"test drive"

To answer the original question, if you're a serious buyer then getting a test hookup shouldn't be a problem at all. After you've come to a consensus on the price ask for a test hookup. They'd be fools to say no.

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
oops, hit the wrong key, it's a 5.7L. hey ninerbikes, I liked your earlier explanation, after you read my last post, can you calculate the numbers again? thanks.

Plug in what you weigh, what the wife weighs, all the camping cr*p you threw in the bed of the truck, the weight of your propane tanks full, weight of your batteries, throw in the weight of 10 or 15 gallons of water in your main tank if you want to be able to flush or shower briefly on a 2 or 3 day road trip going to your destination, before you top the fresh water tank off upon arrival, etc.

It's simple math, you can add, can't you?

I'd say from your numbers you be good to go. Plenty of payload and well under the tow ratings. As long as the WD is setup right you should have a nice tow.

I've test towed all of our RV trailers. I've read of some TT's that are tongue light with wheels too far forward and don't tow well. Even some 5th wheels that tend to wag even thought it doesn't affect the truck. We're looking at a Jayco 27RLS. It's axles are set back some and it has a fairly heavy tongue weight. I expect it to tow well on our test tow before we consider buying it.

oops, hit the wrong key, it's a 5.7L. hey ninerbikes, I liked your earlier explanation, after you read my last post, can you calculate the numbers again? thanks.

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
my tow vehicle, a 2014 Ram 1500 4.7L hemi with tow package, has a max towing capacity of 10,650 and a payload max of 1,900. the TT I am looking at has a dry weight of 4,800 (6800 GVW) and is 25 1/2 feet, front hitch to rear bumper. Am I OK ?

From the numbers, and what I've done with mine I'd say it'd work.

That is 5.7L Hemi ,,, not 4.7L ..... right? Out here a 4.7 would need more air.

You haven't added a shell, and half the arsenal, right? LOL

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
my tow vehicle, a 2014 Ram 1500 4.7L hemi with tow package, has a max towing capacity of 10,650 and a payload max of 1,900. the TT I am looking at has a dry weight of 4,800 (6800 GVW) and is 25 1/2 feet, front hitch to rear bumper. Am I OK ?

You'd have to run the #'s - we ordered an Open Range LT272RLS and its bigger and heavier but well within the #'s for our F150.

my tow vehicle, a 2014 Ram 1500 4.7L hemi with tow package, has a max towing capacity of 10,650 and a payload max of 1,900. the TT I am looking at has a dry weight of 4,800 (6800 GVW) and is 25 1/2 feet, front hitch to rear bumper. Am I OK ?

A few years ago we were looking at a new 5th wheel. I expressed some concern about weights. The salesman said well take it for a pull to see how it feels. We didn't purchase it or pull it because in my mind it was just too much for the truck I had.

Bobbyg2013 wrote:
Before I purchase a TT I want to hook it up to my truck and take it on a short drive on a freeway to see how it handles, etc. Do you think a dealer would allow me to do this?

We did a test tow of our then new 2012 Keystone Bullet. We used our WD hitch, which was a basic type with chains on the bars, and the dealer's snap-up brackets (because our snap up brackets were still on our HTT in storage). The dealer, Quality RV (in Ramsey, MN then and now in a larger facility in Monticello, MN), was happy to do it. The owner, Todd Nelson, actually rode with me as we drove around on a highway and city streets for about 15 minutes. The experience made a huge difference to me in seeing how well our tow vehicle could tow the larger TT.

I'm guessing most dealers, especially the mega-sized ones, aren't going to go out of their way to do something like that. In my mind, a good dealer who expects you pay out so much money for a new camper should be willing to do a test tow. When you think about it, it's kind of crazy to pay out so much money and have no idea how the TT will tow behind your tow vehicle until you've already signed the papers and paid! You'd never do that with a vehicle or a motor home.