Shughes39 wrote:
7800 pounds is the max my husband's 2007 dodge pickup will tow. At least that is what the manual says. We don't want to reach the max pulling weight. Combined our family weighs 600 pounds but why does that matter? We won't be riding in the travel trailer while it is being pulled. We don't plan on taking long trip with the camper. Maybe 500 miles at the longest. We are planning on buying a sway bar package.
We put money to hold a Jayco 287bhsw for a week while we think about it. The show/sale price was $19900 and with tax and tow package is came out to around $22,000. I am happy with the trailer as I have always heard Jayco was a great brand of trailers. We came home to do some more research and discovered that Jayco isn't the only manufacturer that makes their trailers with plywood instead of particle board. For the price the Jayco is barebone compared to springer and wildwood. No outside kitchen, less cabinets, no hydraulics on the storage under the bed, no electric jacks.
Yes a slide is something we really want. Do these things break often? If so how much does it cost to fix after the warranty expires? I'm sure this camper we plan to keep at least 5 years. As the kids grow up we know our needs will change. This is why I am asking is it is important to buy a good brand of trailer or one that has more features we like.
Welcome and congrats on the upcoming tt purchase!!!
The reason it matters how much the family weighs, and how much cargo weight (coolers, bikes, firewood, etc) is in the bed of the truck is because ALL that weight, including the wdh (weight distribution hitch) AND the tt tw (travel trailer tongue weight) counts towards the available payload of your truck. As APT posted, look for the sticker in your drivers door jamb. That amount is what you should stay under for all those items I listed. Any accessories (truck topper/ fiberglass cap, tonneau cover, bed liner, step bars, etc) you have added to the truck since it left the assembly line will also need to be counted toward the available payload amount.
With a 1500/150 truck/suv, it is not "how much can the truck tow", but how much can it safely "haul" in regards to the available payload of the tv (tow vehicle). Many of us how found out after the fact of buying a 1500/150 that we were actually at or possible even over our tv payload. We were in that situation ourselves with our '10 Chevy 1500 CCSB, 5.3/6spd/3.42 4x4. We had ~9600lb tow rating, but towing ~7200lb tt, loaded up for a trip, we were OVER our trucks GVWR by up to about 200lbs depending on what was in the truck bed. And that 200lbs over was only with having a tool box, 4 bikes (2 adult, 2 kid), and I think a cooler. If we were taking firewood, it was in Rubbermaid tubs inside the tt. We did have a cab high truck topper on the bed, which was about 200lbs. Had we removed it, we would have been right at our trucks GVWR with those items in the truck bed. And at that time our family weight was under 500lbs.
We have been very happy with our Jayco so far. Bought it last July. Not sure where you are located, but on average a good price is about 30% off the msrp, before tax, title, license, and possibly delivery.
When we were shopping we looked for the best "value" we could find in the floorplan we liked. We tried to find one that was a good brand and had a few more features we liked, but for the best price possible. If that makes sense!! Lol We didn't want an entry model, but weren't looking for the top of the line either. Just weigh what options are important to you, and who seems to have the best value. Do look into more than just the visible differences. For example, one trailer (same floor plan as our 32 BHDS) we looked at only had 4400lb axles under it, while our 32 BHDS had 5000lb axles under it. A power tongue jack is easy to add if the tt you buy doesn't have one. But if at all possible, I will not buy a tt with power stabilizer jacks. It doesn't sound like they are as secure or stable as the scissor jacks. Plus more to go wrong (says one who has two slides!!! Lol).
Good luck!!!
