BIG TT - thoughts please

My setup weighs about 12000lbs when loaded with the rzr in the back with about 1500lbs +- on the hitch with some margin depending on where gear is exactly at in the trailer.

I used to tow it with my Ram 3/4 ton and now I have a 1 ton. I would make sure the margin for payload is acceptable for you on your truck. I bet your 3/4 chevy will have at least 2500+ payload. This should give you at least 1000lbs available for extra gear and passengers in the truck. DO check though ... you don't want any surprises!

One thing to really pay attention to on these long heavy bumper pulls is the receiver on the truck. You will need a Class 5 receiver (2.5") shaft and it will need to support all of the tongue weight you put on it. I believe mine is rated at 1800 lbs. Most (if not all ) class 4 receivers are only rated up to 1000 or 1200lbs or so of tongue weight and the same for the class 4 WDH setups) You don't want to buy the wrong hitch for the wrong receiver!

Another thing to consider is the actual WDH. I looked at a Hensley once but I don't think they made a hitch that was rated for the weight I was pulling. I can't remember for sure what the deal was but I think it was maxed out at 1400lbs tongue weight) Something to research if you're going to be dropping some serious money on a hitch.

I ended up buying a Reese TITAN class 5 WDH which gave me the extra capability.

I'll tell ya - If I were to do it over again I would go with a 5th wheel especially if I knew I would be traveling across the country. I've towed both and there isn't really a substitute for having the weight of the hitch ride on top of the axle of the truck. It's more stable and you're overall length is less for the same size trailer.

Best of luck to you!

My 32BHDS weighs 9200lbs when loaded to camp, it is 35'6" long and I have towed up and down the East coast using a reese dual cam with no issues.

Those are both great hitches, so don't listen to the salesman.

With that said, I don't think you HAVE to have either of those hitches. I think a good hitch with integrated sway control would do fine with your truck.

I tow a 298RE Outback close to 10,000 lbs & 36'6" bumper to tongue. I use an Eaz-Lift with 1400 bars and 2 friction bars. Works fine, but I find it hard to believe neither hitch you are looking at wouldn't work. I have heard too many good reviews on them both on this forum and from people live and in person in the campgrounds. The salesman is full of something besides good advice.

cruz-in wrote:
we tow a 9800 pound TT with a F250 and a Hensley Arrow...would not want to tow that big of a TT without either a hensley or Propride...

We use to tow a 32' Komfort weighing in at 10K fully loaded, with an F250 V10 with a 4.3 rear end. Yes, we had a Hensley.

The Hensley is the hitch you want, or secondarily, the ProPride. The dealers talk them down because they do not sell them and can't make any money off them. Ask what hitch they think is best...I bet it just happens to be one they have in stock. Imagine that!

Our travel trailer is almost 34 feet long and 8,000 pounds empty (1,200 pounds tongue weight), which is almost as large as the Grand Design you're considering. We tow it with a 2013 F250 diesel using a Reese Dual Cam hitch. This setup works really well although I did add airbags. Without the bags, the rear end squatter quite a bit and I would hit the bumps stops sometimes. Airbags evened everything out.

You're going to need a Class V hitch to pull that Grand Design, which I imagine is what came with your truck. With the proper WDH and perhaps air bags I think you'll be fine.

I've heard nothing but good things about the Hensley and Propride other than they cost a lot and are more difficult to hook up.

we tow a 9800 pound TT with a F250 and a Hensley Arrow...would not want to tow that big of a TT without either a hensley or Propride...

Nice trailer:
Looks to be 3 slides @ 37 feet. You could be looking at 1300 lbs of tongue weight when trip loaded.

Start doing the math..Trucks payload and then start subtracting...passengers, gear, stuff in the bed, weight of hitch and the loaded tongue weight.

By the way, the dealer is down talking the Hensley or Propride hitch because they don't sell them and/or are unfamiliar with them.