Trailering new 2014 Scamp 13. 7-pin to 4flat?

[Briantb]

Just because they updated the website doesn't mean they updated the sales people lol

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Briantb

Just because they updated the website doesn't mean they updated the sales people lol

LOL - yup so true.

Here is the thing that more than one person new to travel trailers has gotten themselves into a little trouble.

The 1000lbs they are quoting is a known as a DRY weight. That weight does not include much of anything - no battery, no propane tank, no awning, no fridge, no ac, no stove top, no hot water tank, gravel shield, screen door, rear cabinets etc etc etc....

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

Since Subaru already told you that in this case a couple of hundred pounds over 1500 isn't the end of the world I probably wouldn't sweat it.

I think you might want to reread from the top Francesca. NO WHERE has it been said the Subaru says they are ok with them pulling a couple of hunded pounds more than 1500lbs tow spec!! In fact I can't see where its been suggest they said its ok to even pull 1 pound over.

[Bobbilane]

I was VERY specific with our salesman, Jim, for all the reasons above. I wasn't comfortable with the way he was (and still is) evading the real world weight business. He was too vague. That is why I'm here. You all are so great to answer our questions so honestly with specifics that work in the "real world". I think our vehicle is just not enough car to take those retirement trips to Florida. We have a pop up now and you'd never know it was there, no brakes, but only 975 pounds. We may keep it two more years till we can get to the next step. The scamp is the answer but we haven't quite retired yet either. We may end up in a silver eagle!

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Carol H

I think you might want to reread from the top Francesca. NO WHERE has it been said the Subaru says they are ok with them pulling a couple of hunted pounds more than 1500lbs tow spec!! In fact I can't see where its been suggest they said its ok to even pull 1 pound over.

No problem with my reading/comprehension skills... my post presumes there's no reason to question the veracity of Bobbi's reported conversation with Subaru, here quoting relevant lines from the threadstarter:

Originally Posted by Bobbilane

I'm trying to get a final weight on the thing. I know it's close to my limit (Subaru wasn't even remotely worried when I told them our plans). .

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Bobbilane

No, my reasoning is it's 300 bucks to install the box etc when I'll only have the car another year. Subaru recommends brakes too over 1000 pounds. And then another 300 plus the 800 to install for the next vehicle...which I may not lease...buy.

Soooo...... You are willing to tow over limit for the vehicle and endanger your family as well as others on the road, and this is your first experience towing???

Please let us know you route from Bacus to home so we won't be collateral damage when something goes terribly wrong with that combination.

BTW: As a often mention, let your insurance company know what you plan to do as well. They won't be to happy to continue your coverage when you engage in such dangerous practices.

Basic Towing Rule #1 DO IT RIGHT, OR DON'T DO IT AT ALL!!!!!

[Bobbilane]

Wow Bob, if you had actually read the thread you would never have said that. We just learned way more about you than you bargained for, I bet

[Francesca Knowles]

Most of us are on the same page you are, Bobbi; here quoting from your post (number 17 in this string):

Originally Posted by Bobbilane

I've been hanging on every word guys! Brakes it is!

Question re. the rig you have at present:
Have you been towing your PUP with the car under discussion here, and if so have you actually weighed that trailer?

I ask because that 975 pounds sounds light even for a PUP, depending on vintage. Could that be manufacturer's stated weight before loading? You might actually be towing more weight than you think you are, which would certainly shed some light on the capability of your tow vehicle.

[Bob Miller]

Actually everyone hereabouts knows all of that and even more about moi.... especially when it comes to intentional overweight towing topics.

I may have missed the latter posts on page 2 but, when safety is concerned, repeating a point isn't that bad a thing....

[Glenn Baglo]

Back to that old Subaru wagon I had, towing my tent trailer down from the Coquihalla summit, I was taking it real easy, poking along in the slow lane. I could see a semi ahead of me with his four way flashers on, going maybe half as fast as I was. I had two lanes to my left, but the cars in those lanes were going a lot faster than I was and the Subaru had no chance of speeding up to merge.
I did my best to baby the brakes, all the while searching for an opening in the lane next to me. It didn't happen.
Took my Subaru in to my mechanic, where I had just spent $300 on turning the rotors and new pads and he advised me that I had "glazed my brakes" and I got to write another cheque for the same amount.

[Francesca Knowles]

Has O.P. "Bobbi" left the building?

Understandable, if so.

[Glenn Baglo]

I think she came to the conclusion that she should wait out her lease and get an appropriate tow vehicle.

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I think she came to the conclusion that she should wait out her lease and get an appropriate tow vehicle.

I think it more likely that she came to the conclusion that it's unlikely that her questions/responses would be met with respectful attention.

In any case:

Here's a "best of luck" goin' out to ya, Bobbi!

[Bob Miller]

Hmmm...

Maybe some of us should start our critical replies to basically bad and unsafe ideas with the phrase "With all due respect, that's a really bad idea"?.

But, when a question knowingly & willingly wants to compromises safety to save $$$, I find it difficult to respect the question.

The o.p. knew that what she was asking was, basically a bed idea, and was looking for support.

[deryk]

I agree with Bob, when someone is asking a foolish question I'm going to tell them the truth. Its bad enough your buying a trailer that is probably too heavy for your vehicle to safely tow but you want to do it without trailer breaks...let me know your driving path so I can avoid it.

Its good to know your vehicle could stop itself and your trailer if something ever happened in an emergency situation but to depend on it for regular use...that's just foolish.... all to save $300

[Francesca Knowles]

Originally Posted by deryk

I agree with Bob, when someone is asking a foolish question I'm going to tell them the truth. Its bad enough your buying a trailer that is probably too heavy for your vehicle to safely tow but you want to do it without trailer breaks...let me know your driving path so I can avoid it.

Its good to know your vehicle could stop itself and your trailer if something ever happened in an emergency situation but to depend on it for regular use...that's just foolish.... all to save $300

No points got to the O.P. for conceding the point that she needs trailer brakes and intends to use them, Deryk?

I'm surprised at you, especially since there's nothing in the record that indicates that the O.P.'s tug is less capable of pulling the trailer she proposes than your Forester is of pulling your Parkliner.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles

there's nothing in the record that indicates that the O.P.'s tug is less capable of pulling the trailer she proposes than your Forester is of pulling your Parkliner.

hummm Once again Francesca with all do respect I suggest you should probable use your own set up if you wish to make comparisons as examples. Pretty sure Deryk is pulling with the same truck as I have and in the past he pulled with a RAV4 that had more than enough towing capacity for the Parkliner he pulled with it.

[Glenn Baglo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y

[deryk]

Originally Posted by Carol H

hummm Once again Francesca with all do respect I suggest you should probable use your own set up if you wish to make comparisons as examples. Pretty sure Deryk is pulling with the same truck as I have and in the past he pulled with a RAV4 that had more than enough towing capacity for the Parkliner he pulled with it.

Carol is correct, Francesca is in lala land lol....I own a 2010 Nissan Frontier with a 6200lb or so tow capacity....my trailer when loaded(depending on how much extra's I'm carrying) is around 2700-2900lbs...a reasonable amount less then half my towing capacity.

I bought the Rav4 because my home built lil gypsy vardo was around 1300lbs and my PT Cruiser (which sat too low to the ground anyway) had a 1500lb tow capacity...so I bought the Rav4 for its 3500lb tow capacity. The Rav4 towed my ParkLiner fine....didn't even really feel it back there but with the soft rear end(it squatted down with a 150lb or so tongue weight of my lil vardo) I spoke with a few owners of other non fg trailers who towed with a Rav4 v6 and decided I wanted a larger heavier stronger tow vehicle.

If the OP was leasing say a Nissan Frontier like mine and Carol's where it says in the owners manual that trailer brakes are needed on trailers 3000lbs or more and they had a 1500-1700lb trailer and said "hey, I don't really want to drop $300 on a lease vehicle that is getting traded in in a few months I would say No biggie, just make sure you give yourself extra stopping distance and your fine. BUT the problem is when someone cuts you off suddenly and your tow vehicle doesn't have the breaking power and weight to stop your trailer in time you get in an accident. If its found that you are towing a trailer that is borderline above your vehicle's tow capacity and not following the trailer brakes are required on trailers over a 1000 lbs...well trust me the insurance company's are always looking for a reason to say"Not our Problem" and deny your claim.... much less the danger factor to yourself and significant other...well do as you want....just hope to not see you on the road.

[deryk]

oops forgot the pic(see it squatting a bit)