This guy tows a 5500 lb 24 footer with his Ranger just fine. Can’t even see squat.
That looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Yeah, it's one thing pulling a max-load trailer when it is something relatively compact like that 10 000lb dump trailer I was pulling 3 weeks ago. In that instance, my truck was only fighting the mass of the trailer when it came to accelerating, braking, and driving in a straight line or going around a corner.
It's a completely different experience when you're pulling a 24'-26' travel trailer, though. The amount of surface area those trailers have is massive, and they basically act like big sails. So now, not only does your truck have to control the mass of the trailer, but it also needs to control the effect of the wind on that trailer, especially any side winds.
Look, I'm an experienced trailer guy, and I'm telling ya, when it comes to hauling a travel trailer, I wouldn't go past 2/3 of the truck's rated capacity if I'm planning on hauling any decent distance at all. You have to remember, when you're loading up for a vacation, not only do you have the loaded weight of the trailer (which includes the trailer itself, water tanks, and all the necessities you have inside the trailer, pots/pans, kitchen tent, bbq, camp chairs, etc.), but then you're going to load up the back of the truck with stuff. I always fill the back of the Tundra every single camping trip, with stuff like our food and beer coolers, bikes and other toys, firewood that I'm bringing along, and luggage. I might have an extra 400-500lbs in the back of the truck, all of which eats into the truck's capacity.
Can you tow a 24', 5000lb trailer with a midsize vehicle? Sure, technically, you can do it. My BIL tows his 23' Rockwood Micro-Lite (4500lbs unloaded, 5000lbs loaded) with his 4Runner. But man, he white knuckles every drive, and won't drive more than a couple of hours in any direction when pulling his trailer. It's just too stressful, because the trailer is driving his truck, not the other way around. Even though I have a truck that is significantly more capable than his 4Runner when it comes to towing/hauling, I'm still going to limit my trailer size to 24', and about 5000lbs, or a little more. I want our camping trips to be fun experiences, and that includes the drive out there. I also don't want to be limited to staying within a couple of hours of home, just because I'm scared to drive our rig further. I'd like to be able to explore the Rockies with our rig, and that means having a trailer that is easy to tow.
Anyway, just my two cents.
