newbie tow question

[Grapes]

I have a F-250 4x4 diesel truck and a 1979 31' Sovereign. Will my truck efficiency pull my trailer? I know it sounds dumb, but I know my trailer dry is 4810. I don't have hardly anything in it, because I am going to be towing it home to California. Any help would be nice I'm just a newbie girl lol

[c_lewis77]

Your F-250 will have no problems pulling a 31'
I would make sure you have weight distribution and sway control with your setup.

[NevadaGeo]

Brakes: Good chance your '79 will have vacuum disc brakes. Your diesel F-250 probably won't have much of a vacuum port. You'll have to set up a brake controller and a vacuum pump as a minimum, or be learning about a hydraulic brake actuator that probably runs on 30 amp and usually needs a thicker, 10 gauge wire than most umbilicals have. Lots of information on this site to start with, then call an airstream expert on here. Don't go to a local "performance RV" or something, they probably won't understand what you have and want to rip out your premium disc brakes.
Don't give up, but read up and prepare.

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by c_lewis77

I would make sure you have weight distribution and sway control with your setup.

Yes Cass but realize the huge advantage in having your connection set up optimally. 85% of the rigs on the roads today are not and diminished safety/ performance is the result.

[c_lewis77]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Yes Cass but realize the huge advantage in having your connection set up optimally. 85% of the rigs on the roads today are not and diminished safety/ performance is the result.

Agreed!

[afneill]

Just wanted to chime in on the proper set up for towing. The 85 per cent estimate might be even a little low. Many times if you have someone else set it up they put what they have that will work, not what would make the optimal set up. Read on here, ask questions and become a knowledgeable owner, and then make a decision as to what is best for your combination. There is a lot on the forum and many who are willing and able to provide good information.

[powool]

The best answers, in my opinion, to this question are the ones suggesting you read a lot, think, ask questions, take your time, be safe, and have fun!

Both the truck and the trailer are great starting points. A lot of what you'll want to focus on is safety related - brakes, tires, hitch and suspension for both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Read a bunch of the recent threads about tow vehicles, and you'll start getting an idea of many of the common issues you'll face.

[Jared129]

Originally Posted by powool

The best answers, in my opinion, to this question are the ones suggesting you read a lot, think, ask questions, take your time, be safe, and have fun!

Both the truck and the trailer are great starting points. A lot of what you'll want to focus on is safety related - brakes, tires, hitch and suspension for both the tow vehicle and the trailer. Read a bunch of the recent threads about tow vehicles, and you'll start getting an idea of many of the common issues you'll face.

I agree. That is what I did. Although it took awhile to read and research the many different posts and opinions, it makes up for the fact that when I am out on the road, my TV/Trailer setup is as safe and efficient.

[dwightdi]

If you have disc brakes from that era, the design of the brakes and the actuator on the tongue of the trailer are junk. Repair parts are near impossible to get as well as anyone who knows enough about them to fix them correctly. Most of the people with these brakes have replaced them as I did 10 years ago after some bad experiences. The caliper holders have a design defect which causes them to have sudden catastrophic failures, even under normal conditions. The vacuum actuated system does not work well on a diesel. I went to electrics and have put 30,000 miles on my 77 without a further problem. If you want to spend a lot of money, you can buy an all new disc brake system that will fit on the same mounting holes in the axles as the old caliper holders.