Posted 2011-10-03 11:05 PM (#138029) Subject: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Member
Posts: 5
Howdy folks!
I have a Chevy 2500HD truck that I intend to carry a camper on while towing horses. I think the camper weighs about 2500 lbs when loaded. The horse trailer is about 2700 lbs with 2500 lbs of horses. Say another 1500 lbs of tack, feed, gear and people for an approximate total of 9200 lbs. In order to do this I'll need an extension on my hitch. I'm wondering first of all if this is safe with this size truck and also what the best hitch setup is. I've looked at a Torklift hitch and extension which is rated for 20,000 lbs. Is this the way to go or are there other options? Naturally safety is the first priority.
Posted 2011-10-03 11:16 PM (#138030 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
what size camper? 8' needs no extension. We have a 9.5', so we have a longer extension. I'd not want a longer camper with the horse trailer in tow
Dually or not? I personally prefer a dually with the camper for stability. You can get a bit of side to side, or wind issues and the dually really keeps things more stable.
We have a tendency to carry a lot of "stuf" in our campers, so really consider the weight you think things will be. The weight given is often dry weight, no water in tanks etc. Then look at your trucks rating
Posted 2011-10-03 11:27 PM (#138031 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
You will need an optional suspension upgrade for the rear axle; IE air bags or shocks, Timbrens or springs. The longer the hitch extension and tongue weight, the lower the truck will ride. You may also be overweight on the truck's rear axle and tires' capacity.
We pulled with that type of rig for many years with a single rear wheel axle truck. Even with sway bars, Timbrens, and larger tires, the high center of gravity ruined its handling and the wind and passing trucks made things testy at times. We went with GN trailers and have never looked back.
Posted 2011-10-03 11:32 PM (#138032 - in reply to #138030) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 5
Originally written by trot-on on 2011-10-03 12:16 AM
what size camper? 8' needs no extension. We have a 9.5', so we have a longer extension. I'd not want a longer camper with the horse trailer in tow
Dually or not? I personally prefer a dually with the camper for stability. You can get a bit of side to side, or wind issues and the dually really keeps things more stable.
We have a tendency to carry a lot of "stuf" in our campers, so really consider the weight you think things will be. The weight given is often dry weight, no water in tanks etc. Then look at your trucks rating
Posted 2011-10-03 11:34 PM (#138033 - in reply to #138031) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 5
Originally written by gard on 2011-10-03 12:27 AM
You will need an optional suspension upgrade for the rear axle; IE air bags or shocks, Timbrens or springs. The longer the hitch extension and tongue weight, the lower the truck will ride. You may also be overweight on the truck's rear axle and tires' capacity.
We pulled with that type of rig for many years with a single rear wheel axle truck. Even with sway bars, Timbrens, and larger tires, the high center of gravity ruined its handling and the wind and passing trucks made things testy at times. We went with GN trailers and have never looked back.
Thanks! I was planning to have air shocks installed too. You think it might not be enough truck? That's what I'm worried about.
Posted 2011-10-04 8:00 AM (#138037 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
The camper alone, with its necessary gear and fluids, will greatly tax your truck's competency. Installing a two foot hitch extender and adding the tongue weight of a trailer, will push the truck past any safe towing capabilities.
Posted 2011-10-04 10:52 AM (#138041 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Be careful when using an hitch extension for trailering with a slide-in camper. This puts more leverage on the trucks receiver hitch. And usually lowers your trailer capacity by a third. Read the label and use a weight distributing hitch for the maximum capacity.
Posted 2011-10-05 12:49 AM (#138063 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 45
I would agree with what others have said and don't do it. One(camper) or the other(trailer) and you'll probably be ok, not both. I say probably, because of putting an 8' slide-in(2,500lbs) on a SRW short bed truck is putting a bit of weight a ways behind the rear axle and if you add a decent weight trailer(with the first good crosswind or passing semis), I wonder how hard that dog is going to wag his tail.
We've hauled an 8' slide-in(crankup style, weighs apprx. 1,000lbs) with a 3H BP(with est. total trailer weight of 7,500lbs.) from IL to MS on our farthest trip with no issues. But that was with an 01 GMC dually(8.1/Allison) without the need for any suspension "help" mounted on the truck. The trailer does have a weight distribution setup.
Point being, just because all the numbers say ok(GVWR,GCWR,suspension helpers and hitch ratings), doesn't necessarily make it safe. Good luck.
Posted 2011-10-05 10:45 AM (#138068 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 399 Location: Ottawa, Illinois 61350
It will be a case of the "tail wagging the dog". A dually is the route to go, if your going to be doing the truck camper and trailer duo.
We deliver hay with gooseneck trailers; one on a dually one ton, and the other on a 3/4 ton with air bag suspension. The 3/4 ton also is a 4x4 off road model. We still get that "sidewall sway" feeling versus the stable feel of the dual wheels on the one ton. You won't like the feeling if you stay with the single wheel truck with the camper/trailer set up.
Posted 2011-10-05 11:36 PM (#138089 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 5
Thanks for all your comments! So even if I beef my truck up with air bags, a Torklift hitch and extension, weight distribution system, etc. it's still a no go? What if I get a 350/3500 dually with a diesel engine?
Posted 2011-10-05 11:45 PM (#138093 - in reply to #138089) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by Muddy on 2011-10-05 12:36 AM
Thanks for all your comments! So even if I beef my truck up with air bags, a Torklift hitch and extension, weight distribution system, etc. it's still a no go? What if I get a 350/3500 dually with a diesel engine?
Then you would have a truck, that would carry and pull almost anything you would need concerning horses.
Posted 2011-10-06 7:46 AM (#138094 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I started out with a camper on a pickup, only it was a dually diesel. My trailer was an FRP 4 horse weighing just short of 6k empty. I built my own receiver extension by adding extra attach points on the outside rails of the frame mount, and by using leveling bars on the hitch. Many miles, no problems, but as I think about what you're wanting to do, my concerns are the rear tires. I guess if you could put everything together and figure out you're not overtaxing that rear end, then it might work, but it's hard to beat a dually with an overhead camper. Hope you never have a tire blow out, that would be a problem!!
Posted 2011-10-06 5:41 PM (#138110 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
I have an F350, dually, 4x4, and the 9.5' camper with the 3 horse trails West is a nice set up. It just depends on where you want to spend your money I guess, and if you get new, used, and maybe what you already own.
Posted 2011-10-07 7:15 AM (#138119 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 48
My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse.
She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed.
She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip.
Posted 2011-10-09 12:58 PM (#138185 - in reply to #138119) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Originally written by arrestado on 2011-10-07 7:15 AM
My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse.
She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed.
She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip.
A 10'camper on a non dually? I'd personally not do that even if I did not tow.... my 9.5' is the biggest I'd be comfortable with... and, we do have airbags, and have not had issues, but I bet our camper was no where as heavy as that 10'
Posted 2011-10-09 2:06 PM (#138186 - in reply to #138185) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by trot-on on 2011-10-09 12:58 PM
Originally written by arrestado on 2011-10-07 7:15 AM My good friend bought a camper for her 2007 SRW Dodge 3500 diesel 4x2. It had about a 2' overhang off the back bumper. She then added an extension hitch to pull her small 2 horse straight load with one horse.
She went to have air bags put on the truck and the shop told her-NO WAY, that will blow the air bags right out because it's such a big camper. She had heavy duty springs installed.
She hauled with it one time. And then sold the whole setup because it was SO dangerous with so much sway. She said a semi passed her and she thought her whole rig was going to flip.
A 10'camper on a non dually? I'd personally not do that even if I did not tow.... my 9.5' is the biggest I'd be comfortable with... and, we do have airbags, and have not had issues, but I bet our camper was no where as heavy as that 10'
Any of you remember these trucks? Maybe they should start building these again, F-350 Super Camper Special, talking about a loooong bed SRW!! We had one for pulling grain and cotton wagons on the farm. 390 V8 with a 4 speed.
Posted 2011-10-09 3:39 PM (#138187 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
those trucks were built TOUGH!
We had an old Sierra Classic, manual with the "granny gear". Tough truck, that took us to so many camping trips with the horses and camper into the Sierras....
Posted 2011-10-10 7:26 AM (#138193 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
For Goodness Sake... I would pull that camper off and haul a tent if I couldn't swing a GN trailer with some sleeping quarters... There is only so much weight you can put on those back tires, look at your tire rating.
(In the good ole days... we swept the poop out of a 2 hrs BP, put down a tarp under our bedrolls, and cooked over a fire. Those memories are gold. Now, we have so much crap to load and tend to, we may as well be pulling our house.)
Posted 2011-10-11 10:01 AM (#138219 - in reply to #138193) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 373 Location: Texas
Originally written by calamityj on 2011-10-10 7:26 AM
For Goodness Sake... I would pull that camper off and haul a tent if I couldn't swing a GN trailer with some sleeping quarters... There is only so much weight you can put on those back tires, look at your tire rating.
(In the good ole days... we swept the poop out of a 2 hrs BP, put down a tarp under our bedrolls, and cooked over a fire. Those memories are gold. Now, we have so much crap to load and tend to, we may as well be pulling our house.)
But no one makes us get LQ's or campers, or motorhomes. Its our choice what we feel we need. As I age, I find that I appreciate having the camper more than when I was a 20-something "kid". I was excited when we got the first camper shell, and I did not have to sleep in trailer or tent. I had my air mattress laid out in it, ice chest, and it was ready to go!
Posted 2011-10-11 12:34 PM (#138223 - in reply to #138029) Subject: RE: Towing horses with camper on truck.
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Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
When my children were younger and I started showing horses again (after a long break) we had the 3/4 ton truck and a 16 ft BP so we bought the slide in camper. It made it possible to go to local shows and spend the weekend in some sense of comfort. I didn't like the set up but at that time it was the only way to get it done and we did. Now its different-with a GN/weekender LQ its not only comfortable but a whole lot easier to haul. I tend to go 4-5 hours away to a show and on the interstate so I want a rig that easy to drive,back up,load and live in for 4 days at a time. No camping for this girl..I want lights,heat.AC,a fridge. I would never go back to a BP for hauling either a horse or livestock.
Towing horses with camper on truck.
