Surveyor Select SV264 2013

[Scorn]

I am considering this camper and have found a great great price but I am concerned that I will not be able to tow this very well.

1. Do any of you have and like this camper?
2. What are you towing it with?
3. THey said my Tacoma truck could pull it since it is rated for 6500 lbs.
4. i have been camping for many years and this will be the largest camper I have had.

[Twisty]

We have one and we like it very much. We used it about 20 nights, towed it about 2,000 miles. It tows very well - much better than I thought it might. I use the Reese Dual Cam kit with a round bar WDH.
Only had a couple minor things to fix or modify.
We do not like the dark tinted windows nor their small sizes. The dealer removed the water filter for us. It was in an awkward spot.
The delivered weight on ours is just over 5,300 lbs. I do not know the tongue weight.
My truck is rated to tow 7700 lbs with a 1520 lb payload capacity and 13,500 lb GCWR.
Fully loaded for travel the GCW is over 12,000 lbs.

You need to carefully check all of the numbers for your truck. You may run out of payload capacity.

[Scorn]

Originally Posted by Twisty

We have one and we like it very much. We used it about 20 nights, towed it about 2,000 miles. It tows very well - much better than I thought it might. I use the Reese Dual Cam kit with a round bar WDH.
Only had a couple minor things to fix or modify.
We do not like the dark tinted windows nor their small sizes. The dealer removed the water filter for us. It was in an awkward spot.
The delivered weight on ours is just over 5,300 lbs. I do not know the tongue weight.
My truck is rated to tow 7700 lbs with a 1520 lb payload capacity and 13,500 lb GCWR.
Fully loaded for travel the GCW is over 12,000 lbs.

You need to carefully check all of the numbers for your truck. You may run out of payload capacity.

They told me that the camper with the options was around 4536lbs.
I thank that this is only the dry weight.
I have the long bed with a wheelbase of around 145" plus an axle of 3.73 ratio and a Reese WD hitch rate for 10K.
I am only going around 500 miles radius and not many hills are involved.
I am considering purchasing this camper because of the outstanding discount of 40% MSRP.

Thanks

[bob213]

We have the 2012 model. I have two trucks, a GMC 2500 that I have to remind myself the trailer is back there. I have a 2000 Tundra with a 4.7L. With our old trailer I would hook the trailer to the Tundra and the boat to the GMC and make the the short drive to our nearby State Rec. area lake. I feel that the SV264 is too much for the Tundra and have had to stop doing that. I don't have any numbers to back me up. I'm going by the constant downshift of the trans. and just the overall feel of the towing experience. I don't feel comfortable with it so the Tundra is no longer a tow vehicle for me. I think your Tacoma is close in numbers. Check the numbers closely before you buy and try and take it for a test drive if you can. If the numbers work out it may be fine for you, I'm just kind of conservative.

[Twisty]

"They told me that the camper with the options was around 4536lbs."
Don't believe it until you see the yellow sticker from the factory.
Add the weight of full propane tanks, all water tanks full, the battery, the hitch, water, food, clothing, tools, firewood, chairs, passengers, pets, etc.
The GCWR and/or the payload rating of the truck may be surpassed.
That is why I gave you my ready to travel number.

[DDC]

We have a 2012 and we are very happy with it, I tow with an chev avalanche it has a 3.42 rear end and I added an extra trans oil cooler, (paranoid), we've put about 10,000 miles on it and have had no problems with the handling although I do use a hensley hitch, we did have a problem with water coming in at the slide when towing in HEAVY rain, seemed to be wicking along the lower seal.
I moved the water pump and the filter around so we could access the filter, it comes with a tool to loosen the housing but it was so close to the floor you could not get the tool on it, oh the awning tube is huge on this trailer make sure it's not bent before you take it. I do recommend this unit.

[acadianbob]

I think you would find the Taco inadequate for a SV264; especially if you travel longer distances or in hilly/mountainous territory.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by acadianbob

I think you would find the Taco inadequate for a SV264; especially if you travel longer distances or in hilly/mountainous territory.

I will have to agree with Bob on this. I tow the sister ship to the SV264......the SV263. I have an F150, 5.4L, 3.73 gears on a 145" wheelbase, with a tow rating of 9300 lbs. I generally travel with the trailer around 5500 lbs. My truck does great, but I don't think I would want to tow with anything smaller.

The payload is going to be a problem. If you have the 4x4, double cab, long bed Tacoma (141" wheelbase), the payload is listed at 1260 lbs. The payload for my truck is about 1900 lbs, and I am within 100-200 lbs. when loaded with passengers, gear, and the tongue weight hanging on the hitch. Even if you can keep the GVWR to the listed 5450 lbs., the GCWR is 11,100 lbs, so that only leaves you able to tow a 5650 lb. trailer.....about what that SV264 is gonna be empty.

Check out the hitch...there should be a sticker with maximum weights. The Toyota site lists a 350 lb. tongue weight carrying capacity, and a 630 lb. weight weight distributing capacity. The listed tongue weight of the SV264 is 623 lbs......that is going to probably "grow" to over 800 lbs. by the time the trailer is loaded for camping.

Originally Posted by Scorn

They told me that the camper with the options was around 4536lbs.
I thank that this is only the dry weight.

That listed dry weight of that camper is 5124 lbs. Many member here find that after adding options, a battery, and propane, the actual "leave the dealer lot" figure is about 400 lbs. more. I know mine was.

Originally Posted by Scorn

3. THey said my Tacoma truck could pull it since it is rated for 6500 lbs.

The salesman will say just about anything to sell a camper.

[annamarie]

Originally Posted by DDC

We have a 2012 and we are very happy with it, I tow with an chev avalanche it has a 3.42 rear end and I added an extra trans oil cooler, (paranoid), we've put about 10,000 miles on it and have had no problems with the handling although I do use a hensley hitch, we did have a problem with water coming in at the slide when towing in HEAVY rain, seemed to be wicking along the lower seal.
I moved the water pump and the filter around so we could access the filter, it comes with a tool to loosen the housing but it was so close to the floor you could not get the tool on it, oh the awning tube is huge on this trailer make sure it's not bent before you take it. I do recommend this unit.

Sounds right about trans cooler,

[MetalGator]

We have a 2012 model year. The shipping weight of our trailer was 4910lbs. I am probably loaded to the max weight of the trailer (wife has to pack half the house) at 7000lbs+. I tow with a 2005 Dodge 1500 Quad cab hemi with the 3.92 rear end. If it's just my wife and I, the trailer tows just fine. If I take a bunch of firewood and my two nieces in the truck, the back of of the truck gets a little squishy. I am probably maxing out the payload capacity of the truck, even though the hemi has plenty of power to pull the trailer. Next truck will be at least a 3/4 ton.

Burch

[Scorn]

Originally Posted by MetalGator

We have a 2012 model year. The shipping weight of our trailer was 4910lbs. I am probably loaded to the max weight of the trailer (wife has to pack half the house) at 7000lbs+. I tow with a 2005 Dodge 1500 Quad cab hemi with the 3.92 rear end. If it's just my wife and I, the trailer tows just fine. If I take a bunch of firewood and my two nieces in the truck, the back of of the truck gets a little squishy. I am probably maxing out the payload capacity of the truck, even though the hemi has plenty of power to pull the trailer. Next truck will be at least a 3/4 ton.

Burch

Well it looks like I may have to trade the truck if I want this camper for $18K, which seems to be a great price.
I can almost trade even for a Tundra with a lot more towing capacity.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Scorn

Well it looks like I may have to trade the truck if I want this camper for $18K, which seems to be a great price.
I can almost trade even for a Tundra with a lot more towing capacity.

If you decide to trade, do your homework. That trailer would best be towed by a 1/2 ton (or bigger) truck with a wheelbase of 145" or more....some of the Tundras have 126" wheelbases. Also, the tow package with the 5.7 is probably a must.....the small V6 has a tow capacity of under 5000 lbs in some models.

[marcusfan]

I agree that your Tacoma may have some difficulty. I have the 2013 Surveyor and pull it with a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. It pulls it pretty well but you definitely know its back there when you hit the hills in the Ozarks. I cant imagine that you would be able to pull it up those hills with the Tacoma. Ive had 2 Tacomas and no way I would be able to pull it with the Tacomas I had.

That being said, I love, love, love my Surveyor. No problems whatsoever, except what the electrician caused trying to put an 30 amp outlet on the outside of my garage. That story is on here somewhere. Good luck with whatever you decide!

[Scorn]

I do know that the Tacoma's have a great resale value, moreso than Ford, Chevy or GMC, not knocking those trucks at all. This should allow me to trade in for a model similar to my 2009 with little difference according to the NADA.

I have looked at alot of campers and like the SV264 really well and the dealer is RVwholsale near Toledo Oh.

[bob213]

I have the SV264 and I agree it is a great trailer. But I believe you will only be able to get total satisfaction by having a capable truck to pull it with. IMO the Tacoma does not fit that description. It doesn't matter how great the trailer is when you get to your campsite if the drive there was a white knuckle nerve wracking one. Get a capable truck and then go for that 264. You will love it!

[SCOC]

Here's my weights with a 2012 SV264, and a 2008 Ford 150 FX4 with the factory tow package and upgrades. I'm getting an axle riser kit installed on the trailer now, and will re-do the hitch setup to correct for the height and try to throw more weight forward too. As you can see I'm close to my rear axle rating, and not too far off from the truck's GVWR, even without a full load. I woudn't pull this trailer with much less of a truck.

No Firewood
All Tanks Empty
Light load in the bed
Trailer Dry Weight sticker from factory - 4774

WEIGHT - RATING - ACTUAL
Front Axle - 3750 - 3263
Rear Axle - 3850 - 3792
Trailer Axles (both combined) - 7000 - 5049
Trlr Gross Weight - 7481 - approx 5799
TV Gross Weight (Hitched) - 7200 - 7055
TV Gross Weight (Unhitched) - 7200 - 6305
Gross Combined - 14000 - 12104

[supermike820]

I am buying a SV264 also and own a 2007 Tacoma Double Cab long bed. I have towed things around the 7000lb mark and have no problems. With the correct setup it doesn't matter just take it easy on the hills. Check out tacomaworld.com and look at what other guys are towing. you will be impressed. look at the F150 from the 90's they were around the tacomas and look what people towed then

[Scorn]

Originally Posted by supermike820

I am buying a SV264 also and own a 2007 Tacoma Double Cab long bed. I have towed things around the 7000lb mark and have no problems. With the correct setup it doesn't matter just take it easy on the hills. Check out tacomaworld.com and look at what other guys are towing. you will be impressed. look at the F150 from the 90's they were around the tacomas and look what people towed then

I am a member over there at that site and that's the very thing which made me think I could tow the SV264.

What kind of hitch setup do you have?

[supermike820]

A Reese dual cam setup. Towed with a regular WD setup. Towed for 100 miles absolutely fine.

[Scorn]

Originally Posted by supermike820

A Reese dual cam setup. Towed with a regular WD setup. Towed for 100 miles absolutely fine.

When you state you towed for 100 miles, was that the SV264 Camper?