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Old 03-10-2013, 10:39 AM   #1
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New from Michigan

Greetings!

New member here from Lansing, Michigan. Just put the deposit down on our new Salem 31QBTS travel trailer....were excited, we pick it up on the 30th.

I am although worried my truck isnt enough...this is a heavy camper at a shy over 8000 LBS, my truck is rated for 9600, a 2012 1500 silverado...got air bags on order, sway bar hitch etc....I figured I would try towing a few times before i make the call on a super duty or heavy duty.

million dollar question, can my truck handle this?
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Old 03-10-2013, 10:47 AM   #2
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Welcome to the forum !!!

That trailer is gonna push the limits for a 1/2 ton truck with a 9600 lb. tow rating.

The 2 big concerns will be the GVWR and GCWR. I fear that you will be over both of those limits when ready to camp. Bunk beds indicate a big family, and those passengers along with the tongue weight and other camping gear add up quickly.

Make sure your receiver hitch is up to the task. There should be a sticker on the hitch with the maximum weight ratings. With that trailer, expect a tongue weight of around 1200 lbs.

With a 35.5' long trailer, a loooong wheelbase truck is best.

You will need a quality WDH with integrated sway control. Equalizer 4 pt., Reese Straight Line Dual Cam, Blue Ox Sway Pro as some of the most used here. If you got the bucks, ProPride and Hensley are top rated.
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Old 03-10-2013, 11:03 AM   #3
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I have to agree with mtnguy. You will most likely exceed GVWR with the tongue weight, people and gear on the 1500.

It sounds like you have the capabilities to upgrade TV and I would highly recommend doing that. Make sure to look at all the numbers when selecting the new truck not just the BS tow max numbers.

It's not a bad idea to go ahead and get way more truck than you need now so you'll have the right truck if you want to upgrade trailers in the future.

You are lucky in that you already bought the trailer. In our case we selected but didn't buy the TT before upgrading trucks. 2 days after buying the 3500 we decided to go for a 5er! So we blew our original budget by a mile!
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Old 03-10-2013, 11:38 AM   #4
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Way too much trailer for your 1500 truck. Dry weight 8140 and dry tongue 885 plus GVWR at 11K. Start shopping now for a HD. I wouldn't even bother setting up the 1500 to tow that thing.
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Old 03-10-2013, 04:08 PM   #5
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Welcome and congrats on your new Salem 31QBTS.
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Old 03-10-2013, 04:24 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Knepp1bj View Post
Greetings!

New member here from Lansing, Michigan. Just put the deposit down on our new Salem 31QBTS travel trailer....were excited, we pick it up on the 30th.

I am although worried my truck isnt enough...this is a heavy camper at a shy over 8000 LBS, my truck is rated for 9600, a 2012 1500 silverado...got air bags on order, sway bar hitch etc....I figured I would try towing a few times before i make the call on a super duty or heavy duty.

million dollar question, can my truck handle this?
A 1500 may struggle a bit with that. It is under the weight rating empty, it all depends what you put in it. Remember water weighs 8.345 pounds per gallon. I pull my 5er with a 2500 HD I cam pull 12,300 with mine. Big difference from a 1500.
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Old 03-11-2013, 07:41 PM   #7
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aboard! Not able to answer the truck question but I think the Salem is a great unit so you did well.

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Old 03-11-2013, 09:55 PM   #8
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Welcome from VA. If you have questions there are plenty of folks on here that can help you out!! Congrats on the new Rig
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Old 03-12-2013, 09:56 PM   #9
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Welcome the forum. I looked at the 31QBTS and decided to go with the 30KQBSS. I wanted to shave a little off the total weight and wanted the outdoor kitchen. The 30KQBS came in at 6900 shipped. I will need to tame the couple hundred extra pounds of Hitch Weight and will bump up to the 1200 lbs bars. After the 2 30lbs of propane/battery and hitch I am close and most likley over....will be careful not to overload my front storage. My crew cab takes a pounding on the hitch. My TV hitch is rated for 10,500 with 1,100 of tongue weight. I was going to have some Hellwig springs added and will most likely get into some LT tires. My biggest concern was the underbelly was not completely enclosed-my last couple of trailers were(not sure if wind is an issue). I pick mine up Saturday and have quite a haul back home. Our Hitch weigth is pretty close, I will let you know how it tows.
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Old 03-12-2013, 10:39 PM   #10
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Hello Kneppqbj , Welcome to the Forum. I agree with the others that you may need more truck. Slide over to Grand Ledge Ford and check out the new F-250.. The F-150 might be a bit under what you need but the 250 diesel or gas would make you feel more secure. Believe me you don't want to be pushed around by what your pulling.

We are from Grand Ledge and presently spending the winter in AZ. When we get home look us up and if you can try to make the Goshen Rally in Aug. It's a blast.
Again, welcome to the forum.
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Old 03-13-2013, 05:33 AM   #11
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Thanks for all the posts guys. I shopped my truck and I have only had it a year so i am about one more year away from having enough equity into to upgrade and get a similar payment.

I decided to take my deposit off this trailer...as i did they they showed me a Shadow Cruiser Rv that was all fiberglass and a lot lighter, still 35 feet...so i am going with that...so i guess i wont be on these boards as much as i thought...

i appreciate all the responses.
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Old 03-13-2013, 06:05 AM   #12
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don't know how old or how many miles your truck has but I towed a Jayco that was about the same weight with a 1/2 ton burb. It towed it ok for a while but it wasn't a pleasant ride on our nice smooth Michigan highways. It would porpose (spelling) on the real rough roads. Then after a while the engine developed a spark knock while towing the burb had over 100,000 miles on her. We finally deducted the spark knocking was due to lack of compression. It would pull it ok on the flat road throughout most of Mi. But when we got into the Ogemaw hills by West Branch she had all she could do to make it up some of the hills. I know they say the max weight of the trailer will be x amount of lbs but when you load it with full water tanks and all your household goods you'll be well over 10,000 lb.s.
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Old 03-29-2014, 04:17 PM   #13
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Check out Alice springs in Ionia. Nice RV resort. $39.00 a night. New. Cable TV. Great pool and hot tub. Only 4 years old. Have gotten to know the owner well. Not far. 96 towards Grand Rapids. Exit M-66 towards Ionia. About 4 miles on right. 30 minute drive. Hope to meet you there. Let me know if you decide to go and we can hook up. Nice to meet new people.
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Old 07-23-2014, 07:36 AM   #14
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Setting up there today. We are full timing starting today. We are on the first street about 3 or 4 spots in. Can't remember the number. When you see a monster Cedar Creek pulled in with a silver ford..that's us. We are from Grand Ledge so Ionia will be our base until we leave for AZ. in Oct. We'll pull up stakes for the FROG Rally and then back to Alice Springs. Hope to see you there.
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Old 07-23-2014, 07:56 AM   #15
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Out camper is on site 109. (Back corner) We will be out this weekend and I will stop by to say hi. Hope you enjoy your stay. We love it there. We have had our TT out at Alice Springs all this season. Have become good friends with the park manager.


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