2021 Towing Experience

2014 Views 31 Replies 12 Participants Last post by mkbruin, 6 d ago

MidnightArmada

So I wanted to provide some new Mada owners my initial experience towing a travel trailer and what to expect. I have a 2021 Midnight Edition. Love it and always will. Besides the Infotainment issues with reboots.. But last update in December seemed to help. Anyways I looked far and wide for a travel trailer that was sized right for my Mada and my family and found the perfect match. The Coachmen Apex Nano 208bhs. It comes in at 25ft and 4300lbs on average. Tongue weight was exactly 600lbs with full propane and battery. I have an e2 round bar weight distribution hitch rated for 600/6000. If anyone is wanting to tow easily and safely without the white knuckles I would recommend sticking with my specs. Anything heavier in my opinion is a bad idea. Can you do it and is it rated yes but from my towing experience this is all you should do. Plenty of power in the drivetrain and stopping power perfect. I used boost 1 and 5 for manual brake setting on the TBC but switched to boost 2 as it provided better braking response on my dual axle baby. Drove home through the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky with no issues. Some porpoising but not annoying and no sway issues. However when those big rigs or bigger trucks pass be ready for a little suction and movement. Once you understand and experience it a couple of times it's not a big deal. I kept the speed between 60-70 usually lower end. Just be mindful that everyone else goes 80 now so I stay right. Took me an extra 20 minutes home but it was so relaxing and uneventful in the right lane. I would say anyone that wants to have a perfect match for a travel trailer stick to 25 and under and under 5k#.. You will be much more relaxed. Remember the 80% rule and towing things heavier than your vehicle is always going to require extra effort. Yes it tows fine but stopping or any quick action is the issue so don't listen to people that say it's fine. My setup empty it's 51% of the towable limit loaded nearer 70%. You also have to look at the payload. I can get my family and about 100# of gear in the Mada and be within spec so anything more is not going to work unless tongue weight is lower. Be safe and try before you buy.

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MarkInMI

· #21 · 29 d ago

CBEllis said:
I turn off traction control all the time, not just while towing - because it disables the front and rear automatic braking. I didn't know there was a setting to disable the automatic braking - is it in the driver's menu?

Yes, it's buried in the settings menu. Turning off traction control when ready to back up the trailer is easier though. I've not had bad experiences with the sensors otherwise (though at the cottage the dog gave the front sensor a good test by running back in forth in front of the vehicle while I was maneuvering in the driveway. It does work

I guess in Dallas, you'll not have a lot of use for traction control anyway (unlike here in Michigan during the winter). Also from Dallas, you need to make the long drive out to Big Bend some time and drive the 4WD drive roads in the park (if you haven't already).

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CBEllis

· #22 · 29 d ago

MarkInMI said:
Yes, it's buried in the settings menu. Turning off traction control when ready to back up the trailer is easier though. I've not had bad experiences with the sensors otherwise (though at the cottage the dog gave the front sensor a good test by running back in forth in front of the vehicle while I was maneuvering in the driveway. It does work I guess in Dallas, you'll not have a lot of use for traction control anyway (unlike here in Michigan during the winter). Also from Dallas, you need to make the long drive out to Big Bend some time and drive the 4WD drive roads in the park (if you haven't already).

I looked a minute ago and I couldn't find anything to turn off the automatic braking. The sonar/sounds is in the center stack / infotainment system but I turned that off a looooong time ago. I wonder if there is any downside to driving with the traction control / front & rear sensors turned off? I wonder if that has any affect on the ECM/TCM delivering smooth power to the trans/rear end?

Anyway, I've also disconnected the seatbelt sensors. My kids are grown/old enough to immediately buckle up when the doors close. The infinite beeping when I let someone out at the front door was so annoying - but not anymore. And, when off-road, where I don't wear a seatbelt (nor do my passengers) the constant blinking and beeping is no longer an issue. I don't need the car to tell me what to do; one of my pet peeves, if you can't tell!

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MarkInMI

· #23 · 28 d ago

It's under settings / driver assistance / emergency brake. You can turn off front and rear independently. I'll be interested to hear about your off road experiences. We probably won't really get ours off road until we're out west again next spring, and I'm not planning to go as far as you have in doing mods -- just some all terrain tires on our existing rims and maybe skid plates. Have you done anything about skid plates?

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CBEllis

· #24 · 28 d ago

MarkInMI said:
It's under settings / driver assistance / emergency brake. You can turn off front and rear independently. I'll be interested to hear about your off road experiences. We probably won't really get ours off road until we're out west again next spring, and I'm not planning to go as far as you have in doing mods -- just some all terrain tires on our existing rims and maybe skid plates. Have you done anything about skid plates?

Oh, I thought that controlled the actual e-brake/parking brake in the footwell, applying pressure to either the front brakes, rear brakes, or both when depressed. I may have missed that - didn't know it applied to the automatic braking system. I'll test it / turning them both off, and see what that does for me. That would actually be nice if that worked. I never want that system on, ever.

For skid-plates, it's funny you mention that because I'm on the hunt. Dash (in Aus.) had a good set but I don't think they'll ship to the US. The oil pan hanging down right behind the front suspension has me worried. There are some "mud flaps" on the front that I'd like to remove but I'm not pulling them until I figure out a way to protect that oil pan. Even if I could just get one for the front, I'd feel better. I hit so many rabbits and racoons on TX backroads...I worry about one raising their head and damaging something ;-) Have you found anything worth looking into?

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MarkInMI

· #25 · 28 d ago

CBEllis said:
That would actually be nice if that worked. I never want that system on, ever.

Don't get excited -- it's re-enabled when you restart the car ;(

CBEllis said:
For skid-plates, it's funny you mention that because I'm on the hunt. Have you found anything worth looking into?

No, but I really haven't started looking yet -- just a couple of google searches. I saw the Dash set, which as you say, don't seem to be available right now. Also a couple of plain old sheet metal sets (one steel, one aluminum)

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CBEllis

· #26 · 28 d ago

MarkInMI said:
Don't get excited -- it's re-enabled when you restart the car ;(

No, but I really haven't started looking yet -- just a couple of google searches. I saw the Dash set, which as you say, don't seem to be available right now. Also a couple of plain old sheet metal sets (one steel, one aluminum)

Dammit! That setting is exactly what I need and you're right, it won't default to the "off" position. Son of a $#@%&. That would be perfect. Surely @marctronixx knows how to turn that setting off and keep it off until it needs to be turned on... surely.

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CBEllis

· #27 · 20 d ago

MarkInMI said:
It's under settings / driver assistance / emergency brake. You can turn off front and rear independently. I'll be interested to hear about your off road experiences. We probably won't really get ours off road until we're out west again next spring, and I'm not planning to go as far as you have in doing mods -- just some all terrain tires on our existing rims and maybe skid plates. Have you done anything about skid plates?

This site might have already been posted here (RE: Skid Plates) but it looks like this might be a good source: Armada/QX56/QX80 - 3 Piece Skid Plate Set, 6mm Aluminum

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MarkInMI

· #28 · 18 d ago

CBEllis said:
This site might have already been posted here (RE: Skid Plates) but it looks like this might be a good source: Armada/QX56/QX80 - 3 Piece Skid Plate Set, 6mm Aluminum

I had see that site (via Google), and they do look decent. Maybe you can let us know your experience after you buy and install a set

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CBEllis

· #29 · 17 d ago

MarkInMI said:
I had see that site (via Google), and they do look decent. Maybe you can let us know your experience after you buy and install a set

Yeah - we’ll see. I talked to the owner, they have a 3mm set coming in July, half the price of the 6mm set. That’s what I need.

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MarkInMI

· #30 · 16 d ago

CBEllis said:
Yeah - we’ll see. I talked to the owner, they have a 3mm set coming in July, half the price of the 6mm set. That’s what I need.

I guess if he's using a CNC or something, he could cut any thickness. What makes you think 3mm is the better choice?

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CBEllis

· #31 · 16 d ago

MarkInMI said:
I guess if he's using a CNC or something, he could cut any thickness. What makes you think 3mm is the better choice?

I didn’t say anything about 3mm being the beat, but they will be cheaper than 6mm. I don’t need plates that thick! I don’t plan on sliding or rock crawling.

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mkbruin

· #32 · 6 d ago

MidnightArmada said:
The Coachmen Apex Nano 208bhs. It comes in at 25ft and 4300lbs on average. Tongue weight was exactly 600lbs with full propane and battery. I have an e2 round bar weight distribution hitch rated for 600/6000. If

View attachment 52235

I have almost the same setup as you.

2018 Armada, 2023 camper. 24’ and 4,000 lbs and the e2 stabilizer. I have the redarc controller, set to 3.

tows fantastic, I’m extremely happy with this setup.

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