first timer at rving

[father_of_poodl]

My wife and i are planning on buying a coachman catalina legacy edition 323bhdsck. I know its big but we have a big family. I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers on this. i plan on towing it with my 2015 crewcab silerado 5.3 with a 3;42 rear end.my max trailer weight is 9400 lb and gcwr is 15,000lb. just seeing if this is possible or a good i deal. i know i need sway bars ,but is this safe or do i need a 2500 diesel??? also the travel trailer has a dry weight of 7,530 and gvwr of 9500 and its 35'10" long.Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and hope to be rving soon.

[rexlion]

I would not tow that behemoth with a 1/2 ton pickup. In fact, I would skip the 3/4 and go right to a 1 ton. And I'd want a ProPride hitch or Hensley Arrow to assure that the TT never developed any dangerous sway. Or better still, there might be a similarly spacious floor plan in a 5th wheel, which will be inherently more stable to tow than a TT. You'd have a shorter overall rig length, too, and an easier time maneuvering around fuel pumps and fitting into campsites.

[JIMNLIN]

Sometimes I use my wifes '16 1500 chevy crew cab 4wd 5.3 engine 6L80 tranny 3.42 gears to pull a 20' 12k gvwr car hauler with a tractor with a cab = around 11.5' tall. Total weight is around 8k-9k depending what implements are on the tractor. I can load the tractor to stay within the trucks rawr so no weight carrying issues.

The truck does ok in the flat country but in the hills and in high head wind it really works hard. I wouldn't want to make a vacation pulling that much weight with the 5.3 smallblock. Now if your truck had the optional 6.2 engine at 420hp/460 torque with the 3.73 gears then no issues.

A 3/4 ton gas or diesel would make a much better towing platform to go anywhere for that size trailer.

[rbpru]

Just keep in mind a "sweet ride" has little to do with the suitability of the truck. It is a function of what your wife thinks. My F-150 does a fine job with my TT. My wife thinks it is an ore barge that ride like an old stagecoach. 🙂

[mat60]

I was just wondering if you have done some trailer towing father?

[DutchmenSport]

downtheroad wrote:
Welcome to the Forum...Here are some specs. for that trailer.

Length 35 ft 10 in
Hitch Weight 790 lbs
Gross Weight 9500 lbs
Dry Weight 7750 lbs
Cargo Weight 1750 lbs

36 footer with a gross weight of 9500 lbs. in my opinion is most definitely
3/4 ton territory.... especially since you say you have a big family...Big families mean lots of stuff to back along both in the trailer and in the truck.

Don't get discouraged. Camping is a GREAT family adventure.

This trailer is about the same length and weight as my Outback. I tow with a 3500 diesel dually long bed, crew cab. Others say they can tow that size of trailer with a lesser truck, but as for me and my house... I won't tow with anything less that 1 ton dually. Dually for stability, one ton for payload, long bed (8 feet 2 inches -- inside) for lots of bed length, crew cab for lots of passengers and cab space. Our back seat (full rear doors) flips up and the entire back seat area can used for storage, or passengers, or anything. Ad a shell and the amount of storage space under cover is multiplied megafold!

If you have a "large" family, how many will be riding in the tow vehicle. This will also subtract from the available payload.

FYI, my truck is a very sweet ride, a towing beast of a machine. You won't go wrong going bigger in a tow vehicle, but do run risks going smaller. (Just something to think about).

[father_of_poodl]

thanks for all the advise. hope you all have a safe and happy rving.

[rbpru]

My standard advise is to do what we did. decide what you want then rent a similar unit. You learn a lot quickly, before you spend the big bucks.

Good luck

[handye9]

Here's a link to a calculator that may help in your decision.

That trailer has a dry weight in the area of 7700 lbs, it will gain weight on the dealer lot, and loaded for camping, it will be close to 9000 lbs.

When you add weight to the truck (aftermarket accessories, people, pets, cargo, etc) your towing capacity and available payload are being reduced pound for pound.

Example:

If you have 9400 tow capacity and you put 700 lbs of people in the truck, your true tow capacity is 8700 lbs.

I think you're looking at too much trailer for your truck.

[downtheroad]

Welcome to the Forum...Here are some specs. for that trailer.

Length 35 ft 10 in
Hitch Weight 790 lbs
Gross Weight 9500 lbs
Dry Weight 7750 lbs
Cargo Weight 1750 lbs

36 footer with a gross weight of 9500 lbs. in my opinion is most definitely
3/4 ton territory.... especially since you say you have a big family...Big families mean lots of stuff to back along both in the trailer and in the truck.

Don't get discouraged. Camping is a GREAT family adventure.

[camp-n-family]

Without knowing all the truck and trailer weight capacities I would still say it is likely too much trailer for your truck, especially if you plan on carrying that large family in the truck too.

A 7500lbs dry trailer will push 9k once loaded with a tongue weight pushing 1200lbs.
Doesn’t have to be a diesel but I’d bet you’d need the payload and ratings of a 3/4 ton truck.

I have the same layout in our Bullet 31BHPR but it’s delivered weight is only 6400lbs. We towed it for 2 years with a more capable 1/2 ton than you list and it did ok but we were overweight even when lightly loaded. We now have a 3/4 ton and it’s a much more enjoyable experience. I would never recommend our size trailer with a 1/2 ton.

[father_of_poodl]

Thank you for the info .I wanna keep the family safe and still have fun rving.

[kerrlakeRoo]

Your truck may be listed as 9500 tow cap but the trailer will be right up at that's limit. Also look at your payload cap. 9000 lb trailer should have a tongue weight around 1200 lbs, add another 100 for the wd hitch, plus the weight of the folks travelling with you, and your nearing 2000 lbs with nothing in the bed,
Salesmen will quote you the empty weight of a trailer. The only time that trailer will weigh that, is the day it leaves the assembly floor.

You can check the specifics on your truck, but my first impression is that you would be pushing the truck much harder than you may want to, especially with the 3.42 gearing.

[father_of_poodl]

thanks for the info. but this is the only trailer to handle our big family comfortably.

[theoldwizard1]

I always tell first timers don't by your first RV new. Buy a 2-5 year old unit from a private seller. The deprecation on new RV's is really bad especially if you may not like it. And start smaller. Under 30'

IMHO, even though the manufacture says you have a GCWR of 15,000 lbs, that is way to much without the ax Trailering Package. Above 10,000 GCWR I would recommend a 3/4 ton pickup.