What is the weak link?

I’ve tried listing my requirements several times over the years, and I’ve found that most responders tend to focus on one item on the list and disregard the others. One thing I want is dual pane windows. Whenever I’ve listed our requirements, it seems nearly everyone wants to focus on the dual pane windows and suggests Arctic Fox or some other 4-season model (most of which seem to be available only along the Pacific coast – we’re in West Virginia.) None of the 4-season TT’s are light. The floorplans don’t meet most of our other listed needs.

The toughest thing in meeting our requirements is: It seems all but impossible to find any dresser drawers at all except in a few TT’s well over 30’, a fifth-wheel, or a motorhome. Our 19-foot TT has 6 dresser drawers in the bedroom. I’m not willing to live out of a suitcase long term.

In a recent thread someone suggested the Eagle 266RKS. Not perfect. Dresser is in the main living area. But we could make that work if my current truck could tow it safely. But it appears that this would be stretching too much the tow capacity of my truck.

Wayne

This site is sometimes and amazing group of people and knowledge. If you list your requirements for floorplan and features, I'm sure someone can spring some new ideas. :)

I guess we must be in the minority as our only tow/daily driver since retirement is a 3500 Dually.

APT – My wife recently retired. I’ve been retired for 10 years. I admit that I don’t drive every day, but when I do, it’s usually driving 75 miles or more roundtrip, or at least 4 hours one way. I can’t do a 3/4-ton anymore.

A 25’ TT would do the job, if designed right. But the right features are tough to find in that length. It gets a little easier in the neighborhood of 27’. One I’ve got my eye weighs 6520 dry (and probably much more after options are added, we know how that works) with a dry hitch weight of 970 pounds.

With a Class A it is easy to find the features we want and I could buy a good used one for about the same as I would pay to trade the truck and trade the present TT. Big unknown right now is how much I would leave the Class A sit between trips because I know they like to be run and not sit.

Wayne

That makes more sense Wayne. However, with more towing miles than non existent retired empty commuting miles, the HD makes even more sense!

You can make the current truck work fine for a couple traveling for a month at a time towing a 7000-ish loaded TT. Just find something closer to 5k dry vs. 6500. Plenty out there even with more equipment/features/conveniences! It just might end up being shorter, like 25' box vs. 30'.

APT wrote:

A new truck is not an option.

It is always an option. . .

I didn't mean to imply that I couldn't afford to buy a new truck and a new TT. Sorry.

It would be more accurate for me to say that a 3/4-ton truck is not an option for me. I use my truck as a daily driver most of the year. I drove a 3/4-ton truck for 13 years. During that time, I got old, I got arthritis in my back. It came to a point where the truck was beating me to death, so I traded it on a half-ton for my own comfort.

If I cannot safely make a suitable TT work with this truck, plan B is probably a Class A motor home. For a variety of reasons, I prefer a nicer TT than the current one. My wife and I are now both retired and plan to do more camping and longer trips.

Wayne

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:

Beltzy wrote:
I added compressor and air bags to my 2012 1500 and that was towing at 7200 dry weight, i didnt do anything else to it and we did great. the only concern i had was emergency stopping, so i just layed back kept my distance and took it slow getting around until i could finally afford to upgrade.

That is more encouraging.

How is that encouraging? He was not comfortable towing similar weight with his half ton so he upgraded.

A new truck is not an option.

It is always an option. It has value, and is certainly worth more than a 2007.5+ GM HD that is far more capable and comfortable towing 8000 pounds loaded. A new to you truck does not have brand new. You are planning to spend money to upgrade the RV but cannot afford to upgrade the TV at the same time? That's fair. Buy the truck first!

Empty Nest, Soon wrote:
Looking at this another way . . . If I:

1) keep the loaded tongue weight under the rated 1100 pounds, and

2) keep the WDH adjusted (and weight distributed) so that the truck sits level, and

3) keep the combined weight of the loaded TT and truck below the rated 15,000 pounds, and

4) a scale shows the truck weight with everything loaded to go camping at or below the rated 6400 pounds,

should that be okay?

Wayne

YES!!

rhagfo wrote:

PUCampin wrote:
For 1/2 ton that GRAWR number is almost always limited by the springs. But first, add the 2 rear tire load capacities. Is it higher than the GRAWR? For a 1/2 ton it ill usually be higher, but if not, this is the first step.

Don't worry about the axle itself. If you look at the stand alone axle capacity, it is almost certainly higher than the GRAWR.

This leaves the springs, which are purposly made soft in a 1/2 ton to appeal to the majority of 1/2 ton buyers. Adding some overloads or air bags will add some payload capacity allowing the truck to sit more level with a load and be safer.

However, REMEMBER the brakes were designed to stop the GVWR of the truck. They are not going to catch fire and melt by exceeding GVWR by a few hundred pounds, but the stopping distance will be increase the more weight you add.

Nothing like adding a ton of weight to the Semi-Floating rear axle found on almost all 1500/150 trucks.
Lets not forget that is a 5.3 liter engine, and transmission.

Time for a bigger truck, spending money to make a 1/2 stronger is a wast of money to me. Instead invest in a 250/2500 or 350/3500, and be done with it!

First, even semi-floating axles are rated far above the typical 4000lb GRAWR rating for 1/2 tons. They are NOT going to be the first thing to break. Nor is the proven 5.3 and 6spd automatic, not the weakest link by far. It may not get them there as fast as your diesel, but it will get them there and it won't blow up in the process.

Second, NO ONE is proposing adding a TON (2000lbs) of weight. If you re-read the OP, the poster is asking about increasing cargo capacity by a few HUNDRED pounds, and what aspect they need to address. They are not asking to put a hard sided TC on their truck. Heck, the truck would probably handle a few hundred pounds over without any modifications, but a couple simple changes will make it more comfortable and safer.

Selling current truck for something bigger so they can carry a few hundred pounds more is hardly necessary or cost effective.

Looking at this another way . . . If I:

1) keep the loaded tongue weight under the rated 1100 pounds, and

2) keep the WDH adjusted (and weight distributed) so that the truck sits level, and

3) keep the combined weight of the loaded TT and truck below the rated 15,000 pounds, and

4) a scale shows the truck weight with everything loaded to go camping at or below the rated 6400 pounds,

should that be okay?

Wayne