Rockwood, Puma or Sabre? 5th wheel?

wnelsonfl · 03-30-2016, 12:45 PM

Rockwood, Puma or Sabre? 5th wheel?
Looking to move up to a small 5th wheel. Will be towing with a 1/2 ton so I need to keep the weight down. ( I know it would be smart to get a 3/4 ton but that is not possible.)
The Puma is much cheaper. Are there major differences in these Forrest River brands?
__________________

TURBS · 03-30-2016, 12:57 PM

There isn't any Sabre I'd pull with a half ton!

The lightest pin weight is only barely below 2k unloaded and max gross of 14k

Sabre light is a different story.

1320 empty pin 12k gross 25rl

Better yet what's your truck specs
Ccc
Max tow
P tires or lt?

2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

TURBS · 03-30-2016, 01:16 PM

Can't really offer any advice without knowing truck specs

Normally you'll run out off ccc of the truck long before you reach max tow weight

2008 2500hd Duramax
2015 Columbus 320RS
2016 nights camped "0"
2015 nights camped "34"

**bikendan** · 03-30-2016, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnelsonfl

Rockwood, Puma or Sabre? 5th wheel?
The Puma is much cheaper. Are there major differences in these Forrest River brands?
__________________

Yes, Puma is stick and tin construction, vs the filon and aluminum of the other two.
That's why it's cheaper.

Kenny kustom · 03-30-2016, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikendan

Yes, Puma is stick and tin construction, vs the filon and aluminum of the other two.
That's why it's cheaper.

Yup. Aluminum studs in the sabre.
I found that out, when trying to mount a television in the bunk, with a wood screw....

2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

TURBS · 03-30-2016, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

Yup. Aluminum studs in the sabre.
I found that out, when trying to mount a television in the bunk, with a wood screw....

2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Lol Sabres big selling point all aluminum Sabre cage! [emoji849]

Justice12t · 03-30-2016, 02:19 PM

I'm a 1/2 ton guy who's (1/2 ton) truck can only be matched or exceeded by the Ford EB... Both trucks must have the max towing/HD coolers...ect packages.

Now with that said, with your 5.3l i think you are going to find it extremely hard to find anything that will keep you within your ratings. With our Crusader fully loaded with gear and everything for camping and a bunch of water in the tank...scaled we were much closer to our limits than I ever calculated.

Meaning that once my lease is up...there will be an HD in my future...but for now we know our weight and just have to be careful.

If you truly want a 5'er you are going to need a different truck...and might as well just go bigger...if you are not in the market for a different truck than you are going to have to stay with a TT or read on further...

Yes there are several people that pull 5'ers with your style truck...and I would say of course it can do it, but it is all about the numbers and being safe...good luck to you!

kcjoe1 · 03-30-2016, 02:27 PM

Our first 5er was a Rockwood 8244. Our first big trip was all the way to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. We pulled it with our Chevy Z71 1/2 ton with the 5.3 engine. On the way back to Minnesota we encountered a 10 mph headwind almost all the way home and that poor little engine worked overtime just to keep up to the big trucks doing 55 mph. Even small ascents created a danger because we just couldn't keep our speed up. The one thing it did was show the DW that we needed more truck. Long live the Diesel. We had a different truck before the end of that year. What a difference that made. Much safer.

**bikendan** · 03-30-2016, 03:26 PM

It would also help if the OP posted the truck's specs.
ESPECIALLY the yellow door sticker's payload capacity, since he wants a 5th wheel.
5th wheel pin weights are what eliminates 90% of 1/2 trucks.

MillerTime · 03-30-2016, 10:54 PM

Had a puma 295 bhss 5er and currently a sabre 36qbok 5er.
Both are too big for a half ton, but they do have smaller models.
Pumas are entry level, but are extremely well built so they are also a little heavier. I had less issues with my puma than i have my sabre, but i also have twice the slides, twice the bathrooms, many more amenities.....etc.
I am pleased with both!
I have no experience with rockwood, but they seem to be pretty popular and are priced just a little more than stick & tin, but close to entry level for filon sided (in my opinion from what I'd seen price wise).

I would buy another puma for sure, but would have to research FR sabres more before giving them a nod. My sabre is a Palomino Sabre and the sabre line was just moved to a forest river line a few months ago. So i have no real world knowledge of how the new ones are now.
Good luck!

asquared · 03-31-2016, 02:21 AM

As stated above, the Sabres are way to heavy for your truck so rule them out. I do not know weights on the other two. I know there are some rockwoods being towed by half ton guys. We need to know the specs (curb weight, payload, gvwr, gcwr, grawr on your truck). Look inside your drivers door for the tire loading sticker. That will give you a more accurate payload. You will then need to subtract the weight of any passengers, pets and gear from that number. Don't forget to subtract about 150 lbs for the weight of the fiver hitch that will need to be installed. What is left will be what you have available for fiver pin weight. Ideal pin weight will be 30-25% of loaded fiver weight. what floor plans you are considering? As others have said you will be limited by your payload and your rear axle weight ratings.

here is a towing calculator created by a forum member that will help you to figure out what you can tow.

wnelsonfl · 03-31-2016, 10:49 AM

I used the towing calculator and I am 50lbs under the limit with a Rockwood 2440ws

JP Camper · 03-31-2016, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wnelsonfl

I used the towing calculator and I am 50lbs under the limit with a Rockwood 2440ws

That's TOO CLOSE for comfort. Think about emergency situations, such as that idiot who pulls out in front of you and you have to slam on the brakes, WILL YOU BA ABLE TO STOP SAFETLY?

rogerkathy · 03-31-2016, 01:51 PM

While looking at 5th wheels, we were impressed with Rockwood's. Great price with many additional features not normally included on other 5th wheels unless you pay more. My understanding is they have designed their 5th wheels for 1/2 tons. The only reason we did not choose to buy a Rockwood is we wanted a slide out in the bedroom, which they do not have. Quality seems to be good.

dustman_stx · 03-31-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP Camper

That's TOO CLOSE for comfort. Think about emergency situations, such as that idiot who pulls out in front of you and you have to slam on the brakes, WILL YOU BA ABLE TO STOP SAFETLY?

1. There is a significant safety margin built into those ratings. No need to arbitrarily reduce the rating.

2. The trailer has brakes.

Elkhounds · 03-31-2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

1. There is a significant safety margin built into those ratings. No need to arbitrarily reduce the rating.

2. The trailer has brakes.

I have to agree. While it will be close to the max where do you draw the line. If a truck is rated to GVWR of 11,500 to you only go to 10,500, 11,000 or 11,250? You can safely go to the max number as that is the line set forth by the manufacture. Just don't go over that.

I read on one of the boards a transcript from a chat with a Ford engineer about a year ago. He had stated that they (and I am sure ALL the auto manufactures) build in all the safety margins. When a truck is rated to 11,500 they consider the forces that it will have in a panic stop while running at that GVWR going down a 7% grade. Those forces which can be much higher the truck must handle. So they do not rate the truck at the MAX it can handle going down the road on a calm day. They rate them for worst case scenario. That is why the trucks seem so over built. While the can carry much more then rated they can only safely control what the GVWR. No reason to go under it but certainly should not go over.

5picker · 03-31-2016, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogerkathy

While looking at 5th wheels, we were impressed with Rockwood's. Great price with many additional features not normally included on other 5th wheels unless you pay more. My understanding is they have designed their 5th wheels for 1/2 tons. The only reason we did not choose to buy a Rockwood is we wanted a slide out in the bedroom, which they do not have. Quality seems to be good.

The Rockwood 8299BS & 8292BS 5th wheels and the sister Flagstaffs 8529IKBS & 8529RLBS 5th wheels have bedroom bed slides. Other models have slides in the bedroom too but typically they are wardrobe slides.

rogerkathy · 03-31-2016, 03:22 PM

My apologies. I stand corrected. When we were looking at different dealers (window shopping) they only seemed to have Rockwoods that DID have bedroom slide outs, but were only for the wardrobe slides. We wanted the bed to be in part of the slide. Sorry!

mbheinz · 03-31-2016, 03:25 PM

We passed an older Toyota Tundra pulling a Rockwood 8244 fiver between Los Angeles and San Diego 2 months ago and the driver literally looked like he was riding a horse. That Rockwood was really chucking that truck. A newer Tundra would probably have done better because they are larger but that was only a 27 foot trailer.

He proved he can pull a fifth wheel but it was totally unsafe. Do yourself a favor and buy a camper that is well within the payload and towing limits of your tow vehicle. It makes for relaxing instead of stressed out road trips.

Good luck!

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