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Old 09-07-2015, 09:00 PM   #1
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First post. Looking for truck advice.

My family is looking to get into camping. We have selected a series of campers based on the fact it will be left for some periods at my families camp and we plan on spending weeks/ up to a month as I can with vacation in it with our now 3 kids, maybe more in the future.

We are looking at Cherokee models 294BH, 304BH, and 304BS.
They all have a GVWR of 9985lbs. Tounge weight between 835 and 1043lbs. All 78" tall.

I'm starting the search for a tow vehicle. We really won't need it for another year as we are leaving it in one spot all next year and will only move it at end of year. I can borrow a truck for the one time move. The following year we plan on a one month tour if you will.

I like fords generally speaking and will be buying used.
An F-150 crew cab 6.5' bed with Eco boost and max tow package is one option and seems like a good option. 10.5k tow.

I've seen an f-350 with the 6.2 l I like, cc sb. But fuel economy etc when not towing is my thoughts.

I've also kicked around a 2014 dodge cc sb with 6.4L. Overkill.

08-10 v-10?

I guess I'm trying to find out if eco boost is not enough.

Just trying to get some perspective for a trailer of this size. I've towed 4-place snowmobile enclosed trailers and had a 25' Malibu wake setter on a tandem axle trailer so I am familiar with towing, just not this length 36-37'
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Old 09-07-2015, 09:17 PM   #2
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Welcome to the forum! You will probably gets lots of opinions, but mine would be to go with a 3/4 ton as my first choice. Virtually all late model trucks will have enough power, but a 30 ft trailer weighing nearly 10K is a big load. Add rough roads, high winds and passing semi trucks and I would rather have the beef of a 3/4-1 ton.
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Old 09-07-2015, 09:17 PM   #3
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Towing a Boat is NOT like towing a TT! Same goes for 4 place enclosed Snowmobile trailer! Your in the Big Time now! Youroo!!
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Old 09-07-2015, 09:39 PM   #4
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Hello and welcome to the forum. Per the forest river website, the 294BH has a GVWR or 9985, the 304BH has a GVWR of 11175, and the 304BS has a GVWR of 11060. Looking at this you are looking at a one ton (3500/350) pick up. Be aware that not all are created equal. These are heavy TT with heavy tongue weights. When I was looking at my Sabre I thought about getting the sabre TT with an 11000 lb GVWR. When I truck hunted, I had a hard time finding a truck with a hitch rated high enough (hitch not payload). I learned the Chevy long bed had a higher hitch rating than the Chevy short bed.

Now looking at the dry weights on these 3 trailers, you will likely be near GVWR when fully loaded, ready to travel on the 294BH. Given an ideal TW of 13-15% of the loaded TT, you are looking at a potential loaded tongue weight of 1300-1500 lbs! On the other two, you will not likely be loaded to max. You will likely be closer to 9500-10000 lbs loaded on those two as well, so the tongue weights will probably close on all 3 TT. This is too much to ask of a half ton, even if it is the famed ecoboost. I would stick to the larger trucks. Be aware the V10 is a gas guzzler. My '14 Chevy diesel does much bettering fuel than the v10 and I know it does much better than my old f250 psd. I'm getting 16-17 mpg around town and 13 mpg towing through the mountains. As stated above you will get lots of differing opinions here, this is my 2¢ after having been in the situation of towing too much TT for not enough TV down a mountain. Never again.
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Old 09-08-2015, 04:03 AM   #5
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Wow. Samsonite. I was way off.

Asquared, thanks a lot for double checking my numbers.

I pulled those off the 2015/2016 brochure. I thought when we had looked at the 304BS that I had seen on the actual weight tag different numbers, but that got lost in the truck thoughts.

I know we are leaning towards the BS due to the double slid bunkhouse. Like I said, starting with the three littles and the dog, and who knows who else comes along, the larger their space area is good as we stay at camp for a week plus and they need some down time.

I will have to head to the Forrest river website and get some real numbers. But almost 2k lbs wrong on the brochure. Wow. Hope they are better on quality control when building.

Any other advice for something along the lines of the 304BS? I really don't want to go dually. Maybe I do need a diesel.

Thanks again,

Matt
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Old 09-08-2015, 04:42 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyMMA View Post
I will have to head to the Forrest river website and get some real numbers.
the website numbers probably won't be any more accurate.
remember, brochure/website numbers are for a stripped-down version of the trailers. only the GVWR will be correct.

the best "real" numbers source, other than weighing at a scale, is the yellow factory weight sticker on each trailer.
that's what it weighed when it left the factory.
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Old 09-08-2015, 07:16 AM   #7
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I'll take a shot at it.

Of course a 14 Chevy diesel will get better fuel economy than a V10.

The OP stated used.
Same boat I was in.
I wanted used. I ended up with an 2008 F350 crew with a V10.
Into it for about 12k. ( cdn)

It's not my daily, and if it breaks down, it won't be thousands of dollars in repairs. Sure, it gets 7mpg towing. So what. I could replace the whole engine, cheaper than doing injectors on a 6.0L.
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:09 PM   #8
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Having a F150 with Ecoboost I know from experience it'll do the job as far as pulling. However I believe the comfort level as far as the ride would be better in a 3/4 Ton. Plus that'll give you the option of upgrading in RV size down rhe road without having to purchase a different truck.
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:17 PM   #9
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Also when you get into the longer lengths the more sway you get so the need for WDH. Later RJD
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:38 PM   #10
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My friend, had a 2012 f150, the said it was rated to tow, 11,500. It ran hot going up bear tooth parkway and smoked the breaks coming down he was pulling 5,500. I pulled @ 10,200 # camper to Yellowstone and another trip to the Grand Canyon with a 2012 Toyota Tundra . Did fine, got 8 miles to the gallon, changed this year to a 3500 ram diesel. This is a totally different ballgame. My point is, you can't have to much truck.
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:47 PM   #11
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we have a 31 ft puma i had 2 rams 1500 hemi did ok but mpg bad and strain on truck. we finally went and got a 2500 ram 6.7 . get the right truck the first time i went thru 3. and i did alot of home work. but i have to say i like the ram the most i drove chevy 2500 f 150 f 250 i am partcal to ram but i did drive the others
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:53 PM   #12
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How much and where are you towing? Asqaured made some good suggestions and I would agree on enough truck.

I had a F 150 Screw with Ecoboost. Flat towing worked just fine, limited hills in Ontario just fine. White knuckle with sway, big time. The internal Ford sway control was my friend and saved my bacon. The Ecoboozst has its place. I would say 900 lbs tongue weight, trailer less than 30 ft and max weight of 9,000 lbs. You are over on all accounts.

I have a F 250 Super Duty with a Diesel. Fuel costs are less towing and less dry with the Diesel. The right tool for the job! My brother has a V 10 in his Excursion and doesn't tow and gets 8 mpg with a 19 year old 10 lb dog, wife and a couple stringed instruments in the back. I get 8 to 10 towing a 10,500 lb fifth wheel.

Now you mentioned used to keep cost down, and need a crew cab based upon 3 children on board. There are some bad trucks out there that have had issues, Chevy and Ford, I have seen used Dodge ram with no drivetrain issues but body fit and electrical problems.

Nothing is perfect with used. I would contact your local Ford dealer, tell them what and when you want to buy. They might get a 2 year lease return that might be equipped for towing that fit your need price wise and timing. Most leased vehicles have to be maintained and proof they have when returned. This would provide you manufacturers warranty for a small period possibly a year. I made a great deal on a brand new 2015 unloved truck. Dealer did big discount and gave me above average for the King Ranch Eco boost. Look for lot orphans too, a red truck no one wants for example.

37 ft is a long Travel Trailer, will need s top end weight distributing hitch for 1500 lbs as well. This is serious load you are looking at!
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Old 09-08-2015, 01:59 PM   #13
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I've decided that the best thing to do when getting into travel trailers is just to go 1 ton. I'm on my forth trailer now and with the exception of my new trailer I have had to up the truck every time. Hind sight being 20/20 I wish I had gone 1 ton from the beginning. Next is a SRW F350. The ecoboost is one heck of an engine. The rest of the truck is the issue. It will "pull" just fine. The hauling is the problem as with most all 1/2 tons is the problem.
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Old 09-08-2015, 02:14 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by MattyMMA View Post
My family is looking to get into camping. We have selected a series of campers based on the fact it will be left for some periods at my families camp and we plan on spending weeks/ up to a month as I can with vacation in it with our now 3 kids, maybe more in the future.

We are looking at Cherokee models 294BH, 304BH, and 304BS.
They all have a GVWR of 9985lbs. Tounge weight between 835 and 1043lbs. All 78" tall.

I'm starting the search for a tow vehicle. We really won't need it for another year as we are leaving it in one spot all next year and will only move it at end of year. I can borrow a truck for the one time move. The following year we plan on a one month tour if you will.

I like fords generally speaking and will be buying used.
An F-150 crew cab 6.5' bed with Eco boost and max tow package is one option and seems like a good option. 10.5k tow.

I've seen an f-350 with the 6.2 l I like, cc sb. But fuel economy etc when not towing is my thoughts.

I've also kicked around a 2014 dodge cc sb with 6.4L. Overkill.

08-10 v-10?

I guess I'm trying to find out if eco boost is not enough.

Just trying to get some perspective for a trailer of this size. I've towed 4-place snowmobile enclosed trailers and had a 25' Malibu wake setter on a tandem axle trailer so I am familiar with towing, just not this length 36-37'
You are better off having more truck than you really need than not having enough truck. Been there and done that.
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Old 09-08-2015, 02:56 PM   #15
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We have a 2011 f150 screw 6.5' box max tow ecoboost and pull a Fredom Express 310bhds 34' bumper to hitch 8500# loaded for camping tow about 1500 mi. a year no mountains but lots of hills (I do know about mountains long haul truck driver) truck works great but at the top of its capabilities, trailers you are looking at in my opinion are to big for my truck my choice would be a F350 6.7
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Old 09-08-2015, 05:11 PM   #16
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This subject is a frequent topic here. In my case I have a 2015 GMC HD CC with a gas engine. I own a 2015 32 foot Rockwood Sig Ultra Lite 5th wheel. All the arguments for diesels are valid. They have three times the torque and will last almost forever. But they also have higher maintenance costs and with the new ones you have to plan for using DEF. Gas on the other hand mostly is reliable and will pull a good sized load. But I noticed that I was downshifting a lot and while going down hills of any length caused me to exceed my trailer tires speed rating of 60mph. We will continue on with the gas for now unless we decide to do mountains. Then a diesel makes for sense going up and coming down.
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Old 09-08-2015, 05:41 PM   #17
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As a happy EcoBoost owner (see sig for combo) I don't think I would be comfortable towing a 30+ foot TT over 10,000 lbs. With those numbers, I think you would be best served with a 3/4 ton tow vehicle (or more).

Good luck!
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Old 09-08-2015, 06:22 PM   #18
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I have the same truck ( not the one pictured) and with our trailer at max of 6650 and the truck loaded ready to camp we are within 250 lbs of Max on both truck axles. To keep the trailer legal we load everything we can ahead of the axles and have a very heavy tongue weight.
14153 lbs combined.
The truck will do it as I did pull our original trailer which was 3000 lbs heavier but I would not recommend it.
For safety and piece of mind get a bigger truck
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Old 09-08-2015, 06:25 PM   #19
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IMO you could also find the same floor plan in a lighter TT & then you would not need a pricier diesel to pull it... We camp for 30+ days per year, so I'd rather have a nicer/lighter TT vs. pricier truck for my 25 minute commute...

In 2014 we found a used 2011 Prime Time Tracer 3150 for around $20K w/empty weight of 6,500 & empty tongue weight of 650. It has the dinette slide-out, bunk house slide-out, and wonderful outdoor kitchen. We haul our bikes mounted on the dinette seats, so ready to camp we're at 8,000 w/1,000 of that on the tongue. We've had it for 2 summers & we haven't had to take it back to the dealer for any repair work. If you buy new, plan on spending your first camping season having warranty work completed...

In 2013, before we got the TT, I found a 2011 Ram 2500 CC w/5.7 Hemi for $14K. Plenty of power going through Smokie Mountains this summer & very stable w/Equalizer 4 WDH. I get 15 mpg commuting & 8-10 towing depending on conditions. It has a payload of 3,000 which is double what some loaded 1/2 tons can haul...

However, if I were to buy a 2014+ Ram 2500, I would likely get the 6.4 Hemi because it punches-up the tow numbers within diesel range for about the same price & mpg as the 5.7...

Because of my commute I considered the F150 EB but EVERYONE I have personally talked to says they don't like how a 8,000 TT pushes-around their F150, including the HD version... One friend isn't planning ongoing out-of-state until he upgrades his TV... My Ram 2500 is heavier/wider & with an Equalizer 4 I forget I'm towing 8,000 lbs. except when I am trying to thread orange barrels...
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Old 09-08-2015, 07:01 PM   #20
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Thanks a lot guys.

Yeah based on the fact that I had the wrong weights for the trailers, I am not considering an F-150 if we stick with these particular models. If I had the correct weights to begin with I wouldn't have even considered the F-150.

I'm looking through the f-350 and dodge 2500 CC trucks. I've been burnt by GM a few too many times. And not motor/transmissions but all the other stuff. Tailgates, thin rusty metal, door locks etc.

Since I don't need the truck next year, if I wait the prices on a 2011 6.7 or newer will come down. And the run history will be better. Would like to know if it has cummins longevity or 7.3.
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