Judging from some of the messages lately it seems that the TT dealer is supposed to know a lot about your TV. Particularly for the new buyer.:hUnfortunately, This is not always the case. For example; if you tell the TT dealer you are looking for a 5000 to 7000 lb. TT unit and you have a 1/2 ton pick-up; all he knows it he has sold several 5K to 7K units to ½ ton owners over the years. The dealer might even have discovered that with a WD hitch a ½ ton the tow weight increases to 9000 lbs. plus. What he does not know is the “specific max load for your vehicle”, the fact that you like to take every toy you own with you, you travel with two 100 lbs. dogs etc. or in my case the truck only had a 200 hp. six cylinder engine. From my experience I would tell a newbie; the dealers are in the business of selling you the TTs you want, they are not your TV advisor. They expect you to know what your TV can handle. In general the dealer was knowledgeable about the product but not how the product was going to be towed. Just too many variable involved. It is similar for the truck dealers, they know what the truck ratings are but they do not know how they apply to the trailer you want to buy or how you will load it.It always pays to do your homework and go slow.

Always remember: Caveat emptor.

What the TT dealer knows about your TV They know you want to towing something, the rest they don't care about.

I have always been puzzled by the fact that people will spend countless hours researching and fretting over the best LCD TV to buy and how to get it for the best price. Yet they will walk onto an RV showroom floor and buy something for many thousands of dollars because it really looks cool, not knowing the first thing about weight, TV capacities, etc.

In TRUE fact. It is YOU / ME, the driver, and buyer, that is responsible to know what you / my TV will tow. It is NOT the job of the salesman to know which truck configuration you have. How could he possible know? All he / she can possible say. Is, Yes you can tow this with the right TV.

Campfire Time wrote:I have always been puzzled by the fact that people will spend countless hours researching and fretting over the best LCD TV to buy and how to get it for the best price. Yet they will walk onto an RV showroom floor and buy something for many thousands of dollars because it really looks cool, not knowing the first thing about weight, TV capacities, etc.'Live and learn' as they say.

What the TT dealer knows about your TV | Good Sam Community

fatboy66
Explorer
Apr 22, 2014
When shopping for our first trailer, a factory rep asked about my tow vehicle, said no problem and went about his business. A number of minutes later, he comes back and says he thought about it some more, looked up some info and I didn't have enough truck.

I appreciated that.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
It's called "Merchantability for a particular purpose" and is written into the warranty which in this case would be a "Limited Warranty" for that very reason. Read your warranty and learn.
rbpru
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2014
While we were shopping for our TT, I was told by three different sales people at different locations.
1. No you cannot pull a fifth wheel with your ½ ton. :(
2. You are not going to try to use that mini-van are you? :E
3. Let our tech rep look at your TV. (We were serious about signing.) :)

I will admit there were many other things I should have asked but the best answer I received was “Sure we will rent you a TT similar to what you want.” It was expensive but we learned a lot really quick.

I think the biggest mistake people make, myself included, is to underestimate of how much “stuff” you carry. The dealers have no clue about that.
fx2tom
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
handye9 wrote:
path1 wrote:
What the TT dealer knows about your TV

They know you want to towing something, the rest they don't care about.

Over the years, I have been trailer shopping, five times. The only time, I was questioned about my tow vehicle, is when I left my F250 at home and went looking at 8000 lb trailers, with a Dodge Dakota. One of the sales people (out of many) said, "you don't plan to pull it with that, do you". I really believe, had I said "yes", they would have sold it, anyway.

I originally pulled in with my wife's Hyundai, told the sales rep I was there to look at the TT she retorted said "I have a tent trailer unless you have a bigger truck'.
skipnchar
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Probably the BIGGEST problem the inexperienced salesman may have is just what you said when it is implied that "a half ton" truck is a single thing. Tow ratings range from around 5,000 lb. to well over twice that weight depending on make and model of half ton truck. Far too many people are "headline readers" and don't understand that it's ALWAYS the details that matter not the brand of tow vehicle that's purchased.
oughtsix
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
I don't trust ANY sales people... least of all RV sales people! Whenever a sales person talks to me I assume he/she is lying! My experience is if a salesperson doesn't know something they will just make something up! So I just assume they are making everything up!

If you don't know more than the salesperson that you are talking to about the product you are interested in purchasing... you get what you deserve!
dadmomh
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Agree that the buyer needs to do plenty of homework before they set out and find a 35' trailer that they can't live another day without and have a 1/2 ton PU. If the buyer doesn't go in armed with the info specific to their vehicle, a)the salesperson isn't likely to know and b)their job is to get you to sign and then you figure it out. And this doesn't count the salesperson who will tell you "sure, you can tow that!" about whatever they want you to buy. That's their job to sell units. As the buyer, gotta get your numbers together first.
handye9
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2014
path1 wrote:
What the TT dealer knows about your TV

They know you want to towing something, the rest they don't care about.

Over the years, I have been trailer shopping, five times. The only time, I was questioned about my tow vehicle, is when I left my F250 at home and went looking at 8000 lb trailers, with a Dodge Dakota. One of the sales people (out of many) said, "you don't plan to pull it with that, do you". I really believe, had I said "yes", they would have sold it, anyway.
goducks10
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Campfire Time wrote:
I have always been puzzled by the fact that people will spend countless hours researching and fretting over the best LCD TV to buy and how to get it for the best price. Yet they will walk onto an RV showroom floor and buy something for many thousands of dollars because it really looks cool, not knowing the first thing about weight, TV capacities, etc.

'Live and learn' as they say.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Apr 21, 2014
In TRUE fact. It is YOU / ME, the driver, and buyer, that is responsible to know what you / my TV will tow. It is NOT the job of the salesman to know which truck configuration you have. How could he possible know? All he / she can possible say. Is, Yes you can tow this with the right TV.