Newbie with a few questions

[Nefariousd]

Hello all
I recently purchased a TC with the intent of moving my pets and family to Washington State from Arizona and subsequently exploring the PNW on the weekends with maybe some forays north of the border.

We're brand new to RV travel and looked at the TC as a reasonable gateway.

As to my driving with stuff on the truck background: I personally run a business that has me running all over the state of Arizona driving a dodge diesel towing at least 8000lbs constantly, with the occasional use of my 15K# 36' Gooseneck thrown in, to the tune of about 40K miles per year in all weather conditions.

I have done all of the weights, scaled my truck empty and found that I would be right at the specified 9900# with the TC at manufacturer stated weight ready to go.

I still have some weight available on the rear axle in this condition but adding any would put me over weight for the truck.

Truck is a 2006 Dodge 3500 SRW. (although I appreciate any advice; I'm not getting a dually. My truck is a mint 2006 with 39K miles that I searched for two years to find, I won't part with it)

TC is a Eagle cap 800 (minimal overhang) Limited, only upgrade being a solar panel. Stated weight with everything full is 2390#

The move is a 1400 mile journey and I'll need to come back to Arizona with a new tractor acquired in Eugene Oregon after I get the kids and wife settled in WA in order to get our house ready for renters.

I'm planning on installing 19.5's before I leave to add some safety margin, settle the truck a bit and bring the rotating bits up to spec with the axles.

My question concerns towing:

I have a 24' Interstate enclosed car hauler that I wanted to use to move our household goods. Trailer empty is 3400#, GVW on the trailer is 9900 just like the truck. I estimate that the stuff we are taking with us will put the trailer around 7500 and the combo will not exceed Dodge's maximum combination weight recommendation. The return trip with the tractor will have approximately the same weights.

I have a tongue weight scale and am pretty conscientious about trailer loading and keeping things in balance because I do it often.

With the upgraded wheels and tires, given that the tongue weight will about 750# to the rear of the truck (some of which will be offset by load bars)

I have Googled, read until I am dizzy and cannot find any reason why this would be ill advised, so at the risk of asking a stupid question, is there something I've missed or not thought about concerning the rig and trailer? (please be gentle, new guy remember)

Thank you for any responses

Next Question:

We'll be traveling through some places that will be reasonably cold. The furnace instructions say do not use the furnace when driving. How do we keep everything from freezing while we are traveling?

[Nefariousd]

Thank you guys so much!

I'm really stressed out over this whole deal with the move and everything and really appreciate you folks taking the time to give advice

[Bedlam]

We carry 4000 lbs and tow 7000 lbs on a 2' extension. Going to the 19.5" wheels will give you additional capacity on your tires instead of carrying their maximum weight. Once I went to the 19.5" tires, I upgraded the shocks since there is more unsuspended weight that needs to be kept in control.

My truck came with front and rear anti-sway bars and overload spring packs due to the camper package I had selected. You may want to try your set up fully loaded and see if you need to add springs or anti-sway to yours. With just the TC, I did not need the air bags, but the additional hitch weight (even with a WDH) caused enough rear sag to put my headlights out of alignment. The bags keep the headlights where they should be and allow me to adjust for different loads.

[btggraphix]

Re: Furnace while travelling?

Yes, run it. With a propane furnace heat system, that is your only real option to insure no freeze-up if you are running water in your system during winter travel. You will see some "no propane while driving" fanatics here for sure, but "most" people who winter camper with full systems use run the furnace while driving. Exceptions are on ferries, or in some tunnels where you'd need to close off the propane system for that stretch but they are always a short enough time to not freeze or ruin the food in your fridge.

I think you are doing the right math and checking on your weights and I think you'll end up being in OK shape. The 19.5's would be good insurance. If I read your post right, you'd be right at weight limits BEFORE the extra tongue weight of the trailer. Sounds like you'll end up about 750# over GVWR. If you have a WD hitch at least some of the weight will go to the front axle.

Seems like you'll be in pretty good shape......but the proof won't be until you load 'er up.

[kbaum]

I am running a similar combination however my camper maybe another 5-600 lbs more than yours. I always have a trailer, boat, or toad on my hitch, my truck handles great. I have added bilstein shocks, firestone air bags, 19.5 Rickson wheels with Toyos and just added stable loads even though it handled fine without the later.

[cewillis]

joe123 wrote:
If you are not going camping in remote locations don't carry a full water tank this will remove a lot of unnecessary weight about 10 lbs. per gallon.

Try 8.33 lbs/gal at 70 deg F.

[joe123]

If you are not going camping in remote locations don't carry a full water tank this will remove a lot of unnecessary weight about 10 lbs. per gallon.

[Nefariousd]

Added new question to OP regarding traveling in cold weather

[JumboJet]

I ran a 2004 RAM 2500 w/19.5 wheels & tires and a 2008 RAM 3500 SRW 160,000 miles with much heavier TC and 5,200 lb. trailer all over the US. Never had a problem with either setup. I did have Torklift Stableloads on both.

The newer duallys sure are nice. I bought a duslly just because I could. The 2008 always did great.

[Nefariousd]

kohldad wrote:
Before going to the 19.5s, check your weights with everything loaded. With using a weight distribution hitch, I think you will find you are running over GVWR but under GAWR. The GAWR is the most important numbers in my opinion. You will find the rear axle limited by the tires.

I run a similar setup with my 2,400# TC and pulled a 6,000# jeep/trailer setup which added 650# to the front axle. I did not run a weight distribution hitch on this setup and still was under the GAWR even with four adults in the truck and a few hundred pounds of camping gear on the floor.

But if you go to the 19.5s, you definitely won't have any issues.

However, keep in mind the big difference between towing and the TC is the Center of Gravity (COG) is higher which tends to make the vehicle sway a bit more.

May want to consider a set of stable loads which will help engage the overload springs sooner and help prevent so much squatting.

Thank you everyone for the advice. If anyone else with similar setups has any advice I'd love the input

The steel blocks I installed are actually slightly pre-loading the over loads in order to reduce sag when I set the camper. Actually they originally went on to take up the three inches of sag I'd get before engaging the spring with a heavy trailer. I think they do the same thing the stable loads do.

For tie downs I got the Tork Lift frame mounts with four Fast Guns and locks anything else I should have in the tie down department?

[kohldad]

Before going to the 19.5s, check your weights with everything loaded. With using a weight distribution hitch, I think you will find you are running over GVWR but under GAWR. The GAWR is the most important numbers in my opinion. You will find the rear axle limited by the tires.

I run a similar setup with my 2,400# TC and pulled a 6,000# jeep/trailer setup which added 650# to the front axle. I did not run a weight distribution hitch on this setup and still was under the GAWR even with four adults in the truck and a few hundred pounds of camping gear on the floor.

But if you go to the 19.5s, you definitely won't have any issues.

However, keep in mind the big difference between towing and the TC is the Center of Gravity (COG) is higher which tends to make the vehicle sway a bit more.

May want to consider a set of stable loads which will help engage the overload springs sooner and help prevent so much squatting.

[Buzzcut1]

Personally I don't think you will have any issues. I tow a horse trailer with about the equivalent loaded weight. Only thing to remember is that the load in the bed is higher than you are used to and if you get out of sorts on a downhill the combo with be very difficult to recover. On the down grades just keep it slow, use the gears and proper braking techniques and enjoy the ride.

[PapPappy]

Keep in mind that the weight of the camper (and the mfgr's number) is usually for what amounts to an empty unit....heck, they seldom include the weight of the television or microwave:(
Loading up the dogs, luggage, and DW (no, I'm not being a smart*ss:B) may also put you over limits.

More than likely, you will be fine, but keep an eye on the tire inflation numbers during the trip...you will be close to max. Also, adding the better tires and wheels will help the tires and wheels, but won't do anything for the axles and drive-train that the weight numbers are designed for.

I am by no means an expert on this.....I'm sure others will have better information....just tossing in my two cents....though I'm afraid that it may just confuse you even more.

Merry Christmas!! Welcome to RVing!!:)

[Nefariousd]

cewillis wrote:
Looks like you've got it pretty well scoped out. But I'm suspicious about manufacturer stated camper weights.

TC is a 2005 Eagle Cap 800 Limited which replaced the EC Lite. It is a lightweight no frills unit. It was the lightest one I could find in my budget (below $12k) and with short notice (Plans changed at last minute, we were going to buy a class C and drive separately, Wife didn't like what we could get in budget)

[LabMan1945]

You will have absolutely no problems should you decide to go into Canada with your pets. All they ask (if they even do that) is to see if they are vaccinated for Rabies. I take my dogs across the border frequently and most times have either not been asked about the certificates or if asked rarely have they wanted to see them.
Grant