Forum Discussion

Fastbrit's avatar
Fastbrit
Explorer
Dec 05, 2013

New member FW sold and TC on order

Hello everyone, this fall we sold our fifth wheel that we loved. I am a car fanatic and I was tired to go camping close to car show without being able to bring my own car. We first agree to look for a toy hauler. They are nice, but I can not imagine a 3000 pd car getting in the back:h The one we were interested in was 43' long with a 16' garage and weight 14 000 pd dry. And finaly when I told my wife that our driveway was 50' long and that we will have to park our cars in the street it closed the subject for the toy h.:C
We live in Montreal and shopping for a tc in the Canadian eastern provinces is difficult since rv dealership dont have any in stock for us to visit. We finaly visit a Lance 1172(325 mile trip). I am 6'3 and in the lance I have only 1 inch clearance and the a|c drop 2 inch from ceiling it was very nice but not for us. So after hours on the net and forums we ordered a Chalet TS116. It is heavy at 4700pd dry but I think the old Dodge can handle it. Cheers
Truck Campers
  • U_F_O_'s avatar
    U_F_O_
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2013
    Your getting off cheap $6.00 gal in northern ontario, nice camper.
  • Fastbrit's avatar
    Fastbrit
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2013
    Hello joe123, the payload of my 1997 Dodge 3500 dually ctd with a 154 pd driver and 35 gal of fuel is 4990. I know the chalet ts116 is heavy at 4700 pd dry but with front and rear timbren and hd shock it should be ok. If not I will do other improuvements. I drive the truck every day in the summer for 20-22 mpg at 60mph on hw and 14-16 city. At $5.25 per gallon for fuel in Montreal I intend to keep it.
  • joe123's avatar
    joe123
    Explorer
    Dec 06, 2013
    Is your truck a diesel, if so I have the same truck just newer 2001 mine has a maximum pay load of 3500 lbs. with full fuel tank I think you will find you will be way over your gvw with this camper I would advise you to look for a two ton truck to safely carry the camper you are buying. Good luck with the new camper.
  • bighatnohorse's avatar
    bighatnohorse
    Explorer II
    Dec 06, 2013
    You're from cold country.
    The triple slide will use more propane to heat it.
    The furnace will run longer and draw down the battery(s).
    Forewarned is fore armed. (english expression):)
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    Dec 05, 2013
    We also went from TH to TC. We needed more toy room than 16' we currently had and really did not want an unwieldy long FW in tow when half the time we do not need the large garage. A quarter of the time I tow a smaller flat bed instead of the enclosed trailer.

    We were constrained to the TC size due to the short bed but the truck would not have the capacity to tow heavy if we went with heavier TC than the already porky Arctic Fox. We are over 19K lbs GCW which is safely under the rating, but GVW is over the TV rating and we spent some money to beef up the wheels and suspension to make this safe.

    The Dodge will need anti-sway bar, shocks and additional suspension support through bags or springs to level out the load you will be carrying. Watch your rear axle weight limit because a heavy TC with heavy trailer on a long extension is the worse case for adding too much axle weight.
  • dakonthemountai's avatar
    dakonthemountai
    Explorer
    Dec 05, 2013
    deltabravo wrote:
    Fastbrit wrote:
    We finaly visit a Lance 1172(325 mile trip). I am 6'3 and in the lance I have only 1 inch clearance and the a|c drop 2 inch from ceiling it was very nice but not for us.


    When I was camper shopping 4 years ago, I was turned off by the limited head clearance in the cabover area of the Lance campers, the rest of the ceiling was somewhat low as well. I felt boxed in. THis was before their redesigned models came out, which I think was the following year.


    One the reasons I love my Weekender. The ceilings are a full 7' high. I'm 6' and my camping partner is 6/7" so he REALLY appreciates this!

    Dak
  • K_Mac's avatar
    K_Mac
    Explorer
    Dec 05, 2013
    Congratulation's, enjoy. It's a great feeling when you pick-up a new unit.
  • Fastbrit's avatar
    Fastbrit
    Explorer
    Dec 05, 2013
    Thanks woodhog we did the trip 3 weeks ago and looked at Eagle cap 2 and 3 slides and the chalet 2 slides ds116. They didnt have the chalet 3 slide ts116 in stock. The Eagle Cap campers are very nice but the ceiling height is 6'4 and I am 6'3 chalet is 6'7.
  • portscanner's avatar
    portscanner
    Explorer
    Dec 05, 2013
    I also went from a Toy Hauler to a TC. My Alpenlite when loaded with everything tips the scales around 4000 lbs

    A couple of things you are going to want to check out:

    Bilstein 4600 shocks
    Torklift Stableloads
    Torklift Superhitch
    and Torklift Tiedowns

    If you are going to tow anything, before you buy your tiedowns, select your hitch first. Found out that I had to switch the rear Torklift tiedowns to a different model when I upgraded to the Superhitch

    I did not put the Bilsteins and the Stableloads on until after I got the TC. They were very good upgrades. Wish I had done them sooner.

    Also, if you are going to tow a trailer, make sure you watch your tongue weight. Especially if you have an extention. There are calculators out there that will help you estimate the weight you will be putting on your rear axle.

    I think you will be very happy with a TC!!!

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