PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Hi praise! Thanks! I think it's pretty sweet too.
2021 Titan XD Pro-4X w/ Ovrlnd Camper
- Thread starter PirateMcGee
- Start date
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Hmmmm. My dad is having major health issues to the point where he has stopped driving and sold his Tundra. A few years ago he built a 7x16 cargo trailer into a camper and last weekend he gave it to me as it had been sitting in storage for a couple of years. I aired up the tires and towed it a couple hundred miles home. It put my Titan about an inch from the bump stops but it towed it great. Unfortunately, I threw it on a scale near my house and it put me over payload with my camper installed so I stripped a bunch of weight off the tongue and inside but it puts me within 50 lbs of payload with a full tank of gas and me in it...
So now the question comes up....keep the trailer and buy a bigger truck? take my camper on and off whenever I want to switch? or sell the trailer and get something smaller (7x12) that will haul the ural and build it out lighter?
Any thoughts?
So now the question comes up....keep the trailer and buy a bigger truck? take my camper on and off whenever I want to switch? or sell the trailer and get something smaller (7x12) that will haul the ural and build it out lighter?
Any thoughts?
Pra4sno
Member
I've had a few utility trailers over the years and found they all have been sensitive to balancing. I was taught on a single axle trailer that you want a tongue weight around 10-15% of the trailer's total weight on the ball; but in my experience when you've got a 4-10k lbs trailer, that equation changes. We tow a 4.5k tandem axle boat and trailer; and our tongue weight is more like 300-400. It has always towed fantastic and is exactly how the trailer manufacturer set it up. Interestingly, with more fuel in the boat's tank (rear of the axles) the tongue weight sits at around 250lbs.
We run Firestone airbags and I have a TRD rear sway bar on order (not really needed, just saw a good price on one); and with only 5 PSI in our airbags the rear of the truck sits level with the boat hitched. Boat + a full truck bed of stuff and we go up to about 10PSI.
I would think a combo of further load balancing on the trailer to get tongue weight down and some airbags for the times you have a little extra load and it will be looking pretty good.
We run Firestone airbags and I have a TRD rear sway bar on order (not really needed, just saw a good price on one); and with only 5 PSI in our airbags the rear of the truck sits level with the boat hitched. Boat + a full truck bed of stuff and we go up to about 10PSI.
I would think a combo of further load balancing on the trailer to get tongue weight down and some airbags for the times you have a little extra load and it will be looking pretty good.
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Thanks, taking the eu3000 genny and mount plus 2 20lb propane tanks off the tongue and about 750lbs of cabinet and other stuff out helped immensely. I am still considering alcan springs but the tongue weight is still running about 700lbs with how he did the cabinets in the front and that's unloaded...
plainjaneFJC
Deplorable
Personally I’d sell it if it’s not what you would’ve bought or built- then again not sure what your dad had in mind when he gave it to you. I remember giving a guy a lawnmower so he could mow his yard and the rascal went and sold it…. but hey who is keeping track..😆
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
He doesn't really care what I do with it but clearly spent a lot of time working on it. It's certainly bigger and heavier than I would have built. A 7x12 or 7x14 with a Timbren axleless would be the route I would go. In Colorado I didn't want a trailer at all but in Oregon it actually works as we'll head over to the coast regularly and stay at state parks. Definitely keeping a light truck camper setup though even if we have a trailer for more civilized camping ha.
plumber mike
Adventurer
It might be time for the XD. Definitely a more thirsty option but it takes and handles the extra weight so nicely. I thought about tow mirrors for our small titan but honestly can’t see using it with the 8.5x16. Yes it will do it, but like you say, it’s a touch too much. I’d rather get a 6x12 and have it be the smaller trailer for the smaller truck.
I’ve got about 7,000 miles on both now. They may look similar, but are different enough to not be redundant. The Titan can get 23 on the highway empty but the XD can only get to 19. The Titan actually burns a little more fuel when loaded. I’m assuming due to the engine working harder to overcome the taller final drive ratio.
I’ve been setting up my stuff in pack out cases. It has allowed me greater versatility in distributing weight in both the truck and trailer. It also allows me to leave some weight behind depending on the trip we take.
Wishing the best for your dad.
I’ve got about 7,000 miles on both now. They may look similar, but are different enough to not be redundant. The Titan can get 23 on the highway empty but the XD can only get to 19. The Titan actually burns a little more fuel when loaded. I’m assuming due to the engine working harder to overcome the taller final drive ratio.
I’ve been setting up my stuff in pack out cases. It has allowed me greater versatility in distributing weight in both the truck and trailer. It also allows me to leave some weight behind depending on the trip we take.
Wishing the best for your dad.
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Appreciate it. He probably doesn't have real long. Good reminder to get out and enjoy life while you are able! Sneaks up on us all.
How's the maneuverability of the XD in comparison? I really love my Titan but if a trailer and ovrlnd camper is in play at the same time it's probably time for a different truck. Main issue I have with the XD is front ground clearance and bigger turning radius. I doubt the 16" length would make much real world difference offroad on BLM/FS roads.
Pra4sno
Member
Is there a way to get more weight over the rear axle; even if it isn't reducing the weight of the trailer overall? I worked on a trailer that was having tongue weight issues; by shifting a bank of deep cycle batteries and two onboard water tanks to the rear (and filling them up to actually add weight to the trailer) we reduced the tongue weight over 400 lbs. Totally understand when something is overbuilt its overbuilt; just throwing extra notes in. I was really surprised the difference having those water tanks full made, vs empty - for example.
This is purely personal preference; but after having them on several vehicles I try to avoid heavier aftermarket springs. The 90% of the time the truck isn't hauling a lot of additional weight I have to deal with the ride quality that goes along with heavy spring rates - same goes for going to a 3/4 ton or 1 ton for payload and tow duty when it isn't needed full time. I know the concept of progressive spring rates should eliminate that, but they always have needed more bed weight to settle the spring. The newer trucks with coils do better at the heavier payload ratings, but a 1/2 ton vs a 3/4 ton springs make a difference when daily driving.
This is purely personal preference; but after having them on several vehicles I try to avoid heavier aftermarket springs. The 90% of the time the truck isn't hauling a lot of additional weight I have to deal with the ride quality that goes along with heavy spring rates - same goes for going to a 3/4 ton or 1 ton for payload and tow duty when it isn't needed full time. I know the concept of progressive spring rates should eliminate that, but they always have needed more bed weight to settle the spring. The newer trucks with coils do better at the heavier payload ratings, but a 1/2 ton vs a 3/4 ton springs make a difference when daily driving.
plumber mike
Adventurer
The XD sits a bit taller and I haven’t had an issue yet with ground clearance here in the Black Hills. The trailer is always the limiting factor when the two are combined. I will definitely drag it farther than I should to get that secluded spot. Turning is fine for me but Mrs. Plumber definitely thinks it’s unruly in comparison. She daily drove our 2019 XD and found it a chore in tight parking lots. The smaller Titan and 360 camera make her a happy gal.
Unrelated…but is that Ural 2wd?
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
That was my first go and it helped a bunch but not quite there. He added a bunch of plywood to the bottom and then coated it in some sort of epoxy bed coating stuff. Looks heavy...also fully insulated it etc. There's no water system or batteries so I'm actually a bit shocked at the tongue weight.
Fun part is both my axles on my truck are far from overloaded just payload is close to the limit. It's odd as the published payload for my model and trim in the owner's manual is quite a bit higher than my door sticker but it is what it is. I mostly don't daily drive this truck as I live a mile from work and walk, bike, take the ural ha. The vast majority of the 32,000 miles I've put on are with the ovrlnd camper going out places so heavier Alcans would probably work. Other reason would be to get rid of the factory block stacked with the icon block for a more progressive pack.
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Yep, it can be locked in 2wd. Steering gets weird but it works great on slippery stuff.
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
Decided to pull the camper...thing was stuck to the bedrails so I ended up having to construct this contraption.....
Somehow it worked!
Pra4sno
Member
How did you run straps around the camper? That looks great!
PirateMcGee
Expedition Leader
One under the cabover, lifted enough to get a strap under the middle and then to the rear door hinges. Didn't quite get the tension and COG correct so slight rodeo but it worked ha. Thinking about installing lift points on the cabover since I have the AF one piece top frame. Make it a lot easier.
Wife wants to be able to run a trailer and the same or similar truck camper so we'll see which route I take from here; leaning F250 super cab.