Too Much Truck

LCYoungJr

I recently purchased a new (to me) 2018 T@B 400 and plan to tow it with a Ford F-350 (one ton) pickup.  I now discover that towing with a one ton truck is not recommended due to possible damage to the trailer frame.  Getting another tow vehicle is not an option.  Would using an "air bag" hitch on the truck help the situation?  Any other suggestions?

One possibility I've found: https://shockerhitch.com/product/shocker-air-receiver-hitch/

Grumpy_G

Huh ? Where did you hear/read this ? Now you don't want to use a weight distributing hitch but obviously you don't need one either.

I towed my 320 with a Ram 2500 for thousands of miles, no WDH of course. I don't use a WDH with my current Jeep Gladiator either.

Freespirit

@LCYoungJr, this topic came up in July 2018 on this forum. I do not know how to attach the discussion but if you do a search on 

Can you ever have too much truck?

You should find the discussion. 

Grumpy_G

Here's the link: https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7378/can-you-ever-have-too-much-truck
This post predates my time on the forum so I wasn't aware of this "limitation". My trailer doesn't have any label to that effect though, and while I understand the reasoning it would also imply that the "Boondock" models are not meant to be taken off pavement. Or subjecting the frame to a 1000hp Cybertruck ?

pthomas745

Here is the thread that @Freespirit mentioned.

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7378/can-you-ever-have-too-much-truck/p1

Maxcamp

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/7378/can-you-ever-have-too-much-truck

Had to read up on this!
After the slamming we've taken on some concrete (dis)jointed highways, I wonder how much worse a stiff suspension would be?
Could rename a camper the T@boom!

You might try towing for a while first, and then decide if you need to invest in heavy gear. 

Regardless, do inspect the Rivnuts that hold the Tab frame together as a few folks have seen failures.

BridgerSunset

I had the concern in Nov 2020 prior to taking delivery of our 2021 400.  Our tow vehicle was/is a Chev 3500HD, since we came from a 5th wheel trailer.  I posed the question to our dealer of whether it would affect Nucamp's warranty;  they relayed the question to Nucamp.  Nucamp's rep responded ultimately to the dealer with "we won't void it by him towing with his truck".

I did keep that email, just in case.
For what it's worth, I've seen no issues yet towing with that rig.

tabiphile

This is one of those topics that at face value, kind of makes sense, but realistically, does not. That was my initial thought the first time this cycled through here and now with the big bad truck making a comeback, the same thoughts return. 
Unless you are literally driving the wheels off of your 350, where is the harm in towing with it? You have more torque and more horsepower. Does that mean you will be driving like Johny Force and accelerating hard enough to pop the frame rivets in the Tab? Doubtful. If anything, the extra HP will allow you to drive more gently. Starting from a standstill on a steep hill? Ease away. If you have a Subaru TV you'd be giving it everything it has. What does the trucks suspension have to do with how the Tab is sprung? Goose egg. 
Yes, the 350 could pull your 400 at 70, 80, 90 on the Interstate. Would you? Most certainly not. Judge Harvey rules in favor of the big truck. Let er rip. Go for the King Ranch.

RTWCTS

Since it clearly states on the tongue of both the 320 and 400 not to tow with a vehicle rated over 3/4 ton, are you screwing yourself liability wise if you ever have an accident using a 1-ton truck? I'm not making a statement, but rather asking an earnest question (I drive an F350, but we have always towed our TABs using the wife's Colorado).

Bayliss

@tabiphile, you referenced "frame rivets," but do we know how the trailer body (i.e., the aluminum frame) is secured to the trailer chassis?

When I had my 320 S bearings serviced, when the tech brought my trailer out upon completion (connected to a forklift), he showed me how much play the frame has, by rocking it up and down (by grabbing the exterior T@B handle and moving it in an up-and-down motion.  That concerned me a bit, but maybe it is normal for a T@B?  Other than the tech bringing it to my attention, I have not noticed any unusual movement.  Another tech at the RV shop said the movement is not unusual, but I do not know what he based that on.  Regardless, it has made me wonder exactly how the factory at nuCamp attaches the frame to the chassis.  As best I can tell, they use carriage bolts.

If anyone knows, or even better, can post some photos, that would be great.

pthomas745

@Bayliss aren't we talking about the "huck bolts"?

https://tab-rv.vanillacommunity.com/discussion/18026/loose-bolts-attaching-tongue-to-trailer

Bayliss

@pthomas745, I have deleted my earlier response to your question.  I now realize that @tabiphile was indeed referencing the trailer chassis huck bolts.  By the way, thank you for the link to a previous discussion about those bolts.

I was confused by the reference to the "frame rivets."  Although many use the terms "frame" and "chassis" interchangeably, I consider the trailer frame to be the load-bearing structure (aluminum framing) that surrounds the living area of the trailer, whereas the chassis is the support structure below the body and floor of the trailer.  Regardless, my question would be better posed as a separate topic for discussion.

AnOldUR

The huck bolts failed on our 320S towing with a Jeep Wrangler. They are an obvious weak point in the frame and I don’t doubt that the rigidity of a one ton truck might increase the chance of this happening.

tabiphile

AnOldUR said:

The huck bolts failed on our 320S towing with a Jeep Wrangler. They are an obvious weak point in the frame and I don’t doubt that the rigidity of a one ton truck might increase the chance of this happening.

I would be very interested to understand how TV frame rigidity translates to the towed vehicle. The connection point, the hitch ball is the only interface between the two and all it does is provide a mechanical connection that rotates and pivots to track the load. It does not direct anything except the tow force vector.
Again, and as you note, you can drive the wheels off of the T@B with any vehicle. It could be a Jeep, a Subaru, a King Ranch, it matters not one bit. Hook it up and haul it like it's a precious and pricey accommodation or drag it around like it's your neighbors borrowed utility trailer. That is what will make the difference. Bounce it down some dirt roads at 25 mph and over a few RR crossings. That is what puts stress on the fasteners. You can just as easily shake the house apart with a Half-ton truck. 

LCYoungJr

Thanks to all for the replies and good info.  I had previously seen the "Can you ever have too much truck?" posting.  It seemed to morph into more of tutorial on truck designations.

AnOldUR

@tabiphile I picture it like jumping off a wall with either knees locked or knees bent. Knees locked will send more shock through your body. With knees bent some of the shock will be absorbed by your muscles and tendons. With a lighter duty tow vehicle, the suspension will absorb more of the impact than the stiffer suspension of a one ton.

RTWCTS

Great analogy @AnOldUR!

Seekingzen

I read that somewhere as well, nit to use over a ¾ ton vehicle. We used a RAM 1500 Hemi for a while, but just switched to a Jeep Gladiator.