wayne

[MudTJ]

i know this is kindof an old thread but why not just get a 16 or so foot enclosed trailer, when you get to the trail pull your rig out and sleep in the trailer. With a few lights and vents and an air matress i would image it could be every bit as comfortable as a tent trailer and much less massive than the 30+foot trailer you are thinking about.

[ChiXJeff]

Originally Posted by ramv

Running an '05 6.0 with 4.10s. Weighs about 23,000 lb. When the "bottom" of the mountain is 6000', you start to lose some oxygen. Eisenhauer tunnel is about 11,000' IIRC, and we are talking tens of miles at 7% grade. My Dodge needs to run at redline in second to maintain speed empty. This is the kind of grades where semis crawl up it and down with flashers going.

Huh? I hear ya about the altitude, but damn. I towed that last fall with a bone stock 1999 24v CTD 2500 towing a HEAVY trailer (figure between 9,000 and 11,000 lbs., I didn't scale it) from Chicago to Moab, right through Denver and up through the Eisenhower Tunnel. Slowest I got was 3rd gear (NV4500 5spd, 3.55 gears) at 3,000 RPMs. She'd have gone to redline, but I'd rather not push it that hard. It just wouldn't go in 4th on 10%+ grades.

[ChiXJeff]

Back on the original question....

Seems like the Western states will allow doubles, but the forward trailer MUST be a fifth-wheel style hitch, no inverted ball or bumper pulls allow.

A friend of mine in central CA has a toy hauler that carries a tube buggy that started life as a Jeep XJ. Full width axles, etc. and gets towed behind a diesel Excursion. They're quite happy with it. I don't remember the brand, but they did have to have it semi-custom built for the extra reinforcement in the garage.

[ramv]

Originally Posted by rotozuk

Didn't you blow pistons out the bottom of the engine towing that load? I'd say that is a "problem"..?

-Wayne

Nope. It was empty when the engine blew. Just a Ford thing I guess, seems like everyone has good luck with the 7.3 PSD, but that one didn't. The engine wouldn't know if it was in a pickup towing a gooseneck, so I don't think towing a bumper pull trailer would have anything to do with it.

[DRM]

I recently borrowed a buddy's 35' bumper pull trailer to pick up a 7-8k lb. bucket loader my dad and I bought. It was my first time pulling a bumper pull *that* long, and my first time pulling over 10k lbs. load.

The trailer is a steel deck car hauler - 30' deck, 5' dove. Tripple axle, brakes on all 3. It is rated @ 14,500 lbs.

Let me just say - it took a little time to get used to pulling that trailer. With a tail that long to wag - you really have to *think* EVERYWHERE you go.

But, after a little road time, and pulling in and out of my driveway a few times, I felt pretty comfortable with it.

But - back to the point...

It is not uncommon around here to see a gooseneck with a slide-in on the front, and the rig behind it. Even saw one at Windrock last spring that had a pop-up mounted up front on a swivel

Personally, I would do some measuring of your rig, and the intended sleeping quarters (whatever they may be) and get a trailer that will work *specifically* for your needs as far as rating, length, and axle palcement.

[CanuckJeeper]

Piece of cake...



Been towing like that for a while. Load balancing is very important.

I upgraded that '04 F250 to a '01 F350.

JP

[SSSRodeo]

I just gotta add.
If you go to a pop up tent trailer, and mount it on top of another trailer to stay there. Pulling the slideouts and setting up is going to be a real pain. You'll be working off a tall ladder the whole time. Having owned several, packing up the tents was the biggest pain in the ass. After a weekend of playing, I was always so damn tired. I hated having to pack it all up for the road.
I would rather tow doubles than have everything on one long trailer.
In fact I did. For years I pulled a Jayco 1206 pop up with a motorcycle/ PWC trailer behind it. Carried my Kayack and bicycles on top of the camper.
Had electric brakes on the camper and surge brakes on the MC trailer.
Looked like Goofy on Vacation. It worked for me, but I was more into rock climbing, kayacking and bicycle racing then. My friends loved going with me. This was after my divorce, so I didn't have a family to share with.

If I had it all to do over again, knowing what I know now.
I'd find a 1 ton crew cab (for the family)Turbo Diesel Pickup, pull a goose neck or fifth wheel camper with a low car hauler trailer behind it. This way you can still have a family camper with out tripping over each other and a trailer to carry your off road rig. + if you break and axle on your off road toy you can load it on the trailer and still get it home. And on those trips where you don't need a camper, you can just pull the car trailer. And lets not forget you'll have a crew cab the wife can drive to run into town and buy groceries and souveniers.

It is going to cost but hey. How many times are you going to get to enjoy doing your things with the kids this age. And when they grow up, you and the wife can still enjoy the camper. I think you'll find them bringing friends along if there is space for everyone. Otherwise they may revolt in having no one to play with.

It takes some getting used to to pull a train like this but many retirees are doing it. So how hard can it be? With enough engine and brakes and a little planning you can save a lot of problems.

Just thought I'd throw out my experiences to help you in your decision.

Curtis

[packnrat]

all fifty states allow a proper truck to pull doubles, you must have the proper license and both trailers must have breaks, not excede a spefide length, and weight, check the GCWR on the door jam of your truck,
if you get caught trying to tow too much the ticket is a very big one,
but worse of all your insurance co can drop you if you need to submit a clame and are not with in the law.

i have a 99f250 psd and can just pull my fifth wheel and the jeep on a trailer, but the gear must be watched or will go over weight real fast.

another truck needs to bring the beer

[Joe_W]

Originally Posted by DRM

Even saw one at Windrock last spring that had a pop-up mounted up front on a swivel

any pics? Thats exactly what my friend wants to do