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Mr. Adventure · 10-10-2008, 12:52 PM

Being misunderstood by the rest of the RV industry is part of the TM heritage, I guess.

On a new subject:
I've frequently volunteered to take the point on lighter tow vehicles for towing TrailManors. I'm less sure I'll be doing that with this new model. It's larger side sail area relative to it's weight and it's higher center of gravity make me a little less comfortable until we have some real world experience.

A most memorable thing about towing a full height travel trailer is the swing dance one gets to do with overtaking vehicles one lane to the left who are going 15mph or so faster, first shoving the front of the trailer left (rear of trailer pushed right by the pressure wave caused by the passing vehicle) and thereby pushing the TV to the right, and a moment later shoving the trailer front right and the TV left just as the overtaking vehicle is passing alongside in the left lane. This behavior can be made worse, IMO, by heavy trailer to TV weight ratios, length of the trailer, a short TV wheelbase, and softness in the TV suspension (and a too lightly set WDH or a rear loaded trailer would make it all worse as well). It's possible that none of these would be adequately considered in a manufacturer's tow ratings, where they might be thinking only about engine power, braking, and transmission durability.

From the TrailManor website:
"TrailManor provides uniquely easy towing per pound due to the very low wind drag and the very stable ride resulting from axle placement."

"Light duty towing of a well-balanced trailer a few hundred pounds above the rating is much safer than towing a lighter, poorly balanced unit with a tendency to sway. Also, towing an upright trailer with large frontal area at highway speeds can damage a transmission even if the trailer weight is below the tow rating. "

10-10-2008, 12:52 PM	#33
Mr. Adventure TrailManor Master Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 668	Being misunderstood by the rest of the RV industry is part of the TM heritage, I guess. On a new subject: I've frequently volunteered to take the point on lighter tow vehicles for towing TrailManors. I'm less sure I'll be doing that with this new model. It's larger side sail area relative to it's weight and it's higher center of gravity make me a little less comfortable until we have some real world experience. A most memorable thing about towing a full height travel trailer is the swing dance one gets to do with overtaking vehicles one lane to the left who are going 15mph or so faster, first shoving the front of the trailer left (rear of trailer pushed right by the pressure wave caused by the passing vehicle) and thereby pushing the TV to the right, and a moment later shoving the trailer front right and the TV left just as the overtaking vehicle is passing alongside in the left lane. This behavior can be made worse, IMO, by heavy trailer to TV weight ratios, length of the trailer, a short TV wheelbase, and softness in the TV suspension (and a too lightly set WDH or a rear loaded trailer would make it all worse as well). It's possible that none of these would be adequately considered in a manufacturer's tow ratings, where they might be thinking only about engine power, braking, and transmission durability. From the TrailManor website: "TrailManor provides uniquely easy towing per pound due to the very low wind drag and the very stable ride resulting from axle placement." "Light duty towing of a well-balanced trailer a few hundred pounds above the rating is much safer than towing a lighter, poorly balanced unit with a tendency to sway. Also, towing an upright trailer with large frontal area at highway speeds can damage a transmission even if the trailer weight is below the tow rating. " __________________ 2005 TrailManor 3023 2003 Toyota Highlander 220hp V6 FWD Reese 1000# round bar Weight Distributing Hitch Prodigy brake controller. "It's not how fast you can go, it's how fast you can stop an RV that counts."