Will I have issues with 1T TV and HT fifth?

bpounds wrote:
You'll have to excuse Donno. He thinks big. That series is the half ton towable. About 10k GVWR. Nothing wrong with 15" ST tires on a fiver that size. It is what they all have. Of course, your cargo capacity is limited in the HT units.

I think you are right to be concerned about so little trailer on so much truck. It is likely to beat the frame pretty good. But if it is what you want, the various cushioned pin boxes might be useful. Try it first though.

As for bed height, Jayco doesn't include the pinbox elevation dimension in their specs. I wish all the manufacturers would, but most don't. So I would visit a dealer if I could, or call Jayco if necessary, and ask them for that dimension. I would feel better if I put the tape measure on it myself. Then do the math. As you can guess, your dually isn't going to squat much at all.

Usually, new truck + new trailer = correct bed clearance. But there is no substitute for measuring everything.

It must be a pretty rare fiver that still has spring under suspension. That's very old school.

I agree abut 16" tires. We bought a new alfa ideal and a tire blew on the trip to the dealer. I bought 16" tires and wheels but traded it for our alpenlite to be built later. Even ladies would see the 15" tires and ask why the small tires so I sold the dealer the almost new 16" tires and it sold soon after they were installed. Better quality tires available on 16".

chevman

avvidclif1 wrote:
You got the truck now use it. If the pocketbook is willing that is. Make the truck earn it's keep.

I've seen a lot of people that wish they had gone bigger from the git-go but very few going smaller unless they are downsizing their life, kids gone etc....

very true. Kids will be around for awhile (3 and 6 years old), and they are a few years from going to Hatfield Mccoy riding ATV's with me (which will then mean a toy hauler with a 12ft garage), so a bunkhouse of some type is what we are leaning towards now. Just hard finding a floorplan with the double over double bunks in the back (ie big enough for a full size adult if necessary). The 32 and 36 inch wide bunks would be fine for the kids for awhile anyways, but if I take it hunting or take it to West va for atv'ing with buddies, or a nascar race, I wouldnt want to be a grown man squeezing into those skinny bunks:)

If anyone is aware of a floorplan or company that has a double over double in the back, please let me know! Something like this:

http://www.oceangrovervsales.com/inventory/353461/New-2014-Jayco-Eagle-HT-29.5-BHDS.aspx

You got the truck now use it. If the pocketbook is willing that is. Make the truck earn it's keep.

I've seen a lot of people that wish they had gone bigger from the git-go but very few going smaller unless they are downsizing their life, kids gone etc....

Went to dealer the other day and the owner moved some rigs around and put his hitch in my bed and had me back under a eagle ht. my truck maybe squatted an inch....not much at all. I had enough bed rail clearance but it was a bit nose high. I then backed under a grand designs 4 slide unit that had a dry weight of 12k. Truck squatted maybe 2-3 inches, had about 7 inches clearance on the bed rail and was about perfectly level. Obviously the higher pin weight and 16 inch tires helped out. Not sure what we r going to do. The axles r already flipped on the jayco and u cannot put 16 inch tires on it per jayco.

I have a 06 Dodge 3500 Dully Long bed, and a Jayco 07 30.5BHS 5th wheel.

When I purchased the trailer 2 years ago, I didn't realize it was the light version of jayco 5th wheels, I think it scales out at about 8K loaded. Anyways I had about 2-3 inches of bed rail clearance... not nearly enough and the truck didn't even really squat, still about inch+ before the overloads touched.

So to get clearance I did a axle flip, I have Dexter axles and they "Dexter" have a kit to help you do the flip, so a bunch of labor, jack stands and borrowing my neighbors driveway "its level" vs mine with a slope I gained about 5 inches, Jayco also has multiple holes to fine tune the height, I did move the hitch in the truck up and the hitch in the RV down a hole.. So to make a story short Im level now but I still have ability to get more clearance if needed... Trailer side and hitch on the trailer side.

One thing to keep in mind is the lack of hitch weight in my situation kind of made the ride harsh at times say you hit a expansion joint, because I have the space between the overloads perch and springs bumps would cause them to touch so all of the sudden the spring rate would go up. Something to keep in mind with any trailer really.

I totally feel you pain in finding a short trailer in a floor plan you like... We enjoy state and federal camping but you have to have a short trailer to get in...

Good luck but plan on flipping the axles, so springs are on top of axle.

You have enough truck for up to abt 14-16k GVWR. Find the floor plan that you like AND fits your pocketbook. I don't think I've ever seen but one or 2 people who complained about buying too big a trailer. Sure is a bunch upgrading though....

Ram4Sam wrote:

gtsum wrote:
My 3500 is a SRW, but from what I have seen so far, it isnt going to squat much with a 2k pin weight on it.

Good call on backing under it to see what I got. I am not stuck on the HT series...in fact, I would not mind a little more weight and heft (sturdiness??) back there...that just happens to be the floor plan that we like. I do need clarification on the wheel size though...I would feel better with 16 inch wheels for sure (more height, more capacity, etc)...although most of our trips will be shorter 200-400 miles with one big one (1000-2000 miles) per year.

Just for reference, the wet hitch weight on my Jazz is around 1700 lbs and only squats the truck 1.5 inches. Also, the spec sheet on Jayco's website shows a dry hitch weight of 1400 lbs, where did get the 2000 lb number.:h

Sam

I was estimating 20% of the GVWR of the unit. The more I look at things, the more I think I would be better served with a heavier (16 inch wheels) unit...

gtsum wrote:
My 3500 is a SRW, but from what I have seen so far, it isnt going to squat much with a 2k pin weight on it.

Good call on backing under it to see what I got. I am not stuck on the HT series...in fact, I would not mind a little more weight and heft (sturdiness??) back there...that just happens to be the floor plan that we like. I do need clarification on the wheel size though...I would feel better with 16 inch wheels for sure (more height, more capacity, etc)...although most of our trips will be shorter 200-400 miles with one big one (1000-2000 miles) per year.

Just for reference, the wet hitch weight on my Jazz is around 1700 lbs and only squats the truck 1.5 inches. Also, the spec sheet on Jayco's website shows a dry hitch weight of 1400 lbs, where did get the 2000 lb number.:h

Sam

Ram4Sam wrote:
Find one on a lot and back under it, best way to be sure if you will have the right amount of clearance.

Sam

Exactly

Just tell the dealer " this is my TV and I want to see it hitched up" before I write the check. Heck most likely if it is nose high they would most likely raise it for you for a few bucks.

Check out Heartland Big Country: LINK

They make very dependable units with several floor plans. Their owner's forum is amazing for being helpful with any question. Have fun shopping.

Lakeside