ELKRIDGE XTREME LIGHT

ediemarie wrote:
we'll be purchasing a truck once we decide on a trailer. makes more sense to figure out what we'd like to have and then figure out what we're going to need to pull it.

Smart!

Look at the net carrying capacity (NCC) on the particular fiver you are considering. It is generally a yellow sticker and can be located on the exterior of the trailer or on an inside cabinet. With many of these "lite" branded trailers, the NCC is shockingly sparse. I know as we are looking for a new fiver in the 30 foot range ourselves. Many we have seen have less than 1100 lbs. Maybe that is enough for weekenders but I would not think that someone fulltiming could get away with that. Others have given good advice also regarding kitchen storage and being able to navigate around the bed.

Elkridge "Lite" models have been sold for at least 5 years. Before being renamed as Extreme Lite, they were called Elkridge Express.

In general "Lite" trailers have thin walls. Our previous trailer was a 07 JayFlight, a lightweight model. It was hard to heat in near freezing temperatures, and also hard to cool in summer. In fact if you weren't parked in the shade the AC couldn't keep up above 90. The other thing that we found was that because the walls were so thin, the 110 electric outlets were placed in awkward places. Not really where we wanted or were used to them.
As for the Elkridge. A medium Profile 30'-35' trailer should pull ok with a 250/2500 gas truck. It has good sized tanks and good carry capacity. What would stop me from buying would be the 4400# axles, 5200# is the minimum I would have. The 30-amp electric would also make me think hard.
As mentioned above all trucks are about the same size, unless you get a DRW. For pulling 5th wheels you will need a 250/2500 truck, towing 5th wheels is about the carrying capacity of the truck. If you just have to have a 150/1500 or smaller look at Travel Trailers.

we'll be purchasing a truck once we decide on a trailer. makes more sense to figure out what we'd like to have and then figure out what we're going to need to pull it.

I have seen this floor plan in several other manufactures fifth wheels. Coachmen for one and several other Forest River companies lineups. You need the GVWR more than the dry weights. Pin weight loaded will likely be 2000+ lbs. Also what are you planning to use for a tow vehicle?

I really do appreciate the replies. I'm really looking more for opinions on whether or not this "xtreme" light thing is a good decision. once that is figured out i'll have an idea as to what truck we need to look at. we're both pretty good at packing light and have learned quickly with a 28ft class C what we actually need versus what we think we need.

If you're planning on taking extended stay vacations, you may want to look for a 5er that has more storage. The E289 has very little storage in the kitchen area.

Also whoever sleeps on the right side of the bed will have a heck of a time getting in and out with the narrow space between the bed, wall and the built up flooring for the frame rails.

Just a word of advice. When out looking at 5ers, try and go thru all the same movements you would do if you're stating in it.

Guess it depends upon what you call a "huge" truck. There are many 3500/F350 SRW trucks capable of pulling many options of 5th wheels. There are versions of 5th wheels that lend themselves to fulltime living. Since the light weights have to cut weight somewhere, I personally would not look at a light weight camper for fulltime.

Full timers tend to add about 2,000# of stuff so add that to the empty weight of the camper. The pin weight will be about 20% of that, so as an example a 10,000# loaded trailer will have approximately 2,000# pin weight. This will allow you to roughly guess how much truck you need to tow it. You'll need enough truck cargo capacity for passengers, gear and pin weight. Example you have a 3,000# cargo capacity - 2,000# pin weight - 200# hitch = 800# for passengers and gear in truck. Best way to get cargo weight is to weight the truck and subtract that from the GVWR found on a sticker inside the driver's door. That's the basics to get you started.

Physically a 3500/F350 and 2500/F250 are the same size. They tend to sit about 2-3" taller than a 1500/F150 but body is pretty much the same. As a basic rule of thumb you'll be in the 2,500/F250 to 3500/F350 range with a 5th wheel. But that's a whole different thread that you can search on.