New truck. looking for advice.

[bkcauley]

I just purchased a 2014 sierra with the 5.3 and 3.42 gears. I have a 9600lb towing capacity and 1500 payload. I just sold my old tiny camper and I'm looking to upgrade. Can anyone recommend a good size/make/model for this truck. I will be using it for work and pretty much live in it alone. Really want more living area than sleeping capacity. Would also like it to be 30'+ if possible.

[wmoses]

Passin Thru wrote:
We have a Silverado with a chip. Puts out 420 HP and will pull our 18.5K Gross up any mountain you want faster than you want to drive. I'm beginning to like it and it's fun to pass Cummins powered Dodges.

To good to be true unless this is a diesel. 😉 :h

[Passin_Thru]

We have a Silverado with a chip. Puts out 420 HP and will pull our 18.5K Gross up any mountain you want faster than you want to drive. I'm beginning to like it and it's fun to pass Cummins powered Dodges.

[bkcauley]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you Ron.

[Ron_Gratz]

bkcauley wrote:
I REALLY like this one. DO yall think the 745 hitch weight would be to much? http://www.genuinerv.com/2014-keystone-bullet-premier-30re-new-travel-trailer-tx-i1173281

The 754# hitch weight just gives an idea of what the TW% is for the empty TT -- in this case it is 745/6400 = 11.7%.
With the front queen bed and large pass-through storage, it should not be difficult to get the TW% up to a more desirable 13% or greater.

You will need to estimate the tongue weight for the loaded TT.
How much of the TT's 1600# payload capacity to you plan to use?
If you load to 7500# and have a 13% TW, the TW would be just under 1000#.
I believe your TV is rated for a maximum TW of 1200#.

However, you also need to estimate how much vertical load the TT will impose on the TV.
With a properly-adjusted WDH, a load equal to about 20% of TW can be transferred to the TT's axles.
That means the vertical load on the TV can be held to about 800# -- assuming you load the TT to 7500# with 13% TW.

The WDH will add about 100# to the TV's cargo load, so the TT plus WDH will consume about 900# of the TV's payload capacity.
Given your sticker payload value of 1680#, means you would have about 780# of payload available for occupants and cargo.

It looks to me as though the 30RE would work with your TV.

Ron

[wmoses]

bkcauley wrote:
I REALLY like this one. DO yall think the 745 hitch weight would be to much? http://www.genuinerv.com/2014-keystone-bullet-premier-30re-new-travel-trailer-tx-i1173281

The 745# hitch weight is fiction - it will grow when the trailer is loaded, and that could pose a problem for a 1/2 ton truck.

Nice trailer though.

[maroua]

We pull a Spree 280 RLS.
Very livable floor plan.
Nicely finished.
No problems.

[bkcauley]

I REALLY like this one. DO yall think the 745 hitch weight would be to much? http://www.genuinerv.com/2014-keystone-bullet-premier-30re-new-travel-trailer-tx-i1173281

[bkcauley]

Oh wow. I just saw that's the one you have. Awesome. How do you like it?

[bkcauley]

Either the one above or this one. Both seem nice. http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/SuperLite/default.aspx?model=superlite&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=2997&RVType=trailers#prettyPhoto

[wmoses]

bkcauley wrote:
I like this too. http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/SuperLite/default.aspx?model=superlite&page=floorplande...

Now you know I think that this one is the better choice! Here is me picking up mine at the dealer 1 year ago. 😄

I agree with the previous poster regarding the 34' Keystone being very light at 5900#. My 27RLWS is light enough at 30' (box) and 6300#. My trailer has good R insulation values (which you want) so one must wonder where else is this lightening of the Keystone coming from? Frame? Light is great but then there is such a thing as too light.

[bkcauley]

I like this too. http://www.forestriverinc.com/TravelTrailers/SuperLite/default.aspx?model=superlite&page=floorplandetails&floorplanid=4965&RVType=trailers

[patperry2766]

Couple of things stand out on the Keystone. The model you're interested in is 34 ft long, weighs 5900 lbs and is on 14" tires. The ORV Creekside model 26RLS is 31.8 ft long, the same 700 lbs tongue weight, weighs 7K lbs and is on 15" tires.

Heck, even the Blackstone 280RKSB is the roughly the same length as the Keystone you're interested in, but weighs close to 2K more. While that if probably too much for your truck, the way I see it, the increase of 2K lbs has to mean the trailer is built with more robust parts and components.

[GRUBBY85]

I'm looking at the same brands as you are, the passports, but I'm looking at the 2890rl and at 5300 lbs I think that will be my best bet with the new 150 I bought, besides its my daily driver as well and I'm not going to pay that much more for a desiel and still get the same mileage out of it as I do my 150 plus the extra cost of the upkeep

[bkcauley]

Well that was helpful and will definitely help. Anyways. I'm kinda leaning towards this.http://www.keystonerv.com/passport/models/3180re/model-mobile