HI
highpockets
Guest
If we stopped for a break and wanted to open up the Trailmanor for a short rest, is there enough room between the tow vehicle and the Trainmanor when fully opened without having to unhook?
Staying hooked up when opening Trailmanor
- Thread starter highpockets
- Start date
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- trailmanor
rvcycleguy
Senior Member
Yes. The front roof does not extend beyond the hitch when opened. The only time I was not able to open the roof when hitched up to my truck is when I had my motorcycle in the truck bed which required the tailgate to be down. The roof would run into the bikes rear fender. Again, but that was due to the tailgate was extended beyond the hitch ball.
MI
MisterP
Guest
On the flip side, if you tow with a SUV and open the trailer, you won't be able to open the lift gate very far before it hits the trailer shell. Pack the vehicle so you can reach what you need from the back seat.
OP
OP
highpockets
Guest
Thanks for the input. I will be towing with a Highlander and will be looking at the smaller(2417) due to tongue weight.
FishGal
Senior Member
Yes, we found that not having to unhook the trailer from the TV was great when we stopped for the night. We travel cross country and park overnight at RV friendly Wal-Marts and Sam's club. There is a listing we use from another group to find which one's we can stop at overnight. We also always ask permission and have never had a problem. They always tell us where to park. And it's almost always by the garden department. One thing we did need to do was move the 17' canoe forward on the TV the first time we stopped, but that was about it.
mcgyver210
Senior Member
Definitely YES, we have had it up many times while hooked up to our Land Rover.
MO
moaboy
Guest
How far one can open the hatch or lift gate depends on the vehicle. On my Ody I could only open it a few inches. On my Venza I can open it much wider. Your Highlander may fall some where in between I'd guess.
rvcycleguy
Senior Member
Bill
Senior Member
Site Team
RV LIFE Pro
It also depends on the length of the drawbar. Take a look at Dimension "A" in the first picture here to see what I am referring to.
http://www.easternmarine.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mounts-Drawbars/
By chance but not by knowledge, we ended up with a long drawbar. Take a look at this photo of our setup
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8&pictureid=468
On the right is a standard non-WDH short drawbar. On the left is our WDH, with a long drawbar. You can see that on the left, the hitch ball is a good 6 inches farther from the bumper than on the right. This puts the trailer farther away from the tow vehicle, increasing the amount we can raise the tailgate. In our case, we can open the liftgate (the upper half of the tailgate) completely, which is nice.
However, a long drawbar also changes how the hitch weight comes down on the tow vehicle, making the distribution worse in some ways. So it is a mixed blessing.
Bill
http://www.easternmarine.com/Trailer-Hitch-Ball-Mounts-Drawbars/
By chance but not by knowledge, we ended up with a long drawbar. Take a look at this photo of our setup
http://www.trailmanorowners.com/forum/album.php?albumid=8&pictureid=468
On the right is a standard non-WDH short drawbar. On the left is our WDH, with a long drawbar. You can see that on the left, the hitch ball is a good 6 inches farther from the bumper than on the right. This puts the trailer farther away from the tow vehicle, increasing the amount we can raise the tailgate. In our case, we can open the liftgate (the upper half of the tailgate) completely, which is nice.
However, a long drawbar also changes how the hitch weight comes down on the tow vehicle, making the distribution worse in some ways. So it is a mixed blessing.
Bill
mcgyver210
Senior Member
Yes I am that was our first trip with brand new TM. After the drive it was very dirty so when we saw an RV Wash we went for it. They also do some extra scrubbing by hand.
It was really nice pulling into camp ground all clean LOL.
Don't laugh too hard but we still stop in when we see a RV wash.
DS
Dstrand100
Guest
Amazing and nice to know.
SCBillandJane
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
- Posts
- 146
I didn't think of this
When staying hooked up, you can level right to left with the level blocks sold at all camping stores. Just put them under the trailer tires as needed. What took me along time to think about was that those same leveling blocks could be put under the tow vehicle to help level the trailer front and back, especially when at a a site with no hook ups. Since you don't have to worry about which side has the hook ups, pull into the site with the front of the trailer low and place level blocks to raise the rear of the tow vehicle until the trailer is level. I used this on a trip to Alaska when we had time limitations and unfortunately had to make a lot of miles in a day.
When staying hooked up, you can level right to left with the level blocks sold at all camping stores. Just put them under the trailer tires as needed. What took me along time to think about was that those same leveling blocks could be put under the tow vehicle to help level the trailer front and back, especially when at a a site with no hook ups. Since you don't have to worry about which side has the hook ups, pull into the site with the front of the trailer low and place level blocks to raise the rear of the tow vehicle until the trailer is level. I used this on a trip to Alaska when we had time limitations and unfortunately had to make a lot of miles in a day.
Bailey'sMom
Senior Member
Site Sponsor
Yes you can, just be on level ground
I have done this several time in the short time I have owned mine. One time at 2am (don't ask) I pulled it into driveway to open it while attached. Due to the slope I had a difficult time getting the front shell closed up.
I have a short draw bar so it was pretty close to SUV, but gravity was the real problem, especially with the 200lb air conditioner. I ended up with a lovely shoulder size dent in the lift gate of my new to me Traverse. So from now on I will only open on relatively level ground. In fact I did this the mornin I left on vacation. Pulled it into he street and opened it.
I have done this several time in the short time I have owned mine. One time at 2am (don't ask) I pulled it into driveway to open it while attached. Due to the slope I had a difficult time getting the front shell closed up.
I have a short draw bar so it was pretty close to SUV, but gravity was the real problem, especially with the 200lb air conditioner. I ended up with a lovely shoulder size dent in the lift gate of my new to me Traverse. So from now on I will only open on relatively level ground. In fact I did this the mornin I left on vacation. Pulled it into he street and opened it.
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