I would like your advice on 5th Wheel guys

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Bigdaddy

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Okay we have been looking at some 5th wheel, they are having a blow out price on them and I need your advice, I'm looking at two of them now? We will never go full carry weight of what we get, we will use it to just get away on short trips, thank you guys for your comments, ours plan is to go down tomorrow and look and as you all know that the guy are saying you can tow it but I know better.

1. Keystone Avalanche 331RE

UVW - 12,450 lbs
Carry Capacity - 3050 lbs
Hitch Weight - 2620 lbs
Length - 38'7"


2. Keystone Avalanche 370RD

UVW - 12,945 lbs
Carry Capacity - 2576 lbs
Hitch Weight - 2650 lbs
Length - 39'8"

Or maybe this one.

3. Keystone Avalanche 330RE

UVW - 11,489 lbs
Carry Capacity - 3511 lbs
Hitch Weight - 2365 lbs
Length - 34'6"


Truck is a 2016 2500 6.4L CC with 4.10 gears

Payload - 3100 lbs
Towing - 15,650 lbs
 

Mega-Hemi

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With the 4:10's I think you'll be ok with any of those weights, (wouldn't go much more) for short trips. What I'd be more worried about is the length. A 40' 5'er is a pretty big trailer for short trips and could give you some problems getting into some parks, depending on your location of coarse. I'd go for the 35'er but you really need to look each one over and see which floor plan you and yours like the best. All 3 of those are fairly close in comparison so it's really going to come down to what you want in a camper.
 
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Bigdaddy

Bigdaddy

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Yeah, I'm thinking more in the 30' to 35' long but I will have to see about the deal that they will give me, since the end of the year is a few days away.


Well we are planning one trip to Vegas to see friends and for a good getaway but it want be all the time, because the wife and I pastors of a church and we can getaway like we want to but every once in a while is okay.
 
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Mega-Hemi

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I tried to stay under 32' and ended up at 35' so I know how that goes. Problem is most state parks around here don't accommodate anything over 30'. That's why I was trying to stay under 32'. But that could be a regional thing.
 
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Bigdaddy

Bigdaddy

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I tried to stay under 32' and ended up at 35' so I know how that goes. Problem is most state parks around here don't accommodate anything over 30'. That's why I was trying to stay under 32'. But that could be a regional thing.



Okay, that make sense and since we are not full timing rv'ing just here and there, I do think that will be comfortable for the two of us.
 

MADDOG

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That IS asking a lot of the HEMI.

Have you figured the loaded weight of your truck yet, bud?

You, the Mrs., fuel, gear, hitch, tools, etc...?

Have you weighed your truck?

Do you know, after you figure out how much your truck weighs loaded how much more load you can add (pin weight) and the weight of the 5'vr with your clothes, groceries, dishes, towels, etc....?

I have a really slick spreadsheet based calculator for figuring out exactly what you can tow.

You need to know:

1. What your truck's GCVWR is.

2. What your truck's GVWR is.

3. How much your truck weighs.

4. How much the trailer weighs, unloaded.

Gotta do some trailer math, bud. PM me your email address if you want the spreadsheet. It really helps make sure you don't overload the truck and trailer!
 

RubberFrog

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RVs are like boats. No matter which one you buy, you will get two footitis and want a bigger one.
 

GsRAM

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Imo, any of those are asking a lot of your truck. In my opinion, your in one ton truck territory with those weights. Maybe even DRW. However, i like more margin than most. It's one of the reasons I'm upgrading to a 2500 series ram in the near future. The new campers were looking at are in the 7500 gvwr range.

What is the gvwr of the rigs? That's a more realistic figure.

For me, i like to go no more than 80% of the trucks tow rating with the trailers gvwr. It gives me a lot of extra margin. But that's just me.

If your within all your weight limits, then ok. But i think in the end you'll be at or over your payload rating with any of those rigs, loaded, ready to camp with all gear weight.

Good luck. Just my .02.

-G
 

novelmike

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Only Keystone trailers? How come?

The heaviest of the 3 trailers listed is 450lbs away from your payload capacity. Add the weight of your 5th wheel hitch, mounting brackets, and you're gonna be very close to your max capacity!
 

mtofell

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I always catch all kinds of hell for this and hesitate to open this door because of the predictable war that ensues..... BUT, with a good set of airbags your truck has the payload of a 3500. With any of those prospective trailers minimally loaded you are perfectly safe rolling down the road (definitely maxing out the 6.4 Hemi's pulling power but that's your problem :)) As far as safety, you won't be overloading your axles or tires or brakes or the truck's frame so proceed as you see fit.

What will undoubtedly follow are stories of neighbor's hairdresser's uncles who know a guy that was pulled over and sent to a Turkish prison camp for being 70# over his truck's GVWR. On page 9 of this thread I'll apologize for opening this Pandora's Box. :favorites13:
 

Markcuda

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What will undoubtedly follow are stories of neighbor's hairdresser's uncles who know a guy that was pulled over and sent to a Turkish prison camp for being 70# over his truck's GVWR. On page 9 of this thread I'll apologize for opening this Pandora's Box.
I don't only like this, I love this))))))))))))))
 

NewBlackDak

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I've towed lots of heavy stuff behind mine. The problem with the 5er and a Hemi is the profile. I towed my wife's 5300 lb car on a 2700 lb trailer loaded with luggage and stuff for 400 miles back from Wyoming though mountain passes. Super easy tow with the aerodynamics of a car on the trailer. My travel trailer on the same roads and weighing about the same gets 2mpg less and struggles a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Bigdaddy

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Awesome thanks guys, this is very interesting I seen some other down the street from where these guys are at that are a little less I believe that the pin weight are 1800 lbs or a little higher but less than 2000 lbs.
 
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Bigdaddy

Bigdaddy

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I always catch all kinds of hell for this and hesitate to open this door because of the predictable war that ensues..... BUT, with a good set of airbags your truck has the payload of a 3500. With any of those prospective trailers minimally loaded you are perfectly safe rolling down the road (definitely maxing out the 6.4 Hemi's pulling power but that's your problem :)) As far as safety, you won't be overloading your axles or tires or brakes or the truck's frame so proceed as you see fit.

What will undoubtedly follow are stories of neighbor's hairdresser's uncles who know a guy that was pulled over and sent to a Turkish prison camp for being 70# over his truck's GVWR. On page 9 of this thread I'll apologize for opening this Pandora's Box. :favorites13:


Firestone air bag are on the way but giving some thought I might go with something else that is a little less.
 

Mega-Hemi

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Love my Firestone Ride-Rite bags. Have had them on my last 2 trucks. Not much of a need for them in my 2500 but they do smooth out the ride a little. In my 1500 Mega Cab more than once I aired them up to haul a pallet of pellets (2k lbs) home from Lowes. Truck rode perfectly level and handled great. The day I purchased my 5'er I ordered a set of bags for this truck whether I needed them or not.
 
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MADDOG

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I always catch all kinds of hell for this and hesitate to open this door because of the predictable war that ensues..... BUT, with a good set of airbags your truck has the payload of a 3500. With any of those prospective trailers minimally loaded you are perfectly safe rolling down the road (definitely maxing out the 6.4 Hemi's pulling power but that's your problem :)) As far as safety, you won't be overloading your axles or tires or brakes or the truck's frame so proceed as you see fit.

What will undoubtedly follow are stories of neighbor's hairdresser's uncles who know a guy that was pulled over and sent to a Turkish prison camp for being 70# over his truck's GVWR. On page 9 of this thread I'll apologize for opening this Pandora's Box. :favorites13:

Oh so damn true. The ratings are conservative and if you are a few hundred pounds over you won't hurt the truck but there are some insurance and liability issues to consider.
 
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Bigdaddy

Bigdaddy

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Love my Firestone Ride-Rite bags. Have had them on my last 2 trucks. Not much of a need for them in my 2500 but they do smooth out the ride a little. In my 1500 Mega Cab more than once I aired them up to haul a pallet of pellets (2k lbs) home from Lowes. Truck rode perfectly level and handled great. The day I purchased my 5'er I ordered a set of bags for this truck whether I needed them or not.


I got them in today, I have one question do you have to take the tires off or can I just maybe let down my spare and go from their? Oh yeah also do you have one or two air fitting to fill them up? Thank you for your reply or whoever answer this.
 

KarL45

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Sounds like a tall order for the Hemi. While the Specs boast a 15k towing capacity, thinking you will find the quality of towing at that weight quite poor. Even with the 4.10 gearing. While there is no doubt you can tow 15k, having to run in the 4k and up range for rpms when in higher elevations especially, doesn't equate to "good" towing to me. Guess a little "old school" where I don't like having to run at high rpms to be able to pull normally. Of course, if the power is needed for a short burst, that's different. That's where the 4.56 gearing shines. Just thinking that about 12k would be a very comfortable tow weight. As for the air bags, Installed the Air Lift 5000 before leaving. While not really needing it because of the drop (2"), it does keep the truck at factory height, lessens the pin shock of the 5'er, and also keeps the headlamps in align so as not getting flashed continually. Testament, after 16k towing a 14k 5'er through all of mainland Alaska, no shock or suspension problems period. Very happy. Good Luck with your choice.
 
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