First time 5ver

[charles_maine]

Posted this to Forest River forum but wanted to get your feedback as well.

So after 4 years in our BH TT we have decided that we want to upgrade. We have looked at about 100 units in the last week plus probably another 200 online. We have decided that we really like the Cardinal 3875FB. Some of the others that are in the running are FB like Big Country, Big Horn, Prime Time Sanibel and Cedar Creek in that order.
Montana, Jayco North Point and Pinnacle we didn't care for.

Are there any units I am missing?
I like the look of full body paint. Keeping it indoors is it a waste of money?
What do I need to know that I don't see walking in the unit?
How important is buying local? We have a local dealer with probably 600 5vers but they have a horrible reputation for service after the sale. What if I have to drive 200 miles to buy from Mom and Pop because they have the unit?

Little background should it come up: Tow vehicle is 2015 Chevy 2500HD Duramax short bed 4x4. Unit is stored inside my 43' metal building. Not full timers. 2-3 two week trips a year.

Thank you!!!

[laknox]

charles.maine wrote:

laknox wrote:

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

D@mn, Charles. How many times do you have to hear, "don't pay attention to the dry weights; only look at GVW?" What's the GVW on each of these? Take 20-25% of that number and see if you have the payload to handle it. Yes, I =know= that you're unlikely to hit the GVW...BUT, that's the only numbers you have to work with, unless you can find the exact model and get real-world weights. Yes, I =know= that the newer trucks have a lot more payload than my older truck, but not =that= much! All of those are, IMO, solidly in 350/3500 territory.

Lyle

LOL...I have nothing to go off of except that. Your telling me that a unit with a documented dry weight of 12.3k and one with a dry weight of 13k, both GVWR of 16 are gonna be the exact same? That doesn't make sense to me.

No, I'm saying that the =dry= weights are pushing the limits of your 3/4 ton truck, with the exception, maybe, being the Sierra. Post the GVW of each unit if you want better opinions. You're likely well into the 15-16k range on GVW on all of those, which is solidly into 1 ton territory, IMO.

Lyle

[bpounds]

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

I'm going to go with a differing opinion from the majority.

I am positive your truck can handle any of those trailers.

You're going to need to upgrade the tires, and possibly the wheels. Rear axle is okay, but you will exceed the GM rating. It's the same axle that they put under a SRW 3500, so their rating is limited by the tires they used.

You're going to need air bags to level the load probably.

You are going to exceed the GVWR of the truck, and to repeat myself, the RAWR. The numbers don't lie, no matter how many times you run them. But you can do it, and your truck can handle it safely. Start shopping for tires. I only recommend OEM wheels, because they are the only ones you can find that are hub centric. All A/M wheels will be lug centric. You can usually find 3500 OEM take-offs for cheap on Craigslist.

You didn't mention it, so I assume your truck is NOT lifted. Your choice of A/M tires causes me to wonder about that. That would not be good.

[JIMNLIN]

LOL...I have nothing to go off of except that. Your telling me that a unit with a documented dry weight of 12.3k and one with a dry weight of 13k, both GVWR of 16 are gonna be the exact same? That doesn't make sense to me.

On a RV forum your going to get answers of all kinds.
Always look at the trailer CCC numbers and dry weight and GVWR.
...You will not pull a trailer at its dry weight after loading.
...Most of the "stuff" we add in a 5th wheel trailer goes in front of the trailers axles which add hitch weight on the truck.
...Todays 5th wheel trailers can have 3k-5k CCC which most folks more than likely won't ever use.

Your 2500 GM truck has a 6200 RAWR that will carry a 5th wheel trailer pin weight plus the hitch and a percent of occupants/etc between the trucks axles.
Trucks carry weight on its axles/tires so pay attention to the 2500 small 6200 RAWR which includes tires/wheels and rear spring packs. Increasing tires capacity won't work unless the wheels and rear suspension also is uprated.

Many 2500 trucks rear axle can weigh in the 3000 lb range which leaves around 3200 lbs for its payload. Now subtract a 200-250 lb hitch and the truck is down to around 2900-3000 lb payload.
This is why its best to weigh your trucks front and rear axle weights separately....or as some RV folks do is buy a one ton DRW truck.

[alboy]

Most of these loaded up trucks are going to weigh around 3200 lbs on the rear axel empty,that leaves you 3000 lbs to work with.Put in an Anderson hitch,2 kids,dogs ,you will be lucky to have 23/2500 lbs before you exceed your axel wts,pretty simple.

[charles_maine]

laknox wrote:

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

D@mn, Charles. How many times do you have to hear, "don't pay attention to the dry weights; only look at GVW?" What's the GVW on each of these? Take 20-25% of that number and see if you have the payload to handle it. Yes, I =know= that you're unlikely to hit the GVW...BUT, that's the only numbers you have to work with, unless you can find the exact model and get real-world weights. Yes, I =know= that the newer trucks have a lot more payload than my older truck, but not =that= much! All of those are, IMO, solidly in 350/3500 territory.

Lyle

LOL...I have nothing to go off of except that. Your telling me that a unit with a documented dry weight of 12.3k and one with a dry weight of 13k, both GVWR of 16 are gonna be the exact same? That doesn't make sense to me.

[ACZL]

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

And I bet each one has about 3,000 avail for "stuff" which brings the total weight (GVW) to just south of 16,000.

[kzspree320]

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

As stated in my posts above, my ready to camp fiver is 12,000# (10.600 dry weight) and I am about 500# under the RAWR on my 2500. The empty weight of all of these well exceeds my ready to camp weight. I would think you would be well over 14,000 ready to camp with these. I would expect all of these would cause you to exceed your RAWR. If not, you will be right on the ragged edge. I would not do it. My fiver is a 2014 Palomino Columbus 295RL, so I think you would be happy with the two above if they were not so heavy. Good luck. Keith

[laknox]

charles.maine wrote:
Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

D@mn, Charles. How many times do you have to hear, "don't pay attention to the dry weights; only look at GVW?" What's the GVW on each of these? Take 20-25% of that number and see if you have the payload to handle it. Yes, I =know= that you're unlikely to hit the GVW...BUT, that's the only numbers you have to work with, unless you can find the exact model and get real-world weights. Yes, I =know= that the newer trucks have a lot more payload than my older truck, but not =that= much! All of those are, IMO, solidly in 350/3500 territory.

Lyle

[charles_maine]

Okay. So this weekend was the RV show here in Fort Worth, Texas. We went thru about 1200 units online trying to find a happy middle. Again I want your opinions:
2016 Evergreen Bay Hill 379FL Dry 12794 Pin 2390
2016 F.R. Sierra 378FB Dry 12455 Pin 2096
2016 Palomino Columbus 375RL Dry 12824 Pin 2545
2016 Palomino Columbus 381FL Dry 12781 Pin 2369

Let me hear it...............

[Dayle1]

donn0128 wrote:

charles.maine wrote:
donn0128 I bet I got a bad number then. This truck to totally stock except after market tires and wheels, and folding tonneau cover. Me, my wife and 2 teenagers, and 3 dogs (40 lbs, 10 lbs, and 8 lbs). So lets assume its around 7,500 lbs. Then I could be around a 2,000 pin weight and dry weight around 10-12 and just know that getting close to 12 I am going to have to be easy on what we load?

Since you have a newer crew cab than what I had plus two kids, I would guess you could be close to 8000 for sure. Subtracting hitch weight is still going to leave you with around 1700 pounds of cargo capacity. A 10,000 pound loaded fiver is still going to wind up with close to 2000 pound pin weight. Sadly the numbers just dont pencil out IMHO. BT,DT. Adding tires, air bags can possibly make your truck ride level, but the ride/handling characteristics will still be changed enough to make for an unpleasant experience.

I disagree, newer models are not going to be heavier, if anything they will be lighter for better fuel mileage. There would just be too much negative publicity if the new and improved model was heavier with the same old GVWR.

To the OP, find a scale that can really tell you what your loaded rear axle weight is, subtract that from the rear GAWR and that tells you the maximum loaded pin weight you can legally handle without exceeding the tire capacity. It should be in the range of 2500 lbs. You will be over the 10K GVWR, but in Tx, you can register the truck for a higher GVWR, just cost more.

Or go to the GM web site and use their weight calculator, enter in the specifics for your truck and it will tell you the factory weight on your rear axle. Try this linkGM weight calculator. Just select year, click on #2, select trucks (at top), pick model (top right)l, then select model/option weights (bottom left).

From what I see, a 2015 2500HD CC long bed LTZ with D/A has about 2400 lbs on the rear axle and a remaining load capacity near 3800 lbs. Of course, that would exceed the GVWR.

[ACZL]

After reading all the posts, one thing I didn't see was truck GVW and weight of truck side by side. OP's truck has a GVW of 9200 I'm quite sure of and if OP weighed truck and it weighs 8900, then he only has 300 pounds left of trucks rated GVW. My old '03 F250 was in same boat w/ the diesel engine. So combined OP can tow 24k, but in legal terms, he's SOL with only 300 pounds capacity.

I'm gonna get blasted here, but we towed rig in sig w/ the '03 w/o a problem. Truck weighed 8500, pin was 1800, 5er GVW was 13,800 (12,800 fully loaded, so had room for 1,000 more stuff). Truck rated for 10k and combo of 20k. With 5er hooked, truck weighed 10800, combo was 21800. Over by 2,000 all the way around. If we were to upgrade 5ers w/ old truck, I wouldn't go above 14,500. With new truck, we are under everything all the around. Again, if we upgrade 5er, wouldn't look at anything much north of 16,000 total GVW. Could the truck tow it? Probly. Just have to be bit more on my toes around traffic.

Another thing to consider. Think: "What if I'm not the driver for "X" reason where I've been used to towing the weight behind me. so have a good idea how to handle it". Now if someone else drives truck w/ 5er w/o a lot of 5er towing experience and you have a trailer that's more than truck's capacity, could be in for a rude awakening in traffic, wind, wet roads etc. Not tooting my own horn here, but I drive semi for a living so I am familiar w/ overweight trailers. Have no problem whatsoever w/ having wife drive at times w/ 5er (both trucks).

Friend had a '05 Chevy D-max 4x4, sb and towed a 15k+ 5er. Yes he had airbags and yes he's towed for sometime now. Had 265 tires. Overweight for truck? You bet! No problems, but the preverbal "What if" always lingered in my mind if he ever rear ended someone.

[alexleblanc]

charles.maine wrote:
No we are not looking for another bunk house. Wanted a Front Bath but those are just too big. Looking for like an RL or something like that.

if you're willing to give up the second washroom and a few ft, you really can have a nice Rear living, island kitchen unit with quite a few bells and whistles to go along with it - And you'll be happy towing it down the road.

I can tell you that a 2500/250 truck really matches up well with 11k GVWR FW and it still leaves you plenty of options to look at.

I went from a 32ft 3 slide bunkhouse TT to our current unit and it feels much more roomy.

[2112]

kzspree320 wrote:

*snip* Don't focus solely on the GVWR of the fiver, since some have huge cargo carrying capacities that most non full timers don't fully utilize *snip

That's what I did. I have to be aware of every lb I load. I call it counting calories.
And I'm doing it with a 1/2 ton.

Do be aware of where the waste tanks are and how much pin weight they can add when full. That got me.

[charles_maine]

No we are not looking for another bunk house. Wanted a Front Bath but those are just too big. Looking for like an RL or something like that.