Preparing To TOW an A-Liner Pop Up Camper In a RAV4 Prime | Take Your Vacation Home With You

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In this video I discuss some preparations I made in getting my RAV4 Prime ready to tow my new A-Liner Camper. If you're new to towing then this video will be very helpful. I discuss what types of trailers the prime can tow and other preparations. The products I purchased:
Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller - amzn.to/3LLoU4u
Favorite Equipment for RAV4 Prime:
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- Rhino Rack - amzn.to/3Njvdxq
- Tekonsha Prodigy Brake Controller - amzn.to/3LLoU4u
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Опубликовано:

7 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 44

@edmamon4655 Год назад

Being new to towing, I am glad to see that you are watching out for what you can. I'd like to point out for viewers that although you focus on 10% tongue weight... you can just see if you have too much weight by watching squat on the tow vehicle. What is more important, is that 60% of the weight is forward of the axle. I'd hate to see a viewer put a spare battery or LP tank in the rear of the trailer to lighten the tongue weight.. I would also like to point out that all that car manufacturers can refer to is trailer weight. However, air deflection can have much more impact than an extra ton or more of weight. I tow a 6x12 enclosed cargo trailer that has a flat 8' high front (with a slightly rounded top). It weighs 1,350 empty. My Yukon XL gets worse mileage towing this trailer empty than it does towing my 6,000 lb boat. The means the truck works harder pulling the empty trailer against the air..... Although your camper is sloped, you would clearly have air deflection impacting the Prime. Watch your transmission temps as I think you will need to upgrade to a better equipped tow vehicle quickly....

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

Thanks so much for the insightful comments. I do talk about "not" transferring weight from the front to the rear in the next video in the series, where I discuss weighing the tongue of your trailer. However, I really should have mentioned that in this video. I'll probably need to get some sort of monitor for my transmission temperature just to be sure that it's not being overworked.

@yamagrow420 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for this. I’m getting a 21 XSE. I fell in love with it when I drove it. The backup, Birds Eye view camera, and digital mirror are great and very helpful for towing - especially backing up. Thanks for the tip on the tow hitch. I was gonna get an aftermarket but will be getting the factory one to preserve my clearance. Cheers bro 👊💨💨💨

@GoldenK9Campers 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for watching!! Factory is definitely the way to go. A little more expensive... but I think it's well worth it!!

@napman99 10 месяцев назад

Thanks so much for this educational clip, I just bought 2004 Aliner Chalet few months ago and don't know much about anything even after tried to learn the rope from many clips at this YT. But I think I'm learning more and more about it from kind people like U who shared their knowledge to public. I'm using my 2013 Toyota Highlander 4 cylinder to tow my camper and so far just took it for 800 miles (round trip, Zion NP Utah) maiden voyage with no problem. I'm aware of those car weight and camper weight restrictions and those critical stuff on the paper but not much in real life. By this weekend we'll go again for another 800 miles (round trip) but this time will be mountainous terrain (Yosemite, Calif). I'll check your other clips out too.

@GoldenK9Campers 10 месяцев назад

Congrats on the new camper. Those toyota 4 cylinders are certainly durable, but max towing capacity on it is 1,500 lbs so i'd be careful towing as i'm pretty sure you are near capacity. We just visited Zion (did the narrows). So beaultiful.

@napman99 10 месяцев назад

@@GoldenK9Campers, yeah, U got me thinking hard, I really have to be extra careful and count every lb that I will carry along! According to the CAT scan my camper is 1540 lb already! I don't want to ruin my SUV transmission and pay the price of replacing it. I saw that Zion clip but haven't watch it yet, I'll do that later. Thanks.

@GoldenK9Campers 10 месяцев назад

@@napman99 If possible.. i'd really consider upgrading your vehicle. I really don't think they had towing in mind for that version of the Highlander. The V6 of the same year would be fine. Just my 2 cents. Our RAV4 prime has a towing capacity of 2,500 lbs, and I try and keep our loaded weight at around 2,200 lbs.. and feel badly about doing that to our poor RAV4.

@napman99 10 месяцев назад

@@GoldenK9Campers Thank for your suggestion, but all thing considered I won't spend another $30 grand or $40 grand (or possibly more) on the other car. U see, I'm about to be 77 in 2 months and at the best I'll be able to use this camper trailer for 10 more years if I'm still alive and well at 87. We've been tent camping and car camping for the last 40 years of our lives, now it's the final chapter of our camping hobby and it makes no sense to spend that much. We are likely to do trailer camping at the most about 5 times per year. I'm sure I can manage to keep loaded weight (at the trailer) at 1,500 lb and see what will happen in the future. Worse comes to worst we just replace the transmission which is way out of pocket lower than purchase another car.

@GoldenK9Campers 10 месяцев назад

@@napman99 I wasn't suggesting a new vehicle. Just maybe selling your 4 cylinder or trading in for a similar year 6 cylinder. But if you only camp 5 times a year, i'm sure you can manage. Good luck!! If you haven't already, I have a facebook group called Aliners Out West - facebook.com/groups/aliners.out.west - maybe consider joining !!

@danielciceu6354 Год назад

Meanwhile in Europe, a little VW Golf will tow a large camper with no issues. Same Toyota RAV4 anywhere in the world would tow substantially more than in the states. For example the Rav 4 XLE hybrid has an american tow rating of 1750lbs. Take that hybrid to Europe and that rating will miraculously increase to over 3600 lbs.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

Thanks for sharing. Lots of differences between Europe regulations and towing and here in the US. To Boil it down they allow less weight on the tongue but have strict brake requirements as well as a max 60 MPH towing speed limit. Here's a good article about some of the differences - priuschat.com/threads/why-tow-ratings-are-different-in-the-eu-vs-the-us.165744/

@Hovander Год назад

Excellent video! Added note-trailer braking requirements don't specify electronic braking as I understand it--just braking requirement versus weight. Surge brakes have also been installed on some A-frame trailers and will work automatically as required. I have had them on two former trailers, and they worked great. Boat trailers cannot use electric brakes, so they have to use surge brakes where required. There are two sources on the web for trailer braking requirements by state and province. I owned two boats and trailer made and owned before California lowered the brake requirements to 1500 pounds. The first was somewhat over the 1500 pounds and had no brakes. This made it difficult to stop quickly on a steep downhill incline. The second was perhaps 3,000 to 4,000 pounds and had optional brakes installed (fortunately). This made braking much easier and safer. When the surge brakes had a problem and stopped working, it was dangerously problematic to stop on a downgrade. I fixed the brakes immediately and again enjoyed easy and responsive braking when towing that trailer to a lake or river. For braking requirements see: www.rvia.org/system/files/media/file/Trailer%20Brake%20Requirements.pdf or www.brakebuddy.com/towing-laws.html or exchange.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/AAA-Towing-Laws-8.2012.pdf

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

Thanks so much Brian for the feedback and the supplemental information!

@austinado16 Год назад

Excellent video Darrell. I'm glad you're into the numbers game for towing. It's important; even more so when towing with something that's not a full-size truck or SUV. You'll shave a bit of tongue weight by replacing that big steel hitch with an alumistinger version. It's weird that they would put the battery on the tongue. That's a lot of weight, leveraged in front of the trailer axle.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

For smaller trailers.. isn't that where the battery typically goes? I may go lithium and move somewhere else. Hm.. I just bought another hitch yesterday (agrh). Needed something with a smaller rise than what I currently had. I think my new hitch with a rise of 3.75 inches will level out the trailer perfectly. My trailer was just a little tongue up.. was driving me crazy..

@austinado16 Год назад

@@GoldenK9Campers My battery is inside. Good call on catching that the camper was being towed nose-up. They need to be towed level, or slightly nose down.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

@@austinado16 It's weird with the A-Liners. A lot of owners tow them a little nose-up to ensure that if there is any rain, that it doesn't go into the roof panels. I think this idea came from the owners manual, .. because it recommends that they store slightly nose-up. Somebody then translated that information into suggesting they tow that way. I was always wondering about that.. until I found it in the manual.

@austinado16 Год назад

@@GoldenK9Campers Pop-ups (what I own) are supposed to be stored nose up or nose down, as well, if stored outside. IMO, towing nose up is a recipe for trailer sway.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

@@austinado16 Yep.. Bad information.. being told to a large community. Not good. I'm sort of addressing that in my next video. Hope it makes some A-Liner owners think twice.

@peterkunka2694 Год назад

You'll be surprised how fast weight adds up! Sounds like you're on the right track paying attention to details and getting everything dialed in. I used to weigh my toy hauler on a CAT scale, and there are rules... the scale has a 6,000 lb minimum before it registers weight, and there is no unhitching on the scale to weigh the trailer by itself. Best bet is before any weighing, go inside and talk to the staff about what you want to do. They will help you get weighed without interfering with the commercial truck traffic going through needing to get weighed, too. I think you'll be too light to use a CAT scale, though. Another scale you might try using is a local dump (check with them beforehand, too). Go through loaded for a simulated trip with your RAV4 and Aliner, then circle around, unhitch the Aliner in the parking lot, then go through again with just the RAV4. When you get home, use a bathroom scale to weigh the Aliner's tongue weight. Now, you'll have total weight, weight without the camper, and tongue weight... that will tell you your combined weight going down the road, your loaded RAV4 weight without the camper (don't forget to subtract the bathroom scale tongue weight), and then take the weight without the camper and add the bathroom scale tongue weight to get your total camper weight. This is what I've been using to get my combined weight, tow vehicle weight, trailer tongue and trailer total weights. Once you have those numbers, you'll be able to load and distribute weight more evenly for better traveling next time. For those with heavier trailers and multiple axles, the CAT scales will give you individual axle weight ratings, which is also helpful for loading/traveling. Cheers! Pete - KI7LIL

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

I actually went today. I guess there policies changed. The person I talked to on the phone said they had a 2K minimum. And now, it's all done over the phone on an app. I went thru with my trailer and prime, and then I went thru just with the prime. With that I can figure out all the numbers. That'll be my next video after I do the tongue weight bathroom scale video.

@peterkunka2694 Год назад

@@GoldenK9Campers Oh, sweet! I never weighed my Jeep/Aliner because I thought the scales were still at 6K. I'll look for the app and see about getting my setup weighed, too.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

@@peterkunka2694 Nice..

@napman99 10 месяцев назад

Just want to chime in here regarding CAT scale. I got my Aliner Chelet 2004 few months ago and few weeks ago I went to CAT scale (I live in Alta Loma, southern California) at Ontario truck stop Petro center only 6 miles from our home. I just breezed through that weighing thing towing my camper without unhitch or anything and that's the first time for me! The guy in the booth just asked for my name and car license plate # and didn't ask for anything else and I paid $13.50, he gave me a formal paper work that indicated that my front axle weight was 4,400 lb (Toyota Highlander) and rear axle weight (Aliner Chelet) was 1,540 lb.

@peterkunka2694 10 месяцев назад

@@napman99 That's really cool! I, too, recently got the app and weighed our new truck & camper. Everything was done through the app... nobody in a booth or speaker to talk to... and the weigh slip was available in the app and also emailed to me in pdf format. I did the first "new weigh" using the weight distribution hitch set for towing on the road.... then, I did a "re-weigh" with the weight distribution bars disconnected, so I could see how much they were transferring weight and if they needed further adjustment. Free app and a very easy process without interfering with commercial truck traffic. I'd be curious how many others are now using the app and weighing their rigs, and how their experience was weighing and what their weights were?!

@Marta-hg4rv 6 месяцев назад

thanks for this useful information!

@GoldenK9Campers 6 месяцев назад

You're welcome! Thanks for commenting and watching !!

@gregserenade6653 8 месяцев назад

I wonder if towing an Aliner Evolution 15 with a Rav4 Prime is cutting it too close with the Evolution weighing in at 2300 lbs and GVWR. 3,500 lbs

@GoldenK9Campers 8 месяцев назад

For me.. I think that's way too close. The 2,300 lbs they spec does not include the battery or the propane tanks filled, so that will easily add close to 100 lbs. I try to keep my weight (fully loaded) at 2,200 lbs max. Also.. the weights of the models will vary from trailer to trailer. Good luck !!

@2studmuffin Год назад

Toyota dealers wont install the 7 pin adapter because they cannot and will not install any aftermarket parts. Even if the 7 pin adapter is compatible, the dealers wont install it because in the event that 7 pin adapter fails it they (the dealer) will be on the hook for the repairs. If the factory 4 pin fails, the dealers will get compensated by Toyota. Also (knock on wood) if anything were to happen to that 7 pin adapter, the dealers will use that as a loop hole to void any warranty related to the adapter.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

I can understand them doing that on "maybe" prime. But I don't think you can even get a 7 Pin on a Highlander that's rated for 1,500 lbs. Pretty bad on Toyota's part. I do like my Prime though.

@juniperdog5523 6 месяцев назад

@@GoldenK9Campers I am finding the same problem. I just bought a prime and I have to get the 7 pin installed. The dealership won’t do it although they have verbally said it’s ok if I get a reputable RV place to do it (I mean it won’t void my expensive extended warranty). But all in all it is a bit of a nightmare and I wish I had known that the “trailer package” only came with a 4 pin connection.

@jxb178 5 месяцев назад

Is the weight written on your trailer from the factor WITH the battery and propane, or without, or one or the other?

@GoldenK9Campers 5 месяцев назад

The weight written on the trailer does not include the battery, it does include the two propane tanks (but not filled).

@eugenebreindel Год назад

Out of curiosity, are you also taking into account the GVWR, which in my understanding also requires similar calculations.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

GVWR is just vehicle weight + Max Payload. So as long as you're within the max payload, you're good. GCWR would be better, as that is GVWR + Max Tow Capacity of a vehicle. But again, as long as you're taking into consider the max tow capacity.. you're good.

@GoldenK9Campers Год назад

Oh, if you're talking about the GVWR of the actual trailer, that's a good point. The GVWR of a trailer is the weight of the trailer, plus the amount of cargo the trailer can carry. Most of the A-liner's are around 3,000 lbs GVWR. Some say when taking into consideration max tow capacity of a vehicle, that you should just use GVWR of the trailer. But, if you are careful about how much cargo you carry in the trailer, you should be fine.