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Old 09-09-2011, 10:13 PM   #1
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Just Got a New Truck!!!

Hello Everyone, Today is a good day, I just bought a 2011 Silverado with a 5.3L V8 3.42 gears with HD cooling etc. The tow capacity is 9600#...

I have been wanting to get into RV'ing for a while now and now I have the chance to at least get a decent size toy hauler for me and my motorcycles to travel in style. I am in the research and saving up stage but I hear really good things about Forest River.

I guess I want to stay in the 8000 GVWR range for the hauler???

Well I suppose any and all tips/recommendations would be greatly appreciated since I have no clue what I am doing...

Thanks in advance and well met.
JimT
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Old 09-09-2011, 10:42 PM   #2
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congrats on the truck -

3.42 gears are not a prime choice for towing (all relavent to the tire size) -
not that I have alot of room to talk since I am running 35" tires with 3.92 gears but also only pulling around 4,500 lbs loaded out too.

Just make sure the max / loaded weight doesnt exceed your tow capacity - I would most likely try to stay well under the max since this sounds like your first camper purchase
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Old 09-09-2011, 11:31 PM   #3
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Thanks Sherdep, You have some beefy tires!!!

Thanks for the advice and yes this would be my first RV/toyhauler. I think I will hit a few places in the AM and start researching by kicking some tires...
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Old 09-10-2011, 09:22 AM   #4
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another idea it to go online and do a search on the diffrent manufactures websites and look at Floor plans and options so you have an idea of what you are looking for - I was sold on floor plan cause it fit what I was trying to accomplish - then after I found the floor plan I re-searched prices
I bought mine from Tropical RV in Ft Pierce Florida - they also do internet sales similar to the other internet sales RV dealers. Price of the unit is inline with the rest of them and you may spend a little more on the options but I personally would rather have a local dealer to deal with for warranty purposes but not all dealers are the same as far as service and the way they treat there customers so might also be a good idea to search the dealer on the BBB or even here to see what experiances other people have had with that dealer.
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Old 09-10-2011, 09:32 PM   #5
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Hmmm. My Dodge has a bigger 5.7 engine, and 3:55 gears on 17" tires, and tranny cooler, towing package etc, and I pull a 7575 (dry)30 foot V lite that is really too heavy for my truck to comfortably pull. Trans is always searching for gears, and I have done many mods to the truck just to get it to be an acceptable tow vehicle. My advice would be to do a "test pull" on the expressway FIRST, before agreeing to any camper. IF I would have done that, I would never have purchased this big of a camper for my Dodge. GOOD LUCK, Randy
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Old 09-10-2011, 10:53 PM   #6
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Great advice guys. I will sure use it.

I guess a good limit would be to keep the max loaded weight of the trailer about 2000# less than my max towing weight???

I stopped by Campers World today and man they have some beautiful rigs. Unfortunately they only had one toy hauler I didn't like too much. I'm in no big hurry so I will shop around and find the best deal that my truck can comfortably pull and that fits the bill

Thanks again for the great info,

Jim
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Old 09-11-2011, 12:26 AM   #7
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Congrats on the new truck! BTW I just brought a new truck too. Now you are one step closer to RVing and each step is exciting.

Sounds like you are on the right path of planning. There are many members here willing to share his or her experience and knowledge so feel free to post trailers of interest if you wish to.
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Old 09-11-2011, 08:27 AM   #8
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My 03 Avalanche has the 5.3 and I have 4:10 gears and its rated for 8500 LBS and I would not feel comfortable towing anywhere near that. We have a 21SS hybrid with dry weight of 4400 LBS and the hills are a strain. If I bought a new truck I would want at least a 6.0 liter and 2500 frame..
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Old 09-11-2011, 08:58 AM   #9
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Congrats on the new truck. Now will begin to find the limitations. Your max trailer weight is not 9,600 lbs. It is going to be the GCWR - (vehicle weight + the weight of all passengers and cargo). The GVWR can not exceed the vehicle weight + the weight of all passengers and cargo + the tongue weight of the trailer.

These are the numbers you need to be concerned about when choosing a trailer.
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Old 09-11-2011, 09:18 AM   #10
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I just recently bought a toyhauler and I ended up with a Cherokee Wolf Pack 27WP. GVW rating on the trailer is around 8000lbs. I cant remember exactly and I dont feel like walking outside to look at the sticker. I replaced my shocks and added Helwig 2500lb helper springs because I did not like how the rear of the truck squatted down when the trailer was hooked up even with a weight distribution hitch. These two things made a big difference in the way the truck handled when hooked up. Power wise, my truck pulls the trailer fine loaded with 2 atvs and gear.
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Old 09-11-2011, 09:20 AM   #11
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Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new truck!
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Old 09-11-2011, 10:58 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lbrjet View Post
Your max trailer weight is not 9,600 lbs. It is going to be the GCWR - (vehicle weight + the weight of all passengers and cargo). The GVWR can not exceed the vehicle weight + the weight of all passengers and cargo + the tongue weight of the trailer.

These are the numbers you need to be concerned about when choosing a trailer.
OK, Let's see if my math is right with the size hauler I am wanting. Please, Please, Please, let me know what I am leaving out or what numbers I may be off base with.

According to the owners manual my truck's configuration the maximum trailer weight is 9,600#, Curb weight is 5,368, GVWR 7,000# and the GCWR is 15,000#.

The toy hauler on my mind has a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): 7876 and UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) as equipped: 5972.

I am figuring the toys, food and gear should be no more than 1,125 (2 sportbikes 875# and 100# for clothing and gear, 150# food and water) that comes out to about 7,100 so looks like I am 2500# under the towing capacity.

Curb weight of vehicle is 5,368#and with 600 lbs of passengers and another 200 lbs of gear and fuel I would be around 6,200# that's 1,600# under the max. (not sure how much the tongue weight will add).

7,100# (loaded hauler) + 6,200# (vehicle with passengers)= 13,300# riding down the road. This sounds like a lot of weight, but it seems like the silverado can handle it, I dont know


Thanks again all in advance, you guys are really helpful...

JimT
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Old 09-11-2011, 11:11 AM   #13
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Sounds like plenty of room to me!
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Old 09-11-2011, 11:40 AM   #14
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IMO you will be unhappy if you regularly tow over 5,000 with the specifications on your truck; especially if it is at all hilly/mountainous where you live. Good luck on your choice of trailer and have fun.
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Old 09-11-2011, 11:42 AM   #15
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Sounds like you will be well within limits
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