Front Living Ultralite 5'er?

campigloo wrote:
That is a lot of trailer. No matter what the dealers say, truck or trailer, 1/2 ton is going to struggle, unless you are towing down hill all the time. More to it than just pulling. How about stopping.
Which will sway more because of stressed suspension? How long will it handle this load before it just slap wears out? Check diesels, IMHO. More money up front, yes, but cheaper in the not too distant long run. Price of fuel is higher, but I find cost of fuel per mile is about 10 cents a gallon less than gasoline. Price of oil changes higher, but half as many of them. Just pulled my 9000# TT through WVA up a 9% grade @ 2 miles, 60 mph in 5th gear and never even thought about breaking a sweat. Try that with a gasser at 3000-4000rpm or so. I can't stress enough to get at LEAST enough truck; and slightly more is even better. Makes towing anywhere you want to go so much more enjoyable. Hope you have many happy miles!!!

I thought about a diesel myself...but with the price of diesel being anywhere from 35 to 50 cents a gallon more it seems one would have to get mpg that is realistically unachievable. What with the initial costs around 10K more for the diesel I just don't see how one breaks even much less come out ahead.

Arn, when I was looking for a rear kitchen TT with 2 slides, I googled "RV manufacturers", got a list and went to their websites. I looked at floorplans until I found the one I wanted. Didn't take that much time.

There are a lot of companies making lightweight 5'ers. here is just one: Lightweight

For the record, I have NO intentions of trying to pull a trailer this size with a 1/2 ton. I'm curious to know if there are any ultralites with a similar floorplan. Even with a 3/4 ton the 38FL is still a lot of trailer both weight & length wise.

As a minimum, I wouldn't dream of pulling something like that with a 1/2 ton. Step up at least to a 3/4 ton, or even better, a one ton. Usually there isn't much difference between the two other than springs.

As for gasser versus diesel, if I were pulling a rig as large as the OP's, I'd second the suggestion of the diesel, especially for hilly terrain.

That is a lot of trailer. No matter what the dealers say, truck or trailer, 1/2 ton is going to struggle, unless you are towing down hill all the time. More to it than just pulling. How about stopping.
Which will sway more because of stressed suspension? How long will it handle this load before it just slap wears out? Check diesels, IMHO. More money up front, yes, but cheaper in the not too distant long run. Price of fuel is higher, but I find cost of fuel per mile is about 10 cents a gallon less than gasoline. Price of oil changes higher, but half as many of them. Just pulled my 9000# TT through WVA up a 9% grade @ 2 miles, 60 mph in 5th gear and never even thought about breaking a sweat. Try that with a gasser at 3000-4000rpm or so. I can't stress enough to get at LEAST enough truck; and slightly more is even better. Makes towing anywhere you want to go so much more enjoyable. Hope you have many happy miles!!!