towing question

[bagged123]

We just bought an 2011 27' (30 overall) Shasta Revere. Prior to buying I did my research, called around, car dealer, talked to the service guys at the trailer dealer etc. and all said with a weight distribution hitch I could tow the trailer (5900 dry weight) with no issues with my durango.

Well, I can't, the tuck can't even get out of its own way with that trailer hooked up. So I was wondering what others are using as tow vehicles and what types of trailers are you towing with? I'm looking at some new trucks but looking for some opinons from others towing one of these trailers.

current truck:
2007 dodge durango
4.7 V8
4x

trailer:
2011 Shasta Revere 27BH

[bikendan]

well, you should have gone to the towing section on any RV forum and they would have told you that towing a 30' TT, even an ultra-lite, with a small v-8, was a bad idea.
and using fictional "dry" weights, is a new purchaser's biggest mistake when shopping.

that trailer has a GVWR of over 9000lbs., not that you'll ever tow it that heavy and it's 30' 9" long.

IMHO, i wouldn't dare tow that trailer with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck.

[herk7769]

Boned by the dealer.

Well where to begin.

The Trailer:

The unloaded (without installed options) weight of this camper is 5777 pounds. Its full up maximum loaded camping weight is 9,463 pounds.
The fresh water tank (filled) alone weighs 400 pounds (50 gallons times 8.33 pounds per gallon). The safe tongue weight distribution (to minimize trailer sway and controllability issues) at your GVW is 10-20% of trailer weight with 15% being optimum. 15% of 9463 pounds is 1420 pounds.
While the "empty" hitch weight is listed at 643 pounds or 11% of "empty weight" you can see how actually USING this camper can radically change your towing experience.

The Tow Vehicle:

2007 Dodge Durango: 2007 Dodge Durango Dodge Durango Car Buying Guide at CARandDRIVER.com- 2007 Dodge

Your maximum trailer weight with weight distribution is 7400 pounds and maximum hitch weight is 740 pounds (10% LOWEST END for sway control).

We won't even discuss what the numbers are without a WD hitch.

I not only suspect that you are SERIOUSLY overloaded towing that camper; you are definitely unsafe towing that camper from wheel base and hitch weight considerations; and you are most likely destroying your Durango every time you take it out.

This "research" took about 30 minutes. I was unable to find a Gross Combined Weight in that time, but I suspect you are seriously over that too.

[Acableguy06]

Welcome to the forum!!!

Originally Posted by bikendan

well, you should have gone to the towing section on any RV forum and they would have told you that towing a 30' TT, even an ultra-lite, with a small v-8, was a bad idea.
and using fictional "dry" weights, is a new purchaser's biggest mistake when shopping.

that trailer has a GVWR of over 9000lbs., not that you'll ever tow it that heavy and it's 30' 9" long.

IMHO, i wouldn't dare tow that trailer with anything less than a 3/4 ton truck.

WOW! this guy did over what most would he at leased called his service shop and asked! Just becouse he got bad advice did not mean he did wrong. Not many people go to forums before a purchase its usually after to learn and ask not get a head bit off.

I do however agree with the 3/4 ton advice for that size TT

[bagged123]

Originally Posted by herk7769

Boned by the dealer.

Well where to begin.

The Trailer:

The unloaded (without installed options) weight of this camper is 5777 pounds. Its full up maximum loaded camping weight is 9,463 pounds.
The fresh water tank (filled) alone weighs 400 pounds (50 gallons times 8.33 pounds per gallon). The safe tongue weight distribution (to minimize trailer sway and controllability issues) at your GVW is 10-20% of trailer weight with 15% being optimum. 15% of 9463 pounds is 1420 pounds.
While the "empty" hitch weight is listed at 643 pounds or 11% of "empty weight" you can see how actually USING this camper can radically change your towing experience.

The Tow Vehicle:

2007 Dodge Durango: 2007 Dodge Durango Dodge Durango Car Buying Guide at CARandDRIVER.com- 2007 Dodge

Your maximum trailer weight with weight distribution is 7400 pounds and maximum hitch weight is 740 pounds (10% LOWEST END for sway control).

We won't even discuss what the numbers are without a WD hitch.

I not only suspect that you are SERIOUSLY overloaded towing that camper; you are definitely unsafe towing that camper from wheel base and hitch weight considerations; and you are most likely destroying your Durango every time you take it out.

This "research" took about 30 minutes. I was unable to find a Gross Combined Weight in that time, but I suspect you are seriously over that too.

The trailer has a 37 gallon water tank, not 50, though its no difference at this point. I guess. The sticker on the side from the manu has the dry weight at 5926. I even called the dealer and took it in to them and they gave me the numbers I could safely tow with.

I'll buy a new truck if need be, I'm looking at a 2006 1500 quad cab w/ a hemi, and a 2010 silverardo flexfuel v8 quad cab as well, would either one of them two it safely?

[herk7769]

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Towing: 1999 Dodge Durango/2008 Rockwood Ultra Lite

Here is a guy complaining about towing a camper over 1000 pounds lighter than yours with a Hemi in it; not the small V-8.

In my honest opinion, and I do NOT have an axe to grind (I don't know you and you don't know me); I tow a similar weight 5th wheel with a GMC 2500HD diesel and would not consider towing your camper with anything less than a 2500 Megacab with the 5.7 Hemi with the 3.92 rear (10,150 tow rating (2010 book)). The lower geared unit with the same engine is only rated at 8,150 pounds; too light in my opinion for your campers GVW.

As to the 50 gallon water tank I got my bogus info here:
http://www.mentorrv.com/pre_owned_de...h=2165373&nv=y

I followed up and see that others state it has a 37 gallon tank as you say.

[bagged123]

yeah, that's the one i have and its fresh 37, gray 37 and black 37.

so in other words the dealer, dodge wasn't truthful, the rv dealer just wanted sale and now I have a 30' camper in my lawn collecting dirt due to I can't tow it right now.

Awesome! I guess since I own it outright, i can do whatever with it then.

[11XLITE28BH]

I was in the same boat you were except I had the 5.7 Durango. I had the tow package, big tranny cooler, all the options and power to tow a 28 foot TT. So I thought. The Durango has too short of a WB. Memorial day on the way home from camping with TT in tow, with a stiff south 40 mph wind I was getting thrown all over the road. I had my 3 kids and wife with me and was white knuckling it the whole way home. The next week I was searching for 3/4 ton trucks. I bought the 2006 2500 Chevy with the 8.1ltr 496ci, with the Allison Tran. I now have 153' wb. It was night and day difference. It wasn't even comparable how much nicer the TT was to tow. I'd recommend going with a 3/4 ton.

[herk7769]

There are plenty of good used TVs around for sale right now and new truck dealers are dealing as well.

You have an awesome camper and I would be looking to trade up to a 3/4 ton class truck (2500 RAM with the Hemi engine as I stated would be an awesome combination).

[bagged123]

I'm looking at trucks now online, from a 2500 hd to a F250 which both should be able to it and not even flinch with it behind it. As for Used TT's, where I'm located at, not so many and what you see online at the dealers web sites, well when you get to the actual dealer, not so much. What you see on the TT's web sites are to bring you in, then once you get there, you get 'oh that was one sold, but we have this new one for you'.

I will state we've been looking for 2 years and the one we got is big enough to hold all 5 of us and we got it because everyone from the dealer (dodge) and the rv dealer said we could tow it with no issue, though I had reservations at first, and now I guess I was right.