new to RV's need some assistance please

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Loudram

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BOIRD not care what branch U in, if U serving U R the man and respected, period, tho it is fun to make fun of some guys just fer entertainment, BUT neva serious.
As a veteran we earned the right to bust each others stones in good fun because we know there is always underlying respect for each others service. No one else has that right, only us.
 

quickster2

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Thx all for your service. My Dad was a 3 war veteran started with the Marines in WWII and Air Force after as a pilot in Korea and Vietnam. I'm an Army guy both regular Army and Reserves (after Vietnam peace time soldier). Our Son is an Air Force veteran deployed 2X Crew Chief on the F-22 Raptor.

Since we are sharing "digs", I used to host the Navy Recruiters at my Plant. They shared their definition of a Marine. Did not go well with a couple of Supervisors that were ex-Marines. Here goes: Marine=Marine ***hole Riding in Navy Equipment. My brother-in-law, ex-Marine also not a fan. Forgot what he said about the Navy guys. My Sister-in-Law was an Army Nurse in Vietnam also. She and my Dad retired after 30 years of service. Again, thx everyone for keeping us safe.
 
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fitzdicksn

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Wife and i have made it to retirement, are looking at seeing some of the country options and a TT is in the mix. Class IV hitch

Current Tow truck. 2012 Ram 1500 Crewcab, 4x4, outdoorsman, 5.7 bed, 3.92 gears.

weight going across scales with full tank and me in drivers seat is 6250 pounds.

here are a pics of the stickers on the pillar, and a tow chart from the net.

im trying to determine how much trailer i can pull safely and not stress the truck to much.

Will be going from sw oklahoma to ne oklahoma 6-7 times a year, approx 250 miles to her family for a long weekend, all interstate. and maybe a long two week trip once or twice a year for longer trips again all interstate, not boondocking.

i will be using a WD hitch with anti-sway and looking at firestone bags in the rear.

i also realize that i will be hauling some cargo and that comes into play. not sure if the cargo would be better in the truck bed or on the camper

depending on what she likes if we go with a longer heavier trailer ill look at 3/4 tons, but i really like my truck, she does have 180k miles "truck not wife :)" but new dealer installed hemi at 150k miles, all service is done at dealer one time. we are currently thinking 20-25 foot.

for the i may be reading the stickers way wrong so thats why im asking here.

thanks gang for any input.

TroyThe important one is the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating. Your hitch weight, people, luggage, dogs, misc stuff all comes off payload. So in most cases you are overloaded before you hit max tow capacity. So our camper, plus luggage etc. will come in around 7500 lbs combined weight. Tongue weight is around 600 lbs putting us right on the line. Trucks handles great even in the Rocky Mountains
 

Big Blue Hemi

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Thanks to the economy my Ram sits. Just retired and our thought was to purchase a TT but not now. Things are out of control.
My father was a wounded US Marine. Got caught in the face with shrapnel on Okinawa. Me, got 4F from both the Army and USAF. I am a member of the American Legion Riders and am happy to serve in that capacity.
Thanks to all who serve/served.
 
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Let's say the door sticker you have, ~1200# of cargo capacity, is correct. Add you and your passengers weights all together and subtract that number from 1200. For example, you and wife weigh a combined 300#, you now have 900# for tongue weight and cargo in bed. My trailer weighs 6000# loaded with a tongue weight of ~720# which is 12% and considered ideal. that would leave you 180# for added cargo. The GCVW is very misleading as it assumes absolutely no tongue weight. Cargo carrying capacity is the number you should focus on.
Canyon
 

Dbrewton

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With high miles on your truck, it's best to upgrade now. You don't want the extra stresses of pulling a heavy trailer on a tired transmission, rear- end, and front end (unless you have had these things recently replaced) I have a 2005 Big Horn I use to pull my 30 TT equipped with trailer brakes, weight distributing hitch and anti-sway bar. It scales out at just under 6k lbs fully loaded. I replaced all front end parts, rear-end (from a recall), and only have 125k miles on the truck. I have no issues pulling up into the mountains of North Ga and NC, but I am a mechanic and know my truck. Nobody touches my vehicles except me. I'm waiting for the recession to hit so I can afford a newer truck....but I will never give up the '05.
 
OP
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T
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With high miles on your truck, it's best to upgrade now. You don't want the extra stresses of pulling a heavy trailer on a tired transmission, rear- end, and front end (unless you have had these things recently replaced) I have a 2005 Big Horn I use to pull my 30 TT equipped with trailer brakes, weight distributing hitch and anti-sway bar. It scales out at just under 6k lbs fully loaded. I replaced all front end parts, rear-end (from a recall), and only have 125k miles on the truck. I have no issues pulling up into the mountains of North Ga and NC, but I am a mechanic and know my truck. Nobody touches my vehicles except me. I'm waiting for the recession to hit so I can afford a newer truck....but I will never give up the '05.
DB:
thats somting we are figuring in the mix, the 5.7 was replaced and i have kept the front and rear diff and tc fluids changed a cpl times but the tranny has never been touched even for a fluid change, service manager and i have discussed it but think if we do its a good chance of making it worse. fron end has been changed as far as struts, ball joints, tie rods, but the CV joints are original, so wife and i are leaning to going to a 2500 unless she finds a small 21-23 light trailer she likess then just fix the 1500
 

man n black

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I would offer this advice...Keep your current truck and buy a TT that it will tow easily. Do some travelling and learn what you like to do, how you like to travel and live on the road. Then decide where to go from there. TT should hold its value.

When it came time for me to buy a new truck I went 2500 CTD because we live in the high mountains and I didnt want to worry about towing anything over them. For 7 years we towed a 30ft 8500lb TT all over the country and in Canada from Vancouver to Saskatchewan with the truck in different states of modified with few problems. We did seize a front pinion once about 100yds from the house after a local shop did some work on the truck.

What we learned is for the way we travel, even that big trailer was too small and not self contained enough for our purposes. Last year we bought a very nice used Motorcoach for less than we could've bought a new bigger more self contained trailer and we tow the 2500 behind it. While the coach has its own issues different from the TT it does suit us and the way we like to travel and has been a revelation for our furry kiddos and travelling with them.. YMMV
 

Joe Merchak

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I had a keystone Premier 19FBPR that had a G weight of 6500 with a empty tongue of 480LB. Loaded up it tongue weight was 710 because the placement of storage was in front of the axles. My 2018 Express had a 8000lb tow limit and a 1540 capacity limit. Fully loaded and the wife and I we were around 1300 total weight and this was verified via cat scale. We moved up to a 25RL trailer with a fully loaded tongue weight of 1050lb. That extra 300lb and 100 over the payload made a stable truck with the smaller trailer not much fun to drive with the larger trailer. It was enough that last week I went out and purchased a 2500. Do yourself a favor, get the bigger truck unless you know you will never will go with a bigger trailer.
 

pacofortacos

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Wife and i have made it to retirement, are looking at seeing some of the country options and a TT is in the mix. Class IV hitch

Current Tow truck. 2012 Ram 1500 Crewcab, 4x4, outdoorsman, 5.7 bed, 3.92 gears.

weight going across scales with full tank and me in drivers seat is 6250 pounds.

here are a pics of the stickers on the pillar, and a tow chart from the net.

im trying to determine how much trailer i can pull safely and not stress the truck to much.

Will be going from sw oklahoma to ne oklahoma 6-7 times a year, approx 250 miles to her family for a long weekend, all interstate. and maybe a long two week trip once or twice a year for longer trips again all interstate, not boondocking.

i will be using a WD hitch with anti-sway and looking at firestone bags in the rear.

i also realize that i will be hauling some cargo and that comes into play. not sure if the cargo would be better in the truck bed or on the camper

depending on what she likes if we go with a longer heavier trailer ill look at 3/4 tons, but i really like my truck, she does have 180k miles "truck not wife :)" but new dealer installed hemi at 150k miles, all service is done at dealer one time. we are currently thinking 20-25 foot.

i may be reading the stickers way wrong so thats why im asking here.

thanks gang for any input.

Troy
Bad news is you only have 550 lbs of payload left after you and fuel - you max GVWR is 6800-6250=550 lbs.

Why the Outdoorsman only has a GVWR or 6800 lbs, I have no idea. If I had to guess it might be due to the 17" wheels and LT tires (which makes no sense). Most other models have a 6900lb GVWR.

ANY cargo will be better in the trailer :)
 

Loudram

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Bad news is you only have 550 lbs of payload left after you and fuel - you max GVWR is 6800-6250=550 lbs.
Payload numbers include all fluids topped off including gas. He has 650 lbs left. But either way that's not much.
 
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StNick

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If you do decide to go to a 3/4 ton truck, think about maybe going to a class 5 hitch. They are rated for a trailer up to 16,000 pounds and much higher tongue weight, for only a little more expensive. Just in case you end up heavier than expected. Amazing how much stuff some women just can't do without!
 

smkymtnboy

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u may consider a motor home and tow the truck. the motor home will last a long time because u use it only a few times a year. the truck will not be into severe duty circumstances and it may hold up a little longer. motor homes are very comfortable to travel in vs towing. just a thought.
 

Willie Mosher

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Back to the trailer, you talk about 20 to 25 ft , 1st you are more like to used/ tow small trailer more.
Keep full load trailer less 6000lbs.
You have 3.92 axle so this
Good. Used truck you have for now
But if think of new truck then look
At 3/4 ton likely get better gasoline mile w 3/4 gasoline 6.4 they your 1/2 ton, ( O an get the 4.10 Axle)
 

Daves Handy Hands

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I started out with an already on hand 1500 Suburban hauling an 8,000 lb 36’ TT (because Camping World said I could without educating me at the time). Transmission started shredding internally at 176,000 during the first real trip from Georgia to South Carolina. I self educated. Sold the Suburban and now I have a 2500 Ram 5.7L Crew Cab with 3.73 rear end, 2015 Tradesman (nice and basic) with 94,000 miles (bought last year with 78,000) and made a 4,000 mile round trip to Idaho and back to Georgia. Works well enough for power. Even with the 2500, I still am too close to rear axle weight limit after adding tongue weight and cargo, using a WD (& anti-sway) hitch.
just curious, how many of you all towing with a 1500 wished you had went to a 2500 at the start ??

Troy
 

cnovel

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Just make sure the trailer is properly loaded , level , too much weight in the back and it will swing , you will be fine
 

Scottly

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u may consider a motor home and tow the truck. the motor home will last a long time because u use it only a few times a year. the truck will not be into severe duty circumstances and it may hold up a little longer. motor homes are very comfortable to travel in vs towing. just a thought.
Two maintanence schedules instead of one. Two insurance policies instead of a trailer add-on. Two registrations instead of one extra trailer tag. The list goes on...There are upsides and downsides to everything.
 
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