Forum Discussion

RobWNY's avatar
RobWNY
Explorer
Mar 05, 2018

Help with Possible Upgrade to 5th Wheel

I’m considering upgrading from my 2014 Heartland Trail Runner 27RKS to a 2018 5th wheel. My TV is a 2015 2500HD Doublecab Gasser with the standard 6.5 ft. box and 4.10 gears. I’ll be keeping it so I understand I’m somewhat limited and will have more difficulty in mountainous regions, have less torque and worse fuel mileage than a diesel would provide. I can’t afford to upgrade truck and trailer at the same time because my DW and I have both recently retired and I have no interest in buying either truck or trailer used as a compromise. I’m looking at the Forest River Flagstaff 524RLBS or it’s sister the Rockwood 2440BS. It’s one of the lighter 5th Wheel models I’ve seen with the floorplan I like. It's weight specs are similar to my Trail Runner that I have no issue towing. The 5th Wheel also comes with the Reese Revolution Pin Box as standard equipment which claims that a slider hitch wouldn't be necessary. I have no clue on whether this is true or not. I’m thinking my 2500 will tow it just fine but I’m looking for the expertise from the members of this forum.

First, what is the overall opinion of Forest River 5th Wheels in the Flagstaff and Rockwood brands and do you see any red flags for me to consider before trying to negotiate a deal?

Here are the Specs
Flagstaff 524RLBS/Rockwood 2440BS
Dry Weight : 7,226 lbs., Payload Capacity: 1,854 lbs., Hitch Weight : 1,080 lbs.

2015 Chevy 2500HD 4X4 Doublecab 4.10 gears

Max towing weight 17,900
GCWR: 20,500
Max Towing 5th Wheel/Gooseneck 14,200Lbs.
GVWR 9500
GAWR FRONT 5200 GAWR REAR 6200
PAYLOAD 2892

Current Trail Runner ratings

GVWR: 9000
GAWR: 4400
Cargo Limit 1698

Thanks in advance for your input.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Mar 11, 2018
    laknox wrote:
    donn0128 wrote:
    laknox wrote:
    donn0128 wrote:
    You have given basically useless information. What is the fivers GVWR? You will never tow a 7200 pound fiver. More likely its going to be close to 10,000 pounds. But, can you pull it? Probsbly. Will you like the experience? Maybe. That is an answer you have to make. Personally I would get more truck first, then shop for your "ideal" fiver.


    Don, Rob did give the CCC of the FW he's looking at and, if you add them together, you get a GVW of 9,080 lbs. IMO, he's got enough truck, easily, for that load. He won't go fast, but the $7-8000 he won't spend on a diesel will buy a =lot= of gas (as my dad used to say). He'll also have quite a bit more payload with the gasser than with a diesel.

    Lyle


    Did you forget about pin weight? CCC, plus dry weight, plus pin weight, plus gives the non published GVWR.


    I've =never= seen a FW that added the pin wt. to the CCC and dry wt. to get a "GVW". It's =always= been dry + CCC = GVW. Look up the specs for the FW that the OP's looking at and double-check.

    Lyle

    Only seen pin needed in the math on Arctic Fox where they have axle, pin and CCC.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2018
    donn0128 wrote:
    laknox wrote:
    donn0128 wrote:
    You have given basically useless information. What is the fivers GVWR? You will never tow a 7200 pound fiver. More likely its going to be close to 10,000 pounds. But, can you pull it? Probsbly. Will you like the experience? Maybe. That is an answer you have to make. Personally I would get more truck first, then shop for your "ideal" fiver.


    Don, Rob did give the CCC of the FW he's looking at and, if you add them together, you get a GVW of 9,080 lbs. IMO, he's got enough truck, easily, for that load. He won't go fast, but the $7-8000 he won't spend on a diesel will buy a =lot= of gas (as my dad used to say). He'll also have quite a bit more payload with the gasser than with a diesel.

    Lyle


    Did you forget about pin weight? CCC, plus dry weight, plus pin weight, plus gives the non published GVWR.


    I've =never= seen a FW that added the pin wt. to the CCC and dry wt. to get a "GVW". It's =always= been dry + CCC = GVW. Look up the specs for the FW that the OP's looking at and double-check.

    Lyle
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2018
    troubledwaters wrote:
    RobWNY wrote:
    agesilaus, those specs come off the Forest River website. I have no idea if they are accurate or not
    Let's see, you have a FW with an advertised hitch weight of 15% and: "I have no idea if they are accurate or not".

    REALLY?, Your thought 15% was perfectly normal for a FW.

    You and me and everyone else knows the hitch weight of that FW rolling down the road will be real close to 2,000 lbs.


    The =dry= pin ratio on my old Komfort was right at 15%, but I can tell you that it was =well= over that when loaded. It's why we don't use dry numbers. FWIW, it wasn't something that I was educated about in '04, when I bought my first FW and didn't learn for a couple years afterwards...after I started reading RV.net.

    Lyle
  • 2112's avatar
    2112
    Explorer II
    Mar 05, 2018
    troubledwaters wrote:
    You and me and everyone else knows the hitch weight of that FW rolling down the road will be real close to 2,000 lbs.
    Don't include me in that everyone else knows comment. My wet pin weight is 1523lbs, 18% of trailer weight. My hitch weighs 108lbs.

    OP, you won't know until you weigh it.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Mar 05, 2018
    laknox wrote:
    donn0128 wrote:
    You have given basically useless information. What is the fivers GVWR? You will never tow a 7200 pound fiver. More likely its going to be close to 10,000 pounds. But, can you pull it? Probsbly. Will you like the experience? Maybe. That is an answer you have to make. Personally I would get more truck first, then shop for your "ideal" fiver.


    Don, Rob did give the CCC of the FW he's looking at and, if you add them together, you get a GVW of 9,080 lbs. IMO, he's got enough truck, easily, for that load. He won't go fast, but the $7-8000 he won't spend on a diesel will buy a =lot= of gas (as my dad used to say). He'll also have quite a bit more payload with the gasser than with a diesel.

    Lyle


    Did you forget about pin weight? CCC, plus dry weight, plus pin weight, plus gives the non published GVWR.
  • RobWNY's avatar
    RobWNY
    Explorer
    Mar 05, 2018
    I'm fortunate that where I bought my first camper from, the sale was done directly with the owner. Since then, the owner and I have become pretty good friends so I know I will get a fair deal. Obviously he will make some money but I won't leave the dealership feeling like I was bent over. My choices are what brands he sells so I would rather stick to one of those rather than going elsewhere. I'm loyal that way.
  • troubledwaters's avatar
    troubledwaters
    Explorer III
    Mar 05, 2018
    RobWNY wrote:
    agesilaus, those specs come off the Forest River website. I have no idea if they are accurate or not
    Let's see, you have a FW with an advertised hitch weight of 15% and: "I have no idea if they are accurate or not".

    REALLY?, Your thought 15% was perfectly normal for a FW.

    You, me and everyone else (except 2112) knows the hitch weight of that FW rolling down the road will be real close to 2,000 lbs.
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2018
    RobWNY wrote:
    Does anyone have any opinion on the Forest River 5th Wheels overall? The one we liked we saw at an RV show and we couldn't really spend a lot of time checking out the fit and finish. There were just too many people. I'll go look at one at a dealer but want to be confident before traveling 1.5 hours that there's a good chance I'll do some negotiating


    Don't discount buying a used rig. Find one that's 2-3 years old and it should have any kinks worked out of it. Save a =lot= of money doing so. Other option would be to find a "last year's model" still sitting on a lot and see how badly the dealer really wants to sell it. :B I know it'd be a hassle, but it might make traveling to an out-of-state seller, dealer or private, to buy.

    Lyle
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2018
    RobWNY wrote:
    SugarHillCTD, thank you. I will look at the Anderson Ultimate hitch. So far I've only been trying to figure out if the 5th Wheel option will work. All of these Ultra Lites are advertised as "1/2 Ton Towable". I think that means that they are really 3/4 Ton towable lol


    And we have a winner! :B

    Lyle
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Mar 05, 2018
    donn0128 wrote:
    You have given basically useless information. What is the fivers GVWR? You will never tow a 7200 pound fiver. More likely its going to be close to 10,000 pounds. But, can you pull it? Probsbly. Will you like the experience? Maybe. That is an answer you have to make. Personally I would get more truck first, then shop for your "ideal" fiver.


    Don, Rob did give the CCC of the FW he's looking at and, if you add them together, you get a GVW of 9,080 lbs. IMO, he's got enough truck, easily, for that load. He won't go fast, but the $7-8000 he won't spend on a diesel will buy a =lot= of gas (as my dad used to say). He'll also have quite a bit more payload with the gasser than with a diesel.

    Lyle

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