New to forum and new to RV

Smoke90 wrote:
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

laknox wrote:

Smoke90 wrote:
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

As usual, it's not the towing capacity, it's the PAYLOAD capacity of your truck that is the limiting factor. You're well into 1 ton dually territory with that fifth wheel, IMO. Do NOT listen to what salesmen tell you, at the RV dealership or at the truck dealership. Do your own research and educate yourself about all the various weight numbers you need to pay attention to. Pay close attention to rear axle and tire ratings of the truck as well as the net PAYLOAD of the truck, after you take into consideration you, wife, kids, hitch, fuel and "stuff" you want in the truck. Give yourself options in floorplan and trailer size and try and compromise. The only other thing you can do is consider a bigger truck and a 3/4 ton.

Lyle

What IS the GVW of the 5er you're wanting to get.? just curious...Seeing as how we don't know, you very well may be ok with the 2500

camp-n-family wrote:

What IS the GVW of the 5er you're wanting to get.? just curious...Seeing as how we don't know, you very well may be ok with the 2500

He won't be ok with the 2500 and that fiver. The dry pin weight alone exceeds the payload rating.

camp-n-family wrote:

What IS the GVW of the 5er you're wanting to get.? just curious...Seeing as how we don't know, you very well may be ok with the 2500

He won't be ok with the 2500 and that fiver. The dry pin weight alone exceeds the payload rating.

dballentine wrote:

camp-n-family wrote:

What IS the GVW of the 5er you're wanting to get.? just curious...Seeing as how we don't know, you very well may be ok with the 2500

He won't be ok with the 2500 and that fiver. The dry pin weight alone exceeds the payload rating.

Hmmm... considering the layout of a toy hauler, the loaded pin weight might actually be lower than the dry pin weight.

If you load most of the cargo weight in the garage, it will reduce the pin weight (since its behind the trailer axles). I'm not sure how directionally stable a tail-heavy setup would be, but it might get the pin weight down into acceptable numbers.