Watch this lol your jeep is a Rolls Royce compared! lol This is the Aussie Outback way.
Please watch the whole thing!
Holden is GMH
Please watch the whole thing!
Holden is GMH
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Jeep hauler—finally pulled the trigger
- Thread starter AMS417
- Start date
The trailer with your truck is a marginal setup. You are going to be near weight limits with just the trailer and Jeep. When you start putting stuff in the box, your tongue weight is going to go up fast. The low rider trailers are just that - low. You'll need to pick your parking carefully. Another thing is those aluminum boxes are not very comfortable in really hot or really cold weather.
I'd consider flat towing your Jeep to where you want to wheel.
I love the idea. You're going to have to pick your interior very carefully though. That stuff adds up FAST. Are you going to have onboard water? Approximately 8 lbs a gallon. You mentioned that you won't have a cook source inside, but you will need to carry a stove and propane. Fridge? Batteries are heavy too. You won't want to run your generator every time you want power. Good luck!
For what its worth, my 26 foot, all aluminum and SMC constructed motorhome weight about 10,500 lbs, dry. Interiors are HEAVY.
For what its worth, my 26 foot, all aluminum and SMC constructed motorhome weight about 10,500 lbs, dry. Interiors are HEAVY.
Man, that's a cool looking setup! I'd be cautious though about pulling that much with your current Ram 1500. There's more to the equation than just weight. A trailer that big is going to be a handful behind a 1/2-ton pickup on the highway - especially in the hills or during windy conditions. Just because a pickup is rated to pull that much weight doesn't mean you want to do it regularly or make it a practical endeavor. I'm concerned you're going to end up making some unforeseen concessions after all is said and done. Just keep an open mind and STAY SAFE. Good luck to ya!Yup, thought of that as well, but I have a new 1500 I don't really want to trade in for a 3/4 to pull a 5th wheel. This trailer is 5150# with my Jeep I will be just over 9k or about what my boat weighs. I have no issues towing the boat. I may need some helper bags and a WD hitch for long journeys but hoping three axles helps me carry the weight. The truck mount camper / gooseneck combo looks a little redneck but I hear it works well. Cost wise I think this is still better. Plus no crappy camper construction to worry about water damage and poor quality materials.
My tow rig is a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie Sport with 12k tow cap and 1600# payload. If I can stay under 11k on the trailer and 900# on the tongue it should pull ok. I see 8-10% for a triple axle is about ideal for tongue. The trailer has three braking axles, so stopping should be no issue. I am installing an OEM brake controller (one of the few options my truck didn't come with) and having the dealer flash it when I take the truck in for a recall on the wiper arms. Dealer wanted $300 parts and $200 labor. I got OEM parts from Ebay for $139, they will flash it for $69 while I have it in the shop. Install takes about 30 mins, all plug and play.
Just but new 8 ply BFG KO2 on the truck too. I won them in a sales contest at work.
OP
Ordered a husky 12k 800-1200 TW WD hitch today. Had the trailer shop remove the generator platform from the tongue so I can mount the WD hitch arms. If I need a generator I will buy a Predator 3500 or similar and carry on the deck closer to the axles. I already have a 10k generator but its big, heavy, and loud. Most places have RV hookups, or at least power service. Installed a weld on spare tire mount, and added an electric tongue jack. Call for insurance, full coverage is $170 per year for a stated value policy of $3k more than I paid for the trailer to take into consideration add ons I will install. Bought a trailer lock and pin locks for the hitch, and a Vulcan strap set for securing the jeep to the trailer d rings.
Wife is looking at queen size futon beds to save space. I am looking at places to go camping.
Wife is looking at queen size futon beds to save space. I am looking at places to go camping.
You'll love the power tongue jack especially once you have the front fixed up and have more load on it. They are so nice IMO.
It sounds like you have it coming together well. Good luck with it.
Make sure you weigh it once you have it all loaded with a normal trip load just for your own personal comfort. This way you'll also know you are not exceeding the OEM rated tow spec which can also help you if you were ever involved in an accident.
OP
For sure, there is a CAT scale a mile from here. I will load and weight just the trailer to check balance axle vs TW. The larger 18 ft deck gives me some room to move the Jeep fore and aft for balance. If the WD hitch isn't enough to make it ride decent I can still toss a set of air bags or Sumo Springs on it. I don't plan to ever exceed my 12k rating, but the TW will have to be dialed in. I think its going to work, if not I will have to negotiate funding with the war dept for a bigger truck. I really like my 1500, its a super nice rig, only 15k miles on it since I bought it last August.
Check your frame mount hitch too. I know the factory bar on my F150 wasn't up to the tow rating of the truck. The truck was rated at 9100 lbs, and the tow bar was a class 3 with a 600/6000 pound rating. You need at least a Class 4, I think, for 800 to 1200 lbs tongue weight. Might want to look at your axle loading too...
OP
Already on it, all 2019 Ram Laramie trucks come with a class 4 rated for 14k. Axle is rated like 4400 ish (have to look at the sticker), payload on mine is 1596#. Should be all good.
Many in the RV world use 2 small generators coupled together instead of one biggish generator. It makes them much easier to move around and store.
https://www.generatorszone.com/connecting-generators-parallel/
I just want to say I am not trying to discourage you from doing this and I like that they are finally making trailers like this as I think it works better for a lot of people. Good luck and keep us posted with how this works out for you.
It’ll pull great until you take it up to the Eisenhower tunnel then you may wish you had more truck but that probably won’t be too often.
Rubicon John
TJ Enthusiast
OP
OP
I bet a lot of Class C and gas Class A guys feel the same and wish they had a DP on that stretch. I have been over the mountains a few times. Once in a 1972 VW. Got passed by big rigs. We've determined it within the ratings Ram gave the truck. I am adding all supporting safety equipment. It'll be fine, and if it's not, I will buy up later. Have to recover some coin first. Not pulling anything out of investment accounts right now. Its either cash, or no sale.
Rubicon John
TJ Enthusiast
It’s so easy to spend other people’s money.
OP
So true. It might happen, but not until I get some time dragging this thing around and see how it handles. Coming home 9 hours empty with it, and loading up the jeep and gear will give me some insight into how it's going to go. Planning to camp in it the weekend before we leave the country for couple weeks. Looking at diesel 2500's comparable to mine its $20k to trade up. Gas 2500's are $10-15k more.
Yeah, I hauled my LJ to Moab on my aluminum car trailer with my F150. I’ll order a super duty before I do it again. It’s worth a try so hopefully it works out.
I worked as a heavy line mechanic for a Ford dealership back in the 90's. They were also a RV dealer so I worked on all the RV's along with the trucks above 1 ton. After seeing the number of RV's that came into my shop needed either the gas engine replaced or a complete overhaul I decided at the point that if I was going to be towing anything with some weight to it I was gunna have a diesel. And when or if I ever owned a motorhome it would be a diesel becasue many of the Class C or A with a gas pot were very under powered and were close to their max GVW before even being loaded with your stuff. Then tag on a trailer or flat tow a dingy and you were seriously taxing the engine.
This is why my last 5 pickups since 2005 4 have been a diesel. But I get where you are coming from about your truck and not wanting to get rid of it. I hope it works and tows good for you.
This is why my last 5 pickups since 2005 4 have been a diesel. But I get where you are coming from about your truck and not wanting to get rid of it. I hope it works and tows good for you.