Newbies seeking guidance! Where to start????
Hi everyone My wife and I recently took a road trip from Mobile, AL to Victoria, B.C. 7183 miles round trip in 21 days via Vegas, Death Valley, Yosemite,Yellowstone, etc, etc. We stayed in hotels a...
Forum Discussion
For what its worth here's my .02 cents...
Before I bought my first fiver I spent over 1 yr researching everything from online forums/RV sites to books, RV shows, dealers and face to face discussions with experienced Rv'ers from the truck to the trailer and everything in between. A few of the larger dealerships near me allowed you to test drive to give you a better idea of what you're getting yourself into. I've seen a few people walk away after a few test drives had decided a fiver wasn't for them and they preferred a TT or motorhome or the RV lifestyle just wasn't their cup of tea.
Somewhere during my quest for knowledge I created a spreadsheet of 'must have's' and 'nice to have's' which included maintenance (cost of ownership) cost options for various features based on make/model, quality, along with a target budget. This was continuously updated as I learned more and more during my research.
The short story is no matter how much research you do eventually you just gotta pull the trigger ;).
Secondly, and this is just my opinion I would not consider a truck like yours to tow that much weight and additional a short bed is even worse. Sure you can do it but in my experience safety and peace of mind out ranks those who choose the cheaper or less accommodating setup. Yes, I realize alot of people do it but my research has concluded this is not the way to go; at least not for me. I don't like the idea or the feeling of 10K+ pounds sliding around back there. It boils down to safety, excessive stress on the engine, tranny, axle, and brakes. You'd be surprised what your GCWR is after you load it up plus the additional weight in the truck. Now think about heading down a steep twisting, windy 8% grade. I prefer my truck man handle the trailer and not the other way around. Trust me you will have white knuckles and rolling beads of sweat the first few times you experience a long steep downgrade :E. Sure you'll hear some folks say my F250 or 2500 handles the weight no problem which I'm not doubting them but would YOU feel the same way especially as a first timer? In my neck of the woods besides needing alot of power (yes Diesel power) you need braking power which many first timers don't take into consideration. I also prefer not to get passed by a loaded semi going up a 6% grade either.
Weight wise I agree with donn0128 although I'd go an extra 1K lbs for 1ton SRW.
Depending on pin weight you may need air bags or unless you have extra heavy duty springs.
In my case with my previous fiver (10K GVWR) I had more than enough truck but then we later upgraded to a much larger heavier fiver and was damn glad I had previously decided to buy a 1 ton SRW. The only modification I had to do was change out the hitch. I've seen too many first time buyers who run out and buy a monster fiver only to later realize they don't have enough truck.
So, if I were you I would stick with 10-11K lb GVWR in the 29-32 ft range and you won't need any truck upgrades or worries about safety issues; assuming you don't overload the axles. Best to start out small and light as the learning curve is steep and full of unexpected surprises. No need to keep up with the next door neighbor who has a 40' beast :B. If you're anything like me then in a few years you'll want to upgrade and you'll already be much more knowledgeable :C.
Also, one of the most (and there are many) important aspects of buying a fiver that is easily overlooked by first timers is the floor plan and never go with a rear kitchen. Cargo capacity can be important depending on your camping style or length of trip but I've never come even close to exceeding the weight limit. I don't dry camp so no gen, water, or extra fuel tanks. Many of the modern fivers today provide massive basement storage compartments making it even easier to overload the axles and causing tire blowouts. I prefer not to pack the whole garage and kitchen sink.
Welcome to the RV adventure, good luck and keep doing your research. Chance favors the prepared mind!
Before I bought my first fiver I spent over 1 yr researching everything from online forums/RV sites to books, RV shows, dealers and face to face discussions with experienced Rv'ers from the truck to the trailer and everything in between. A few of the larger dealerships near me allowed you to test drive to give you a better idea of what you're getting yourself into. I've seen a few people walk away after a few test drives had decided a fiver wasn't for them and they preferred a TT or motorhome or the RV lifestyle just wasn't their cup of tea.
Somewhere during my quest for knowledge I created a spreadsheet of 'must have's' and 'nice to have's' which included maintenance (cost of ownership) cost options for various features based on make/model, quality, along with a target budget. This was continuously updated as I learned more and more during my research.
The short story is no matter how much research you do eventually you just gotta pull the trigger ;).
Secondly, and this is just my opinion I would not consider a truck like yours to tow that much weight and additional a short bed is even worse. Sure you can do it but in my experience safety and peace of mind out ranks those who choose the cheaper or less accommodating setup. Yes, I realize alot of people do it but my research has concluded this is not the way to go; at least not for me. I don't like the idea or the feeling of 10K+ pounds sliding around back there. It boils down to safety, excessive stress on the engine, tranny, axle, and brakes. You'd be surprised what your GCWR is after you load it up plus the additional weight in the truck. Now think about heading down a steep twisting, windy 8% grade. I prefer my truck man handle the trailer and not the other way around. Trust me you will have white knuckles and rolling beads of sweat the first few times you experience a long steep downgrade :E. Sure you'll hear some folks say my F250 or 2500 handles the weight no problem which I'm not doubting them but would YOU feel the same way especially as a first timer? In my neck of the woods besides needing alot of power (yes Diesel power) you need braking power which many first timers don't take into consideration. I also prefer not to get passed by a loaded semi going up a 6% grade either.
Weight wise I agree with donn0128 although I'd go an extra 1K lbs for 1ton SRW.
Depending on pin weight you may need air bags or unless you have extra heavy duty springs.
In my case with my previous fiver (10K GVWR) I had more than enough truck but then we later upgraded to a much larger heavier fiver and was damn glad I had previously decided to buy a 1 ton SRW. The only modification I had to do was change out the hitch. I've seen too many first time buyers who run out and buy a monster fiver only to later realize they don't have enough truck.
So, if I were you I would stick with 10-11K lb GVWR in the 29-32 ft range and you won't need any truck upgrades or worries about safety issues; assuming you don't overload the axles. Best to start out small and light as the learning curve is steep and full of unexpected surprises. No need to keep up with the next door neighbor who has a 40' beast :B. If you're anything like me then in a few years you'll want to upgrade and you'll already be much more knowledgeable :C.
Also, one of the most (and there are many) important aspects of buying a fiver that is easily overlooked by first timers is the floor plan and never go with a rear kitchen. Cargo capacity can be important depending on your camping style or length of trip but I've never come even close to exceeding the weight limit. I don't dry camp so no gen, water, or extra fuel tanks. Many of the modern fivers today provide massive basement storage compartments making it even easier to overload the axles and causing tire blowouts. I prefer not to pack the whole garage and kitchen sink.
Welcome to the RV adventure, good luck and keep doing your research. Chance favors the prepared mind!
