I’m a trailer rv guy. Toy haulers are special. They are designed to have the proper amount of tongue weight when there is something heavy in the back so when empty they will put high amounts of tongue weight on your truck. Related problem #2, your truck may be rated high enough in “tow rating” but half tons are rated very low in cargo capacity which is what tongue weight is. You own it. Hitch it up and take it to the scales. You’ll see how overloaded the truck is when you exceed GVWR. Then look at axle ratings which are also on the door sticker. Even tire ratings since a half ton usually has light duty tires to match the low gvwr. You will have a choice to make. Ignore the weight limits or upgrade trucks. Aftermarket towing aids do not change the door jamb sticker.
Should come prewired for brakes. Should just plug in under the dash. Get a Tekonsha (uhaul brand is tekonsha) brake controller. Its amazing how much better they work. It has some sort of proportion system that gives a varying output depending on the needed stopping power.
Cool Basod, have fun with it, you can travel w gf, her sister, and kids and grandkid How are you getting from CA?
So did a little reading in the manual and the brake control and 12v are wired just not hooked up. Found a YouTube video that a guy points out where the prewired ring terms are for each near the fuse box. Then I found this little piece of technology https://www.etrailer.com/Brake-Cont...tHZZpTXkkCk6Rq64vAcCBwYjrvc9mGpxoCHTwQAvD_BwE it just needs the aux 12v hooked up and uses and internal inertia sensor plus adjustable from smartphone.
Very good points that I’ve been running over in my head. Door jamb sticker only gives me 1555 payload capacity no GAWR or GCWR- I have no idea why. Manual gives max tow capacity 7500 max with 13k GCWR. So truck is probably 5500lb curb weight. Wet weight occupants some gear etc probably 6k. I’ve got a portable 800lb scale at work that I can check trailer dry tongue weight to see if the toy hauler is tongue heavy- which is great insight.
That was just a comparable one the one we acquired is right here in town. Once I get a better idea of the condition of the trailer will determine if I just haul it to the lake or take in on road trips to Pensacola
I fixed up a older RV. It was allot of fun. Didnt pay much for it. It did need tires from being weather cracked and some other things. Good luck and hope you have some fun with it.
I don’t expect gcwr or tow rating on the door sticker because those are more like recommendations but I’ve never seen a sticker without gvwr or gawr. Those are key. You’ve got a good idea though. Enjoy
What happens if you phone runs out of battery or you drop it in water? Tekonsha was mentioned in an earlier post. It is a solid brake controller. If your truck is going to be at the maximum capacity the Tekonsha is the way to go. This would be a great excuse to upgrade trucks.
Agree 100%. It sucks, but I bought a trailer that was the limit of my 1/2 ton. It would do it, but it wasn’t fun. Right tool for the job, but up to you. Frankly I see it a lot, tacomas pulling 24’ bumper pull travel trailers, etc. I never had a close call, but see how it could happen. Nice to have a little payload in reserve.
Yeah upgrading trucks has been on my radar just have some lingering questions on a new contract at work. I’m 100% debt free including mortgage and could drop 45k cash on a slightly used 3/4T diesel or a new gasser but who knows what these kooks in DC are going to do to cripple us at the gas pumps. I’ll look into that controller, just thought that wireless one was pretty neat.
I was just in Redding yesterday. Spent the night there. That place is either on fire or full of smoke from slash all the time! My last truck was a half ton Chevy. I destroyed the 10 bolt rear end in it by towing a lot near the limits. The fancy rear end rebuilding place pointed at my trailer hitch and said “that’s your problem”. I replaced that truck with an f350 about 12 years ago. Same trailers but the rear end is happy.
