Travel Trailer

galatron · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:42 am

Hi, now that I am fully enjoying my CRD, I would like to use it to pull a travel trailer, what kind of trailers are you folks pulling around here? I like the looks of the airstream, but 40k seems like alot, perhaps I could find a fixerupper... or a nice older used one. I am sure there has to be something around. 'course I'm not to worried about camping in a tent... so what do you folks camp in around these parts with your KJ?

hatchetman · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:33 am

I have an 08 Coachman 150 Blast toyhauler. Little over 18', loaded down with my 4-wheeler and water, food, etc. it weighs in at about 5000#. :evil:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:55 am

galatron wrote:

Hi, now that I am fully enjoying my CRD, I would like to use it to pull a travel trailer, what kind of trailers are you folks pulling around here? I like the looks of the airstream, but 40k seems like alot, perhaps I could find a fixerupper... or a nice older used one. I am sure there has to be something around. 'course I'm not to worried about camping in a tent... so what do you folks camp in around these parts with your KJ?

I camp in the KJ.

coldkj · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:28 am

I've been camping in one of these, shown here on an older land rover. Fits my Lib perfectly, always ready, harder for the bears to get me.

http://www.autohomeus.com/products/magg ... xtreme.php

chrispitude · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:03 am

We have a 26' Rockwood:

It pulls nice, but we have a Hensley Arrow hitch to prevent sway from being an issue. Wind resistance is the biggest hurdle for highway towing. Danoid has a 26' Surveyor which is a similar length and weight, but his front is more raked.

For the hitch, in addition to the Hensley Arrow, there's actually a new kid on the block:

ProPride Hitch

which seems to be a new and improved version of the Hensley Arrow. Jim Hensley and a few other folks had a parting of ways with Hensley Manufacturing, and now they are selling a refreshed version of the hitch with better features at a lower cost. Looking for a used Hensley Arrow on Ebay is also a possibility. You'll want to consider it once you start getting up past 22' or so in length. Even under that, some form of sway control is a must - why not get the best, and take it with you as you grow through tow vehicles and trailers?

- Chris

Uffe · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:24 am

chrispitude wrote:

We have a 26' Rockwood:

It pulls nice, but we have a Hensley Arrow hitch to prevent sway from being an issue. Wind resistance is the biggest hurdle for highway towing. Danoid has a 26' Surveyor which is a similar length and weight, but his front is more raked.

For the hitch, in addition to the Hensley Arrow, there's actually a new kid on the block:

ProPride Hitch

which seems to be a new and improved version of the Hensley Arrow. Jim Hensley and a few other folks had a parting of ways with Hensley Manufacturing, and now they are selling a refreshed version of the hitch with better features at a lower cost. Looking for a used Hensley Arrow on Ebay is also a possibility. You'll want to consider it once you start getting up past 22' or so in length. Even under that, some form of sway control is a must - why not get the best, and take it with you as you grow through tow vehicles and trailers?

- Chris

Wow man that looks awesome

Me want that now! ...err but new tyres first!

How far have you pulled the trailer to date with the KJ you think? How do you use the O/D off button? What about rear diff and transmission oil change intervals?

Sorry to be asking all these questions, I'm just very interested, please excuse me :oops:

chrispitude · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:10 am

Uffe wrote:

Wow man that looks awesome

Me want that now! ...err but new tyres first!

How far have you pulled the trailer to date with the KJ you think? How do you use the O/D off button? What about rear diff and transmission oil change intervals?

Sorry to be asking all these questions, I'm just very interested, please excuse me :oops:

Hi Uffe,

No problem on the questions, it's quite on-topic given the thread.

We got the trailer late last fall, and were only able to take it on two trips before a cold snap forced us to winterize. The first trip was to a site 100 miles away, the second was to a site about 190 miles away. We got about 14mpg towing which I think is reasonable. The Inmotion tune really helps pull up the hills - after the first trip, I decided we needed the tune for the second trip. With the tune, I can chug right up grades at my desired speed without needing a running start to stay locked up.

I kept O/D on most of the time, and only turned it off if we come up on a steep grade where I couldn't maintain 60mph (rare with the Inmotion tune). We changed all drivetrain fluids before our first tow, and I may reflush again with Amsoil stuff before next spring's first pull.

When we got the Inmotion tune, I plugged the MAF back in to shut off the CEL. As a result, the engine ran hot (about 5/8 to just under 3/4) when pulling up extended grades on the second trip. At first, I thought this was because of the Inmotion tune, but now I realize it's due to all that very hot exhaust (under heavy load up the hills, mind you) being pumped back into the intake. I've since reapplied the ORM, and this will help. We've also installed a Magnaflow cat-back which will reduce EGTs (and hopefully coolant temperature) a bit more.

The SEGR is also on my list. I'm on the current "round 2" waiting list.

- Chris

yakers · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:14 pm

We have a T@da, made by Thor/Dutchman, tha same folks who own Airstream. http://www.tada-rv.com/
We expect to max out the GVW@3,300lbs. So far ww have only towed it 50 miles and it was a dream. I'm nost sure what will happen going up & down the Grapevine or other mountain routes.
The Liberty can certainly tow a lot of weight but you still have to address other issues like braking, wind resistance and sway control. I have not done the Suncoast transmission upgrade. I expect I will have to do that someday. Still have 13,000 miles on my warranty, maybe I'll change after that if it looks like the 3,300 lb trailer is too much strain on the transmission for extended towing.

logiclee · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:21 pm

I tow a Swift Challenger which is a UK built 23' trailer at around 3300lb.

Never had a problem, I would say the majority of UK bought KJ's will be bought for towing as it comes with a 3500kg max tow limit and is widley acknowledged as an excellent towing vehicle.
It was the main reason I bought it.

Cheers
Lee

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

That's crazy. I always wanted a trailer like that, and live in it on my cross-country trip.. It is like an RV with a Jeep!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:35 pm

coldkj wrote:

I've been camping in one of these, shown here on an older land rover. Fits my Lib perfectly, always ready, harder for the bears to get me.

http://www.autohomeus.com/products/magg ... xtreme.php

Are you sure??? - I thought an Alaskan Brown bear could easily reach that height - and those are canvas sides..

(although a full size bear could take out 3/4" plywood - but it seems like something more solid would at least slow them down long enough to grab a .40 - .50 cal bearswatter)

coldkj · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 4:31 pm

Yup I'm sure note the (er) after hard!!!! In theory, I'd have a chance to shoot the thing, or scare it a way before it got me, as they tend to lumber around the camp site looking for food. I'm hoping (praying?) that the bear(s) will make some noise before they figure out that I'm up in the tent. My dog sleeps in the back of the jeep, and she doesn't like em and barks her fool head off when they come around. Anyway, the tent is really practical, not a true alternative to the nice trailers also mentioned in this post, but something to keep in mind for the adventuresome and youthful in spirit.

crd liberty · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:19 pm

This is a small as wifey will allow.
Would like to have a larger front end but times are
tough right now

Steve

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:50 pm

coldkj wrote:

Yup I'm sure note the (er) after hard!!!! In theory, I'd have a chance to shoot the thing, or scare it a way before it got me, as they tend to lumber around the camp site looking for food. I'm hoping (praying?) that the bear(s) will make some noise before they figure out that I'm up in the tent. My dog sleeps in the back of the jeep, and she doesn't like em and barks her fool head off when they come around. Anyway, the tent is really practical, not a true alternative to the nice trailers also mentioned in this post, but something to keep in mind for the adventuresome and youthful in spirit.

I've heard that dogs are actually pretty good bear deterents - the dislike seems to be mutual.

back to galatron's original question - I've always been amazed when I've seen danoid's or chrispitude's trailers -
I think those are okay if you're towing 100-200 miles - but from Austin - that doesn't get you too far - to go up to Colorado is 900 miles Moab is 1200 and I wouldn't want to do that with a 26 foot trailer in tow.
This thread had some other suggestions
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=5175&highlight=fun+finder

personally I'm torn between getting somthing small like a Casita or Aliner - that's easy to pull with the Liberty- or something big like crd liberty's - which would pull the Liberty.

and my wife's definition of camping - is anything 'without room service' - so she's not too keen on anything I can actually tow (although she did like the look of an Airstream Bambi - I just didn't like to look of the price tag)

crd liberty · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:01 pm

I run with 6 Golden Retrievers so it nice to have them up front
in the motor home with us. Wifey sits at the table and stitches.
Shes has never been behind the wheel.
That was my pro's for and against the TT, that the dogs would
have to ride back there. They would not have been very happy
back there. The 3 oldest dogs have around 60,000 miles on
them and they have no idea except they have pis**ed on most
of the states. LOL :lol:

Steve

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:02 pm

Also if you're interested in the smaller trailers - Teardrops & things
This is a good reference
http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/
search for Generic ET and Puffin - small easy to tow trailers & up top - plans for a generic teardrop.

MightyCRD · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:03 pm

galatron wrote:

Hi, now that I am fully enjoying my CRD, I would like to use it to pull a travel trailer, what kind of trailers are you folks pulling around here? I like the looks of the airstream, but 40k seems like alot, perhaps I could find a fixerupper... or a nice older used one. I am sure there has to be something around. 'course I'm not to worried about camping in a tent... so what do you folks camp in around these parts with your KJ?

The new Airstream Sports are pretty nice - they come in 17 and 22 ft - and they run around 28-32k. They are kinda like the vintage airstream trailers .... I'm toying with the idea of one, plus they are pretty light. They are a foot narrower than the other airstream trailers. Just came out with them this year. Just a thought ... I like the Casita trailer as well - I drove down to the factory last fall and looked with my wife - they are small, but nice, and pretty popular with people who have them!

hokiecb · **Joined:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:23 pm **Posts:** 46

I wanted an airstream bad. The polished shine would have looked great behind the black CRD... But I picked up this little guy lightly used and saved myself 25-26k dollars.

I was happy to find a longer longer shank to get the ball mount out past the spare tire.

Zonie · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:13 pm

I'm towing a 1961 travel trailer: 15', 2300GVW, electric brakes. I put on about 10,000 tow miles
last year and averaged about 16mpg. Shifting drives me crazy, so unless the road is downhill or dead flat,
my OD is off. It's just a standard ball hitch, nothing fancy there. No problems pulling hills until I had to go over a 5500ft.
pass in 118 degrees. Couldn't get much more than 45mph out of her under those conditions and the temp went to 3/4. I too am looking forward
to a Suncoast TC and a shift kit! Changed axel fluids to Amsoil after the season (28K). Old oil was clean.

I'm convinced this little beast can do just about anything, IF we can keep her running!

canlib · **Posted:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:36 pm

I just looked at a Safari Condo Alto. Looks perfect to me. http://www.safaricondo.com/alto/menueng.html

Super aerodynamic and only 1300 lbs!

Travel Trailer

Who is online