JasonH
Full Access Members
Hooked up for a short hundred mile trip. Found the scale weigh in too.
Any 30'+ Travel Trailer owners out there?
- Thread starter ynpmoose
- Start date
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Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
I’m not an expert but I think the steer and drive axle should be closer with no rear squat (if you have a WDH setup correctly). A squatted rear end will make steering a little more challenging.
johnboneske
Full Access Members
while in theory that's how it should be, but you can't get there in any way shape or form. When setting up a WDH, its about the front end mostly. Measure without trailer, measure with trailer, and the WDH when set up properly brings the front back down to 1/2 way or a hair more when properly setup. The weight has to go somewhere, so some goes to the front but majority stays on the rear. There is no way to ad 1000 pounds or more of tongue weight and not have the rear squat, while some it does go to the front axle(which is the point of a WDH), 60% or more is still on the back axle.
JasonH
Full Access Members
I moved more weight off the back after I got saw the numbers. My wife didn't feel like waiting for me to make multiple passes on the scale because we were returning from a trip. It definitely improved the handling. Much less bouncy. We drove back from a trip today with some 20+ mph gusts and it handled fine. I plan to go back to the scale soon and make sure it's sorted.
Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
You’re probably right, but here is an interesting video showing the impact of a WDH on weight: .
OP
OP
ynpmoose
Well-Known Member
What year and model is that trailer?
JasonH
Full Access Members
2017 Forest River Salem Cruise Light, T28QBXL.
Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
Nice trailer!
Montana Wildcat
New Member
35 foot, 6700 lb Mallard M32 here. '14 Expo EL Limited with tow package pulls it like a champ. Gotta have the WDH and sway control, though. I average 65-70 mph through the hills/mountains of Montana with no problem.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Thanks! It worked perfectly for us with our tow vehicle. As we have a large family and use the tow vehicle as a daily driver.
I have attached photograph of the frame brackets so everyone can see how high they are positioned. I had 4140 lbs on the back axle before moving the bracket up.
Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
How many washers? I’m using seven I think.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Three. But I probably could one have used one or two more. We are pulling to Florida right now. I'll see if I can stop at a scale on the way.
johnboneske
Full Access Members
I have an Equalizer and use 5 washers. I don't have the load leveling air bags either.
JasonH
Full Access Members
Here's another reading from the scale. Moving the brackets all the way up moved around 300 lbs to the front. But team mom asked us to haul some beverages, so rear axle actually went over by 520 lbs. I wasn't happy about that, but it was my error because we didn't load the additional weight in the trailer like we were supposed to. Front axle was 480lbs below capacity and we were 360lbs below GCWR. This is two adults and two kids, around 650 lbs. I think we need stiffer bars for the WDH. Not enough weight moving forwards.
Iamsam1117
Well-Known Member
30ft tows nicely behind this using a Hensley Arrow hitch with no sway problems. Had to pull it out for some cleaning today so it's not fully booked hooked up I'll get more when it's taken camping in a few months!
Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
I think the Equalizer docs say to add washers before moving the brackets. Although it’s probably easier to move the brackets.
How did this setup tow? I've looked at this model but the length scared me away. I'm towing 26ft now which is supposedly a super light trailer (4900 dry, 6200GVWR) and I'm really shocked shadow cruiser could pull off 5700 ponds dry on something that size with tongue and groove roof and floors. Maybe I need to give it another look. I pulled my 26ft box trailer from Boise to couer'd'laine a few weeks ago and averaged 7-8mpg at 70. Cost a little over $400 of premium fuel for that trip, still cheaper than renting a hotel room for 5 people.
JohnnyFort
Member
I tow a Sunset Trail 270bh with an overall length of 31'11" and a GVWR of 7600lbs with my 2017 EL Limited with HD towing. I went on the scale last year and the trailer axles weighted 6600lbs. I thought my tongue were was arround 850-900lbs max (13%). I bought a trailer tongue scale and found out that my tongue weight was a bit over 1000lbs loaded for camping wihtout fresh water in the tank. 
I have an Equalizer WDH with 1000lbs bars and even tough I can bring the front at the unhook height there noticeable squat in the back. I'm using the max number of washers (8) in the head. The bars are just not strong enough. You want the bars parra
The ride is good with very minimal sway in big crosswind, no white knuckles, just the back bouncing a little here and there.
If I were to do it again, I will buy the 1200lbs bars. The 624lbs tongue weight in the brochure wasn't really accurate...
In short, a 32ft overall travel trailer is ok if setup correctly.
I have an Equalizer WDH with 1000lbs bars and even tough I can bring the front at the unhook height there noticeable squat in the back. I'm using the max number of washers (8) in the head. The bars are just not strong enough. You want the bars parra
The ride is good with very minimal sway in big crosswind, no white knuckles, just the back bouncing a little here and there.
If I were to do it again, I will buy the 1200lbs bars. The 624lbs tongue weight in the brochure wasn't really accurate...
In short, a 32ft overall travel trailer is ok if setup correctly.
Dr0idattack
Well-Known Member
I tow a Sunset Trail 270bh with an overall length of 31'11" and a GVWR of 7600lbs with my 2017 EL Limited with HD towing. I went on the scale last year and the trailer axles weighted 6600lbs. I thought my tongue were was arround 850-900lbs max (13%). I bought a trailer tongue scale and found out that my tongue weight was a bit over 1000lbs loaded for camping wihtout fresh water in the tank.
I have an Equalizer WDH with 1000lbs bars and even tough I can bring the front at the unhook height there noticeable squat in the back. I'm using the max number of washers (8) in the head. The bars are just not strong enough. You want the bars parra
The ride is good with very minimal sway in big crosswind, no white knuckles, just the back bouncing a little here and there.
If I were to do it again, I will buy the 1200lbs bars. The 624lbs tongue weight in the brochure wasn't really accurate...
In short, a 32ft overall travel trailer is ok if setup correctly.
I went with the 1200 just in case, and my tongue weight is just 700ish with normal load (I don’t pull with water in the tank.)
shane_th_ee
Full Access Members
My trailer came with 800lb bars. The CAT scales told me I have 930lbs of tongue weight. $70 later and I now have 1200lb bars and a lot less bouncing. I highly recommend upgrading the bars.
