Coming to the darkside

[FerrisFamilyof5]

Well here we come... just traded in our 2013 Kodiak hybrid on a 2015 Jayco Eagle 314BHDS. from towing 23 feet to 37 feet... lord help me what the heck was i thinking?

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

Here is a link to end covers that might work for you.

PopUpGizmos

Good luck,
Stu

[2012Coleman]

therink wrote:
Good call. Trailer regret is the worst thing. My advice is when and if you upgrade trucks, skip the 3/4 ton/2500 and get a SRW 3500. This will give you about 1,000 lbs additional legal payload and doesn't change the ride quality. Less than a grand price difference. Also if you plan on getting a 37' trailer, consider a fifth wheel. They are so much easier to tow and have tons of room. I had a 35' TT and kept it one year before moving to a fifth. It was a waste of $. Just my 2 cents.
Now that I am on my second fifth wheel, I will never go back to a TT.

This is my plan. My current setup is OK for the use we get from it. The plan is to buy a SRW 3500 and then later, a suitable fiver.

In the mean time, don't they make something that covers the tent ends of hybrid TT's?

[rbpru]

Well you have the facts and the procedure for a proper TT and TV combo.

Look at it as a three legged stool. Floor plan, Tow vehicle and Cost. All three have to be right.

It is supposed to be an enjoyable hobbie not a source of frustration.

Good luck

[rhagfo]

Mike Up wrote:

FerrisFamilyof5 wrote:
Ya'll can stop... not gonna happen... thanks for the input. We'll use the HTT for next year and upgrade the truck. Won't be looking for a TT until after next season... the more i thought about it.... the more it makes sense. I'll invest in some heated mattress covers, since he biggest complaint I get is the DW being cold. I'm always fine... she not so much.

Thank you for all the input.

Great decision!! Plus if you can make the shorter trailer work, it will be a blessing as long trailers suck in not being able to get good state park sites. Mine is only 29' yet I'm disappointed in not being able to get the great sites I had with my 22.5' trailer. But I needed the room due to a growing family.

Good decision, as stated before skip the 250/2500 and get a 350/3500, for more more payload.

Then that opens up the possibility of a 5er, more storage, WAY better tow experience!

On the mattress pad get a queen with dual controls, that way your side off DW on High! 🙂

[Mike_Up]

therink wrote:
Good call. Trailer regret is the worst thing. My advice is when and if you upgrade trucks, skip the 3/4 ton/2500 and get a SRW 3500. This will give you about 1,000 lbs additional legal payload and doesn't change the ride quality. Less than a grand price difference. Also if you plan on getting a 37' trailer, consider a fifth wheel. They are so much easier to tow and have tons of room. I had a 35' TT and kept it one year before moving to a fifth. It was a waste of $. Just my 2 cents.
Now that I am on my second fifth wheel, I will never go back to a TT.

X2, if you want something longer than 32', I would go to a 5th wheel. TT heavy tongue weights will require Class 5 hitch and very very good sway control.

[Terryallan]

Just so you will know. there are thousands of lighter TTs that your 1500 can tow with ease. Example. Mine is 31', and weighs ready to camp, a little under 6000lbs. It sleeps 10 comfortably, and is very easy to tow.

you do not have to get a super heavy TT. No need really.

[CampingN_C_]

To the OP, most people never do what you just did so congrats. There are many many people on here that have bitten off more camper than they could chew, myself included. I had a 2500HD with the 6.0 and fought handling and power issues.
I know it seems like everyone wants to pile on you but we just hate seeing other people make the same mistakes we've made.
IMO, that trailer would have a tongue weight around 1400-1600lbs. That may seem hard to believe but it's true. I've always said Jayco's numbers are VERY conservative. Brochure TW on mine was 970 lbs, but it hit the scale at 1480lbs loaded somewhat lightly.

[therink]

Good call. Trailer regret is the worst thing. My advice is when and if you upgrade trucks, skip the 3/4 ton/2500 and get a SRW 3500. This will give you about 1,000 lbs additional legal payload and doesn't change the ride quality. Less than a grand price difference. Also if you plan on getting a 37' trailer, consider a fifth wheel. They are so much easier to tow and have tons of room. I had a 35' TT and kept it one year before moving to a fifth. It was a waste of $. Just my 2 cents.
Now that I am on my second fifth wheel, I will never go back to a TT.

[Mike_Up]

Double post

[Mike_Up]

FerrisFamilyof5 wrote:
Ya'll can stop... not gonna happen... thanks for the input. We'll use the HTT for next year and upgrade the truck. Won't be looking for a TT until after next season... the more i thought about it.... the more it makes sense. I'll invest in some heated mattress covers, since he biggest complaint I get is the DW being cold. I'm always fine... she not so much.

Thank you for all the input.

Great decision!! Plus if you can make the shorter trailer work, it will be a blessing as long trailers suck in not being able to get good state park sites. Mine is only 29' yet I'm disappointed in not being able to get the great sites I had with my 22.5' trailer. But I needed the room due to a growing family.

[downtheroad]

FerrisFamilyof5 wrote:
Ya'll can stop... not gonna happen... thanks for the input. We'll use the HTT for next year and upgrade the truck. Won't be looking for a TT until after next season... the more i thought about it.... the more it makes sense. I'll invest in some heated mattress covers, since he biggest complaint I get is the DW being cold. I'm always fine... she not so much.

Thank you for all the input.

Good decision...you have avoided making the same mistake I did...I didn't listen.

Don't give up on it....and good luck next season when you start the process again.

[EcoBullet]

FerrisFamilyof5 wrote:
Ya'll can stop... not gonna happen... thanks for the input. We'll use the HTT for next year and upgrade the truck. Won't be looking for a TT until after next season... the more i thought about it.... the more it makes sense. I'll invest in some heated mattress covers, since he biggest complaint I get is the DW being cold. I'm always fine... she not so much.

Thank you for all the input.

I think you've made a wise decision. Still, if you were only going to tow short distance on easy terrain it might have been a reasonable risk, but I sure wouldn't have wanted to plan a trip to Colorado or down the Blue Ridge Parkway.

[IdaD]

That's way more trailer than I'd want to try to pull with any half ton, regardless of how it's equipped or what tires it has.

Congrats on the trailer - it looks very nice. Hopefully there's enough left in the bank for a truck that can handle it safely.

[FerrisFamilyof5]

Ya'll can stop... not gonna happen... thanks for the input. We'll use the HTT for next year and upgrade the truck. Won't be looking for a TT until after next season... the more i thought about it.... the more it makes sense. I'll invest in some heated mattress covers, since he biggest complaint I get is the DW being cold. I'm always fine... she not so much.

Thank you for all the input.

[rhagfo]

FerrisFamilyof5 wrote:
i'm at 9600 lbs towing capacity. I'm going to be close. I don't fill water tank, just added up family weight... I have about 600 lbs of wiggle room for gear. (that's starting with the dry weight). I already told the DW it's going to be tough. Won't be camping until May, so I have time to upgrade the tow vehicle if i have to. dry weight is 7710. I'm a bit nervous, but also excited. I know for a fact i will have a new tow vehicle in time for our trip to Myrtle Beach in April 2017.

Well one more reality check these are the specs on the TT.

Technical Specifications:
Length 37' 3"
Height 11' 5"
Dry Weight 7,710#
Payload Capacity 2,265#
GVWR 9,975#
Hitch Weight(DRY) 920#

Long Tall and Heavy.

The 1500 has 3,950# axle ratings, I see the Tail wagging the dog. That and the GVWR of the TT is more than the MAX towing capacity of the TV.

Just wondering how far is the tow home, and is there a scale on the way?? Do you have new bars for the WDH, to cover the extra weight of the new TT.

What is the power Train in the 1500 Engine, Trans, and axle ratio?