BIG Lesson Learned About 1500's: hope to warn any others.

[DSN46]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

GVWR is gross vehicle - how much it can weight LOADED to the max.
What you also need is the ACTUAL WEIGHT of the vehicle. THis sticker should be on the inside of the screen door on your TT and may be on your truck's door.

We're not big on campfire but I see some folks draggin 1/2 cord of wood along. We do bring bikes though - 20-30lb per bike times 4 bikes is another 100ish lbs.

While you may not fill your tanks you will have some fluids in there - nobody that I know drains completely before moving, so 6gal in the water heater, 3 more in the pipes, some in the toilet bowl - and as my neighbor advised keep 10 in the fresh tank for emergency (radiator, potty breaks, etc) and most black tanks want some water in them with a chem so you don't get odors. So what, 20 gallons? 160 lbs.

A case of beverages weights something - I've switched to canned beer as it's lighter than bottles and easier to pack in the fridge. My wife has coke. my son sprite and then a case of water bottles...4 cases of drinks is around 80lbs.

Get a memory foam mattress topper (for the camper and home - they're great) but add another 20 some lbs.

Leveling wood, wheel chocks, better sewer hose, vent covers, water filter, longer ele cord and adapters...

It adds up.

^^^^^^^^
THIS

Does it ever add up quick! By the time we loaded all the BS that goes along with the TT... the 4 kids and all their junk... a few gallons of water in tanks... luggage... cooler (big one)... AND I have bigger tires that weigh a ton PLUS a winch mount and 9500 WARN winch.... we left the CAT scales with a piece of paper I couldn't believe!

TT was at 5600 almost. The Burban was tipping 7220. Had a combined weight of 12,800!! Yep, we needed bigger TV for sure.

You REALLY just don't know what you've got until you get on those scales. Amazing really....

James

[prof_fate]

My guesstimates put me close to GCWR.
I've no idea the curb weight of my loaded TV (the expy). I know I add about 750 lbs to it with the family, dog, and other stuff in the back. 6500 or so is my guess.

The TT is 5360 from FR..plus the hitch, propane, batt, water. From another thread seems the avg load is 800-1000 lbs in the TT...I was guessing we're 6500ish.

13,000. With the 4x4/wheel package my GCWR is 12,500....

The new truck is rated at 15k - breathing room!

Now I can get a generator, fill up with water and go boondocking.

And be near the limit again...LOL

[golfmedik]

Originally Posted by DSN46

^^^^^^^^

You REALLY just don't know what you've got until you get on those scales. Amazing really....

James

I totally agree!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by ebemis

Granted I haven't taken ownership of my new Roo to tow it around yet, but I sure hope that I don't end up finding out a 3/4 ton purchase would have made more sense :-(

you'll be fine. i tow my Roo 23SS(similar weight/length)with my '07 Avalanche.
basically same as the newer Burb, just has a truck bed.
i have the 4spd. tranny with the 3.73 rear end and i've towed the Roo over the Sierras, Rockies, Cascades and Siskiyous and haven't had any problems.
plenty of power and i feel it's a great combo.
you'll be even better off with the 6spd. tranny.

[Boots49]

It all adds up for sure, & if you play golf, add two bags-- 40 pounds, two push carts, need the extra exercise,--40 pounds, lets not forget propane at 4.2 pounds per gallon. Oh how it all adds up!!

[mike06081969]

I did the same thing with my camper before last. It was a 2010 Flagstaff 831RLSS. I had a 2007 GMC 1500 4X4 with the 5.3V8 and towing package. The salesperson said that my truck would tow it fine. It did, until you hit a grade. Like you stated, it stayed in 3rd gear almost all the time. It was too much for that truck, even though it is considered a light weight camper. I traded the GMC for an 08 F250 PSD and it was like night and day. Not just easier on the truck, it is MUCH safer.

[Boots49]

Well the only problem I see is the Ford, should have ordered a GM 2500 Silverado.

[prof_fate]

Having picked up our TV yesterday and read over the manual, options, etc in detail...it all depends is the answer.

My 1500 properly optioned will out tow a 2500 improperly optioned. The truck manual has a towing section and lists all the 1500/2500/3500 engine/cab/box/drivetrain combinations - there are 12 pages of them wiht about 11 per page - so 130 various combinations. And thats just GAS engines - diesels are in a supplement you get when you buy a diesel!

The towing/GCWR can swing several thousand pounds one way or another with simple changes in options, or you can make big changes and see little change at all.

My 1500 crew can tow 9500. The biggiest nastiest 1500 crew has a bigger engine and higher gearing and only gets 900lb more towing. The 2500 does no better unless you pick the right options. A non-towing 5.3 V8 1500 can only must 5800lbs.

Also consider what you're towing - my Grey Wolf has a rounded front and V nose trailers cut the wind better. A fifth wheel presents a lot more frontal area to the wind than any TT will.

[JFM-jr]

My 3/4 ton with the options it has only tows an additional 300lbs over a 1/2 ton 8800 vs 8500. Put an 8000 pound travel trailer on the back of each truck and see wich one tows more comfortably. I had a 2004 gas Ram 1500 with the 5.7 quad cab 4x4. I have the identical truck setup in an 09 2500 and there's no comparing the rides both with and without the camper on the back. I had both trucks in my driveway before I sold the 1500 and crawling under both gives you a reason the 3/4 ton does a better job. The framerails were 1" taller, brake calipers and rotors dwarf the 1/2 tons, solid front axle, rear axle is much larger. Now the unloaded ride sucks compared to the 1/2 tons smoothness but you can't have it all.

[prof_fate]

Unloaded ride - right there is enough reason for us to get a 1500 over a 2500 since 99% of the time it will be used as a car.

We drove about 27k miles last year and 350 of that was towing the camper, another 150 perhaps towing a cargo trailer. Our trips have been close to home - that's gonna change this year with a bigger/better/newer TV.

And you can't miss what you never had!