Towing my Sunline Solaris

[Aariel]

Hi, hoping for advice. I will be towing a 2001 Sunline Solaris for about 1 1/2 hours mostly thruway to its destination. I can rent a truck with a hitch that has capacity for the weight, but do I need an electric brake attachment? Does this model Sunline have automatic brakes and would it be too dangerous to tow it without the electric brake plug in (not sure what it is but somebody asked me about it). Thank you.

 

[mainah-SUN]

You'll need brakes on the camper no matter what you tow it with. Most bigger stuff has connections already but a breakaway system needs to be inplace like a good charged camper battery and breakaway cable.

 

[JohnGB]

Hi,

You did not mention the model number, but you did say a 2001 Solaris which helps. In 2001 the Solaris line smallest camper was a T-1950 at 20' 4" long and the largest was a T-360SR at 37' 3" long. You may have one of them or one in between.

Any 2001 Sunline Solaris camper has/needs electric brakes and will need the truck to have an electric brake controller to be considered legal on the highway and safe. As Mainah stated, the camper also needs to have a charged on board battery and a working emergency break away switch. And all the stop, turn and clearance lights need to be working.

Not sure what size/brand/model truck you are renting, and what model camper, the truck needs to be big enough to handle the camper loaded tongue weight with proper hitch equipment and able to control the camper length and weight.

We can help more if you are looking at the right truck to rent if we know more about the truck and camper.

Hope this helps.

John

 

[315RLTS in PA]

Most rental trucks won't have a brake controller, so that will be a problem. Do you have a hitch? You can't just use a small ball mount like you would use to tow a utility trailer or small boat. You may be better off trying to hire someone to tow your trailer.

 

[j52wf]

Where are you towing from and to? If this is a "new to you" camper, you might want to check the age (not just tread wear) of the tires. Check the code on the sidewalls. Don't tow, especially at highway speeds, if tires are old.

 

[Metrail]

Hi,

I just purchased a used Solaris T-2653 and was wondering if I could get by with towing it about 20 miles on some Maine back roads in good shape (about 40-45 MPH) without a Weight Distribution Hitch?

Once I get it there, will not be moving it as it will be onsite while building a home.

I have a a Ram 1500 appropriate receiver hitch ball rated at 10,000 lbs w/ tongue weight of about 1,000+ lbs.

Thanks ~ Kevin

 

[JohnGB]

Hi,

I just purchased a used Solaris T-2653 and was wondering if I could get by with towing it about 20 miles on some Maine back roads in good shape (about 40-45 MPH) without a Weight Distribution Hitch?

Once I get it there, will not be moving it as it will be onsite while building a home.

I have a a Ram 1500 appropriate receiver hitch ball rated at 10,000 lbs w/ tongue weight of about 1,000+ lbs.

Thanks ~ Kevin

Check the truck receiver sticker for "weight carrying" tongue weight. They rate them for 2 different modes. Weight distributing (with a WD hitch) and weight carrying (only using a draw bar and ball). I do not think Dodge puts a 1,000# rated weight carrying rated receiver on a 1/2 ton truck. In weight distributing, they most likely do.

This is a sticker off of a GM truck, only to show the 2 ratings. Dodge may use slightly different wording, but it should be in 2 different modes. Look to see what yours says as if your over it, you will be stressing the receiver.

Also you need a heavy rated draw bar (most are solid) to handle the full deadweight tongue of the camper. The hollow tube drawbars in 2" normally top out at 500# tongue weight.

Your truck is not going to be happy without the WD hitch. By chance do you have a buddy to tow it for you "empty" with a 3/4 ton pickup?

Hope this helps

John

 

[Metrail]

Hi John,

Well I actually have a WD hitch (minus the stabilizing bars) and it is rated for 10,000 lbs and tongue at 800 lbs (which I believe meets the 10% of the trailer weight of 7,000 lbs). My truck tow capacity is 8010 lbs, which might be OK for the 22 miles at 40 MPH but being that I just got this AND have found someone to tow it for me-- you've talked me into doing the right thing and having it towed with the right hitch.

Being that I'm most likely just going to keep it as a base camp for building home on property-- it's probably the cheapest way out as well. If and when I do decide to tow on the road, I will invest in WD hitch.

Thanks again for your knowledge and honesty!

Respectfully,

Kevin

 

[JohnGB]

Glad you found a solution and your welcome!