towing

[mountaindew]

Just registered yesterday for pop up times.My wife and I and kids are new to pop up camping,but we are now proud owners of a 2007 Fleetwood Westlake.When we drove it home we notice everytime we slowed down or sped up it would push or pull the vehicle,jerk the vehicle.Should there be more weight on the tongue,I don't know.By the way we have a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder with a reese hitch.Any how we are looking forward to using our camper and spending good quality times in the outdoors.

[brainpause]

You should have a brake controller with that trailer. Sounds like you aren't using one, or have it improperly adjusted. Get the Tekonsha Prodigy. If you have anything less, you have an expensive paperweight, though it could be more expensive if it doesn't work correctly.

So...after all that, do you have a brake controller?

Welcome to PUT!

Larry

[AustinBoston]

Just registered yesterday for pop up times. My wife and I and kids are new to pop up camping,but we are now proud owners of a 2007 Fleetwood Westlake. When we drove it home we notice everytime we slowed down or sped up it would push or pull the vehicle, jerk the vehicle.

When towing, it's normal to feel the trailer pulling on the tow vehicle.  The only reason it moves at all is that the tow vehicle pulls it.  If the movement is sudden, clunky, or jerky, then that is a sign that something in the hitch is too loose.  While it is not unusual to hear a clunk or groan while towing, you should not be able to feel them.  One thing to make sure of is that you are using a 2 inch ball.  A 1-7/8" ball could cause excess movement in the hitch.

As far as pushing...your Westlake came from the factory with electric brakes.  The brakes need a controller to operate.  This is a small box (about 2-3 times the size of a pack of cigarettes) in the tow vehicle.  It senses when the brake pedal is pushed, and how fast you are slowing, and applies the trailer brakes accordingly.  If you don't already have one, get a Tekonsha Prodigy.  If anyone recommends something other than a Tekonsha brand or the Jordan Ultima (which is very good but very expensive) walk out and do not return.  Your family's safety is worth more.

Should there be more weight on the tongue, I don't know. By the way we have a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder with a reese hitch. Any how we are looking forward to using our camper and spending good quality times in the outdoors.

I don't know if the Westlake has a front trunk or not.  Some Fleetwood trailers with a front trunk can be a little unstable if the trunk doesn't have enough weight in it.  This usually shows up as unwanted or excess side-to-side movement, also known as trailer sway.  A properly loaded trailer has no trailer sway.

In any case, the goal (really, more of a requirement) is to have between 10% and 15% of the trailer's actual weight on the tongue.  If you need to know how to determine this, we can point you to sites with very good explanations & diagrams.

Enjoy your trailer...and the drive to the campground!

Austin

[mountaindew]

Brainpause and AustinBoston,
Thanks for the info.I will check everything to get it right.Just thought when we left the dealer everything would be fine,used to a tent and sleeping bag I quess.

Thanks again,
Mountaindew

[flyfisherman]

Just registered yesterday for pop up times.My wife and I and kids are new to pop up camping,but we are now proud owners of a 2007 Fleetwood Westlake.When we drove it home we notice everytime we slowed down or sped up it would push or pull the vehicle,jerk the vehicle.Should there be more weight on the tongue,I don't know.By the way we have a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder with a reese hitch.Any how we are looking forward to using our camper and spending good quality times in the outdoors.

Your post reminded me of my first popup, a Coleman/Fleetwood model, that was framed for a 12' trailer (really was a 10' interior with a front storage trunk) and for that era the front trunk models were notorious for being out of swack ...  EMPTY!  I had pulled a few trailers before that time, but hitching up with that rig and heading for home, I was not prepared for the behavior of that empty trailer!  Turned out that the trailer was simply light in the tounge and needed weight; in fact, it simply did better with some weighted cargo aboard, with consideration for it being forward.

Night and day difference with a load aboard.



Fly

[mountaindew]

Fly,

Thank you for the info for towing our Westlake. You know I hate to admit this but my wife said the same thing.So I think we will put our cargo in the front portion of our camper when we travel, and thanks again and good luck with the flyfishing.

mountaindew