I had a Grand Cherokee diesel rated at 7,200lbs....we towed a 25ft 5,300lbs camper. It required weight distribution per the manual and even with sway control on the hitch it was a handful. The short wheel base was not great for stability.
A full size pickup or suburban with a distribution hitch would probably be the ideal set-up. It just depends on your budget. There’s some really good distribution hitches out there now:)
@Keeton Studios My current setup is a 2016 Silverado 2500HD High Country Duramax 4x4....2022 Grand Design Imagine 2600RB...and an Equalizer hitch with 4pt sway control.
Yes !! You need one , I tow a Cougar camper with a 2011 f150 , when that semi on the other side of the road fly pass you , OMG it scared the hell out of me , my trailer was all over the road and this happen in a construction zone , thank god I didn’t lose control, I bought a equalizer 4 and i never had a white knuckle event like that again
Your title would be more accurate to say "Sway control - I don't need it for my very specific situation because my trailer is small and aerodynamic". The fact is that the average trailer over 20 foot is a giant sail, and the question is not if you will ever get sway, it is when we it happen. You are using a vehicle that is overkill for your comparatively small camper.
Hi. You're weights are incorrect... So, the 19FBS is 3075 DRY, that's without the oven option... if you have an oven, it's 3222. Water is 8.33 lbs per gallon, so a full 37 gallon tank is 308 lbs, plus the 6 gallons in the water heater is 50 lbs. Then you have whatever is in your grey & back tanks (I'm not adding that in because you probably wouldn't have all 3 tanks full at once, obviously). Then there are 2 propane tanks (37 lbs each, 74 lbs total if full) & either 1 or 2 batteries on the tongue (between 55 lbs and 70 lbs each depending on which batteries came with the rig), so that's another 110 - 140 lbs. And *THEN* you have all your cargo- food, clothes, gear- just everything/all personal belongings that you would have to weigh yourself to get an accurate weight. So that's between 542 - 572 lbs without adding what you may have in your grey & black tanks (still figure 8.33 lbs per gallon for each), NONE of your belongings/food/cargo etc... So before you put a single personal item inside your empty trailer, you are at a MINIMUM of 3617 - 3794 lbs (again, not including grey & black tank/and ANY cargo at all). *If you don't have the oven, your weight is ~3647 lbs* And, if you have 2 batteries and 2 full propane tanks you have to add a minimum of 184 lbs to the listed *tongue weight*. There you have it. I think the world of you guys, but I just wanted to clarify for the sake of the #Newbies that this setup is NOT 3000 lbs Full. No way. In NO WAY did I make this comment to be disrespectful or throw shade. I just wanted to address a miscommunication about the actual weight. #FullRespect With all that said... how are you liking the 3.6 Pentastar?
@@VocalVirgo I noticed that, just wanted to be clear. Of course if you use lithium batteries it would weigh less, but your figures and expectations are excellent.
What year is your Grand Cherokee and do you have the factory tow package? The max weight limits are all over the map depending on the year. I own a 2014 without the tow pkg and the limit is 6200lbs. The 2016's are down to 3500lbs.
You can get away with no sway control with some vehicle combinations, but it is the exception rather than the rule in the travel trailer world. The ratio of trailer weight to tow vehicle is certainly a factor, but there is more to it than that. How weight is distributed within the camper is as big a factor as tongue weight or vehicle vs trailer weight. Full water tanks vs empty water tanks (or combinations thereof and trailer design can make big differences as well. I can tell you that if you don't have a sway control system and you suddenly encounter conditions that induce sway, you'll wish you had it! As for speed, be aware that most trailer tires are designed for 65 mph max. Know what your tires can handle and don't exceed their max speed. A blow-out caused by excessive speed will ruin your day. When you are towing, don't drive like an idiot!
The geo pro weight 3000 lbs dry no? I think more like 3100 with off road package. Water is 8.34 lbs a gallon and with full tanks that is 300 lbs of fresh water. Not considering black or grey. Then add 60 lbs each for batteries and full propane tanks. Not to mention the scooter, food and gear! I think you need to weight that trailer full and you would be closer to the max or over trailer capacity than you think. The 19fbs does not have much wiggle room for CCC especially if tanks are full. I enjoy watching your videos and appreciate the content. Stay safe. ✌️
We have a new 2020 geo pro 19FB. I think we are limited to 500 cargo if I remember correctly. 4000 max He is in a Jeep Grand Cherokee that has 6000 tow. Thats should be around 2000 under We have a Ford Explorer 5000 tow So we are just at 80 % if we play the game correctly
@@michaellowrey8159 But the trailer itself has a maximum allowed weight. Take the tow vehicle out of the equation completely for a moment... (he could be towing this trailer with a Mack Truck, it wouldn't matter). The TRAILER'S axel has it's own "limit" (GAWR). A lot of people don't realize that. And a lot of people go way over the max GAWR. Always check your weights on a truck scale.
@@VocalVirgo yes. Indeed. But this was regarding weight distribution systems and his need or not for using one. Which is more about the tow vehicle and shifting it from the rear wheel. We defiantly needed this on ours.
Literally the only state with a 55mph tow limit. Nothing wrong with 70. But due to the size of his tow car. Yup. Car. It’s a car I have the Hemi version and I don’t tow with it. But with that said he may want to keep a lower mph for towing safety. But my 3500 Dually towing my 8k lb Airstream there’s no problem with safely towing 75mph speed limit in AZ.
Interesting setup...the Jeep is rated at 6200lbs, with an “optimum” trailer length of 21’..being you’ve got a sub-4000lb, 20” trailer ALONG with it being only 7’ wide (almost all TT’s are 8’ wide) it’s not even a PROBLEM for the Jeep (without tow mirrors). I’ve got the same Jeep as you, and intend on getting a Lance 1685, but a MicroMinnie 2106FBS is in the running too..only a 7’ wide trailer makes it AS NARROW as a WK2, so you wouldn’t even notice it back there)
Sheri McGill great idea! I’ll plan to do that this fall or partner up with a RV dealership. We use our RV all winter down in SoCal so I’ve never winterized it myself:)
campingalan We added one right away before we even picked up the camper. I think we just googled “trailer hitch installers near me” and a few popped up. It was about $130 for the controller and installation
I’m just curious: did you actually weigh the loaded tongue weight on the coach, or are you guesstimating the loaded TW? If you did weigh it, what was the actual, loaded TW of the G19FBS?
Depends on the vehicle and the weight. I tow at 70 all day long and sometimes 80. It also depends like you said on the tires. If you have a pop up with harbor freight tires I’d say no.
Reel-Lentless for some of us towing at 80 is well above felony speeding. Depends on where you live I guess. But in my state it is very much so illegal to run over 65 with anything. Commercial trucks came up to 60 now though.
@Reel-Lentless you don’t have to be towing. It’s simply that speeding is illegal, over a certain point it becomes a felony. ORS 811.109. Beyond that by speeding you can also be cited for VBR or simply wreck less driving. Personally I think it should be an immediate license loss for life. The entire US is extremely lenient and the traffic and manner in which people drive shows. I set my cruise control at the speed limit and even at 3 am I get people who want to have road rage instead of pass me in the four lanes to my left.
2 questions... What tires are you running on your Geo Pro? Noticed you have a cargo door on the Slide out. My 19 Geo 19 FBS doesn't have it? Thanks for all the interesting videos you've shared. David
David Thomas 235/75 R15, they’re the same ones that came from the factory with the off road package. Someone said that it also has a 4” lift, but I’m actually not sure if ours has a lift kit. It’s not obvious if it does.🤷♂️ The cargo door just gives us access to the area behind the sofa. We never use it & it’s probably better that they took it out of the new models:)
This video would be more aptly named "Sway Control, do you need it for your application?" I came here looking for an opinion on the best weight distribution hitch and why, and what I got was a bunch of crap and bad towing advice. One reason why sway control may not be a big issue in your situation is because your tow vehicle outweighs your trailer- I guarantee you that if the trailer weighs the same or more then sway will be a big issue in crosswinds! Here are my other peeves with you: 1) You're towing a trailer that is a full foot wider than the mirrors on your car. I see down in the comments you mention to a commenter that you have a camera on the back of your trailer, but it doesn't matter, you still have a blindspot at the rear corner of your trailer! You could get into a situation where you need to back the trailer around a corner or a fixed object and drag your rear quarter right across it; worse, you could hide a motorcycle in that blindspot and change lanes right into them! Which, by the way, you would be legally liable for.. 2) ST (or Special Trailer) tires that come on your trailer are only speed rated for 65 miles per hour. Can you get away with going faster? Sure, but you're gambling against the day that tire disintegrates at speed. When that day comes sway control will become a much higher priority I'll bet. And again, lose a tire above 65 and cause a huge wreck YOU will be legally liable for catastrophic damages. 3) This is the best. Pulling your trailer (above recommended max speed) down a grade and holding a camera in your hand! It's bad enough that drivers have to put up with and possibly avoid people like you out on the open highway, but by posting your videos (at least this video) you are purporting to be some sort of authority on the matter and people are coming to you for advice! At a minimum you should at least have a disclaimer at the beginning for people not to follow your example(s). But it would be best if you just stick to sharing your adventures and leave towing details to the people who know what they're talking about and trying to set GOOD examples.
For sure. These 20ft Geo Pro's weigh about 3000lbs empty. Add your cloths, some water, propane tanks full, and stuff.....and it will be at least 3500-3900lbs.
Hunter Lama Yeah:( Any of the 19’ models will be too heavy. I would try to stick with a trailer around 2000 pounds if you were going to use the Subaru to toe with
You need to be at 80% tow capacity or under. Ours will tow 5000 max and the full capacity weight of our Geo Pro 19FD is around 4000 So this hits at 80% Just a check to make sure your not maxed out
Omg WHERE have you been? Love your show I have the equalizer sway control absolutely love it! I have a 1905 rockwood mini light and a 2018 explorer sport
mike kolesar Started in Ohio, then Pennsylvania, the finger lakes of NY, took the ferry w the Geo Pro to Burlington, Vt Did VT, NH, the entire coast of main form through Boston, Salem & Cape Cod. CT, back through Pittsburg, OH, Chicago, Iowa, Colorado for the entire month of August, Utah, WY including Jackson & Yellowstone, Idaho, Montana including a week in Glacier, Washington, OR including 3 weeks in wine country during harvest season, the 101 from Washington to San Diego, including Big Sur. Since landing in SoCal, we’ve settled down a bit and have mostly done week long excursions from SoCal to around:). I feel blessed & have gratitude. Please comment and let us know what content you’d like to see more of:)
HI - MPH Haha off the clearance rack of a store in Palm Springs... AND thanks for waiting, I’m being more intentional with releasing videos on a weekly basis starting... now:)
Agitated sway is what is really critical. Example tractor trailer passing at high speeds can cause sway, bad weather, etc. You have a pretty light trailer and truck and you drive at a reasonable speed but things can change. Your specific setup allows you more latitude but please use a sway control. Others who are less experienced with heavy and unbalanced equipment can be a hazard to themselves and others. I am glad that you give an advisement to others.
Totally agree - if not yourself, than for others on the road - $600 to $800 to purchase and install the weight distribution bars is well worth it. I am concerned too that you are grossly underestimating the weights you cited.
Good video, and awesome trailer. The Geo Pro 19FBS was top of our list (along with the similarly sized/similar layout, Freedom Express 192rbs). We ended up purchasing the Freedom Express 192rbs because of the full walk-around queen bed. It's a bit longer (22' vs 20'), and heavier but does have dual-axles, hence much higher cargo carry capacity. Anyhow, I agree with your statement that Weight Distribution Hitch (WHD) + Sway control system may not be needed in every situation (ex. very small TT, & large Tow vehicle). Nonetheless, I do think you're understating the importance of WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION. You may not feel a lot of sway, but have you weighed your combo to confirm that you're not putting too much weight on your Jeep's rear axle vs front (steer) axle? If you were pulling that Geo Pro with a 3/4 ton truck (or an F150 with max-tow package), you probably wouldn't need it. But you're pulling a 3.5K to 4K lb trailer (3K + your stuff, batteries, propane, etc.) with a short wheelbase, relatively low payload capacity Jeep Grand Cherokee. You haven't had any issues, thank goodness, but it's better to be safe than sorry (as they say). Get it weighed, and make sure you're not over any ratings on your axles, payload, etc. If you are over-spec, a WDH + sway control system can be purchased for under $400 (ex. Husky Centerline), and will ensure the TT weight is properly distributed on the axles of your Jeep. If get into an accident, you risk getting the insurance claim denied. Something to keep in mind! Keep up the great Geo Pro content and safe travels!
Hi Jason, I'm looking around RUclips for information just like this. I'm buying an R pod 179 travel trailer with weight of 2400 lbs dry. it will be pulled by nissan frontier V6 with tow capacity of 6400 lbs. I'm also hoping it will perform without the extra problems of a weight distribution hitch as they add more weight to the tongue and some cannot back up without being damaged. I guess the best way is to drive the TT and sees what happens to sway.
Phil C. I think you’re in good shape to at least try it without the weight distribution hitch. Take it up to 60-65 and see how it feels. Let me know back here too:)
I will never use a weight distribution hitch if you need it your tow vehicle is way under sized also takes the fun out of set up and break down keep it simple stupid .
I had a Grand Cherokee diesel rated at 7,200lbs....we towed a 25ft 5,300lbs camper. It required weight distribution per the manual and even with sway control on the hitch it was a handful. The short wheel base was not great for stability.
A full size pickup or suburban with a distribution hitch would probably be the ideal set-up. It just depends on your budget. There’s some really good distribution hitches out there now:)
@Keeton Studios My current setup is a 2016 Silverado 2500HD High Country Duramax 4x4....2022 Grand Design Imagine 2600RB...and an Equalizer hitch with 4pt sway control.
Nothing to do with towing capacity what’s your cargo capacity on that Jeep
Yes !! You need one , I tow a Cougar camper with a 2011 f150 , when that semi on the other side of the road fly pass you , OMG it scared the hell out of me , my trailer was all over the road and this happen in a construction zone , thank god I didn’t lose control, I bought a equalizer 4 and i never had a white knuckle event like that again
Dont own a trailer yet but what ive seen on the net i will definitely buy one for my 2012 f150, Stay safe!!!
Weight and length of trailer?
Your title would be more accurate to say "Sway control - I don't need it for my very specific situation because my trailer is small and aerodynamic". The fact is that the average trailer over 20 foot is a giant sail, and the question is not if you will ever get sway, it is when we it happen. You are using a vehicle that is overkill for your comparatively small camper.
Must have been Wolf Pass in CO lol its steep headed east
Hi. You're weights are incorrect...
So, the 19FBS is 3075 DRY, that's without the oven option... if you have an oven, it's 3222. Water is 8.33 lbs per gallon, so a full 37 gallon tank is 308 lbs, plus the 6 gallons in the water heater is 50 lbs. Then you have whatever is in your grey & back tanks (I'm not adding that in because you probably wouldn't have all 3 tanks full at once, obviously). Then there are 2 propane tanks (37 lbs each, 74 lbs total if full) & either 1 or 2 batteries on the tongue (between 55 lbs and 70 lbs each depending on which batteries came with the rig), so that's another 110 - 140 lbs. And *THEN* you have all your cargo- food, clothes, gear- just everything/all personal belongings that you would have to weigh yourself to get an accurate weight.
So that's between 542 - 572 lbs without adding what you may have in your grey & black tanks (still figure 8.33 lbs per gallon for each), NONE of your belongings/food/cargo etc...
So before you put a single personal item inside your empty trailer, you are at a MINIMUM of 3617 - 3794 lbs (again, not including grey & black tank/and ANY cargo at all). *If you don't have the oven, your weight is ~3647 lbs*
And, if you have 2 batteries and 2 full propane tanks you have to add a minimum of 184 lbs to the listed *tongue weight*.
There you have it. I think the world of you guys, but I just wanted to clarify for the sake of the #Newbies that this setup is NOT 3000 lbs Full. No way.
In NO WAY did I make this comment to be disrespectful or throw shade. I just wanted to address a miscommunication about the actual weight. #FullRespect
With all that said... how are you liking the 3.6 Pentastar?
VocalVirgo in the specs, the tongue weight includes both propane tanks full, but doesn’t include the batteries, as per the owners manual.
@@VocalVirgo I noticed that, just wanted to be clear. Of course if you use lithium batteries it would weigh less, but your figures and expectations are excellent.
What year is your Grand Cherokee and do you have the factory tow package? The max weight limits are all over the map depending on the year. I own a 2014 without the tow pkg and the limit is 6200lbs. The 2016's are down to 3500lbs.
We have a 2017 with the factory tow package rated at 6500 pounds.
You can get away with no sway control with some vehicle combinations, but it is the exception rather than the rule in the travel trailer world. The ratio of trailer weight to tow vehicle is certainly a factor, but there is more to it than that. How weight is distributed within the camper is as big a factor as tongue weight or vehicle vs trailer weight. Full water tanks vs empty water tanks (or combinations thereof and trailer design can make big differences as well. I can tell you that if you don't have a sway control system and you suddenly encounter conditions that induce sway, you'll wish you had it! As for speed, be aware that most trailer tires are designed for 65 mph max. Know what your tires can handle and don't exceed their max speed. A blow-out caused by excessive speed will ruin your day. When you are towing, don't drive like an idiot!
If your TV is struggling up steep hills, kick it out of overdrive so it has to work less hard for the pull.
The geo pro weight 3000 lbs dry no? I think more like 3100 with off road package. Water is 8.34 lbs a gallon and with full tanks that is 300 lbs of fresh water. Not considering black or grey. Then add 60 lbs each for batteries and full propane tanks. Not to mention the scooter, food and gear! I think you need to weight that trailer full and you would be closer to the max or over trailer capacity than you think. The 19fbs does not have much wiggle room for CCC especially if tanks are full. I enjoy watching your videos and appreciate the content. Stay safe. ✌️
We have a new 2020 geo pro 19FB.
I think we are limited to 500 cargo if I remember correctly. 4000 max
He is in a Jeep Grand Cherokee that has 6000 tow.
Thats should be around 2000 under
We have a Ford Explorer 5000 tow
So we are just at 80 % if we play the game correctly
@@michaellowrey8159 But the trailer itself has a maximum allowed weight. Take the tow vehicle out of the equation completely for a moment... (he could be towing this trailer with a Mack Truck, it wouldn't matter). The TRAILER'S axel has it's own "limit" (GAWR). A lot of people don't realize that. And a lot of people go way over the max GAWR.
Always check your weights on a truck scale.
@@VocalVirgo yes. Indeed. But this was regarding weight distribution systems and his need or not for using one. Which is more about the tow vehicle and shifting it from the rear wheel.
We defiantly needed this on ours.
Tows at 70mph , and no sway control....enough said, dont take your pointers from this dude
Likewise.
You know, Sparky, right alongside the high wind sign is another sign saying "55 mph max for towed trailer".
So considerate of you to keep it below 70.
Literally the only state with a 55mph tow limit. Nothing wrong with 70. But due to the size of his tow car. Yup. Car. It’s a car I have the Hemi version and I don’t tow with it. But with that said he may want to keep a lower mph for towing safety. But my 3500 Dually towing my 8k lb Airstream there’s no problem with safely towing 75mph speed limit in AZ.
Interesting setup...the Jeep is rated at 6200lbs, with an “optimum” trailer length of 21’..being you’ve got a sub-4000lb, 20” trailer ALONG with it being only 7’ wide (almost all TT’s are 8’ wide) it’s not even a PROBLEM for the Jeep (without tow mirrors). I’ve got the same Jeep as you, and intend on getting a Lance 1685, but a MicroMinnie 2106FBS is in the running too..only a 7’ wide trailer makes it AS NARROW as a WK2, so you wouldn’t even notice it back there)
Glad you’re back! We got blue ox for our half ton pickup, but like you say...we might not really need it.
Sheri McGill Thanks for sharing! Let us know what content you’d like to see more of:)
Geo Pro Adventures I’d like to see a class on winterizing and do I need an RV cover
Sheri McGill great idea! I’ll plan to do that this fall or partner up with a RV dealership.
We use our RV all winter down in SoCal so I’ve never winterized it myself:)
Hey Jason glad to see you healthy and back! Stay blessed and in contact 🙏🏼 with your vids...
Sway control is like a condom.
Do you really need one ? ?
That depends...
Do you really care about having a little 'accident' ?
Did you have to add a brake controller? Or, did your tow vehicle come with one? If you added one, which kind did you use?
campingalan We added one right away before we even picked up the camper. I think we just googled “trailer hitch installers near me” and a few popped up. It was about $130 for the controller and installation
Great video! Have you ever had any problems with the tires on your Geo Pro?
Patrick London No. They’re nitrogen filled and don’t seem to lose air & have worn better than the Jeep tires:) Thanks for watching!
I’m just curious: did you actually weigh the loaded tongue weight on the coach, or are you guesstimating the loaded TW? If you did weigh it, what was the actual, loaded TW of the G19FBS?
Never tow at 70 thats dangerous tires are not rated for that
Depends on the vehicle and the weight. I tow at 70 all day long and sometimes 80. It also depends like you said on the tires. If you have a pop up with harbor freight tires I’d say no.
Reel-Lentless for some of us towing at 80 is well above felony speeding. Depends on where you live I guess. But in my state it is very much so illegal to run over 65 with anything.
Commercial trucks came up to 60 now though.
@Reel-Lentless Wow. You're a rebel.
@Reel-Lentless Wow. You're a rebel.
@Reel-Lentless you don’t have to be towing. It’s simply that speeding is illegal, over a certain point it becomes a felony. ORS 811.109.
Beyond that by speeding you can also be cited for VBR or simply wreck less driving.
Personally I think it should be an immediate license loss for life. The entire US is extremely lenient and the traffic and manner in which people drive shows.
I set my cruise control at the speed limit and even at 3 am I get people who want to have road rage instead of pass me in the four lanes to my left.
2 questions... What tires are you running on your Geo Pro? Noticed you have a cargo door on the Slide out. My 19 Geo 19 FBS doesn't have it? Thanks for all the interesting videos you've shared. David
David Thomas 235/75 R15, they’re the same ones that came from the factory with the off road package. Someone said that it also has a 4” lift, but I’m actually not sure if ours has a lift kit. It’s not obvious if it does.🤷♂️
The cargo door just gives us access to the area behind the sofa. We never use it & it’s probably better that they took it out of the new models:)
Thank you for your reply. So glad doing well and making more great videos.
This video would be more aptly named "Sway Control, do you need it for your application?" I came here looking for an opinion on the best weight distribution hitch and why, and what I got was a bunch of crap and bad towing advice. One reason why sway control may not be a big issue in your situation is because your tow vehicle outweighs your trailer- I guarantee you that if the trailer weighs the same or more then sway will be a big issue in crosswinds! Here are my other peeves with you: 1) You're towing a trailer that is a full foot wider than the mirrors on your car. I see down in the comments you mention to a commenter that you have a camera on the back of your trailer, but it doesn't matter, you still have a blindspot at the rear corner of your trailer! You could get into a situation where you need to back the trailer around a corner or a fixed object and drag your rear quarter right across it; worse, you could hide a motorcycle in that blindspot and change lanes right into them! Which, by the way, you would be legally liable for.. 2) ST (or Special Trailer) tires that come on your trailer are only speed rated for 65 miles per hour. Can you get away with going faster? Sure, but you're gambling against the day that tire disintegrates at speed. When that day comes sway control will become a much higher priority I'll bet. And again, lose a tire above 65 and cause a huge wreck YOU will be legally liable for catastrophic damages. 3) This is the best. Pulling your trailer (above recommended max speed) down a grade and holding a camera in your hand! It's bad enough that drivers have to put up with and possibly avoid people like you out on the open highway, but by posting your videos (at least this video) you are purporting to be some sort of authority on the matter and people are coming to you for advice! At a minimum you should at least have a disclaimer at the beginning for people not to follow your example(s). But it would be best if you just stick to sharing your adventures and leave towing details to the people who know what they're talking about and trying to set GOOD examples.
I have a 2019 Subaru outback 2.5 premium. The tow capacity is 2700lbs. Do you think this trailer would be to heavy?
For sure. These 20ft Geo Pro's weigh about 3000lbs empty. Add your cloths, some water, propane tanks full, and stuff.....and it will be at least 3500-3900lbs.
Hunter Lama Yeah:( Any of the 19’ models will be too heavy. I would try to stick with a trailer around 2000 pounds if you were going to use the Subaru to toe with
You need to be at 80% tow capacity or under.
Ours will tow 5000 max and the full capacity weight of our Geo Pro 19FD is around 4000
So this hits at 80%
Just a check to make sure your not maxed out
Omg WHERE have you been?
Love your show
I have the equalizer sway control absolutely love it! I have a 1905 rockwood mini light and a 2018 explorer sport
mike kolesar Started in Ohio, then Pennsylvania, the finger lakes of NY, took the ferry w the Geo Pro to Burlington, Vt Did VT, NH, the entire coast of main form through Boston, Salem & Cape Cod. CT, back through Pittsburg, OH, Chicago, Iowa, Colorado for the entire month of August, Utah, WY including Jackson & Yellowstone, Idaho, Montana including a week in Glacier, Washington, OR including 3 weeks in wine country during harvest season, the 101 from Washington to San Diego, including Big Sur. Since landing in SoCal, we’ve settled down a bit and have mostly done week long excursions from SoCal to around:). I feel blessed & have gratitude. Please comment and let us know what content you’d like to see more of:)
@@GeoProAdventures I would love to see your trips that you just explained anything and everything on your excursions
Thank you
mike kolesar Yes! I’m going to make a conscious effort to release a new video at least every week:).
@@GeoProAdventures
Excellent
Do I need to have extended side view mirrors for a 19FBS Geo Pro (I drive a Chevy Silverado 1500)?
FLexxxtreme I don’t use the extended mirrors but I do have a backup camera on the trailer if I need to see what’s behind me.
Incorrect information.
Where did you get that shirt? I want one. Thanks for the info. Been patiently waiting.
HI - MPH Haha off the clearance rack of a store in Palm Springs... AND thanks for waiting, I’m being more intentional with releasing videos on a weekly basis starting... now:)
How do you find out tongue weight?
Where in video is The Sway Hitch! I saw your neighbors the fiddle player WHY WASTE OUR TIME?
What sway control system you have? Cheers
chen wu we don’t use any sway control at all:)
Does the Cherokee have it built in with the max tow package?
Agitated sway is what is really critical. Example tractor trailer passing at high speeds can cause sway, bad weather, etc. You have a pretty light trailer and truck and you drive at a reasonable speed but things can change. Your specific setup allows you more latitude but please use a sway control. Others who are less experienced with heavy and unbalanced equipment can be a hazard to themselves and others. I am glad that you give an advisement to others.
Totally agree - if not yourself, than for others on the road - $600 to $800 to purchase and install the weight distribution bars is well worth it. I am concerned too that you are grossly underestimating the weights you cited.
Good video, and awesome trailer. The Geo Pro 19FBS was top of our list (along with the similarly sized/similar layout, Freedom Express 192rbs). We ended up purchasing the Freedom Express 192rbs because of the full walk-around queen bed. It's a bit longer (22' vs 20'), and heavier but does have dual-axles, hence much higher cargo carry capacity.
Anyhow, I agree with your statement that Weight Distribution Hitch (WHD) + Sway control system may not be needed in every situation (ex. very small TT, & large Tow vehicle). Nonetheless, I do think you're understating the importance of WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION. You may not feel a lot of sway, but have you weighed your combo to confirm that you're not putting too much weight on your Jeep's rear axle vs front (steer) axle?
If you were pulling that Geo Pro with a 3/4 ton truck (or an F150 with max-tow package), you probably wouldn't need it. But you're pulling a 3.5K to 4K lb trailer (3K + your stuff, batteries, propane, etc.) with a short wheelbase, relatively low payload capacity Jeep Grand Cherokee.
You haven't had any issues, thank goodness, but it's better to be safe than sorry (as they say). Get it weighed, and make sure you're not over any ratings on your axles, payload, etc. If you are over-spec, a WDH + sway control system can be purchased for under $400 (ex. Husky Centerline), and will ensure the TT weight is properly distributed on the axles of your Jeep. If get into an accident, you risk getting the insurance claim denied. Something to keep in mind!
Keep up the great Geo Pro content and safe travels!
You need more torque, not horsepower...
Hi Jason, I'm looking around RUclips for information just like this. I'm buying an R pod 179 travel trailer with weight of 2400 lbs dry. it will be pulled by nissan frontier V6 with tow capacity of 6400 lbs. I'm also hoping it will perform without the extra problems of a weight distribution hitch as they add more weight to the tongue and some cannot back up without being damaged. I guess the best way is to drive the TT and sees what happens to sway.
Phil C. I think you’re in good shape to at least try it without the weight distribution hitch. Take it up to 60-65 and see how it feels. Let me know back here too:)
Is Kevin Costner your twin brother ? I’m just sayin. Peace
I will never use a weight distribution hitch if you need it your tow vehicle is way under sized also takes the fun out of set up and break down keep it simple stupid .
Wrong