I am in the market for a trailer to tow my Jeep to the woods. I usually also take a few dirtbikes and sometimes a 4 wheeler or two. I always take lots of tools just incase something breaks. With my old (pile) trailer I was towing around a total weight of 14000 lbs. including truck & trailer + tools & dirtbikes. Thats not too much weight if you think about it. My truck weighs at least 7.
Anyhow, I have been looking for a new trailer and really want to get a 5th wheel or gooseneck enclosed race style trailer so I can keep everything locked down real nice without worry that anything is going to get stolen at the truckstop/hotel when I stop.
Long story short. I cannot find the 26 foot enclosed goose I want for a decent price. I have found all kinds of trailers that are larger than that though. 36-44 feet long units seem to be running less than the smaller units. I guess because there are fewer of us (crazy enough) that can haul and store them due to size.
So...... Will my 7.3 turbo IDI flatbed with 1 ton springs haul a 36-44 foot enclosed unit down the road at all or should I get over it and move on until I find the size I am really looking for? Keep in mind that there will be very little in the trailer & I will probably convert the front half of the thing into a camper so I dont need hotels anymore. At least a sleeper and kitchen. I was never very impressed with the bathrooms in those things. Most campgrounds I camp at have showerrooms anyhow so thats a non issue.

So sorry for the long winded story. I wanted to lay it all out so everyone can have an idea what I have my mind on.
Thank you,
Eric

 

Taking a 36 -44 foot trailer in the woods could be interesting.
Towing it with single rear wheels might be fun also.
Most of it will depend on how the weight is distributed.

 

I've pulled a 35' mobile home with both my old 6.9L 3/4 ton and my 7.3L 1 ton.
Both non-turbo and had no problem whatsoever.

 

LOL, how true.

 

The trailer would never see the woods.
I was talking about the highway I take to the edge of the woods. lol!

I am sure it could pull the trailer but how fast and how far without troubles like overheating etc.


Thanks, Eric

 

14K GCW you should be Ok until you get into the 6% grades in the mountains. Our 93 towed a 9K trailer to Florida and the only time i wished I had more power was the 5 mile 6% grades. I normally ran at 75mph to Fl from Michigan

 

that size gota be fun with a strong crosswind

 

Thats why we went with the dually.

 

Pulled those big fifth wheels for over a million and a quarter miles. You will be down to 2nd gear and on the shoulder in the mountains. The cross winds won't bother you so much if you keep the trailer within 3-4 inches of the bed top(watch out at fuel and other stops for tilting into trailer.

 

i agree with dave 40' is a bunch of trailer for a single axle, even if you had more power & UPGRADED BRAKES i dont think it would be that much fun to pull lets not even think about a panic stop, plus i dont think you could insure it.

 

I know it would pull it, and it would pull it fast. You would have plenty of go, just not much Whoa. You wouldn't stop very good. Plus you might weave a little with the single wheels, but if you keep it under 65 or 70 you will probably be ok.

 

i just pulled two 40 foot bumper pull campers thru the Appalacian Mtns... they both weighed 9K lbs... had no problems pulling ... even on the hills it dropped to 3rd only a few times...

 

I have an '86 F250 Super Cab, single rear wheels. I pull a 33' 5th wheel and a 14' trailer with the toys on it when we go camping. The 5th wheel has elec. trailer brakes which helps with the whoa part of the trip.

 

I have a 89 super duty non turbo 7.3 dually with ZF5 speed and 5:13 gears. I haul a 35' fifth wheel with slide out and a garage back (it a motorcycle hauler) The 5th wheel empty goes 8300 pounds. Put in the two road bikes at 1000 pounds the water, food and such and Im at I would guess just over 10,000 pounds. The truck hauls it fine... But having a dually when pulling a bunch of weight is best in my book. A flat tire on the back with out a dually with that much weight would be a tough ride.

 

getting it moving is no problem. stopping it is the biggest issue. dave does bring up a good point with the srw bit. i suppose if you load it low it wont be that terrible of a problem.