Jayco vs Forest River Salem vs Open Range

itguy08 wrote:


I have been keeping a close eye on the weights. With my particular F150, according to the yellow sticker I've got 1800 lbs of payload. Figuring 600 or so lbs for me, the wife, and dog that should give me 1300 lbs. According to my spreadsheet, @ 10% of GVWR I'm under on these trailers by about 75 lbs and @ 15% GVWR I'm over by 500lbs. Since it's only the 2 of us, I doubt we'll ever be at GVWR. At least that's what the paper #'s are saying. At least that's what works in my mind and on paper.

Hi,

Just a friendly heads up. This very nice Jayco you listed is going to be too much for your truck once you start loading the camper and the truck to go camping.

Jayco 32RLDS

I have had both of my campers be a rear living layout like the Jayco and that is a really nice floor plan. We love it too. But it comes with a price. Loaded tongue weight. The majority of the storage is over the axles (a good thing) and up front. (also good but) it will need a truck that can handle the loaded tongue weight.

That 35' 6" long camper will end up with 1,200 to 1,300# loaded TW. It may even grow higher. And you really want it that heavy too trying to control a 35 1/2" camper. You cannot really balance a camper down to 10% loaded TW and with that length, and you don't want to. The storage is placed where the storage is. And "we" all seem to fill it over time.

Again, just a friendly heads up, if you get that camper you are going to fall in love with it. And then over time, a 3/4 ton truck will be in your future if you want to stay inside the limits of the truck.

Most of us like to haul "stuff" to camp. Hey we have these beautiful campers, why not use all of it? Sooner or later you are going to add extra camping gear in the truck bed and load the camper the way it can be. Then you will find out your nice F150 will be very far over it's limits. Both in weight carrying and most likley being able to control a camper that big, heavy and long.

I started out my camper hobby with a 1500 truck and a lot less trailer only to find out, that smaller rear living camper loaded tongue heavy. Soon enough a 2500 Suburban replaced the 1500 Tahoe. We loved the camper too much, the hoe had to go... Now I have one the size you are looking at and you see what we are towing with. And yes, we filled the camper to GVWR when hauling fresh water.

Good luck. Glad to point this out how your going to get there if wanted. Just trying to help a new camper find the right match that fits them, the first time.

John