Noob Request Assistance!

Greetings all!

I have decided to take the plunge into getting involved in camping with a travel trailer. My family and I spend too much time on the interweb and I think we need to get the hell out of dodge on the weekends and have fun outside the home!

Anyhow, I recently purchased a 2103 ram Laramie 5.7L with tow kit. I know I am good to go to pull pretty much whatever TT I am wanting. I have spent a hundred or so hours researching what I feel is the best TT for my family. (Wife and 4 yr old) I finally starting hitting some of the local dealerships, I have a few pauses for concern!

1.) I have been preparing to offer 30-40% off of MSRP for a few of the models we were interested in .. Yet it seems the dealers aren't budging on their "Sale Price" (after reading forums it seems this is a standard start point.)
2.) I feel like "Fresh Meat" when I go looking at TT's and feel like the salesmen want to take advantage of me.
3.) I was anticipating getting a 30-31', But after seeing the sheer size of the trailer, I am concerned about being inexperienced with towing a load that I am going to crash into things!! ( I am a pilot for the military and cannot believe I am intimidated about this.)
4.) I want the flexibility of being able to invite two or three friends to camp with us, and it seems the small campers are extremely cramped.
5.) My wife is insistent that we stay small and get the best build quality i.e. 4 person Keystone premiere type trailer.
6.) I was planning on spending around 20k... and I just cannot figure out what is going to be the best bang for my buck / please my wife / allow the afore mentioned items.

I want to take the plunge very soon and like I said, I have done a ton of research. I wouldn't mind driving far to secure a great deal or pay for shipping.
I am now starting to look around for a 1-2 year old equipped TT. My wife is not exactly into the idea of rolling around someones "Funk" as she calls it.
If anyone out there has some Professional advice to help me out, I sincerely appreciate it.
I have a place to park my new TT - on post in a secure lot for 20 dollars per month. I have the truck / I have monies / Just need a proper fit!!

Thanks for reading my long post and look forward to your advice!

43 Replies

geekyguru
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Goldstalker wrote:
You will be fine, you already bought it anyways. Just hook up and go have now!

My wife has been trolling this thread .. and I can see her telling me WTF? Our truck cant pull it. You are going to crash. ( she is extremely egregious
Goldstalker
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
You will be fine, you already bought it anyways. Just hook up and go have fun now!
geekyguru
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
I used the calculator online for my model 2013 Laramie 4x4 with the 5.7L

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/?section=light_duty

It is saying with 2 passengers, (1 of which is three years old)
I have 1095 payload (assuming im not putting **** in the bed of my truck), and a max tow capacity left of 8,705lbs.
Curb wieght is 5,500
** MAX GCVW is 15650
the bullet dry is around 5100lbs
The actual TT is the Bullet Ultralite 281BHS... http://www.keystonerv.com/bullet/?alttemplate=specs

I should have more than 3k lbs to spare? dry
docnascar
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
geekyguru wrote:

I was able to make an amazing deal on a 281BHS from PetesRv. Should have the unit in 10 days.

geekyguru wrote:
So, I am coming up with 1245lbs for my payload. My occupants are 400lbs. 100 lbs for tow hitch etc? ...

Geekyguru,
You stated earlier your max payload was 1245 + 500lbs of cargo. I'm no expert, but I think you could potentially overload your pickup depending on how you load this camper.

KZ is showing 11.9% tongue weight.
UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)* 5,207
Dry Hitch Weight* 620
=11.9%

With a Trailer GVW of 6800 at 11.9% is 809lbs of tongue weight.

1245-809 = 436lb left for cargo. Your 500lbs of cargo won't work.

Even if you are a closer to the dry weight, your very close.
281BHS specs

Also, you need to be careful that you don't exceed your GCWR (Truck+Trailer weight rating)
geekyguru
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
On the Lam wrote:
Respectfully, you don't really reference a lot of family camping experience. I think before I plowed a bunch of money into a new truck and trailer, (and the other gear you'll find you need), I'd be dead sure my family is going to enjoy camping. Perhaps a rental is an option for a few times to get started.

As far as negotiating price, what tactics did you use to negotiate the purchase of your new truck? Assuming you were happy with that process, do the same. Do your research, come up with a number and present it. Be professional, honest, and sincere about your offer, whatever it is. The rest is up to them.

Very valid point. The family is onboard to start getting the heck outta here on the weekends!I live in deep southern Alabama, so our season isnt going to be over as soon as the northern folks. (I am not from the south.. just stationed here.. lol)
I was able to make an amazing deal on a 281BHS from PetesRv. Should have the unit in 10 days.
On_the_Lam
Explorer
Aug 13, 2013
Respectfully, you don't really reference a lot of family camping experience. I think before I plowed a bunch of money into a new truck and trailer, (and the other gear you'll find you need), I'd be dead sure my family is going to enjoy camping. Perhaps a rental is an option for a few times to get started.

As far as negotiating price, what tactics did you use to negotiate the purchase of your new truck? Assuming you were happy with that process, do the same. Do your research, come up with a number and present it. Be professional, honest, and sincere about your offer, whatever it is. The rest is up to them.
Roman_Duck
Explorer
Aug 12, 2013
Simple formula for backing TTs. Useing your mirrors, keep your hand at the 6 Oclock position. Whatever way you want your TT to go; move your hand that way.
IE: your looking in your RHS mirror and you want you TT to move in the rh direction. just move your hand towards (RHS) the mirror that the TT needs to go to. A point to remember; the longer the trailer the more time it takes to respond to you turning the wheel. As far as making turns; make sure that your TT wheels are at the apex of the turn, before turning. good luck
allen8106
Explorer
Aug 12, 2013
Go to Cheyenne Camping Center in Walcott, IA. I bought a new 2007 Puma there on the January 2007 for $9,000 less that the nearest dealer. Cost $250 in gas to go get it. Loved that TT but traded it for a 5ver four years later. I highly recommend them.
hddecker
Explorer
Aug 12, 2013
OH48Lt wrote:
Cool to have a Time Machine, getting a 2103 Laramie. :) Hopefully its the 2500 or 3500, not the 1500 that has a load capacity of only 1600#.

For $20K, you can get a late model used TT, just might have to look around for a bit or just plain get lucky. There are some decent new ones out too for that price, but the choice is limited. We just bought a new FunFinder (in sig below), and it was under $20K.

Look at http://www.labadiemotors.com/ he is a local (to me) dealer that sells and ships all over the country, to Europe, and Australia. If he carries the TT you want, a deal can be made. Unfortunately, he does not carry FunFinder, but he does carry other name brand lines.

Take a look at the '14 Ram 2500. It will be available with the 6.2l hemi and claims better fuel mileage than the 5.7l hemi.

Now if only I could unload my 6.7l Cummins for a good $$$.
Jerrybo66
Explorer
Aug 09, 2013
I'm not into the specs and cyphering numbers but if you hook onto a 30' 10,000# trailer you're gonna learn the meaning of, "The tail wagging the dog." WD hitches aren't the whole remedy, they only help marginal applications. I bought a cabin cruiser that weighed 8000+# and I thought I could tow it to the local lakes. The 1/2 tons, Jeep & Ford, did a pretty good job until it got a bit windy. The trucks went where the boat wanted to go. Not fun. The 170" wheel base of the F-350 doesn't even begin to waver. Your short wheelbase Dodge is a deterrent to a stable tow. Our toy hauler is rated at 11,000# and I don't bother to hook up the WD bars on short camping trips. As I think you will learn, or are learning, getting your first or even second unit is a learning experience. One bit of advice, don't believe what the trailer salesman tells you. They tell you what you want to hear to sell the trailer. After the papers were signed and the 11,000# purchase was a done deal the salesman ask what I intended to pull it with?...... I think you did well by signing on here. There are many RVers here with many years of experience that went through the same growing pains that you have now. Prepare to adjust... The best of luck to you.. :)