Can I safely tow this TT?


hittheroad2

New Member
Looking at a 2005 Jayco Eagle 278 FBS with a dry weight of 6915 and hitch weight of 915. TV is 2003 GMC Sierra 2500 6.0L with Equilizer hitch. Will I have trouble towing this? Also, any input concerning the trailer good/bad would be appreciated. Thanks
 

ARCHER

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

What does the owner's manual say? I'd say IMO you should not have a problem. I tow a 27 ft TT with Dry weight of 6,200 lbs with a Ram 1500 5.9l v8.
 

DL Rupper

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

Hey hittheroad, welcome to the forum. You should be able to tow the TT with the 3/4 ton GMC. If you were buying new, I would say look around as I don't think Jayco is one of the better RVs, but used you may not have as good of choice. On the plus side all of the initial problems new RVs seem to have are fixed. On the negative side, some of the initial new RV problems were repeats and the owner wants out. Check it out good and make sure everything works. See if you can take it somewhere and hook it up and check all the appliances, water and holding tanks. Good luck and happy RVing.

When you get your new RV whatever you decide on, take a trip to Capitol Reef Nat'l Park . Best little Nat'l Park Campground around. We spent our first 35 years in Utah and didn't really check all of the Southern Utah Red Rock Nat'l and State Parks. Truly awesome. :)
 

Dink22

New Member
RE: Can I safely tow this TT?

Check the owner's manual for pulling capacity, AND, check the hitch capacity. Hitch capacities have two ratings, with and without the weight distribution bars. If there is not a sticker indicating the weight limits, check the hitch manf.
 

hittheroad2

New Member
RE: Can I safely tow this TT?

DL, you say Jayco isn't one of the better RVs so what are some of the better ones. As far as southern Utah we go somewhere down there every spring. Spectacular!! Thanks for the welcome and the info.
 

C Nash

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

Hitheroad, welcome to the forum. I would check into the SunnyBrook line.
 

DL Rupper

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

hittheroad2, It's really hard to say which TT's are the best. A lot of TT's are constructed as entry level RVs, and as such don't have 4 season insulation, the heavy duty chassis, axles, wheels and tires that mid-level 5th wheel trailers do. Most weekend RV'ers have good luck and service with the light duty TT's.

I would check out Sunny Brook manufactured products. Alpenlite (Western Recreation Inc.) have TT's. I think Holiday Rambler (HR) makes an Alumalite that may be fairly decent. Out West where you are you can find Nash, Arctic Fox and Desert Fox TT's. They are out of Washington and make a pretty good RV. Actually I haven't heard too many problems with Fleetwood TT's (Terry, Wilderness, Prowler) Stay away from Forest River manufactured products. They seem to have problems. Just my opinion.

If you are getting a real good deal on the Jayco and it checks out ok, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Look the roof over real good and check the ceiling for leak stains. Do that on all RVs you are looking at. Roof, caps and slide leaks are one of the biggest problems RV'ers seem to have. Next biggest problem is tire blowouts. Most of the 15" tires are made in China. Even some of the Goodyear's are made in China. 16" Light Truck (LT) tires are best, but most TTs have 15" ST tires (Special for RVs).

Where are you located in Utah. I lived in SLC, Granger, Kearns, and Woodscross. Worked at Kennecott Copper and Hill AFB.
 

hittheroad2

New Member
RE: Can I safely tow this TT?

DL, The wife and I live in Hooper. Retired from Hill AFB in 06 with 37 yrs service. Thanks for your input.
 

DL Rupper

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

Hey hittheroad. I edited and added more to my last input. I worked at Hill AFB from 67 to 79 in Maintenance and as an Equipment Specialist. Transferred to Wright-Patt AFB, OH, Vandenberg, AFB, CA, Scott AFB, IL and Retired from Tinker, AFB, OK in "95" with 31 years service. Been RVing ever since.
 

hittheroad2

New Member
RE: Can I safely tow this TT?

C Nash, thanks for the welcome and the suggestion on the Sunnybrook line. I'll see what I can find. Lots of good info here. Again thanks to all. :)
 

Sean Woodruff

New Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

Towing safely is a combination of many different factors. Your vehicle has enough power to tow that trailer. The safety of towing the trailer is impacted by the speed you tow, physical characteristics of the trailer and tow vehicle, tires, hitch, road conditions, traffic conditions and weather conditions. The Equal-i-zer is a very good friction based sway damping hitch that many people are happy with. It is a damping hitch which means when the trailer begins to sway the friction force that the hitch applies will work against the sway forces. Once sway begins all of the factors I mentioned play into the overall severity of the result.

I manufacture a hitch that eliminates sway, the ProPride 3P. By eliminating sway from ever beginning a lot of those factors do not have an effect on your safety.
 

C Nash

Senior Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

Again Sean, Great first paragraph but why didn't you leave out the second if you are not after free adds.
 

MR.B

New Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

weight distribution WD that's the key. (no commercials)
I'm not sure why DL isn't in favor of Jayco. The Eagle is OK at it's level. Not much difference between it and Fleetwood. The Jayco Designer is great, but more $$. They also have some lite trailers that I don't think are rugged enough. Just like some of the Mallards you see from Fleetwood.

Get in it walk around and stomp on the floor. Look in all the cabinets for water spots from the roof.
 

oldhippie

New Member
Re: Can I safely tow this TT?

One of my neigbors have a '02 Jayco Eagle and all they do is complain about whats wrong with it.Then my other neigbor have a '02 Jayco Designer and they always try to tell me why they bought it.I have a '06 Open Road trailer that
I bought used and I still have no regrets buying it. :cool:
 
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