R25 Trailer Ball Height

[profcbutler]

Hoping someone can give me some advise on the ball height for a 2024 Venture trailer. I purchased the R25 in Grasonville MD. They use the Venture Trailer Model VATB 8725XF. I have seen some conflicting ground to top of ball clearances. I am hoping someone has this same trailer with an OB R25 (2025). Also, I am pretty sure this measurement is with the trailer off the ball. Thanks!

 

[KKRCRACE]

I have a C 242 OB and a Venture aluminum double axle trailer. To get everything level I Have a ball height of 29 to the top of the ball. I know it’s not the same but it should give you an idea.
KKRCRACE

 

[profcbutler]

Huge help! I believe that would be almost a perfect example! Thank you so much!

 

[scross]

Hoping someone can give me some advise on the ball height for a 2024 Venture trailer. I purchased the R25 in Grasonville MD. They use the Venture Trailer Model VATB 8725XF. I have seen some conflicting ground to top of ball clearances. I am hoping someone has this same trailer with an OB R25 (2025). Also, I am pretty sure this measurement is with the trailer off the ball. Thanks!

I suggest you get an adjustable height drop receiver.
You want the trailer to be level to the ground when towing. Trailer nose down overweights the trailers front axle. Trailer nose high overweights the rear axle.
Your tow vehicles rear will sag due to the tongue weight. How much sag varies from vehicle to vehicle and the exact amount of tongue weight applied to the receiver. My Tundra had more sag than my Ram 2500.
In an ideal world both the trailer and truck are level to the ground. When towing my R-25 Classic with the Tundra I used an adjustable drop receiver to keep the trailer level and I installed heavy duty shocks and Firestone air bags to keep the truck level.
There are many adjustable drop Class V 2 1/2 inch receivers out there for under $150.

 

[profcbutler]

I suggest you get an adjustable height drop receiver.
You want the trailer to be level to the ground when towing. Trailer nose down overweights the trailers front axle. Trailer nose high overweights the rear axle.
Your tow vehicles rear will sag due to the tongue weight. How much sag varies from vehicle to vehicle and the exact amount of tongue weight applied to the receiver. My Tundra had more sag than my Ram 2500.
In an ideal world both the trailer and truck are level to the ground. When towing my R-25 Classic with the Tundra I used an adjustable drop receiver to keep the trailer level and I installed heavy duty shocks and Firestone air bags to keep the truck level.
There are many adjustable drop Class V 2 1/2 inch receivers out there for under $150.

 

[profcbutler]

Very helpful! I have a Tundra that I will be towing short distances ( From time to time) Your modification suggestions for that truck are very appreciated. In other tugnut threads related to towing I have seen comments in regards to using the Tundra for towing an R25 and most felt it is on the boarderline. Hence my short distance comment . Again, thank you!

 

[scross]

Very helpful! I have a Tundra that I will be towing short distances ( From time to time) Your modification suggestions for that truck are very appreciated. In other tugnut threads related to towing I have seen comments in regards to using the Tundra for towing an R25 and most felt it is on the boarderline. Hence my short distance comment . Again, thank you!

My suspension mods to our V-8 4x4 Tundra also included TRD anti-sway bars front and rear, a Power Stop HD brake kit with drilled and slotted rotors, load range E tires and extended towing mirrors.
Our trailer had electric over hydraulic brakes which made a big difference. Towed our R-25 Classic about 13,000 miles over 7 seasons to different waterways in WA, OR, CA, NV, UT and AZ without any issues.

 

[profcbutler]

That is incredible! I have started to put a parts list together based on your suggestions to upgrade. Just a couple questions...when you upgraded to Power Brakes did you change the calipers as well? Also, when you changed the shocks did you also swap out the front struts? Again, really appreciate all your great feedback!

 

[scross]

That is incredible! I have started to put a parts list together based on your suggestions to upgrade. Just a couple questions...when you upgraded to Power Brakes did you change the calipers as well? Also, when you changed the shocks did you also swap out the front struts? Again, really appreciate all your great feedback!

I had a 2011 Tundra. I did not use new calipers. Bought this:

https://a.co/d/cv3zWqF

Went to Bilstein 5100’s front and rear.
Tires were Michelin LTX AT2
LT275 /65 R18 123R E1 OWL
TRD anti-sway bars front and rear.
Oil cooler and transmission coolers were stock with the towing package when I ordered the truck.
Installed a Curt Class V hitch rated at 2400/16000 pounds with a Weigh Safe adjustable drop ball mount.
Weighed the boat on commercial scales a number of times. Towed with black and fresh water tanks very low and just 15 to 25 gallons of fuel. Weight was consistently between 9,650 and 9,850 pounds. Tundra was rated to tow 10,500 pounds. All other towing capacity and gross weight limit numbers were within limits.
PS: Sold the Tundra to a local winery owner friend who uses it to tow his heavy farm trailers around. It’s still going strong at 130K miles.

 

[profcbutler]

Vicki and Al, I can't thank you enough for all this great information. Your words have changed how I will be using the R25 this summer. I have ordered all your recommended upgrades. I will do most of them except the front struts and new tires. Those two I will leave to the professionals. I have been towing a 5th wheel and most recently an Airstream with my 2019 Tundra Limited, but I had written off the idea of towing the R25. There seems to be a good amount of negativity out there on the topic. However, your experience and upgrades to the suspension make a lot of sense to me. My 5th wheel which I towed for years came in at around 8,500 loaded. My current Airstream is around 5,500 loaded (it spoiled me...I dont even know its on the back). Where I am taking the R25 on the road is no where near as adventurous as where you took yours. I am traveling about 2.5 hours from Northeast Maryland to South Jersey on the Barnegat Bay. Pretty flat state highway roads with almost no elevation! Thank you for the encouragement and incredibly specific information! So very much appreciated!!!! Chris

 

[PanaSeaAh]

Vicki and Al, I can't thank you enough for all this great information. Your words have changed how I will be using the R25 this summer. I have ordered all your recommended upgrades. I will do most of them except the front struts and new tires. Those two I will leave to the professionals. I have been towing a 5th wheel and most recently an Airstream with my 2019 Tundra Limited, but I had written off the idea of towing the R25. There seems to be a good amount of negativity out there on the topic. However, your experience and upgrades to the suspension make a lot of sense to me. My 5th wheel which I towed for years came in at around 8,500 loaded. My current Airstream is around 5,500 loaded (it spoiled me...I dont even know its on the back). Where I am taking the R25 on the road is no where near as adventurous as where you took yours. I am traveling about 2.5 hours from Northeast Maryland to South Jersey on the Barnegat Bay. Pretty flat state highway roads with almost no elevation! Thank you for the encouragement and incredibly specific information! So very much appreciated!!!! Chris

We tow our '09 R25 with a '19 Tundra about 1800 miles per summer, almost all in Michigan. Tow rating 10,400 lbs. Trailer will not accept weight distributing hitch, so I added air springs on Tundra suspension to keep it level and Michelin tires. 1,120 tongue weight and about 8,700 lbs. Third Tundra I have towed with. Have never had an issue, (except for the time it was sabotaged by chipmunks while we were cruising 😡) I did change rear shocks at 45,000 miles. It will be interesting to see what the newer driveline does to the Tundra.

 

[scross]

Chris,
Yes, there are a lot of folks out there that believe the weight margins towing a R25 with the Tundra are just too narrow. And, yeah, towing a R25 with a 1 ton p/u rated to tow 20,000+ pounds would be better. Using a semi to tow would be better still!
That said, with the amount of Tundra towing experience you have you should be OK towing the R25 with your Tundra.
Extensive towing experience and the knowledge gained from that experience is a really big deal in the safety equation in my opinion. I would not recommend the Tundra as a R25 tow vehicle for someone who had zero experience towing anything.
When I moved up to our C-28, I went to a Ram 2500. I feel safe towing the C-28 with the Ram just as I did towing the R25 with the Tundra. I think the mods I made and you are now making to your Tundra will make your towing experience more comfortable.
Cheers!

 

[profcbutler]

Thanks for all the great responses. I really love those Michelin tires as well! I have about 60K on the originals currently on the truck with little wear. However, based on SCROSS recommendations I will upgrade those to the E range with the rest of the changes. Hope to start some of the work in the next couple weeks as products come in. Reading great reviews on the Power Stop breaks. Looking forward to getting them in. I have never been crazy about the brakes on the Tundra. Also sorry I took the topic off the original subject and question. I am really loving this forum. Great people and solid advise!