dreamer wrote:
Again, thanks for the replies.
FIREUP, we're traveling presently, but I'll try to get some pictures of the lift/loader.
dreamer.
Roger that Sir. I'm ready to help when you need. Safe travels.
Scott
dreamer wrote:
Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond, your input is appreciated.
I purchased a Rampage (ToyTrax) lift to load and carry an '07 Honda VTX 1800. It is an earlier version of the Rampage and slightly different from the new models. I have no installation instructions with it but will figure it out. I kinda got the cart in front of the horse with this purchase but as long as I get a truck with a 6.5 foot bed I'll be OK.
The reason I was looking at a crew cab was I was wanting to have the ability to have seating for 6 people occasionally, for short rides like to a restaurant. (snowbirds) Maybe and extended cab would work or do I need a crew cab?
Are there any major differences between the GMC truck and the Chevy truck? I'm drawn to the GMC for some reason.
Thanks again for all the help.
dreamer.
Dreamer,
The differences between say, the top of the line Chevy and, the top of the line GMC are very little. Both trucks display high quality and high standards. If and when choosing, the one thing you need to do is make sure you're dealing in "apples for apples" type thing. You can't look at a median level Chevy and a high end GMC and compare, it's "apples for oranges" in that case. Now, as for a choice on crew cab vs Extended cab, well, that's simply a looks/fitment deal. And, there's a tab bit more weight involved in the Crew due to the size increase and larger doors.
We are just like you, we have occasional riders that use the back seat in ours. We're not going across the U.S. with that group of people, just as you said, a trip to a restaurant, a mall etc. Short tips are just fine for even larger adults.
If, you're planning on taking extra riders on a more frequent basis, well then you might lean towards the crew cab.
I'd like to see pictures of your specific Rampage toy hauler lift. I've done quite a bit of fabrication and mounting of things like that so, PM me if you might want help in some ideas for setting it up. I attached a 2"x2"x 28" x 1/4" thick angle iron under the front of the bed floor with two, 1/2" x 13 nuts welded to it. Now, when I load the Rampage into the bed, all you see is two holes in the bed floor and those 2 nuts. The Rampage is bolted down in the front with two, 1/2" x 4" x 13 bolts, to those nuts.
The rear or, back end of the Rampage is held in place with three, 5/16 nutserts. There's not much torque in any direction on those so, they did not have to have the "girth" of the larger bolts up front. And, the way I did the install, the wife and I can have that Rampage out of the truck, in just about 1 minute and rolling away on a cart I built for it. The truck is now a truck again. Good luck.
Scott
dreamer wrote:
I'm thinking about a 2007-2010 GMC Sierra 1500, crew cab, 4x4 for a toad. It will do everything I need to do and is in my price range. Does anyone use one for a toad and have any insight or opinion about this truck? Anything to look out for, any of those years better or worse? Easy to tow, etc? Thanks.
dreamer.
Dreamer,
Well Sir, we tow an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab, 4x4 with a 6.5' bed. It works flawless. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT and Allison MH3000 trans. The coach does great with that in behind it. And, on many of our trips, we carry an '08 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing in the back of it. We use the "Rampage" lift to get the bike into the back which, also works flawless.
Now, the truck weighs exactly 5300 lbs, the bike, right at 900 lbs. and the lift/carrier, close to 275-300 lbs. So, we're running down the road with close to 6500 lbs. following us. The tow bar we're using is rated at, 7500 lbs. Now, that's much not lee-way in terms of additional strength but, it's working fine and get's inspected on a very frequent basis.
So, yep, depending on what your coach is and it's engine, you should have no issues towing your new pickup. As you might already know, just make sure the model you pick IS FLAT TOWABLE! And of course, that can be confirmed by simply checking into the owners manual of the model/year you're considering. It will tell you in that manual, step by step procedures for "Dinghy" towing or, behind a motor home.
There's no need to tell you the procedures for setting it up to tow, find the truck first and then, like stated, read the manual and follow that year/models procedures. Ours does slow us on some grades but, so did our previous toad, an '11 Honda CRV EX-L All Wheel Drive. It's the nature of the beast.
I did the base plate install on the truck and, for the most part, it doesn't get much simpler than what I needed to do for the install. I then did the wiring for the lights. I'm one of those that utilizes the stock tail lights as toad lights. That way, the trucks tail lights act the exact same way when towing it, as they do when someone's driving it. And, it's seriously simple to do it that way. If you'd like help in that matter, PM me and I'd be glad to help. Good luck in your hunt for your new truck and toad.
Scott
