Towing a trailer with a Roadtrek 210P

 

2013 210P Towing a 5x8 trailer

We are on a trek of about 1,900 miles.  We are towing a UHaul 5x8 trailer. I've never towed with the Roadtrek before, although I've towed in the past using a variety of vehicles. 

This is at the end of day one of the trek. The towing was very smooth and stable. I'm travelling "at" the UHaul recommended maximum speed of 55 MPH (Hint: travelling faster may void insurance, etc.). 

The trailer is not equipped with independent brakes, so some care must be exercised when braking. However, the vehicle seems perfectly capable of stopping with the trailer.  

I loaded the trailer so that the load is balanced with 60% of the weight near the trailer front. Everything in the trailer is secured. This is the recommended procedure and balancing the load reduces the tendency to "fishtail". 

Today, travelling 342 miles on some local roads, mostly interstate and minimizing the idling, the MPG is about 16.0, which is our usual experience at highway speeds below 70 MPH.

I'll track performance for the entire 1,900 miles. 

Our 2013 210P is on the Chevy Express 3500 Chassis with 6.0 liter V-8. If I couldn't see the trailer in the rear view mirror, I wouldn't even know it was there. 

I modified the factory equipped rear camera so it will operate when moving forward in "drive" and for this trek I pointed it slightly upwards so I can see the trailer and beyond, to the rear. 

The chassis can tow a maximum trailer weight of 10,000 lbs. However, the GCWR is limited to 16,000 lbs. According to Chevy "The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and trailer including any passengers, cargo equipment and conversion. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be exceeded." The empty trailer weight is 900 lbs, the cargo about 600 lbs; 1,500 lbs combined. The GVWR of the Roadtrek is a maximum 9,600 lbs. That's vehicle, passengers, cargo + tongue weight. Furthermore the ratings for the 2" hitch ball is 2,000 lbs, the hitch is 10,000 lbs and the hitch mounting is rated 5,000 lbs. 

I enabled the "Tow-Haul mode". The Chevy has this Mode which "adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shift cycling, providing increased performance, vehicle control, and transmission cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads." 

Note: UHaul will not generally allow a Class B RV to tow this trailer. We passed because of the Chevy 3500 chassis and engine.

My "HUM" gave me a safety score rating of 100.  That is for 459 miles of driving per the GPS and includes about 100 miles of driving on the Memorial Day weekend. 

HUM Safety Score May 29-June 4

(c) N. Retzke 2022