Micro Minnie 2108TB WDH and Brake Controller for Ranger XLT

[gkinney3203]

Hello, Newbie Here,

About to take posession of a Micro Minnie 2108TB. Rather than have the dealer sell me a Sway Control system, I am trying to learn about them and buy and install myself on the Trailor before I bring it home.

I see lots of choices and configurations and am looking for anyone with a similar setup as me and what worked for you:

Mini Specs:
Dry Weight: ~4,176 lbs
GVWR (Max Weight): 5,500 lbs
Hitch Weight: ~435 lbs

Ranger XLT Specs:
Max Tongue Weight = 750 Lbs
Pull Weight Max: 7500 Lbs

I know ill need a power brake unit, even though my Ranger has a tow package. Any suggestions there would be appreciated too.

Thanks!

 

[Steph-WO]

I have a Ranger XLT and tow a 2022 FLX 2108DS. So far I have towed it close to 65K miles. I use an Andersen WDH. Never know the trailer is behind me. Just a great WDH/ sway hitch. Made in Idaho Falls, ID. Not sure why you would need a power brake unit. I use just the factory setup with a Redarc brake controller set in the dash. Never had an issue even on step grades

 

[jak secret]

I would not personally tow a trailer like this with a ranger, but the previous poster says they've done it successfully, so that says alot. In addition to the brake controller, I would recommend a Tuson Anti-sway system. It mounts on the trailer and acts automatically to arrest sway by braking either or both of the trailer brakes. It gives me great peace of mind. You should still get some kind of sway controlling hitch, but as a person who had one of those and got in a horrific wreck due to trailer sway, it ain't enough.

 

[Steph-WO]

I certainly understand your point of view based on your experience. However, the Andersen acts as both WDH and a sway hitch. I have traveled across many states that are flat and I had high winds. For me common sense thing is to slow down, and I have never had an excessive sway issue. The Andersen has worked great. Do your homework and pick the best option for you

 

[jak secret]

My sway wreck wasn't caused by speed or improper weighting, or a lack of anti sway hitch, we were attempting to pass a slow-moving 18 wheeler on a smooth flat straight road, towing a 6k trailer with a tundra. The buffering air caused a sway condition that developed in 2.seconds from nothing to sliding sideways across the highway. Our anti sway hitch did nothing afaik. That's why I recommend the tuson system in addition to the right hitch. Sway simply cannot easily be arrested by applying the brakes or using the brake controller alone.

 

[gkinney3203]

Thanks @Steph-WO and @jak secret , I ended up installing a redarc brake controller and the CURT 17499 TruTrack Light-Duty Trunnion Bar Weight Distribution Hitch with Sway Control, Up to 8,000 lbs., 2-Inch Shank and the 2-5/8 ball. I followed the CURT instructions and say it seems to do well, I tested the redarc controller, (manual button) several times and it does grab that trailer. I call it my Oh S*** button . I feel that the ride home from the dealer it is a little bouncy, but it was empty and I can make an adjustment as the dealer service guy recommended to adjust the head tilt from position 1 to position 3 (From the documentation) to put better weight distribution between the Minnie and the Truck. I'm planning to do that this weekend.

 

[bcborn]

Going with a 4 Point Sway or the Anderson would be my recommendation.

I pull a 2108FBS and let me tell you the dry weight and the tongue weight mean nothing. It's the end weight and tongue weight that matter.

Your Ranger has a maximum tongue weight of 750 the advertised weight for trailer tongue weight is 435lbs. That a difference being 315lbs. Each 20lb cylinder of propane weights 37lbs and two 12 volt batteries will put you at about 100lbs leaves you at 178lbs of gear for the passthrough.

Once your equalizer is engaged the weight placement of the contents can be managed.

The key here is set the hitch properly.

Step 1; visit your nearest CAT Scale and weigh everything individually. Trucks front axle weight/pressure (own pad). Rear axle weight pressure (own pad) when empty.

Step 2; Weigh it again when loaded for camping (no trailer).

Step 3; Next weigh the trailer tongue by itself (own Pad) and then weigh the trailer and tongue (own pad).

Confirm tongue weight is between 10% - 15% of total trailer weight

Step 4; Hook up the trailer to the truck engage your equalizer bars and weigh everything. Steer axle on Pad 1, drive axles on Pad 2, Trailer axles on Pad 3.

Confirm the load on your tow vehicle front axle is close to the weight in step 1

Confirm the trailer weight is no more than 5500lbs.

Confirm the Tow vehicle rear axle weight/pressure meets GAWR of your tow vehicle.

Not a lot of room to play when towing with any mid size pickup (Ranger, Tacoma etc)

My first trip to the Cat Scale had the Trailer at 5958 (458lbs) over weight. The tongue weight was 678lbs

Truck was 76lbs from maxing out GVW.

 

[Goodspike]

Hello, Newbie Here,

About to take posession of a Micro Minnie 2108TB. Rather than have the dealer sell me a Sway Control system, I am trying to learn about them and buy and install myself on the Trailor before I bring it home.

I see lots of choices and configurations and am looking for anyone with a similar setup as me and what worked for you:

Mini Specs:
Dry Weight: ~4,176 lbs
GVWR (Max Weight): 5,500 lbs
Hitch Weight: ~435 lbs

Ranger XLT Specs:
Max Tongue Weight = 750 Lbs
Pull Weight Max: 7500 Lbs

I know ill need a power brake unit, even though my Ranger has a tow package. Any suggestions there would be appreciated too.

Thanks!

You're not giving the critical specs for your Ranger, which is its available payload. Let's assume it's 1,500 pounds, it may be less. You should be able to find that on your tire pressure sticker. From that you'd subtract the weight of you and your passengers, any cargo in the truck and any aftermarket accessories. Let's assume those things add up to 600 pounds, leaving you with 900 pounds. Assuming you load the trailer up to 5,000 pounds your tongue weight would be roughly 650 pounds, so you'd have 250 pounds left, ignoring the weight of the WDH you'd buy. So let's say 150 pounds left. That's close, but adequate, but note if your available payload is only 1350 you'd be right at limit. That's with a 5000 pound trailer and a 7500 max tow limit. If you loaded the trailer to its GVWR you'd be using up another 65 pounds. Max tow limits are deceiving, and only really applicable to boat trailers and maybe car trailers.

Your tongue weight limit is also a concern, but I'm guessing it's 750 pounds, and there again you'd be right at that limit with 650 of tongue weight and close to 100 for the WDH.

With this trailer you're unlikely to need sway control, assuming you have a tongue weight of about 13%, which is the number I used above to get the 650 pound estimate. Sufficient tongue weight elminates sway and tandem axle trailers tend to be less likely to sway. So really all you need is an inexpensive weight distributing hitch.

Finally, if you haven't done this yet I'd reconsider. Your fuel mileage with the Ranger will be very poor, and the 18 gallon tank will mean you'll be filling up very frequently. I'd aim for something about 1,000 pounds lighter, which would also help with all the limits above.

 

[bcborn]

With this trailer you're unlikely to need sway control, assuming you have a tongue weight of about 13%, which is the number I used above to get the 650 pound estimate. Sufficient tongue weight elminates sway and tandem axle trailers tend to be less likely to sway. So really all you need is an inexpensive weight distributing hitch.

Sorry, I have to disagree here regarding not needing sway control. With a trailer having a GVW the same if not more than the tow vehicle sway control Is a must in my opinion.

That 13% you mention is the weight on the ball of the tow vehicle, which in turn is weight onto the rear axle. Put an equalizer hitch in play to remove weight from the rear axle and move to the front axle and trailer axle, you no longer have 13% tongue weight (650lbs) on the ball, maybe half, with the majority of the weight transferred (325lbs) going to the front axle . This is where the friction of the sway control aspect comes into effect, to make up for the loss of downward pressure on the tongue/hitch/rear axle.

 

[Goodspike]

Sorry, I have to disagree here regarding not needing sway control. With a trailer having a GVW the same if not more than the tow vehicle sway control Is a must in my opinion.

That 13% you mention is the weight on the ball of the tow vehicle, which in turn is weight onto the rear axle. Put an equalizer hitch in play to remove weight from the rear axle and move to the front axle and trailer axle, you no longer have 13% tongue weight (650lbs) on the ball, maybe half, with the majority of the weight transferred (325lbs) going to the front axle . This is where the friction of the sway control aspect comes into effect, to make up for the loss of downward pressure on the tongue/hitch/rear axle.

Apparently you didn't notice the tow vehicle and trailer I have. The trailer weighs more than the tow vehicle and sway is not a problem.

Also, sway is not caused or affected by either the relative weight of the trailer to the tow vehicle, or the effect of a WDH on the tongue weight. Sway is caused by the center of mass of a trailer being too far back. A WDH does not change the center of mass of the trailer, and that's what causes sway. If sway was affected by the WDH transferring weight then every trailer with a WDH would swing wildly without sway control.

BTW, just about every design of WDH reduces sway to some extent, even a bar and chain system.

 

[bcborn]

How many here have scaled their setup equalized and un-equalized to ensure they are in compliance with DOT

 

[Goodspike]

How many here have scaled their setup equalized and un-equalized to ensure they are in compliance with DOT

Do you mean weighed the vehicles to see if they're within vehicle load specs? I have, but only "equalized" and totally unhitched. I was looking for both load limits and change of front axle weight equalized and without the trailer at all. I was within 60 or 80 pounds lower when hooked up, which was my target.

 

[gkinney3203]

Hello everyone, with all the great feedback and suggestions, we took the trailer out to a local campground to test things out and then on the way back went to the CAT scale thanks @bcborn . Also, I failed to put all the specs of my Ranger as was noted (See Below). I will say that I ran these numbers through AI (Gemini) for feedback, and it was telling me I was in a comfortable position as far as load numbers and hitch configuration. I'll point out that our fresh water was empty, so this could be skewed 250 lbs when full for the trailer weight. (black/gray tanks were empty) and besides a couple of meals the trailer was as full on the way home as the way up. I also filled up on fuel before weighing.

Ranger Specs (From Sticker on Door Frame):
GVWR: 6050 lbs
Front GAWR: 2930 Lbs
Rear GAWR: 3500 LBS
Cargo MAX: 1736 Lbs
Max Tongue Weight = 750 Lbs
Pull Weight Max: 7500 Lbs

Mini Specs:
Dry Weight: ~4,176 lbs
GVWR (Max Weight): 5,500 lbs
MAX Cargo: 1152 Lbs
Full Water: 250 lbs

Here are the readings from the Cat Scale:

At this point I think I am in a good spot for this setup from what I can tell. I know I have had suggestions to get a bigger truck or smaller trailer. As this may help with longer trips that may have hills and higher elevation and more wind issues. I am weighing (no pun intended) my options with all that. I am also real interested in the Tuson system (Thanks for the suggestion @jak secret ) I was on their site, and it looks very good for sway arresting.

So Ill leave this here in case someone else is interested in what we have done with this ranger in case someone else is wrestling with their setup. I have also included the image of our Curt Setup.