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

[Bombfixer]

I agree with what the others have said. You probably are in the 1ton truck arena. But the best advice is to select your toyhauler first and then find the type of truck to pull it. My wife was very specific about what she wanted in our toyhauler. After her needs were met, we were in the 3 axle, 40 foot, 18,000 lb area. I told her that I would buy her that toyhaluer but she need to let me get a truck capable to pull it. Hence I got a Ram 3500 Dually capable of towing a Gross Combined Weight Rating of 30,000 lbs.

[powderman426]

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

Or you could go with a toyhauler trailer and eliminate the pin weight problem.

[laknox]

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

[camp-n-family]

I think you're in 1 ton truck territory with that fiver. The dry pin weight is 3300+lbs. From the Chevy website here are the listed payloads for the Silverado;

Crew cab, std. box (4x4):

6.0L: 1,391kg / 3,066lbs
6.6L: 1,227kg / 2,706lbs

The loaded up LTZ may be even less. You'll almost always exceed payload before reaching the fictional tow ratings. Either way, the dry pin weight of that fiver exceeds the trucks max payload and you haven't put anything else in the truck or trailer yet.

[WyoTraveler]

Select the RV you think will satify your needs. Then pick a TV that will do the job. Once you have an idea of a package then start shopping prices. Just don't be in a hurry.