I think it depends on the configuration of your truck, as well. As I said in another post, we had a problem with traction when we had an F-150. It was less a power problem than a weight problem. The truck had a long bed, and just didn't have enough weight over the back wheels for steep dirt roads.
The F250 we bought had a shorter bed, and more power and weight. No problem. I currently have an F250 Dually with a long bed. I had trouble in a couple of cases with the rear tires not getting traction (on the flat, in wet grass). I added a steel-framed camper shell, and haven't had traction problems since then.
So, if you have a trailer like a Brenderup that doesn't have a lot of tongue weight, coupled with a truck that runs light over the back wheels, traction on dirt roads might very well be a problem. The Jimmy has a fairly short wheel base, right? If the other lady has a long-bed Toyota (camper / no camper?), I can see why she might have a problem, and you might not.
On Jan 28, 2009, at 10:33 PM, Terry Banister wrote:
Hmmm, I've never had that traction problem with hillson dirt roads. I pull with a GMC Jimmy with 5500-lb tow capacity. The B trailer weights 2100 lb unloaded. It travels level. i know there are some Amer. trailers that weigh about the same. I've taken mine to Descanso twice, no problem.
Terry "May the Horse be with You"
> Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:51:20 -0800 > From:katswig@xxxxxxx > Subject: [RC] Tongue Weight > To:ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Terry Bannister said: > > > This shows the significance of the engineering difference on the > > Brenderups that carry 1/3 the tongue weight of American trailers. > > Why can't American trailer manufacturers design trailers that exert > > less tongue weight?! > > You can reduce the tongue weight of your trailer simply by raising the hitch on your truck or with a gooseneck, you can also extend the length of the gooseneck to raise the front of the trailer (shifts the weight of the trailer backwards). This is generally not recommended because it makes for rather unsafe driving to have the trailer, in essence, pulling up on the back of the truck. > > However, hearing that Brenderups have less tongue weight (probably because they have less overall weight, not because a larger percentage of the trailer weight is carried on its wheels--but I don't know this for sure), certainly explains why a friend of mine who has one has difficulty getting up hills on dirt roads with it (she had to take her horse out of the trailer in order to get out of basecamp at the Descanso ride). If she is not on a paved road, she doesn't get enough traction to pull up steepish hills. If she had more tongue weight, she would have more traction (her Toyota Highlander being rear wheel drive) and mightn't have had to do that. > > She won't take the thing to Chino Hills State Park for the same reason. The dirt road going in to the equestrian staging area has some sections that are too steep for her Brenderup/Toyota rig. > > Incidentally, it was lack of traction that caused that travel trailer to drag the car down the hill in that Youtube video. > > kat > Orange County, Calif. > :) > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net,http://www.endurance.net. > Information, Policy, Disclaimer:http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp > Subscribe/Unsubscribehttp://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp > > Ride Long and Ride Safe!! > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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