Request for help determining required tow vehicle specs

Question

Hi All,Seven years after selling our previous bunkhouse travel trailer we have just purchased a used 2007 Keystone Challenger 5ver. We are excited to be back to traveling/camping soon. However I need to obtain a tow vehicle for this new-to-me rig. We live in Colorado so high altitude mountain travel is the norm. Here are the 5ver specs:Shipping Weight	    9995Carrying Capacity   2705Hitch Weight        2375Length	            32’ 7”Fresh Water	    68Waste Water	    35Gray Water	    77LPG	            60Tire Size	  235/80R 16ERim Size	    16 x 6Please help me with a few questions:1. I am estimating that we would add 1000 lbs to the UVW of the trailer bringing the actual 5ver travel weight to 11k. Reasonable?2. The 5ver appears to have a high hitch weight (2375 unloaded) so I am a bit concerned if I will need a 1 ton diesel truck, but I would prefer a 3/4 ton diesel? 3. Previous owner ran a Ford F250 6.7L PS SRW Lariat w/tow pkg but when I ran the numbers with the 5ver at 11K lbs it appeared not enough truck(GVWR=10k,GCWR=23.5k,RGAWR=6290,GVW=7462). The GVWR-GVW=2538 before any pasengers, etc. load on the truck. With the 5ver at 2375 hitch unloaded isn't that too close? Do I have the correct ratings for the F250? The gasser version with lower GVW appears OK, weird..Thanks for any help. Just trying to make sure I get the correct TV.Gary

ductape · Answer

What you want is a 350 single rear wheel (SRW). That will give you more weight capacity and avoid the duals that you apparently don't want.

250 diesels lack cargo capacity as you've already figured out.

b_o__plenty · Answer

Why would you prefer a 3/4 ton over a one ton? They are usually the same truck it's just that the one ton will carry more weight. I just don't see an advantage to having a 3/4 ton even if you don't need the extra load carrying capacity...

B.o.

mfl · Answer

If you get the camper package with the 250, it is basically the same as the 350. If you want the numbers to work, you will have to get the 350, with the diesel, due to the 250 having a 10,000 GVWR, no matter what suspension.

To answer B.o.,s question, the 250 sits a little lower, helping to keep the FW level. In my case, I had a concern about the 350 clearing my garage door opening as well.

To stay under all ratings, you will have to get the 350, if you want the diesel.

Jerry

kd4upl · Answer

For that much weight in CO you want a diesel. For that much weight in general I'd get s 350/3500 series truck for sure. There's no advantage to getting a 250/2500 that I'm aware of, at least not any advantage worth considering. I guess in a RAM the 2500 gets you the air bag suspension. I haven't driven one but I would want leaf springs for hauling that much weight. There's less to go wrong and loaded up it should ride just fine.
If you want a truck not above 10,000 GVWR for insurance purposes I know that at least GM will sell you a 3500 SRW, normally rated at 11,500 GVWR, but only rated at 10,000 to dodge some of the legal requirements. It's the same truck. This also illustrates how silly the argument is about the GVWR being the end-all-be-all of truck ratings. They play games with it depending on the laws.

nc_hauler · Answer

Garyl53 wrote:Hi All,Seven years after selling our previous bunkhouse travel trailer we have just purchased a used 2007 Keystone Challenger 5ver. We are excited to be back to traveling/camping soon. However I need to obtain a tow vehicle for this new-to-me rig. We live in Colorado so high altitude mountain travel is the norm. Here are the 5ver specs:Shipping Weight	    9995Carrying Capacity   2705Hitch Weight        2375Length	            32’ 7”Fresh Water	    68Waste Water	    35Gray Water	    77LPG	            60Tire Size	  235/80R 16ERim Size	    16 x 6Please help me with a few questions:1. I am estimating that we would add 1000 lbs to the UVW of the trailer bringing the actual 5ver travel weight to 11k. Reasonable?2. The 5ver appears to have a high hitch weight (2375 unloaded) so I am a bit concerned if I will need a 1 ton diesel truck, but I would prefer a 3/4 ton diesel? 3. Previous owner ran a Ford F250 6.7L PS SRW Lariat w/tow pkg but when I ran the numbers with the 5ver at 11K lbs it appeared not enough truck(GVWR=10k,GCWR=23.5k,RGAWR=6290,GVW=7462). The GVWR-GVW=2538 before any pasengers, etc. load on the truck. With the 5ver at 2375 hitch unloaded isn't that too close? Do I have the correct ratings for the F250? The gasser version with lower GVW appears OK, weird..Thanks for any help. Just trying to make sure I get the correct TV.GaryWell, kick out dry weight,( a joke to use), just add 9995 + 2705 and get GVW of the 5er you intend to purchase...go with "real world" weights..GVW of the 5er is 12,700# with a down to earth hitch weight rating of  2540# (20% of GVW of 5er)....now work from there.I would prefer a 3500 SRW for no more extra that it would cost you over a 2500 and gives you room to grow perchance you want to "go bigger" some day.. If you ever think about  going bigger and you're concerned about what the 3/4 ton can handle NOW, then purchase a 1 ton SRW truck and be done with it..As far as how much you'll load the 5er to, who knows?  It's amazing how much we carry around and don't realize it till you clean the entire 5er out....I wouldn't want to "guess" at what I'd load to....I'd go with "worse case" and do your math from there...a possible 2540# pin weight plus 200# for a hitch, plus full fuel tank, family, pets and whatever else you'll load in your truck, THEN figure weight of 5er..

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Request for help determining required tow vehicle specs

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