GMC or Ford to Tow with?

[earlfo]

I will be purchasing a TM soon. Probably a 3124KB.

I will be either buying a Ford Transit 2500 Van, GMC 1500 level or Ford F150 all in a 4WD configuration.

My goal is to have a capable tow vehicle that I can also load my 2019 BMW R1250RT in the back of and provide the most comfort for driver and passenger in the front seats as we travel across the country.

I am looking for advice from people that are doing something similar with one of the vehicles described above. Pluses and minuses of this configuration.

I am also looking for automated loading devices for the motorcycle.

Anyone doing what I am looking to do already with some advice for me?

Thanks Earl

 

[Bill]

I think your Beamer weighs around 600 pounds bare? What will its actual fully equipped-and-configured weight be when you load it? How much will the load-assist system weigh? How much cargo will you carry in the back of the truck in addition to the bike, and what will it weigh? Have you remembered that the tongue weight of TM is around 500 pounds, carried on the rear axle (though a WDH will help a bit with that). I have a hunch that the GAWR-R will be the spec you have to watch out for.

We have a 2014 F-150 5.0L 4WD approaching 180K miles with no issues. We love it, except that we bought the Super Cab / regular bed configuration instead of the Crew Cab / short bed (same vehicle length either way) - big mistake. For us, we could have lived with the Crew Cab / short bed (5.5 feet). But for you, if you choose a Crew Cab / short bed to keep the vehicle length under control, it probably won't carry the Beamer. If you choose a Crew Cab / regular bed (6.5 feet) in order to carry your Beamer in the bed - and if the Beamer will fit - you will have a L-O-N-G vehicle that will be difficult to maneuver in anything like a tight place. Or Lord help you if you choose the long bed (8 feet). Our F-150 has a terrible turning radius.

So you have to trade off those things - cab configuration, bed configuration, overall vehicle length, weight of cargo in the bed beside the bike, tongue weight of the TM, GAWR-R, and tow rating of course. Remember that everything you put in the vehicle except yourself subtracts pound-for-pound from the tow rating. I think you have a challenge.

Bill

 

[earlfo]

Thanks for the feedback. I am new at this, so all the things you mentioned will be an issue, but I figured these size trucks should handle it.

e.g. 2021 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT Supercab
Gas V8 5.3L/325
Transmission: Automatic
Drive Type: 4WD
GVWR, 7100 lbs.

Figure 700 pounds for the bike.
3500 pounds for the trailer

Earl

 

[Shane826]

Not just Gross Axle Weight Rating Rear (GWAR-R) that Bill mentions, but overall payload capacity. If your TM tongue weight is 500lbs, your bike weighs 600lbs, add 200lbs for yourself, and you’re at 1,300lbs payload before you add passengers, the bike loading equipment, and any additional cargo. You’re quickly approaching 3/4 ton (2500/250) truck territory. You’ll almost always run out of payload capacity before you touch the towing capacity.

 

[Bill]

Would you consider a dually (two wheels on each end of the rear axle)?

Bill

 

[earlfo]

Would you consider a dually (two wheels on each end of the rear axle)?

Bill

I would consider whatever is necessary to safely do what I have outlined above. My only question is that adding a 700 pound motorcycle is enough to offset the towing power of a 1/4 ton truck when many others tow these trailers with SUVs?

I am very new to this and really appreciate the feedback I am receiving.

 

[Shane826]

A lot of folks don’t know they are pushing the absolute limits of their tow vehicles because they only look at one number, tow capacity. They have no idea about payload, axle weight ratings, gross combined weight rating, etc. And I bet at least half have no idea what their actual rig weighs, fully loaded ready for camping. Trailer dry weight is a selling tactic only.

For example the payload on my Ram 1500 is only 1088lbs. Half ton truck carries roughly half a ton of payload. My truck is also rated to tow just shy of 9,000lbs. If I pull a trailer weighing the max tow capacity, and my tongue weight is 10% or 900lbs, I only have 188lbs left for myself, passengers, cargo, etc.

As half ton trucks are designed to ride more like a car it will have less truck capabilities.

Just sayin’…

 

[earlfo]

What you are saying makes a lot of sense.

So, with that said, I want to be as comfortable as possible while carrying my bike and towing my trailer while doing it in the safest manner possible.

What I am hearing so far is that a half ton truck (i.e. f150 or GMC 1500) would be hard pressed to accomplish my goal and I should really be looking at the next level up (i.e. f250 or GMC 2500) or it's equivalent.

Has anyone on here used air systems to get a more comfortable ride in these larger rigs?

If so, is it worth the extra money?

Earl

 

[Bill]

Has anyone on here used air systems to get a more comfortable ride in these larger rigs?

Trucks today are really pretty comfortable, especially when loaded. I wouldn't spend much money trying to gild the lily. The problem with air bags is that by leveling the vehicle, they give you the illusion of increased carrying capacity. In fact, air bags do not change the weight that must be carried by the rear axle. In fact, they increase it a bit. And since the rear axle weight rating is already an issue, I wouldn't go that way. A weight distributing hitch (WDH) is the way to help this issue.

Bill

 

[earlfo]

I have decided to focus on Ford Transit vans for my towing and comfort.

I found there are some conversion vans called Explorer that use an AWD 250 level Transit van.

Has anyone got experience with these vans?

Thanks,

Earl

 

[Shane826]

Be aware the Transit is unibody, not full frame construction… And apparently they don’t play well with weight distribution hitches.

 

[fairweatherfisherman]

I would suggest getting a towing and trailering guide (similar to this) for the vehicles you are considering. I recently ran all the numbers for our tow vehicle and it was a lot closer than I would have thought just looking at the headline number.

https://www.gmc.com/content/dam/gmc...-pdf/2019-gmc-trailering-and-towing-guide.pdf

When running the numbers note that tongue load is included in the GVWR.
Some models, when loaded with the driver, passenger and maximum tongue load, may exceed the maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or rear-axle weight rating for that vehicle, which is not permissible.

 

[MiniMe-TMO]

Out of curiosity, have you considered a toy hauler? I'm not trying to talk you out of a TM as I love mine, but seems a toy hauler might better suit your needs. You wouldn't need to buy an auto loader for the motorcycle either.

But then again, I only have a Trail Mini and not a 3124

 

[busterphysic]

It doesn't take much to pull the TM.
The Ford Transit should do very well. I added a reinforcement from my rear
center undercarriage to my WD receiver. It improved the WD function for my
unibody TV. But I doubt it is necessary for a Transit.

I pull a 5000# TM3326 with a fully loaded 2008 Honda Odyssey.
Reinforced WD hitch receiver.
Heavy Duty rear coil springs.
OEM towing package. (PS & ATF coolers)
Tekonsha P3 brake controller
Synthetic ATF

Three years & 6000 mountain miles with no problem.

The only trouble is occasionally the gearing is too long for steep hills. Necessitating inconvenient downshifts, or making a steep incline impossible.
Some people have smaller tires for towing which relieve this problem too.

Dave Miller

p.s. I don't know why my thumbnails are upside down.

 

[Imfrugal24/7]

I’ve seen receivers place on the back bumper area on the trail manor for transporting motorcycles. It’s on my list of things to do for my motorcycle. For now it’s in a Long bed on my truck. It is a pain getting it in an out even with good quality ramps. Go with a LONG BED BOX

 

[Shane826]

I’ve seen that ONCE. And if I remember correctly he said it caused the trailer to sway so badly that he never did it again.

 

[Bill]

I think the TM rear hitch is rated for 100 pounds - in other words, it is intended to carry a couple bicycles, but nothing heavier. You might do well to check it out.

Bill

 

[earlfo]

I have decided to get a Ford Transit Cargo 250 AWD with dually wheels in the rear.

It might be a little overkill, but it will ease my mind when I go into areas where the ground is not the best. The dually wheels should help carry the extra weight of the motorcycle quite easily.

I also plan on adding an aftermarket double seat behind the driver for passengers. This should still leave room to add some storage boxes behind the seats.

Now I have to find a good deal on a new or newish Trailmanor 3124KB. I have seen some ads for new 2021 and 2022 models.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

Earl

 

[rich2468]

I believe that'll work out to be a wise choice for your use.

You won't have to worry about getting your motorcycle up a steep ramp behind a pickup and the bike will be protected from the elements when not in use.

You'll have loads of interior, non-TrailManor, space for other potential toys (inflatable kayak, etc.) and that space will be flexible.

You can leave the van space open/ box-like or improve it to possibly carve out a small desk/work space area allowing you to have that separate from your TrailManor living space.



Rich and Lynn
2021 2922KB