New to forum and new to RV

[Smoke90]

Hi

As in the title never own a RV, Even only used MH only twice but love outdoor and camping.

First we find out that our 2009 chevy avalanche can't tow more than 5400 lbs (does not have the transmission cooling package)
So we are shopping for a new truck and a toy hauler

We look at fifth wheel toy haulers for a couple of reasons:
-we like driving around and four wheeling. with a MH you need to tow a vehicle
as we need a pick up truck, it will be difficult to tow this kind of vehicle
-RV are more expensive for the same size and comfort
-we have dirt bike
-Like the versatility of the garage, garage, dinning, additional room, etc...
-MH does not have high ground clearance compare to toy hauler.
-Toy hauler have reinforce axles

Avalanche is a great SUV and silverado will be similar but the 1500 won't do the task. even the coming 6.2 l version with the corvette engine

drove the F250 diesel but too much of a truck (this is my wife every day car)
drove the Silverado 2500 diesel slightly better then the Ford but still drive like a truck

read about the new 2015 silverado that (only as per journalist review so far) is supposed to be an improvement.
Hope my wife will like or accept it.

The 2500 we will be looking is the LTZ 4WD crew cab standard box (6.5 foot) Z71 diesel , Alison transmission with 3.73 axle ratio, and the trailering 5th wheel package
Any option that i should consider? the dual alternator?

the towing capacity is rated at 17100 lbs.
the toy hauler we are considering is the Impact 386. shipping weight is 12853 lbs.

considering;
1000lbs for us in the truck (this includes the fifth wheel hitch)
1000 for the bike, food and other item in the trailer
1000 lbs of diesel, gas, propane and water.

we will be at 1000 lbs under the towing limit.

one more thing we live in colorado so we will drive up to 12000 feet

any help or comments will be greatly appreciated

thanks
pascal

[Smoke90]

Smoke90 wrote:

TheAmRheins wrote:
Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

I went and drove them and they are very far apart.
may be the gas engine are comfortable ???
but the diesel are rated 8500 lbs. versus 1300 lbs for an avalanche
their spring have to be 4 times stiffer.

I apologized as we drove the SRW and they were stiff.
but the DRW F350 was stiff but not something uncomfortable.

[Smoke90]

I have a few other question:

Can you have a standard hitch with a Ram mega cab 3500 standard box.
I read that you need the special hitch.
but I don't understand as the box is 6.5 feet and I also read that only the short boxes with 5 feet needed the special hitches.

thanks

[Smoke90]

gitane59 wrote:

Smoke90 wrote:

TheAmRheins wrote:
Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

I went and drove them and they are very far apart.
may be the gas engine are comfortable ???
but the diesel are rated 8500 lbs. versus 1300 lbs for an avalanche
their spring have to be 4 times stiffer.

Welcome to the RV forum. continue to ask as many questions as you need to find the info you want.
With what I have read of your posts I truely think you might wan to consider a toyhauler motorhome towing a small comfortable car.

Your strong need for a boulevard cruiser ride from your truck with a 4K lbs plus payload capacity is what is called a polar opposite.
I highly doubt you will ever find a capable truck to safely pull that large of a toyhauler that rides like what you seem to want.

hi

You are exactly right and we will have to make compromise.
We pretty much need a pick up 40 out of the 52 weekend per year.
We eliminated the MH as it will mean an additional vehicle, it cost more, and parking will be very expensive or a problem (I start my corvette every month and let it run for 20mn when I am not driving it). I check and I can have an outside storage for a fifth wheel for $50 a month while if we go MH I will want an indoor storage and go there at least once a month to let it run.

all that said we start to be ok with the idea of a 3500 HD that is more stiffer. Believe it or not all the family was happy with it.
only me and my brother were complaining about the stiffness may be due to our back problem.

[Smoke90]

kzspree320 wrote:
So you are new to RVing but are willing to double tow a trailer behind the 5th wheel? I have been towing RVs for over 30 years and thousands of miles and the wife said NO to double towing. After much thought, I decided she might be right. You do know you really can't back it up without disconnecting the trailer? Most fivers are not made to accept much weight on the back bumper (hitch weight). Make sure to check this out and attach hitch to frame. Also check and make sure that double towing is allowed in the states you want to visit. Will you exceed the maximum length allowed? You are located in Denver. You are one brave soul for a newbie. Good luck.

yes I thought about this.
double towing is allowed in Colorado with a maximum length of 72 feet.
any back up will require to unhook the trailer. but again the trailer will be light just one dirt bike.
If we have more than one bike that means my son will be with us and the bike will be on his truck)
basically trailer usage will be just once or twice a year.
Fifth wheel will receive towing hitches installed by dealer.

thanks for the help

[gitane59]

Smoke90 wrote:

TheAmRheins wrote:
Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

I went and drove them and they are very far apart.
may be the gas engine are comfortable ???
but the diesel are rated 8500 lbs. versus 1300 lbs for an avalanche
their spring have to be 4 times stiffer.

Welcome to the RV forum. continue to ask as many questions as you need to find the info you want.
With what I have read of your posts I truely think you might wan to consider a toyhauler motorhome towing a small comfortable car.

Your strong need for a boulevard cruiser ride from your truck with a 4K lbs plus payload capacity is what is called a polar opposite.
I highly doubt you will ever find a capable truck to safely pull that large of a toyhauler that rides like what you seem to want.

[kzspree320]

So you are new to RVing but are willing to double tow a trailer behind the 5th wheel? I have been towing RVs for over 30 years and thousands of miles and the wife said NO to double towing. After much thought, I decided she might be right. You do know you really can't back it up without disconnecting the trailer? Most fivers are not made to accept much weight on the back bumper (hitch weight). Make sure to check this out and attach hitch to frame. Also check and make sure that double towing is allowed in the states you want to visit. Will you exceed the maximum length allowed? You are located in Denver. You are one brave soul for a newbie. Good luck.

[Smoke90]

Went with family to see TT fifth wheel and toy hauler
We are heading toward fifth wheel and a trailer on the back when needed

Therefore we should not need a dually but just a 3500 diesel

Wife test drive the 3500 and likes it??????

So now need to decide which brand chevy/ford/ram
As far as fifth wheel we are heading toward the sundance SD3600QB

I know I ll be at rhe limit of the 3500 4wd crew cab SRW

Need to see as i saw some competition with same floorplan but lighter

[Smoke90]

Allworth wrote:
If you insist that there is only one truck your wife will allow you to have, then there may be NO trailer that will satisfy what you want to do!

Toy haulers (with the toys) are never light and towing them with too small a truck is just dangerous; to yourself, your wife, and anybody else on the road.

I agree and this is why we will look at both 5thW and TT and see from there.
I am moving toward the idea that if we go 5thW we will have a 3500 dolly that will replace the avalanche but we will get a car to drive in town. It is just another expense.

we just started with the idea of a TT at 30K a month ago and we are now we are with a 5thW at 50K a truck at 60K and a car at 15K
this is a big difference from 30K to 125K:R

[Allworth]

If you insist that there is only one truck your wife will allow you to have, then there may be NO trailer that will satisfy what you want to do!

Toy haulers (with the toys) are never light and towing them with too small a truck is just dangerous; to yourself, your wife, and anybody else on the road.

[Smoke90]

TheAmRheins wrote:
Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

I went and drove them and they are very far apart.
may be the gas engine are comfortable ???
but the diesel are rated 8500 lbs. versus 1300 lbs for an avalanche
their spring have to be 4 times stiffer.

[TheAmRheins]

Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

[TheAmRheins]

Go test drive a new 350/3500 crew cab dually they ride and drive as nice as the Avalanche or the Silverado.

[dballentine]

As I recall, the Silverado comes with all wiring already run to the 7-pin socket on the rear bumper. (At least it was that way in 2010.)

All you (or the dealer mechanic... make it part of the deal) has to do is connect a couple of pigtailed wires to the fuse block under the hood. I think one of the wires is for the +12V to the trailer battery; the other activates the brake controller.

[gkainz]

I see no need for dual alternators. Just make sure you (or the installer) wire the charge circuit to the trailer plug with the largest cable that will fit in the plug ... 2 gauge is not too big... The biggest issue is voltage drop between the alternator and trailer batteries.

However, since I plug in at home, and have a generator for boondocking, I don't worry too much about charging my batteries with just the truck.