Need advice on a TT for ours needs

[Big1]

Hello Members of RV'ers
My name is George and I'm a first timer posting, I would like some advice as to buying my first TT. My TV is a 2014 2500 5.7 hemi with the 3.73 gears, my towing among is 11,100 and my payload is 2400 so what weight trailer should I be looking at? It just my wife and I with no kids or grand kid, I just retired from my job and the wife and I will like something comfortable for me to tow? Thank you for your reply and if I leave something out please let me know.

[AntandJoeF]

Hi George, I'm new to this site - been reading things that are interesting so hooked my husband up to read things as well. Today decided to join - anyway we're new to RV'ing - we bought our very 1st RV (TT) in October & we just picked it up in April. I believe we have something similar to what you are looking for its a Forest River Flagstaff 832ikbs (classic ultra lite) and has two recliners in the rear and an East/West bed. The East/West bed was definitely a requirement for us - we felt you had more room in the bedroom. On the other hand...I had wanted a bunk room, but my husband wanted the open living area and he won - we were told by many to buy for ourselves not for anyone else (guests). I ended up buying cots with air mattresses to allow for guests ha!
You may want to check out these two others - they are very similar to ours. Open Range Roamer RT316RLS & Coachman (I believe Liberty Edition) 297RLDS.
Good luck!

[AntandJoeF]

Big1 wrote:
Hello Members of RV'ers
My name is George and I'm a first timer posting, I would like some advice as to buying my first TT. My TV is a 2014 2500 5.7 hemi with the 3.73 gears, my towing among is 11,100 and my payload is 2400 so what weight trailer should I be looking at? It just my wife and I with no kids or grand kid, I just retired from my job and the wife and I will like something comfortable for me to tow? Thank you for your reply and if I leave something out please let me know.

[Atlee]

I shouldn't think the payload numbers are a "tab bit exuberant". I have a 2014 F150 that has a 2286# max payload. My F150 does have the HD pkg.

diazr2 wrote:
First thing you should do is check your payload numbers I think they might be just a tad bit exuberant. Its a ¾ ton truck so 2400 is just a little less than a ton and a half? But even with the wrong payload numbers you should be able to handle a very nice trailer indeed. That's lots of truck. Nice engine as well. I would guess at least 30ft but that's just a guess without the numbers.

[Big1]

Oh okay I'm thinking about a 27' and mostly forest campground, the wife and I went up the Crater Lake OR which we love the area. I also have a friend that live up in Iowa that we can setup outside her home. I appericate you guys helping me out, I'm a retired military that drove heavy truck so I'm a green horn on towing. We want be using it too often, maybe twice a years or so because the wife and I are both Pastor of a church so leaving for weeks or months at a time want happen. Thank again and please keep posting.

[rexlion]

What kinds of places do you hope to camp in? The reason I think to ask is, I like camping in national forest campgrounds and in more remote locations. For such places, a small, maneuverable trailer is better. But if you intend to go to large private RV resorts, it won't make as much difference... although I do feel that smaller trailers are easier to tow. Our first TT was a 23' with slide, and I've moved to smaller and smaller trailers since then.

An Airstream or an Oliver would be good ones to look at.

[Dick_B]

To help you decide on what RV to buy you could go to www.rvknowhow.com and read Joe and Vicki’s suggestions and/or download their e-book `RV Buyers Homework’, which walks you through the process of choosing the best RV for your needs, selecting the right floor plans and features, determining the RV’s cargo-carrying and towing capacities and evaluating its livability. (Nov-Dec Highways, pg. 21)
RVtravel.com and the Better Business Bureau have a DVD that covers the same subject
(http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=710&m=2) and Chuck Woodbury has an ebook with similar advice.

[coolmom42]

A rear living plan is very nice. Just make sure you have a good spot to watch TV if you do much of that. Also (if you buy new) consider buying with the factory chairs not installed, and replace them with a couple of residential recliners.

[goducks10]

I'd look for something in the 6-7000lb dry range. IMO I would try and keep the loaded weight around 8000lbs max. That would give you a 1000lb tongue weight, leaving you with 1400lbs for people and gear in the truck. There's a lot of TT's that will fall in that weight category.

On the topic of TT's try and find one that has a high or fairly high cargo capacity. You don't want a TT that can't carry enough gear as well as water. The higher the CC generally correlates to a stronger frame and suspension.

[donn0128]

Towing a load is not always the issue. Towing a sail boat with the sails all up is. Trailers of any sort except popups are giant bricks your trying to move down the road. To move that much frontal area through the air requires a lot of torque. Personally I would start off buying used, and keep the trailers GVWR under around 8000 pounds and you will be good to go. Can you tow heavier? Sure. Will YOU be happy towing more? Only YOU can answer that.

[Big1]

This is mines towing my wife new Lincoln.
Well I can't post pics.

[Big1]

diazr2 wrote:

Kalabin wrote:
2400 sounds right if it is a loaded Laramie. Ignore the 3/4-ton as that is from years long ago.

The biggest thing your going to want to do is go to a couple of RV dealers near you and find a floor plan you really like. Make a list of your "must have" items. From there people can really help narrow you down. Some people love a trailer with a rear seating area with a view, others love a good entertainment center with theatre type seating.

Go check some out, come back with a few floor plans you liked and I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

Yeah I just checked out those payload numbers he is correct. That's what I like about this forum I learn something new ever time I am on here.

Thank for your comments I really appreciated it, the one that you are talking about is the one my wife and I like, the one with the rear two captain chair in the back and the kitchen is on the other side. We went to the rv show and was looking at the Springfield and I think that the total weight was 7500 lbs but hate the small size Queen bed. The one that we really like I forget the brand but the bed was side ways on where the bedroom slide out to give you more room. The trailer that I can really get a good one is around 8k to 8.5k lbs. What you guys think?

BTW: I have the Bighorn ram.

[diazr2]

Kalabin wrote:
2400 sounds right if it is a loaded Laramie. Ignore the 3/4-ton as that is from years long ago.

The biggest thing your going to want to do is go to a couple of RV dealers near you and find a floor plan you really like. Make a list of your "must have" items. From there people can really help narrow you down. Some people love a trailer with a rear seating area with a view, others love a good entertainment center with theatre type seating.

Go check some out, come back with a few floor plans you liked and I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

Yeah I just checked out those payload numbers he is correct. That's what I like about this forum I learn something new ever time I am on here.

[Kalabin]

2400 sounds right if it is a loaded Laramie. Ignore the 3/4-ton as that is from years long ago.

The biggest thing your going to want to do is go to a couple of RV dealers near you and find a floor plan you really like. Make a list of your "must have" items. From there people can really help narrow you down. Some people love a trailer with a rear seating area with a view, others love a good entertainment center with theatre type seating.

Go check some out, come back with a few floor plans you liked and I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

[diazr2]

First thing you should do is check your payload numbers I think they might be just a tad bit exuberant. Its a ¾ ton truck so 2400 is just a little less than a ton and a half? But even with the wrong payload numbers you should be able to handle a very nice trailer indeed. That's lots of truck. Nice engine as well. I would guess at least 30ft but that's just a guess without the numbers.