We're new to PU camping and PU Times

[wavery]

A buzzkill would be someone who is telling you what you don't want to hear.  And yes, my concerns are genuine ~ for you and for the people who share the road with you ~ especially my camping friends in California.  

I've also read similar threads here and at other towing forums I visit ... with good reason.  Responsible people know the limits of their tow vehicle BEFORE they purchase a trailer.  Trying to modify it to fit now is like closing the barn door after all the animals have gotten out.

My background is not the same as yours.  But I am sure that if we all blatantly disregarded the guidelines of the automobile manufacturers there would a lot more accidents and mechanical failures than there are now.  We're not talking a couple pounds overweight here ~ we're talking upwards of one thousand pounds or more!  [/color]



Then do it.  But don't ask the fine people here for advice and then tell us how wrong we are.   I've only towed trailers for about 4 years, but there are people here with a lot more experience and I trust their judgement.  If they told me I was overweight ~ I would believe it and do something about it.

Kelly,

With all due respect. I asked for technical reasoning. I also asked for suggestions on upgrading my vehicle. I haven't told anyone that they were wrong (except maybe the going to jail thing )

As I have stated before, my vehicle is NOT a stock manufacturers vehicle. It's been upgraded in the areas that effect the towing capability of the vehicle. I am also not apposed to upgrading farther and there-in the reason for this thread.

Manufacturers are required to rate the vehicle in stopping distance and load-carrying capacity (basically tires) only for towing safety.

I have addressed those issues by doubling the braking power and heat dissipation of my braking system and my tires are well within limits.

Heck, when I was younger, I put a 350 Chevy engine and front & rear suspension on a 1962 VW van. I towed a trailer with 2 dune-buggies and a virtually complete workshop with that thing for 6 years (at least twice a month). The VW van looked completely stock from the outside. I had more fun with that thing. Then the kids started growing up and I bought a GMC Motorhome. Now, if you want to talk about something that should have been banned from the highway, that was it. That thing weighed a couple million pounds and was mounted on nothing more than an Oldsmobile Toronado chassis. I towed the same trailer with that thing for many more years, however, very slowly because the weight of the towing vehicle was more than the vehicle itself could handle.

That is one of the problems that I have with getting a pick-up, SUV or minivan. They are built no better than my Concorde but out weigh it by nearly double. Where is the logic in that when towing one of these little tiny trailers.

[wavery]

Sounds like you are going to tow with your overloaded car no matter what is said, so why did you ask for anyone's opinion?  It is clear that you have absolutely no interest in what we have to say?

tlhdoc

Thanks for the opinion. I would just like you to give me your technical reasoning behind this statement, "Sounds like you are going to tow with your overloaded car no matter what is said". What makes the vehicle overloaded? Is it because I have exceeded the manufacturers specs for towing? I have addressed that issue about 3 times in this thread.

I did not ask for an opinion on my vehicle. I asked for an opinion on my upgrades and technical reasons why they may not be sufficient or suggestions on further upgrades.

Come on people, is no one able to think "out-of-the-box"? Or is it just that everyone is in love with their bigger rigs and think that it's not fair that I refuse to conform?

[Azusateach]

First off, I hope you have many enjoyable trips ahead.  However, I think you might be seeing a trend here in the posts.  Ain't nobody here who's going to support you in your set-up.  In the time I've been around these boards I've never heard someone saying that it's a good idea to pull with something that's not even close to proper requirements.  You can justify what you've done all you want, but there will come a time when people simply quit responding.  Do what you want, but know that we'll encourage/support you in your camping adventures -- that's all.

Laura

[Zagami]

Welcome to the forum and back to dry land!
 
As you can see, safety is a top priority with RVers and is also one area that many neglect to study and understand when it comes to trailering and pulling vehicles behind motorhomes.
 
The quickest way to see if you haved a problem, as previously suggested, is to get everything weighed.  This can usually be done at a truck stop that has a public scale.
 
I would also suggest that you review the safety information that is available to everyone at the RV Safety Education Foundation web site:  www.rvsafety.org.
 
You can have just as many problems with a pop-up towed with a small car as you can with a motorhome towing a Suburban if you are overweight or have a weight distribution problem over your axles and tires.
 
You seem to be on top of this situation and I'm sure you work through these issues and have many happy camping years ahead of you now that you swapped the boat for an RV.
 
Welcome, and enjoy the RV lifestyle.

[meriflower1985]

If you have no doubts and are positive that you increased your vehicle's towing power you are not going to convince anyone here on that.  Since you've worked at GM why don't you tell us the technical reasons on how how you increased the towing power over the Chrysler's GVWR for your Concorde.  When I say technical, I don't mean by just adding a BIG trans cooler and ceramic disk brakes that rivals trucks/SUVs.  

Nancy

[Gone-Camping]

I have friend that thinks just like you. He bought a brand new F150 a few weeks ago, and is now talking about trading in his Class-A MH and buying a fifthwheel. When I pointed out to him that any 5er he thinks he can tow with that thing will have to be very small, likely no slide-outs (big on his list, he wants double slides and lots of storage). He bascially poo-poo'd me, said he'd throw HD shocks on it and it'll be alright.
 
I work for a Ford dealer, I've read the manual for his truck, and know it's limitations...which he plans to exceed to the point he will become a danger to himself, his family, and the motoring public at large. People like him really scare me!

[ScoobyDoo]

I drive alot,and heavy.  You are going to be over on the rear tires. You will need to find light truck tires for the back of the car (may need wheels)
  brakes upgrade will help but in a max stop the heavy rear/lite front will cause the front end to slide, you can't control with locked front wheels. a WDH might help if the trailer frame and or car frame will handle the stress.
  by the way I have had a truck frame brake in two, you WILL grab a double-handful of seat with both hands on the steering wheel !