Towing 27ft, 5600 lbs Camper with the 71 SWB

[dz1087]

Looking for thoughts and opinions from you fellers about towing a 5600# GVWR camper with my 71 SWB.

Truck:
355, Quadrajet
TH350c with external cooler
3.42 rear
Factory rear leaf springs
WD hitch (1k/10k)
Sway bar for hitch
Electric inertial brake controller

Everything has been fully rebuilt in the last 4k miles. Tires are new.

Trailer:
Jayco 224BH
27 ft total length
Tandem axle
Electric brakes both axle
5600 lbs GVWR.
4500 lbs dry weight
490 lbs hitch weight (dry)


Is this combo completely stupid? Or, if I take it easy and keep it around 55, would I be alright in the Southeast?
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[Accelo]

I don't see any reason this wouldn't work just fine.
I have a 2000 Silverado (SWB) and the towing rating is 8700lbs with 200-hp, 4.3-liter V-6 (regular gas) which may be close to the HP of the stock 350.
That's is of course with working trailer brakes.

Rick

[Steeveedee]

That trailer is similar to my own. I'd suggest putting some weight in the bed of the truck so that the trailer doesn't wag the dog. My heavy-ass Longhorn handles the trailer pretty well, but I still want to put the stabilizer on.

[Accelo]

I used to pull a boat with a 1972. It was a tail wager, at speed, till I found a loose bushing. After I replaced the bushing and frame bolt in the rear bar it was rock solid. This wouldn't apply to a leaf spring truck.

[Steeveedee]

Yes, the HD rear leaf springs on my truck do reduce the side-to-side a bit!

[Myself]

I don't think it would be an issue but if it squats too bad you could get a weight distributing hitch.

[dz1087]

Would installing sway bars on the truck help stabilize towing?

I have towed it so far about 60 miles, up to about 60mph. It got a bit squirrelly up at that speed. The engine was also pinging really bad on 87 octane. I’ve switched to 93 to try to clear that up. Hoping I don’t need to retard timing.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by dz1087

Would installing sway bars on the truck help stabilize towing?

I have towed it so far about 60 miles, up to about 60mph. It got a bit squirrelly up at that speed. The engine was also pinging really bad on 87 octane. I’ve switched to 93 to try to clear that up. Hoping I don’t need to retard timing.

Sway bars are always a good move even if not towing . What sway control you using? Friction or Reese dual sway type? Never a fan of the friction units

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Sway bars are always a good move even if not towing . What sway control you using? Friction or Reese dual sway type? Never a fan of the friction units

Curt friction anti-sway bar.

What are the cons and pros of the Reese dual sways?

[toms68cst]

How much does your truck weigh? Is it less than the camper? What's the gross weight rating of your truck?

Seems like a lot of trailer for a half-ton SWB truck to me.

[Sheepdip]

Do yourself a favor and invest in something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Fastway-e2INC...99515501&psc=1

[Barnfind46]

I agree with Sheepdip. I have a 68 C-20 and a 13 ft. camper and I got caught in some cross winds and the camper started to wag. I let off the gas and tapped the brakes to correct it. Left un checked it would have come around on me. My camper only weighs 2500#. Can't be too safe!

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by toms68cst

How much does your truck weigh? Is it less than the camper? What's the gross weight rating of your truck?

Seems like a lot of trailer for a half-ton SWB truck to me.

Haven’t weighed it on a scale. Going by stock curb weight, I’ve got about 1500lbs of cargo load available. There is no Gross combined weight listed for the truck. Truck should be around 3100lbs.

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by Barnfind46

I agree with Sheepdip. I have a 68 C-20 and a 13 ft. camper and I got caught in some cross winds and the camper started to wag. I let off the gas and tapped the brakes to correct it. Left un checked it would have come around on me. My camper only weighs 2500#. Can't be too safe!

I’ve currently got a standard Curt weight distribution hitch with a friction anti-sway bar.

I wonder if the hitch system linked would be worth the additional outlay over what I currently have?

[Dirt's72]

When I was 18 I towed a Ranger boat with my moms Bronco II and coming down the backside of a mountain tapped the brakes to slow down a little and the Bronco started to do S swerves. Man that was scary I thought we were done. Another 100 miles later the clutch burnt up and we were done had to get towed. I'd definately do something on the line of what sheepdip posted. We have one simialar on a 23' Jayco trailer we have and it helps for sure. Just go slow down the hills and you should be fine.

[HO455]

Personally I would consider going to 3.73 gears. If your going towing this combination lot then a Gearvendor makes sense too.
And on a side note what are you using to control the lockup on your TH350C?

Nice looking truck!

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by HO455

Personally I would consider going to 3.73 gears. If your going towing this combination lot then a Gearvendor makes sense too.
And on a side note what are you using to control the lockup on your TH350C?

Nice looking truck!

Thanks!

For the lockup, the tranny shop put in an internal switch that kicks it on whenever the truck hits 50. I can override that by cutting power to that switch so it stays off.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by dz1087

Thanks!

For the lockup, the tranny shop put in an internal switch that kicks it on whenever the truck hits 50. I can override that by cutting power to that switch so it stays off.

Any chance I can get a part number or manufacturer? I have a TH350C in my Burban and I'm not satisfied with the current vacuum controlled lockup system.

[dz1087]

Originally Posted by HO455

Any chance I can get a part number or manufacturer? I have a TH350C in my Burban and I'm not satisfied with the current vacuum controlled lockup system.

I’ve got no idea. I’ll reach out to the shop next week and see, but I think he retired....

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by dz1087

Curt friction anti-sway bar.

What are the cons and pros of the Reese dual sways?

I've used them exclusively for the last 30 years . There are no cons to them .

Pros
The trailer tracks to the truck like it's on rails
You dont need to take them off prior to backing
Absolutely no sway or wag in winds .

[wildchild]

Are you sure your hitch is set up right? If you take to much weight off the truck it can cause it to sway bad when at speed. General rule of thumb that worked for me was to measure the top of fender well to the ground center of rear axle unloaded. Then set your hitch to have close to two inches of drop in the same spot. That way you have weight on the hitch but not to much.

[StingRay]

It'll probably be fine. Just watch how much weight you have on the truck as technically you can not exceed the GVW or rear axle GAWR. Also make sure you do not exceed your tire weight rating as that can cause blow outs. It looks like you have the right hitch to make it happen. I've always found anything with a short wheel base a challenge to tow with so a bit of experimenting with your hitch set up, tire pressures and such may be in order. You might find your self limited to the speed you can pull at. My experience has been that short wheel base towing and too much speed equals shear terror.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by wildchild

Are you sure your hitch is set up right? If you take to much weight off the truck it can cause it to sway bad when at speed. General rule of thumb that worked for me was to measure the top of fender well to the ground center of rear axle unloaded. Then set your hitch to have close to two inches of drop in the same spot. That way you have weight on the hitch but not to much.

The weight is still on the hitch it’s just distributed to the whole truck not just the rear axle and springs. The rear and front springs will squat so you aren’t compressing the rears to much . You can actually overload the tongue without knowing it . The tongue weight of a camper is pretty much set not so on a cargo trailer

[HO455]

Originally Posted by dz1087

I’ve got no idea. I’ll reach out to the shop next week and see, but I think he retired....

Thank you.

[bnorth]

Man I sure would be pumped to see a rig like that roll into the RV park!
In your shoes I'd want a WD hitch possibly with sway control added, 8 or 10 ply tires, possibly overload airbags on the truck and yes know your limit with that setup and stay within it. 3.42 seems like a fairly high gear I think it would accelerate better with 3.73 but a 4.10 you'd probably be wanting OD.