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]

we will see Sunday while visiting RV dealer what wife will like.
I will start to also look into Toy hauler TT as the 5th wheel seems great but if no one accept to drive a 3500 diesel truck daily that we have to be the other solution.
I understand some feel a 3500 great, but I am sorry guys I do not feel any bump in my back driving an avalanche or a Silverado 1500in Colorado road full of pot hole.

thanks for all those info I think I am covered for right now
however no one answer me about the alternator. do I need more juice and get 2??

[rhagfo]

NC Hauler wrote:

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.

True, pin weight "might be lighter", but one wouldn't know until one weighed the rig. But GCWR is still GCWR...(combined weight of truck and what it's towing)_

Well as the Pot to the Kettle, I tow over my 2500's GVWR, but well within ALL axle and tire ratings.

With the specs on this rig, I would be looking at a Ram 3500 DRW or a Ford F450, that is one big heavy trailer.

Technical Specifications:
Length (ft) 41.33
Width (in) 102
Height (in) 157
Length (ft/ft) 41
Dry Weight (lbs) 13,020
Payload Capacity (lbs) 4,980
GVWR (lbs) 18,000
Hitch Weight (lbs) 3,330

Dry hitch = 18% which is low for a 5er, so just count on adding to it.

[NC_Hauler]

Truck in my sig, a 2013 Ram 3500 crew cab, long bed, 4X4 with Aisin tranny, 4:10 in Laramie Longhorn trim is my daily driver...I love it, the wife likes driving it....If one want's a heavier, bigger 5er, than one should get the truck that will do the job so that the towing experience is a pleasant one...not one that you don't look forward to.

[Smoke90]

Thanks to all of you for your answer and Help.

Yeah I should have look at the hitch weigh of the impact 386 online. On the doc the dealer gave me it was not indicated.

I understand the trailer hitch weight 3325 lbs.
plus the hitch ~200 lbs 3 persons on the back of the truck 500lbs

I need 4000 lbs minimum.
Which will not only bring me in F350/3500 territory but also in dual wheel.

now my question to you : the 3325 is with the garage empty?
if yes I could be ok which the material I will load in the garage which will counterbalanced and may reduce the hitch weigh.
If this is with 2000 lbs in the garage I may end up with more weight on the back of the truck and will definitely need a huge truck.

As far as the 3500 as a daily driver this truck cost the same as the replacement for the avalanche fully loaded, so cost is not the issue but comfort is the real issue.

[gkainz]

I think you have 2 contradicting and polar opposite requirements, given 1) wife's daily driver, and 2) toy hauler you've spec'ed (any toy hauler, in my opinion).

With that, like others have noted, spec out your RV then find a tow vehicle (TV) to match that. Then, either keep the wife's current daily driver or consider something else more suited to commuting. I personally don't think a TV in the class you need makes a very good daily driver. Mine tows my rig - I commute in a smaller, more economical, much cheaper to repair car. Also doesn't put the TV at risk as much every day.

BTW - welcome to the board!

[joebedford]

Welcome to the forum. You're asking the right questions.

[camp-n-family]

Pin weight is not the only problem, OP also mentions 1,000lbs of passengers and hitch to go in the truck. Now you need minimum 4500lbs of available payload. Definately 1 ton territory.

[kzspree320]

A lot of good information above. IMHO a 2500 is way too little tow vehicle. If the dry pin weight is 3,300#, by the time you load up the truck and trailer you will almost certainly by over the rear axle weight rating in a 2500, and a good probability you may be over the RAWR in a 3500 SRW. You probably should be looking at a 3500 DRW as a tow vehicle, but that's just based on what I think you may load into this toy hauler.

As stated above, if the 2500 is the biggest tow vehicle you will consider, look for a smaller toy hauler. You may want to pose your question to the toy hauling forum, since they probably understand better what you might load and how that may affect the pin weight of a toy hauler.

[NC_Hauler]

MTPockets1 wrote:
It's interesting to me the number of posts trying to justify a truck that is not capable of the realistic payload. By the time the closet is full and under bed storage is loaded, then that stuff underneath, pin weight is closer to 25% - mine is 27%. Best advice is to get the dully and never worry about it. (What's with the "she doesn't like the way it rides")

Good point:)
Thus the reason I stated, if OP is going to get the truck first and it's going to be a 2500, he needs to be thinking about a 5er that he can tow with the truck he HAS to get...

[MTPockets1]

It's interesting to me the number of posts trying to justify a truck that is not capable of the realistic payload. By the time the closet is full and under bed storage is loaded, then that stuff underneath, pin weight is closer to 25% - mine is 27%. Best advice is to get the dully and never worry about it. (What's with the "she doesn't like the way it rides")

[NC_Hauler]

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.

True, pin weight "might be lighter", but one wouldn't know until one weighed the rig. But GCWR is still GCWR...(combined weight of truck and what it's towing)_

[dballentine]

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.

[NC_Hauler]

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.

Gotcha

[camp-n-family]

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.

[NC_Hauler]

..To the OP, please do yourself a favor and don''t use the 5er's shipping weight to figure what truck you need...Use the 5er's GVW...seeing as how you stated you will 4 wheeling, one should figure you're going to load the TH up to some point. Better safe than sorry, look at the TH's GVW and go from there....

Some have said pick out the 5er you want, then the truck...that's the best way to do it.. BUT, if you're not going any bigger than a 2500/250....then I would be looking at a smaller 5er.

As others stated, don't go by what the manufacturer say's you can tow as far as the weight of a 5er....one usually runs out of cargo carrying capacity of their truck before they'd get to the weight 5er they may "claim" the truck can tow.

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