What do you tow with?

[Big Dawg]

I have been reading various post about this section, but wanted to get an idea of what everyone uses as a tow vehicle compared with the camper. I just purchased a Gray Wolf 28BH, and I have a Chevy Avalanche which can tow 7,300 pounds. The dry weight on the Gray Wolf is 5,296.

[Herk7769]

Most members put their RV information in their signature block. This is highly encouraged so that we might be more helpful. The answer given by a MH guy might be totally unhelpful to someone in a 5th wheel.

If you are asking for an opinion on your combination, you should search this topic. I am sure you can spend many restful hours reading posts on why you made a great choice or a poor one.

They are both here in spades!

A place to start is : Travel Trailer Weight Calculator

[Bama Rambler]

A Common Rail Cummins wrapped in a Ram. Towing about 6k#.

But as Lou said, there's every combination and every reason why they're good and why they're bad.

[SaskCampers]

Dodge Ram 2500 Megacab 4x4 with a hemi pulling an 8500lb 34' TT.

[donn]

Dawg, I see you are a new member, so I guess I will cut you some slack.
Dry weights are totally meaningless when it comes to towing. That 5200#Grey Wolf can climb to 7000 pounds in a real hurry. Besides the "dry" weight is a guestimate based on some genius engineers wet dream. Load it up and go to the scales. That is the only weight that is important.
BTW Dodge Cummins dually pulling a 13,350 fiver.

[Big Dawg]

Thanks gang, it seems like there are a ton of opinions on what is right. I guess it comes down to weighing it on some scales and seeing where you are at.

[2007Rockwood2601]

My 5.3 L Chevy van with 3.73's tows @12K (GCWR) pretty good . Not sure I would want to go much heaver then that. I think we have about the same powertrain. I think that trailer will be around the max loaded.

[tentcamper1]

Chevy crew cab 2500HD gas towing about 7800# to 8000#
FYI the weight sticker from the factory on my trailer was 7180#.

[M109Rrider]

Best guess is the Crusader weights between 10-12k fully loaded. I tow with a 05 4x4 Quadcab short bed 2500 Dodge Ram with a Cummins.

[bikendan]

BigDawg, i own an '07 Avalanche with the 5.3 and a 3.73 rear end.
my tow max is 7200lbs., which is only carrying a 150lb. driver. anything else, in the Avy, reduces that tow max number.

your 28BH has a GVWR of 7681lbs., meaning that's the most it can weigh.
Forest Rivers shows the fictional "dry" weight as 5339lbs.
you can add 400-500lbs. to get a ballpark weight from the factory. this is for the weight of normal options, that aren't included in the dry weight number.
which means before water, propane, battery and cargo, your 28BH will weigh around 5800lbs.

the 28BH's GVWR is nearly 400lbs. over your tow max with only a 150lb. driver.

i tow a 23' Hybrid that weighs a little over 5000lbs. loaded for camping.
since i live out west, i have lots of mountains to get over so i wouldn't tow anything heavier than what i have.

IMHO, with that GVWR and 31' long, i think you'll be looking for a 3/4 ton TV soon.

[EdJunior]

What bikendan said!

TV as shown in the sig.

[Hipshot]

I drive a 2008 Silverado LTZ loaded 5.3 4X4 with 3.73 rear. It weighs 6100 loaded for camping. I tow a Rockwood 2604SS I don't have the FR specs in front of me, but it weighs 6200 loaded for camping. I tows great in the flats and ok in the hills. It did good going to Rapid City SD last spring. I have not towed it in the "Big Mountains" yet. I don't think it will do well there. I will find out this summer, we are going to Banff Canada for 6 weeks. Might need a new truck when I get back.

[grhodes50]

What EdJunior said bikendan said!

[Chicken Legs]

I used an 03 alvanche to pull a grey wolf TT. No problem but I knew it was there. I did add a transmission cooler, pulled camper from IN to GA and back. When I purchased a 2500 HD truck I bought a 5th wheel. A better experience.

[great white]

[OregonCamper]

We tow our 2008 Rockwood 8317SS with a 2010 5.4 F-150 XTR Supercrew. Ordered truck with the max trailer tow package. Truck has a 11,200 tow rating. Use the Reese hitch dual cam load leveling/antisway system. Tows with ease and no white knuckle driving. Although I am 100% happy with my towing, if I had been able to wait, I would have purchased the 2011 F-150 with the Ecoboost (even more hp, torque and better fuel economy).

[Big Dawg]

I dont pick it up til April, I am looking at buying a transmission cooler, and a good weight distribution hitch with sway control. I will try it a time or two here in Ohio which is not known for mountains. If I need to go to a bigger truck, I will approach that later.