Need help finding specific floor plain travel trailer

[rk05]

Hi everyone! We have been looking at buying a TT and have narrowed them down to a specfic floor plain. The type we like have the tv mounted on the long wall of the trailer where you can sit and watch tv without having to rotate your body or head. They also have bunk beds, 1 slide out and an outside kitchen.

These are the models that we have found so far:

Keystone Hideout 28BHS
Prime Time Avenger ATI 27DBS
Aspen Trail 2790BHS
Grand Design Imagine 2800BH

Unfortunately, all of the models above are over 6000lbs and from another post I started looks like we won't be able to tow this with our Escalade EVS.

Does anyone know of another model like those above that are under 6000lbs AND possibly under $20K!!

Thanks!

[rk05]

Ok all by looking at the owners manual it says with a weight carrying hitch 600lbs is max and with a weight distributing hitch 1,100lbs tongue weight. I can't find max cargo sticker anywhere just the GAWR and GVWR ratings but it looks as if 1585lbs is the max.

So, we went yesterday and looked at other trailers and the tongue weights were 400-600lbs and dry weights were 4500-5500lbs.

I think these numbers are better with us at 500lbs, hitch at 600lbs that still leaves 400lbs to put in the back of the suv. I'm not even sure how much we will go camping and how well the kids/wife will like it. We only tent camped twice with our older son in the past 5yrs.

[KillerIsMe]

Do this my Friend: look at the yellow sticker inside your Escalade driver's side door jamb and it will say "don't go around loading any more weight than this in this here vehicle", or something to that effect. There might just be another sticker that tells you to reduce that weight even further. That's close enough to the payload of the Cadillac. Take a look at the dry hitch weight of the travel trailer of your dreams and add in a weight distribution hitch (maybe 70 - 100 lbs.) and a battery and propane tank (guess in the 100 lb. range) and add those two weights (170 - 200 lbs.) to the dry hitch weight. You know from that brief foray into math you'll have to deduct at least that much from your payload, added to the human weight in the car and anything else you decide to carry along with you. You're estimating here, but if you're around or over the payload limit you might just want to think about rethinking the trailer. Reason I'm such a know-it-all is because I just went through this same thing with a Nissan Frontier. I had a payload of only 1213 lbs., and when I conservatively estimated the weight I would carry in the truck at 600 lbs. I went to the calculator and realized a dry hitch weight of 413 lbs. would stretch me to the truck's absolute capacity (600 lbs. for us and our personal goods added to that pesky 170 - 200 lbs. propane/battery/WDH, and then that total subtracted from the 1213 lb. payload). And that's without anything in the trailer transferring more weight to the hitch. That may leave you with some tight parameters depending on what the yellow sticker says. My own personal experience was to look for trailers I could semi-confidently handle (Venture Sonic Lite) but they weren't all that appealing (a bit cramped) so I bit down hard on the bullet and went all in for an f150 - 2067 lb. payload, 9000 lb. towing capacity. I kicked and screamed, but what I ultimately gave in to was the fact that a small, light trailer would set us back almost as much cash as the next size up, and that next size up is the sweet spot for us. The trailer you're looking for is the trailer I'm looking for and I found my Holy Grail in the FunFinder/MPG/Radiance line. We want one of those 7500 lb. gross weight trailers - not too big, not too small - and the shopping possibilities opened up by the Ford changed my perspective on this whole trailer thing. We haven't bought yet but looking at trailers is kind of fun now that I'm not weight-shy. I can look that Minnie right in the eye, spit on the shoes of a 900 lb. hitch weight - I ain't scared anymore. It was really hard to go down to the Ford dealer and trade my perfect-for-me Frontier on a too-big-for-me f150, but I figured if I was going to plunk down $20-25,000 on a trailer I didn't want the tail wagging the dog. Anyways, that's my ten cents.

[yillb]

Fun finder xtreme series are very low in weight and very large in size. I have a 28 footer under 6k pounds weighed dry, but very close. If you can figure a way to make something like that work you might start their. Though that light weight comes as a cost 😞 they have slides lots of premium features and an outdoor kitchen in almost all models.

[NYCgrrl]

I noted that one of the similar looking layouts sez it sleeps 10.

Is that how many people you expect to sleep in the TT on a regular basis or are you accommodating others in a spare b/r for guests scenario?

Given what appears to be a weight problem for your TV perhaps looking at units that would more readily fit the nuclear family could be useful.

[RPreeb]

RoyB wrote:
I always liked the JAYCO TRAILERS home page where you can look at all of their floorplans and specs and compare between them...

You might get some good ideas doing this...

Roy Ken

Yes... Jayco has an easy to navigate website with easy access to floor plans and general info. Try here: Jayco Trailers

[rexlion]

Ok, hitch weight. Take that Keystone you mentioned, at 875 lb dry hitch weight. The TT is over 32' long. Ever play on the teeter-totter? Recall that the farther out from the fulcrum you sat, the more your weight affected things? Think of your TT as a BIG teeter-totter. To the near end you are adding 2 full LP tanks and a battery. And don't forget your weight-distribution hitch, an absolute must-have for such a long TT; add nearly 100 lbs for this item directly on your receiver. Then you're going to load your clothes and other gear. Think about where... will it be in front, or in the middle, or in back? And your water, where is the fresh water tank? If it's up front, a full tank of water could add a couple hundred lbs to your hitch. Then you're probably loading passengers and gear in the back of your TV, which adds to the rear suspension load. Do some figuring. Every situation is different.

At least the Grand Design is only 575 lbs dry hitch, according to what I looked up. That might be to your advantage. Even so, run the numbers and see if it will really work. You do want some cushion; don't push your luck.

Definitely make sure you get some LT tires, preferably a bit lower profile than OEM, to reduce tire squirm and aid handling.

If it were me, I'd buy a hybrid to sleep the brood. Something in the 23'-25' range. But then, my trailer doesn't even have a tv; I find the outdoors and the scenery plenty entertaining, along with a good book or two to read. Ahhhh... peace and quiet, no "talking heads", and I get to create my own action/adventure. 😉

[carringb]

rk05 wrote:
our payload capacity is say 2000lbs.

Payload of the ESV starts at 1,569 pounds and goes down with any options or accessories.

[bobndot]

rk05, Yes, you are thinking correctly. Its an add up and take away equation. Your vehicles weight is not what it says on the title , it is with EVERYTHING you carry inside or on top of your TV. Hopefully, your vehicle has a factory tow package.
If not, you might want to think about some kind of tent. :B

On the serious side , there is a weight decal on your drivers door jam or possibly inside the glove compartment on a sticker that shows approx., payload.
I understand your situation and it's often more difficult to match the TV to a TT if you already have the TV.
Already having the TV , you have less selection for a suitable floor plan to compliment your TV weight restrictions.

You must think of it as 2 individual vehicles with each having their own suspensions that has ratings and restrictions.
When you balance each one, they compliment one another as a towed unit, while being joined by a weight distributing hitch of proportional size. ( don't forget, the WD hitch also has weight, maybe 100# , comes off the payload and it's considered part of the hitch weight equation as far as i know. One of our engineer members would know better than me )

In order for any of us to acquire a real true payload weight is to have your vehicle weighed at a certified scale . Then you will know exactly where you stand with the amount of stuff you carry. It's very different for each of us. ('I bring one bag, my DW brings 7 bags and 4 for the dog, at this point i'm pushing being overloaded and she is still carrying out more stuff' )
Load up your TV as if you were going on a trip. Everything that's inside the vehicle is weight. People,tools, dogs, coolers, kids, computers etc. This is the payload that many people need to watch because many of us use up our payload before using up our towing capacity.

Re tires : "P" rated tires that offer a smooth ride where the carrying capacity would be less than an LT tire of equal size. You want a more stiff sidewall (LT tire) when towing a TT. It helps a lot with crosswinds and bow waves from overtaking trucks and buses. Remember most of us tow at or below 65mph due to restricted ST tire speed ratings and common sense. Sometimes bigger professional drivers pass us by like we are standing still. Just remember #1 rule, You as well as your TV need to be in control , not the other way around.

I would look around for a smaller simple floor plan until you are in a better position, then upgrade the entire package if the Rv lifestyle fits your family . As the family grows, your floor plan needs may change.

Good luck and stay safe,
b n d .

[troubledwaters]

When you load stuff in the TT 12 to 13 percent of that becomes tongue weight. Tongue weight is subtracted from payload on the truck. When you load something in the truck, 100 Percent of that is subtracted from payload. That is an important difference between stuff like propane etc in the TT (12 percent) vs stuff loaded in the truck (100 percent).

So in essence everything you can load in the TT, only 12 Percent of that is counted against the payload of the truck.

Check this site CLICKY for more information.

[lawrosa]

rk05 wrote:
Can you go into a little more about "The problem i see with towing with your TV is, you may run out of payload before you run out of towing capacity. By the time you add the hitch weight plus people, kids and all the stuff you carry in the truck you may very well be over your trucks payload and rear tire rating."

So I don't have our vehicle right now to look at our capacity but if the hitch weight is 900lbs and we weigh 450lbs and our payload capacity is say 2000lbs. that would give us 650lbs of other **** to bring. Now does that apply to only the tow vehicle or both? If both then that would assume that once we fill the propane tanks ect that adds in???

Still trying to figure out all these weights and how they all fit in.

Thanks

You should get the truck and get it to the scales before you buy a trailer. Fill it with full fuel and load all people and cargo you will camp with.

Then take those front and rear weights from the scales and subtract the door tag front and rear axle weights.

That will dictate exactly what weight trailer you can tow.

Until you do this its really all a guess..

[downtheroad]

Tall order of wants and must haves for a trailer under 6000 lbs. loaded and trip ready.
Honestly, from experience, I see a new tow vehicle in your future.

Good luck with your search.

[rk05]

Lwiddis wrote:
You found TTs you like so I suggest finding a TV that will pull your favorite.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. We up graded from a Suburban to this thing and can't afford an actual truck with the gas alone for my commute.

[Lwiddis]

You found TTs you like so I suggest finding a TV that will pull your favorite.

[rk05]

Can you go into a little more about "The problem i see with towing with your TV is, you may run out of payload before you run out of towing capacity. By the time you add the hitch weight plus people, kids and all the stuff you carry in the truck you may very well be over your trucks payload and rear tire rating."

So I don't have our vehicle right now to look at our capacity but if the hitch weight is 900lbs and we weigh 450lbs and our payload capacity is say 2000lbs. that would give us 650lbs of other **** to bring. Now does that apply to only the tow vehicle or both? If both then that would assume that once we fill the propane tanks ect that adds in???

Still trying to figure out all these weights and how they all fit in.

Thanks