Rockwood vs Surveyor pros cons

[pauls]

We are looking at rockwood 2901ss and the Surveyor sp293. TV 2005 chev silverado 4x4 short bed 5300 v8 with tow package. Max trailer weight looks like 7600 w/3.42 axle ratio 8600 w/4.10. Not sure what I have. 4.10 w/tow pkg? Payload 1650. Looking for input on trailers and TV. New to forum didnt know best place to post kinda combo question with TV and different models.

[milzat]

Hi Pauls, and welcome to FRF.

Click here and scroll down to Regular Production Option RPO codes for your axle ratio.

[pauls]

Thanks Mike found the axle ratio was 3.42 was hoping it was 4.10 would increase tow rating from 7400 to 8400 may change gears to 4.10 looks like $253 for gears

[milzat]

You may want to wait and see how it performs. My truck is equipped with 3:42 gears and does a fairly good job.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by pauls

Thanks Mike found the axle ratio was 3.42 was hoping it was 4.10 would increase tow rating from 7400 to 8400 may change gears to 4.10 looks like $253 for gears

Probably times 2.....you gotta do the front end also.

[acadianbob]

And then your speedo/odo will need to be adjusted in some way. Changing gears is expensive in a 4x4.

[acadianbob]

Gross Vehicle Weight for a 2901SS is 7,400 pounds. You would be max'd out. 5,200 dry and without optional equipment. Options will add 500 pounds. Personal items plus food and fluids. I wouldn't do it. Maybe look at a 2501SS?

[acadianbob]

Check out the Surveyor 264. Would that work for you? Quite similar in floorplan but quite a bit lighter. P.S. We have a Surveyor 235 and like it a lot.

[blake2727]

I have a sp293 and am towing it with a chevy tahoe. The tahoe does good down here in the flat land. I am thinking about taking it to the mountains this winter but am thinking about getting a 3/4 ton diesel to do it with. With they interior and exterior luxury package and a few dealer add ons I weigh 5,011 pounds dry weight. Like I said the tahoe has had no problems down here so far but I don't know about the mountains. As far as your question about comparing the surveyor and the rockwood I have no clue. The say the rockwood and the flagstaff are exactly the same but I don't know how the surveyor differs.

[acadianbob]

Be aware that regular Surveyors and Sport Surveyors are configured differently. Sport Surveyors are de-contented to some extent and I have read that they have different running gear. What I like about our Surveyor is that it sits substantially lower than most trailers. We are 8.5 feet to the roof line plus whatever sits on the roof; e.g. air conditioner. Many if not most trailer are 10' to the roof line. The Surveyor uses torsion axles and does not have leaf springs, shackles, etc. This makes for a lower center of gravity and less air resistance; better fuel mileage. I have a friend with a Rockwood 2501 and it sits much higher than our Surveyor. Anyway, this as much as anything steered us toward the Surveyor. Check all specifications closely when you are making your decision. Some of the specs differences may persuade you one way or the other.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

And then your speedo/odo will need to be adjusted in some way. Changing gears is expensive in a 4x4.

Comparing apples to oranges here, but, the Ford dealer said speedos can be changed by setting an option in the driveline computer in my 2007 F-150. Both axle ratio and tire size can be modified to provide an accurate speedo reading.

Don't see why GM would not be the same.

[acadianbob]

I know you can change the speedo/odo with a custom tuner so I would not be at all surprised if the dealer could do it too. It may mean that one would need to stick with factory Ford ratios. Don't know that for sure though. Guess what it does mean is "look before you leap"

[blake2727]

The surveyor sport is different that the surveyor. Not a huge difference though if you get certain options added. I have the sp293 and have the exterier and interier luxury package plus some dealer mods. With these options and my dealer mods the only difference is I don't have the covered undercarriage, I have leaf springs instead of torsion axels, and I don't have the heated tanks. I am taking it to the dealer to get tank heaters put on before winter (dealer quoted me $400 for this). I am going to cover the undercarriage myself ($7-$10 dollars a sheet and will need about eight sheets). As far as the leaf springs, I am not going to change them because the sport is still only 8 1/2' to the top which is the same as the regular surveyor. The torsion axels do give a little better ride so it would have been nice if it had them but i'm not going to change them just for a little better ride. I have not had my surveyor long so I am not the best person to ask but so far I love it and would recomend it to anyone.