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09-10-2017, 12:25 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 11
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To 1905 or not to 1905?
Hi, we have just put down money to hold a 2018 Rockwood mini lite 1905 TT and I am wondering what you experienced Rockwooders think. TV is a Nissan Frontier V6, 2015 rated to pull up to 6,300 lbs. After research I decided it smart to limit tow weight to around 4,000 lbs. It is just my wife, myself, and 2 cats. Expecting to do long trips through Western US and Canada. We would appreciate all information and opinions on the process of purchasing, tv and tt combination, necessary equipage, and the 1902 or 1905 trailers, as well as shared travel life with pets. We are first timers coming from a tenting background. Thank you!
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09-10-2017, 01:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: KS
Posts: 2,369
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It's a nice trailer. I don't have a Rockwood but friends do and they have loved it so far so long as it is just them. Their bed was stiff because of the fold up mattress so they put a topper on it. This is common on many trailers.
The lesson I learned before buying was to check your payload. Some of the Nissan are about 1000lbs. Realistically even there you should be ok but never know how much gear you haul.
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09-10-2017, 03:44 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Colorado
Posts: 11
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Thanks Dbldan! My payload is rated at between 900 and 1,500. While I have never looked up mine exactly, when I put firewood in it she dips down, so I imagine it is closer to the 900. With a hitch weight around 400, I figure safe side is maxed at 400 to 500 cargo. Along with 400 or so more actually inside trailer... I think we're in good shape as we travel on the lighter side. Thank you!
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09-10-2017, 08:21 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: KS
Posts: 2,369
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Payload should be on the yellow sticker on the side of the drivers door jam.
Make sure you get a really good PDI. If you have never had a trailer make them show you and record it to your phone.
Enjoy your new camper!
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09-10-2017, 08:23 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickm
Thanks Dbldan! My payload is rated at between 900 and 1,500. While I have never looked up mine exactly, when I put firewood in it she dips down, so I imagine it is closer to the 900. With a hitch weight around 400, I figure safe side is maxed at 400 to 500 cargo. Along with 400 or so more actually inside trailer... I think we're in good shape as we travel on the lighter side. Thank you!
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"Rated between 900 and 1,500" tells me you really don't know. Look on your drivers door frame. You should see a sticker like this from my 1500 Silverado:
Look for the number after the words "Combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXXX." Almost everyone runs out of payload, which is rarely advertised by truck makers, before they ever get close to tow capacity, which is what truck makers tout (Gee, I wonder why?).
Your payload number has to be enough to cover your TT's ACTUAL tongue weight (ignore anything that says "dry;" it's for suckers), plus 75 lbs or so for a weight distribution hitch (you DO have one, don't you?) and then anything you put in the truck, like YOU, wife, cats, and "stuff."
Since you can't actually weigh the tongue until you buy it and load it up, most people take 12-15% of the GVWR as an estimate of the tongue weight. Looking at FR's Mini Lite website, the GVWR appears to be about 3,898 lbs, so the tongue weight could be between 467 lbs and 584 lbs. Add 75 lbs for a WDH and you're at 542-659 lbs tongue weight. If your trucks payload is only 900 lbs, you may only have 241 lbs for you, wife, cats and stuff. Most people like to have 20% margin. I hope your payload is higher.
When you pick up your Mini Lite, the ACTUAL (not website) GVWR will be on a white sticker on the left front side of the TT. (Again, ignore that dry weight on the yellow sticker. Your TT never weighed that number!) Here's the one from my Mini Lite 2503S:
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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09-10-2017, 09:04 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Arizona
Posts: 11
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I have a 2016 1905 and love it. Have no issues that could not be explained by inexperience. Expect to get many years
Of enjoyment from it. Congrats.
__________________
Holly GrandCanyon hiker
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09-10-2017, 09:43 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 53
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The WDH is not part of the tongue weight. It is the hitch and attaches to the truck. It is not part of or addijg weight to the tongue. The WDH weight IS part of the overall truck payload weight along with the tongue weight, passengers, and truck cargo.
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09-10-2017, 10:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bhauskne
The WDH is not part of the tongue weight. It is the hitch and attaches to the truck. It is not part of or addijg weight to the tongue. The WDH weight IS part of the overall truck payload weight along with the tongue weight, passengers, and truck cargo.
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I DID say, "... tongue weight could be between 467 lbs and 584 lbs. Add 75 lbs for a WDH and you're at 542-659 lbs tongue weight." I guess I could have said, "add 75 lbs for a WDH and you're at 542-659 lbs on the hitch, if that makes you feel better.
Saying it's NOT tongue weight is somewhat splitting hairs. Unless you're going to take the WDH off and tow without it or you going to try to lift the tongue while disconnected (i.e., without the WDH), it's a bit of a moot point. Don't forget some pieces of your WDH are actually permanently attached to your tongues A-frame.
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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09-11-2017, 09:29 AM
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#9
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Grammar Pedant
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Frederick, CO
Posts: 1,580
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For your TV, you need the GVWR, GCWR, Tow Capacity, and the weight of the truck. GCWR is probalby the most important and it's almost always the toughest to find. You also need a good estimate of the payload. That includes people, gear, accessories the dealer added, accessories you added, and anything else on the truck that the factory didn't put there (speakers, hitches, lights, grill guards, etc.).
For your RV, you need the GVWR. As mentioned above, the dry weight of your trailer is just about the most useless number you'll encounter in your life. Expect that after everything the factory adds, the dealer adds, and you add, that you'll be right at the GVWR of the trailer. Use that number to estimate what you're actually towing.
For most vehicles south of 3/4-ton trucks, the GCWR < GVWR + Tow Capacity. What that means is that there is a trade-off. If I put 2 yards of gravel in the bed of my truck, then I can't tow the max trailer. If I decide to tow the max trailer, then I can't give a ride to the Denver Broncos' offensive tackles.
That's the 2 most common mistakes. 1) People look at dry weight. My tow rating is 5,000 lbs and the dry weight of my trailer is only 4,100 lbs. I'm good to go!! No. A/C, propane tanks, water, cookware, food, clothes, awning, battery, and a bunch of other stuff destroys the dry weight. 2) People look only at tow rating. My tow rating is 5,000 lbs and my fully loaded trailer is 4,800 lbs. I'm good to go!! Then they throw 6 people into the rig, a dog, 3 bikes, firewood, and a ton of other stuff into the TV. Oops.
Just pay attention to all of the ratings and don't exceed any of them.
I pulled a large popup with a 4.6L V8 Explorer and a 5.4L V8 F150. Both pulled the heavy popup almost exactly the same (with a slight edge to the Explorer ... don't tell Denis Leary). I preferred towing with the F150 due to the longer wheelbase, though. Not sure what the geometry of the Frontier is, but the WDH may help with sway and other artifacts associated with shorter wheelbases.
Good luck.
__________________
Every time you use an apostrophe to make a word plural, a puppy dies.
TV: 2019 F-350 Lariat 4WD CCSB 6.7 PSD 3.55, 3,591 lb payload
Former RV: 2018 Rockwood Mini Lite 2504S
Former RV: 2007 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
Former TV: 2005 F-150 King Ranch 4WD SCrew 5.4L Tow Package
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09-11-2017, 06:46 PM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrickm
Hi, we have just put down money to hold a 2018 Rockwood mini lite 1905 TT and I am wondering what you experienced Rockwooders think. TV is a Nissan Frontier V6, 2015 rated to pull up to 6,300 lbs. After research I decided it smart to limit tow weight to around 4,000 lbs. It is just my wife, myself, and 2 cats. Expecting to do long trips through Western US and Canada. We would appreciate all information and opinions on the process of purchasing, tv and tt combination, necessary equipage, and the 1902 or 1905 trailers, as well as shared travel life with pets. We are first timers coming from a tenting background. Thank you!
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My wife and I have a 2017 mini lite 1905 that we pull with a Tacoma V6 came with a factory tow package that will tow 6500 lbs- it's good on the straights but I'm not comfortable pulling thru mountains. We have a break control and use a weight distribution hitch with sway control. If you plan on any rough terrain or monntians you might want to up size your tv.
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09-11-2017, 08:40 PM
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#11
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New TT Owner
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 94
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We have a 2017 Rockwood Mini Lite 2104S purchased in February. It listed around 4300 lbs. Like you we were tent campers so I have very little in the camper. I estimate it to be around 5000 lbs fully loaded as we haven't found anywhere local to get it weighed.
Our tow vehicle was a 2007 Toyota Tacoma that had the factory installed tow package for pulling 6500 lbs. As stated previously the Tacoma did fine on flat even highways but a little hill in KY would bog the 6 cylinder down. The transmission would downshift even though we were already in 4th gear. After 6 camping trips this year to date, we bought a Tundra to tow our little Mini Lite on Labor Day. This weekend will be our first camping trip with the new truck. I to think you will need to upgrade your TV if you are planning on going out west in the mountains.
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09-11-2017, 08:42 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 52
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I have a 1905 that I towed with a Dodge Dakota V6 3:92 diff gearing and it was not happy, I would be down to 40mph in moderate hills with the engine screaming and the trans fluid getting very hot. Traded it for a RAM 1500 with the Hemi and the difference was like night and day. I know the Nissan has a bit more power than the Dakota but I don't think you will be happy towing in the mountains.
__________________
2016 Mini-Lite 1905
2016 Ram 1500 QC 5.7 Hemi
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