Initial Check-In

**WildWG** · 07-25-2006, 05:59 PM

Hello to All TrailManor Freaks:

After months of researching for an up-grade to our 22 year old pop-up tent camper, and after finding and following this forum for a while, we just bought a 2000 2619. It is still in CO while we live in Albuquerque, but as soon as the brake controller I ordered shows up, we'll be headed up to get it.

Our pop-up is 10' log being towed and weighs something like 2000 lbs. fully loaded. Needless to say, my first experience with the TM will be white knuckles all the way. Our TV is a 2005 V6 4Runner and I will be "sweating" all the weight warnings. Initially, I don't plan on a WD hitch or anti-sway stuff, but may have to later. As I am overly cautious, no doubt you will be hearing from me more often than you may wish.

Hope to see some of you "on the road".

WG

RockyMtnRay · 07-25-2006, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildWG

Hello to All TrailManor Freaks:

After months of researching for an up-grade to our 22 year old pop-up tent camper, and after finding and following this forum for a while, we just bought a 2000 2619. It is still in CO while we live in Albuquerque, but as soon as the brake controller I ordered shows up, we'll be headed up to get it.

Our pop-up is 10' log being towed and weighs something like 2000 lbs. fully loaded. Needless to say, my first experience with the TM will be white knuckles all the way. Our TV is a 2005 V6 4Runner and I will be "sweating" all the weight warnings. Initially, I don't plan on a WD hitch or anti-sway stuff, but may have to later. As I am overly cautious, no doubt you will be hearing from me more often than you may wish.

Hope to see some of you "on the road".

WG

If you try towing that trailer without a WDH you will indeed be white knuckles all the way. The reason is the trailer's tongue weight will so greatly unweight the front suspension of the 4Runner (a light weight, short wheelbase vehicle) that the front tires will almost be floating. A year or two ago, we had someone reporting his rig (also a 4Runner) had so much sway and controllability problems that he couldn't safely go much over 65 mph. The cause: he wasn't using a WDH. Once we (I) convinced him he was a total and reckless fool for not using a WDH when towing with a 4Runner, he got one and later reported that towing had become downright enjoyable: no more sway and complete control.

With a good WDH, you'll have enough steering control that anti-sway devices will be totally unneeded.

07-26-2006, 07:50 AM

We pulled our '99 2619 with our S10 blazer which is about the same wheel base as your 4runner. I do believe that the blazer has a much higher towing capacity than your tv, but when I picked it up, I had no WDH and had about 1-2" drop in the rear. I only traveled about 50 miles, but had moderate sway. I purchased a WDH from etrailer.com, shipped to the door for $300 and I had almost no sway and the blazer sat almost level on our 1500 mile trip. you really need to get a WDH for your trip, even if you can borrow one from a friend for the time being. The brake controller is a must, saved our behinds a few times on our trip.
Welcome to the TM ownership!!!

**WildWG** · 07-26-2006, 09:43 AM

OK, I'm sold on getting a WD hitch. Is it critical that I have it when I pick up the TM? The trailer will be empty and we will be pulling it about 150 miles back to home. I was hoping to get it this weekend, assuming delivery of an ordered brake controller. If the WD hitch is critical, I had best spend tomorrow trying to find one here in town. Can I rely on one from U-Haul or Draw-Tite, or should I look for an Equalizer?

Would we be OK pulling the trailer home w/o a WDH and driving relatively slowly, say 60 mph. Once home, I would certainly obtain a WDH prior to any camping trips.

I am a little concerned about comments concerning the crossing of mountain passes. We are accustomed to crossing all paved Colorado passes and would hate to be restricted to the easiest ones just because we are pulling our TM. Surely a properly set up rig can handle Wolf Creek and Independence.

Sorry if I offended with the term "Freaks". I am using it in the sense of being highly enthusiastic.

WG

07-26-2006, 11:27 AM

Camping World has WDHs on sale right now. They're selling the trunnion-style Reese hitch (like I have) for $282 and the Robin round bar WDHs at around $239. There is a Camping World in Albuquerque. Capming World usually installs as well, although installation shouldn't be too difficult if you're mechanically minded. ...and since the 2000 TMs was before swing-away hitches, you shouldn't have that complication. There is plenty of information on this site about WDHs and how to adjust them properly.
I would recommend the 800lb bars because that's what I have and they work great for me. Others may recommend other sizes. Make sure you find out if everything you need at the hitch bar end is included in the package.

-Paul

**rickst29** · 08-17-2006, 02:11 PM

Although my Robin WDH (1000 lb model) has trunnion bars, not round. This one appears to be every bit as good as the draw-tight, and performed GREAT although the clearance between my bars and the pins on my swing hitch is only about 1".

(I don't have the factory swing hitch, it's Dinuba RV's conversion from the standard hitch. More beefy in several critical ways.)

BTW, when I say it performed great, I mean that I took it through a famous stretch of 395 between Reno and Carson City where they have 5-10 Semi Rollovers every year from high winds. The "high winds, trailers NOT advised" sign was turned on, but the 4R/Robin/2619 handled it like the Trailer wasn't even back there.
- - - -

I purchased my WDH *after* having dragged the TM down and back from the Reno DMV for Registration. No problem, and that involved both freeway speeds and grades up to 7%. But do take it EASY while driving without a WDH, I didn't go over 50 (even on the flat, straight portions) for that DMV trip. My front end was raised about 2", so any emergency maneuvers would have been made on SEVERELY underloaded steering tires. And I've got the big V8 up front, your front end (with the lighter V6) might be unloaded more than mine.

At the Camping World prices Paul listed above, I'd pay the extra $50 for the Reese-- because, if you ever need to replace a bar, Reese replacement parts are readily available. But I paid under $200 for my Robin, and it was local, with no shipping costs.

**rickst29** · 08-17-2006, 02:13 PM

Get a WDH, forget about the anti-sway. You WON'T need it.

08-17-2006, 09:26 PM

I haven't heard anyone mention transmission cooler or isn't one needed for mountain driving? Just wondering

Midwest Dave

Illinois Flatlander

**rickst29** · 08-18-2006, 02:14 AM

Well, they don't get mentioned within 'general discussion' -- but if your search for "cooler" within "towing rigs", you'll get over 130 hits.

In general, towing heavy loads on big grades without a decent Tranny cooler might be a bad idea - especially if you can't provoke the Transmission (I'm assuming Auto) to 'lock up' it's internal clutch plates by playing with the gas pedal and your choice of gear. "Tow Packages", whether standard (as on my 4Runner) or add-on, nearly always include enhanced Tranny Fluid Cooling capability.