Need Some Advice on Used TT Purchase

[Hippilongstocki]

Hello All!

I'm new to this forum--but knew I could come here and get some solid advice for purchasing a used TT. We're towing with a 2005 Armada (9100 lbs), but in crunching the real numbers---I think we're looking at something with a dry weight of around 6000-6300, tops.

Here's what we're looking for:

1. We've got 3 girls (7, 3, and 1.5), so we're looking for something with a separate bunkhouse.

2. We need something with a living room slide for sure.

3. We're thinking about 30'-32' long for the space we need.

4. We are looking for something USED. Price range is about $15-20K.

We'll be traveling in this quite frequently, so any help is appreciated--as well as any tips on what to look for when buying. We've got a little over a month before we need to purchase.

Any veteran tips will help immensely--because I guarantee there are things I'm missing in the purchasing process.

Thanks Again!
--Ryan

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

Gdetrailer wrote:

The problem here is in order to tow a max of 9100 lbs you would have a min of 10% of the tongue weight which is 910 lbs. 10% is the BOTTOM most spec for tongue weight, ideally 12%-15% is where you should be..

15% of 9100 lbs is 1,365 which puts you well over the allowed hitch weight!

To get 15% hitch weight you would HAVE to have an absolute MAX trailer weight of 6000 lbs! which would get you right at 900 lb mark.

BUT the 900-910 hitch rating is only good IF your vehicle is equipped with the OPTIONAL TOW PACKAGE.

I thought the whole purpose of weight distribution hitch was to change the load characteristic when your tongue weight goes over the rated tongue weight capacity of the vehicle. In this case, the Armada can carry 900 lb tongue weight - if you have more tongue weight than that, then you must use a WDH to spread that 1500lbs out over the whole TV.....maybe I don't get it???....am I crazy or what?

[WoodGlue]

Coachmen is a good camper. They use Azdel:

Info about Azdel

WoodGlue

[xteacher]

Here's one: Coachmen Apex 259BHSS

[trsky]

There are a number of bunk houses out there under 6000# I had a Passport 29BH that weighed 5100 empty. Keep your eyes open and you can find what you want.

[gmw_photos]

To the OP, you are running into the age old same problem that many others have: the first limit you run up against on these 1/2 ton based vehicles ( Armada based on Titan )is payload and rear axle capacity.
Forget the mythical "tow capacity" and pretty much forget anything a salesman ( car or RV ) says to you.

So....the first question you need to answer in your own mind is, do you consider the truck manufacturers stated limits to be actual "limits", or are they just "guidelines" .... "suggestions".

Lots of folks run around with tow vehicles overloaded. Up to you to decide if that is wise or not. It's your family.

[Gdetrailer]

Hippilongstockings wrote:
Also--I've been doing a lot of research in Armada forums---and everyone said they didn't have a problem towing something of that size. It's got a V8 and a tow package, although I do understand the shorter wheel base might present a problem.

Now--I think it might be pushing it a bit, and I would personally like to be under 6K dry weight. I feel like I could comfortable tow it, and wouldn't have a problem.

If what I'm looking for is too nuts---please give me some suggestions.

Thanks!

2005 NISSAN TOWING GUIDE

From the 2005 Nissan Towing Guide..


2005 ARMADA TOWING DATA
Engine Type 5.6L V8,Transmission A/T
Model(s)

Maximum Trailer Weight
without optional tow package
4x2, 6,500
4x4, 6,500

Maximum Trailer Weight
with optional tow package
4x2, 9,100
4x4, 9,000

Maximum Trailer Tongue Load (lbs.)
without optional tow package
4x2, 650
4x4, 650

Maximum Trailer Tongue Load (lbs.)
with optional tow package
4x2, 910
4x4, 900

Gross Combined Weight Rating (lbs.)
without optional tow package
4x2, 12,800
4x4, 13,000

Gross Combined Weight Rating (lbs.)
with optional tow package

4x2, 14,600
4x4, 14,822

Additional RECOMMENDED
Equipment

Sway-Control Device
Weight-Distributing Hitch Ball Mount (Class IV)

Armada Curb (empty) weight 4x2 about 5,013 and 4x4 about 5,168

The problem here is in order to tow a max of 9100 lbs you would have a min of 10% of the tongue weight which is 910 lbs. 10% is the BOTTOM most spec for tongue weight, ideally 12%-15% is where you should be..

15% of 9100 lbs is 1,365 which puts you well over the allowed hitch weight!

To get 15% hitch weight you would HAVE to have an absolute MAX trailer weight of 6000 lbs! which would get you right at 900 lb mark.

BUT the 900-910 hitch rating is only good IF your vehicle is equipped with the OPTIONAL TOW PACKAGE.

If not equipped with tow package then you are only allowed 650 lbs MAX hitch weight!

That would put you at a MAX of 4,000 lbs for 15% tongue weight!

You simply are asking way to much of your vehicle if you exceed 4K (without tow package) or 6K (WITH TOW PACKAGE).

Pretty darn hard to find a 30ft bunk house under 4K EMPTY..

My suggestion is to find out if your vehicle has the optional tow package, then go from there.

Realistically you need to be looking for a trailer which has a GVWR of 7K OR LESS and ignore the dry or empty ratings. If you do not have the tow package then you are going to be limited to extremely small lightweight trailers (under 20ft) and would have GVWR under 5K...

On edit.. forgot to mention that you need to take in account the weight of your Weight Distribution hitch.. This will easily add 150 lbs of hardware to your hitch weight...

You also need to find out the cargo rating of your Armada since your passengers and any gear placed in the vehicle will take away cargo capacity. This may affect how much hitch capacity you will have leftover since the max hitch weight is figured into the cargo rating of the vehicle.

[Heavy_Metal_Doc]

Some of the exact features may have to be adjusted, but I don't this is all that unrealistic.
There are lots of lightweight TT's out there. New would be easier to find a good fit, but there's got be some used ones coming on the market. Take a good look at the deals - you may find a better discount on brand new than the best used price for same features.


Also, knowing the shipping weight is measured (not guess-timated by some sales guy), a smart buyer can calculate out his load of supplies and gear put in the TT along with the people / extras in the vehicle.
If the Armada has a towing capacity of 9K, then figure staying down closer to 7500 is better and will allow for decent load in the vehicle.
Here's a Keystone Bullet specs for a model with front master bed and rear bunks that you can add 1000 / 1500 pounds of stuff and still be withing those guidelines:
Specs for 286QBSWE
Shipping Weight 5298
Carrying Capacity 2232
Hitch 530
Length 32' 10
Height 10' 3

[loulou57]

We have a 27' TT, actual length 31' 8"

TT. Dry weight. 4201
TT. GVWR 5993

We have one slide. It also has a queen walk around and a single over double bunk.

If you look around you will find something close to what you want. Take your time.

[Desert_Captain]

Step one, eliminate "Dry weights" from the equation. They are a useless, misleading joke loved only by salesmen. While you probably won't load to the trailers GVWR (with your family you just might), that is the number to consider. If you can find a 30' to 32'bunkhouse that manages to come in anywhere near 6,500# it is either:

A: Very expensive, a high quality build which is about as rare as an honest politician or....
B: A very cheaply built disaster waiting to happen with very little CCC

"A" will be way out of your budget, "B" will work if you use it very lightly and are extremely handy at fixing lots of things. With the Armada and a family of five staying at or under 6500# (mas y menos), is a very good plan. It is a buyers market with lots to choose from so happy hunting and good luck!

As always.... Opinions and YMMV. :C

[K_Charles]

Forest river has a few, try this one T281QBXL

[krobbe]

I read some posts from clubarmada.com Some are overloaded towing the kinds of weights you're talking about. I wouldn't do it. Most bunkroom models are in 3/4 ton territory.

[TrailerPark_Mar]

Don't let anybody fool you the Armada with full tow package is quite possibly the finest towing 1/2 ton SUV. But keep dry under wt 6000. Might want to look at 26-28 feet that should help to keep wt down and assist in the shorter wheel base. I pull 26 foot super slide w bunks 7000 loaded 820 tongue. Pulls fine in my Armada with WDH.

[Hippilongstocki]

Also--I've been doing a lot of research in Armada forums---and everyone said they didn't have a problem towing something of that size. It's got a V8 and a tow package, although I do understand the shorter wheel base might present a problem.

Now--I think it might be pushing it a bit, and I would personally like to be under 6K dry weight. I feel like I could comfortable tow it, and wouldn't have a problem.

If what I'm looking for is too nuts---please give me some suggestions.

Thanks!

[Hippilongstocki]

I think our GCWR is about 13K, and our GVWR is 6800.

I know as far as the older ones I've looked at (2007 and older), they are WAY too heavy for what I need (some over 8K dry). The newer ones are in the 6200-6500 range (with what we're looking for)

Obviously we need something a little lighter, but like I said--we're going to be in it quite a bit. We are not homebodies by any stretch of the imagination and expect to be outside as much as humanly possible.

We would like a slide just so our kids can have a little room to stretch out and play.

Camp-n-Family: I asked a salesman about the tongue weight of a 2007 we were looking at and he told me that it was included in the dry weight. Is that true?

Thanks for these comments---please keep them coming! I appreciate it!

[midnightsadie]

here we go again,trying to tow a blimp with a VW.