Towing an RV... it is possible believe it or not!

Lol, a delayed response here... Thankfully my 2020 does have the external cooler and not the new integrated type.

Moving from HI to the mainland in 3 weeks and will be in the market for a TT, we really like the Nano Apex 213RDS +/- #3800 25ft long. Ultimately we will be at the mercy of what's available...

 

Nice set up. Have a great time camping.

 

Dry weight? Max weight loaded up? Do your research before you purchase your TT. Tow capacity of your Tacoma is 6,500lbs? Safe towing is around 60-70% of your capacity?
(Good luck finding a TT without paying an arm and leg right now) I recently sold my 2021 Jayco for $1500 over and above my total purchase made in November of 2020.

 

I think it was determine that somewhere around March of 2020 is when the shift occurred. What’s your build date?

 

California plates? Max tow speed for California is 55mph. I had the same issue with my 2006 Tacoma Pre-Runner when towing on an uphill grade, your Tacoma should be a 6 speed? Sold my TT and bought a Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22R.

 

EZ Lift "WDH"? The EZ Lift I had on my TT had sway bars built in.

 

Pricing for anything is crazy right now, this is a change in life that we need so I am expecting to overpay a bit compared to pre covid, it is what it is...

#3800 dry weight. Per my calculations I want to keep under 4k dry, it's a balance of living space vs weight, we plan on being in this can for quite a while whilst we tour down the west coast and up the through AZ, NM, CO etc

What model was your Jacyo?

 

Early, it landed in HI in Nov '19...

 

The max LEGAL tow speed is 55. Haha. Yup 6 speed MT.

 

My Jayco was a Jayflight 154BH Baja. Larger water tank, 30 gal. propane, solar panels, insulated bottom (Canadian Standards), awning, Roof Air option-13k btu. Large enough bed for two adults, 2 bunks which I converted to storage. This was a special order out of Idaho for the roof air. Regular AC unit is wall mounted close to the bed, 8k btu. (You can use a smaller generator to "push" the AC if you dry camp) 3,600+ lbs. max weight, 2,800lbs. dry weight.
Call "Veronica R." at Richardson's RV in Temecula, Ca. Online sales-super people at Richardson's. Richardson's has 3 locations north of San Diego-Jayco distributor.
I added an EZ Hitch with a Weight Distribution Hitch & sway bars for extra peace of mind, also takes weight off the rear end. Do your research on your electric brake controller, I had a cheesy one installed because I didn't know any better. There are in dash units.
Why did I sell TT besides my 06 Tacoma not up to par for towing? I am 68 years old and decided I was too darn lazy to hitch and unhitch, etc. My wife also is like a caged cat when we drive and at 55mph. she kept scratching the dashboard and headliner!
Which Island are you moving from? We are looking at the Kona side of the Big Island to buy at some point in the future.
Good Luck...

 

Thanks for the info. You could have simply put the wife in the TT whilst driving - Joke

I'm definitely adding a wdh/sway combo and for the brake controller I like the idea of the simple redarc dial vs the technical tekonsha but I still need to do some more research.

We're in Keauhou, just south of Kona. Crazy time to buy over here, everything has doubled in recent years. Rent has more than doubled! Our realtor said that 2020 was his busiest and most profitable year in his 40 years of business! People from the mainland are buying sight unseen and adding a bit more on top of asking to get the deal done!

 

There is a smaller TT one step below the 154BH, it is the 145BH. I was very pleased with the fit and finish of my Jayco. The shower-tub combo is larger than my Winnebago! Cabinets are of good quality, fit and finish is very good. I have a good friend who runs the ring kiosk at the shopping center on the main street in Kona "Yancey Derringer", his girlfriend "Erin Levy" runs the art studio a few feet away. One of my former students is the Captain of the Body Glove boat, "Jonathan Burnett". My spouse and I are probably going to head over to check out RE first hand. Where in California are you moving to? The Jayco website gives you MSRP. Good Luck. Don't hesitate to give Veronica R. a call at Richardson's RV or contact her online.

 

Yeah we are going to need something bigger than that.

Just had your buddy cruise past us…

 

I'd be happy to find myself onboard a tourist boat in Hawaii! Don't be hesitant to give Richardson's RV a call to the contact I mentioned before. She can tell you what is in the pipeline from Jayco and give you a quote. I Special Ordered mine, took 2 months?

 

So I pulled the trigger on a 2022 GeoPro 20BHS. The Canadian Prairies have been cool lately, so not sure if we will get it out before it's time to winterize, but we will try and take it out mid-September for a close-by maiden voyage.

I got an E2 sway control WDH thrown in as part of the deal and already placed an order for some SumoSprings.

I have a tuner coming through town next week who will hook me up with the KDMax tune to make towing (and daily driving) better.

 

Hi… how did the KD Tune go? How much did it cost and how much of a difference has it made to towing specifically? TIA

 

I didn't tow much before the tune (just in town), but the KDMax tune did well towing. I had it in S4 with ECT on and it was reasonable. Unfortunately, the wind will always be your biggest enemy, and no power in the world will change that. My tuner was a bit pricey but he also traveled from 800km away so I can't complain.

 

I have a Starcraft Satellite 17rb. The trailer is 3200is with battery, propane and 10gal water. Max weight is 3900lbs. I have a weight distribution hitch, sway bar and the redarc brake controller. My weight is 175lbs and I had my offroad gear in the bed weighing 80lbs.

My Tacoma tows it very well except for the fuel economy, which is to be expected. A bigger gas tank would be nice though. Just picked it up today and towed it from Phoenix to Prescott up the 17. On flat ground to mild ups and downs I kept it at 2800 rpms going 65 mph. On the steep up hills I was at 3800 rpms going 55+ and had to back off the throttle to keep it at 3800 rpms and 55. My truck only had 600 miles on it so I was trying to keep the rpms below 4000.

Very happy with my Taco towing this weight and 600 more lbs of food, clothes and misc stuff.

 

Nice set up. So what was your round trip mpg?

I'm heading your way from Seattle (well Hawaii really!)... Been driving down the 101 through OR & CA, currently in Napa and averaging around 11mpg with my rig that weighs around 4700#. Hoping to be in AZ late Jan early February.

Are the campsites full over that way? Things are crazy over here in CA, full & expensive!!