Picking up my first fifth wheel tomorrow.

[SKnight]

Thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Steve and have been in the camping world for 12 years now, I started out with a 2002 Springdale TT and while it's been a good faithful friend it's time to move on.

In the morning I'm trading the Springdale in on a Sierra 346RETS fifth wheel, we did the orientation today and tomorrow they're installing my hitch. Rather not say what I'm pulling with if that's OK.

Anyhow I've looked around here a good bit over the last week and looks like it's a good crowd here, thanks for having me!

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Steve and have been in the camping world for 12 years now, I started out with a 2002 Springdale TT and while it's been a good faithful friend it's time to move on.

In the morning I'm trading the Springdale in on a Sierra 346RETS fifth wheel, we did the orientation today and tomorrow they're installing my hitch. Rather not say what I'm pulling with if that's OK.

Anyhow I've looked around here a good bit over the last week and looks like it's a good crowd here, thanks for having me!

Congrats on your purchase!
Good luck n have fun!

TURBS

Goshen is my playground.
The last man standing also has a sharpie

[Wiscampsin]

Welcome from Wisconsin and congrats on your new Sierra 346RETS!

[Oakman]

to the Forest River Forum and congrats on your purchase.

[davel1971]

Congrats on your purchase. You won't regret going to a 5th wheel, just hope your secret vehicle isn't a half ton

[Firefighter969]

Congrats on the 5th wheel. I Got one last year and I love it nice to pull.

[avolnek]

Beautiful camper!

But you know, secretes don't make friends and friends don't make secrets!

Where are you located? Maybe we will run into you!?

[C. Brown]

Welcome from us in NE Georgia. We also moved from TT to 5ver last year. Bought a 330 MKS by Prime Time. Love it. You will love the 5ver.

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by davel1971

Congrats on your purchase. You won't regret going to a 5th wheel, just hope your secret vehicle isn't a half ton

Haha, not a half ton but loaded for bear I estimate I'll be about 500lbs over my max GCVWR. I don't want a ticket from the weight police, not until I drive it across the scale this afternoon at least. Luckily there's a truck scale a few miles from my house.

Empty I'm golden though.

Did forget to mention, I'm in Georgia, about 45 miles south of Atlanta.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'm on my way to get it in about an hour!

[davel1971]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Haha, not a half ton but loaded for bear I estimate I'll be about 500lbs over my max GCVWR. I don't want a ticket from the weight police, not until I drive it across the scale this afternoon at least. Luckily there's a truck scale a few miles from my house.

Empty I'm golden though.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'm on my way to get it in about an hour!

good that you are going to weight it so you know exactly where you stand, but only accurate measurement will be loaded as if you were going camping, family and all. Stay safe.

[avolnek]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Haha, not a half ton but loaded for bear I estimate I'll be about 500lbs over my max GCVWR. I don't want a ticket from the weight police, not until I drive it across the scale this afternoon at least. Luckily there's a truck scale a few miles from my house.

Empty I'm golden though.

Did forget to mention, I'm in Georgia, about 45 miles south of Atlanta.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'm on my way to get it in about an hour!

Easy fix! Pump the inside of the camper full of helium and you'll shave the 500 lbs!

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Haha, not a half ton but loaded for bear I estimate I'll be about 500lbs over my max GCVWR. I don't want a ticket from the weight police, not until I drive it across the scale this afternoon at least. Luckily there's a truck scale a few miles from my house.

Empty I'm golden though.

Did forget to mention, I'm in Georgia, about 45 miles south of Atlanta.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'm on my way to get it in about an hour!

You wouldn't be the first one to proudly own being overweight. Heck, OldCoot pulls his fifth wheel with a 1/2-ton and frankly doesn't care what we think about his weights. (Rightfully so- each has to make their own *educated* decision.)

Welcome! Have fun here- this is the best forum I've ever participated with.

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by davel1971

good that you are going to weight it so you know exactly where you stand, but only accurate measurement will be loaded as if you were going camping, family and all. Stay safe.

I like having an empty weight to start with so I later know how much I carry. My previous camper, I know that water, generator, family, dog and all I tend to carry about 2,500lbs over dry camper, truck full of fuel and myself. The exact same stuff is going into the new one so that's my math for now. I'll weigh it on the first trip loaded down and find out exactly where I stand.

I hope that makes sense.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SKnight

I like having an empty weight to start with so I later know how much I carry. My previous camper, I know that water, generator, family, dog and all I tend to carry about 2,500lbs over dry camper, truck full of fuel and myself. The exact same stuff is going into the new one so that's my math for now. I'll weigh it on the first trip loaded down and find out exactly where I stand.

I hope that makes sense.

Sure does. I have 3 weights done-

1. One mostly empty before the camper went back to the factory
2. One with an early season load (we were lighter than normal for us)
3. Last one, at the heaviest that we'll run just prior to a 3-week trip

Sadly, my weighing is probably done. I do actually enjoy the geek process of it.

[BombDoc]

Originally Posted by SKnight

Haha, not a half ton but loaded for bear I estimate I'll be about 500lbs over my max GCVWR. I don't want a ticket from the weight police, not until I drive it across the scale this afternoon at least. Luckily there's a truck scale a few miles from my house.

Empty I'm golden though.

Did forget to mention, I'm in Georgia, about 45 miles south of Atlanta.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone! I'm on my way to get it in about an hour!

Welcome from the SC Lowcountry!

[SKnight]

Originally Posted by avolnek

Easy fix! Pump the inside of the camper full of helium and you'll shave the 500 lbs!

Brilliant! Lets patent this, we'll make millions!

Originally Posted by ependydad

You wouldn't be the first one to proudly own being overweight. Heck, OldCoot pulls his fifth wheel with a 1/2-ton and frankly doesn't care what we think about his weights. (Rightfully so- each has to make their own *educated* decision.)

Welcome! Have fun here- this is the best forum I've ever participated with.

Well biggest concern I have is that every time someone notices the combo they say something. If it were a 1500 whose towing max was under the dry camper weight, sure. But mine is a GCVWR of 20,000 and I should come in at 20,640 by my estimate. That's full of water, 300lb generator, clothes, food, family, etc. depending on where I go I won't need the generator or the water either. That alone is 863 pounds. Kids very likely won't be going either, another 300 pounds gone plus their stuff. They're about grown and didn't like camping much anyhow.

It'll be fine. Shoot, I used to have to watch my speed with the old camper, this one being more aerodynamic will be trouble if I don't watch it!

I'll go ahead and spill it, just don't tell anyone. I'm pulling with a 2001 Dodge 2500 powered by an HO Cummins. Towing package and all.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by SKnight

I'll go ahead and spill it, just don't tell anyone. I'm pulling with a 2001 Dodge 2500 powered by an HO Cummins. Towing package and all.

There, I think that just about covers it.

I'm more curious where you come in at with payload/GVWR on the truck itself. (Just curious- no chastising from me!)

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Congrats from SE GA!

Don't sweat the camper weight but do watch those camper tires

[merrykalia]

We went with a fiver last year and spent 107 nights in it. We are not full-timing, but just part-time fulltiming. We are in it for a few short trips in March and April, then from May 1 until Labor Day and then a few fall trips. It is wonderful. With the tall ceilings, it just feels so much larger and we have a lot more storage room.

Hope you enjoy yours.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by SKnight

I'm pulling with a 2001 Dodge 2500 powered by an HO Cummins. Towing package and all.

I would be embarrassed with that truck also. get a duramax equipped truck and you can pull the moon if you so desire