Too many choices
Help. The family can't decide on our new camper. I like the floor plan of the Forest River Grey Wolf 26DBH. The wife likes the Jayco 28BHS, she thinks the quality is a little better, and she may be...
Forum Discussion
Based strictly on the floor plans, definitely the Jayco.
The Jayco is 33' long and the Grey Wolf is 31.7' These are both getting to be long-ish TTs...
Always ignore dry weights and go by GVWR. Jayco is 8750 lbs and Grey Wolf is 7725 lbs. Allow 12-13% for actual tongue weights. The Jayco could be as much as 1,100 lbs and the Grey Wolf 1,000 lbs. These TWs could be less but you won't know for sure until you go to a scale after it's fully loaded for camping. The WDH will add approx. 100 lbs. Sometimes TW can be up to around 15%, like in our case.
Truck has 1890 lbs payload rating. Similarly, you won't know exactly what it is for sure until you take it to a scale. If you've added any upgrades like a cap, bedliner for ex., that will take away from the rating. Load the truck up with all passengers, pets and camping stuff you'd typically take, fill up the fuel tank and get it weighed. The weight of all this additional payload could be in the 500-1,000 lb range or even higher.
Looks to me like you will be near or over the GCWR & payload rating on the truck. Even *if* just under the numbers, it doesn't mean it will be a good towing experience, especially if you plan to travel longer distances and often. Personally, I think both TTs are too much for the current truck.
What are the axle ratings on these TTs and what specs do the tires have? What frame type? One-piece I-beam or the 3-piece welded up type? Jayco used to be generally well regarded but Thor Industries bought them out (along with many other brands) and I don't know if the quality has gone downhill or not.
The Jayco is 33' long and the Grey Wolf is 31.7' These are both getting to be long-ish TTs...
Always ignore dry weights and go by GVWR. Jayco is 8750 lbs and Grey Wolf is 7725 lbs. Allow 12-13% for actual tongue weights. The Jayco could be as much as 1,100 lbs and the Grey Wolf 1,000 lbs. These TWs could be less but you won't know for sure until you go to a scale after it's fully loaded for camping. The WDH will add approx. 100 lbs. Sometimes TW can be up to around 15%, like in our case.
Truck has 1890 lbs payload rating. Similarly, you won't know exactly what it is for sure until you take it to a scale. If you've added any upgrades like a cap, bedliner for ex., that will take away from the rating. Load the truck up with all passengers, pets and camping stuff you'd typically take, fill up the fuel tank and get it weighed. The weight of all this additional payload could be in the 500-1,000 lb range or even higher.
Looks to me like you will be near or over the GCWR & payload rating on the truck. Even *if* just under the numbers, it doesn't mean it will be a good towing experience, especially if you plan to travel longer distances and often. Personally, I think both TTs are too much for the current truck.
What are the axle ratings on these TTs and what specs do the tires have? What frame type? One-piece I-beam or the 3-piece welded up type? Jayco used to be generally well regarded but Thor Industries bought them out (along with many other brands) and I don't know if the quality has gone downhill or not.
