Towing a 39' TT across country? Possible or no?

[jlfought]

We will be taking our family of 7 across country for a year in a TT. There is a 2002 Dutchmen that we love but its 39' feet long. Is it even possible to tow something like this full time? We currently have a 1/2 ton Burb and we know that wouldn't do it. So we have been looking at possibly getting a 2500 8.1L 4:10. We have checked and cross checked weights and specs for everything, double checked if there would be issues at campgrounds with such a mammoth, checked out WD Bars, bigger hitches and so on and so on. Now my head hurts. So I need your well seasoned opinion and experience, is this a lost cause or can it be done- safely?

Thanks in Advance 😃

[dodge_guy]

ExxWhy wrote:
As a 2000 Excursion owner, I would dispute a couple things Tim/Amy says about them. This of course wanders from the original subject. 🙂

IMO, the V10 pulls trailers up mountains just fine, though I will agree the 4.30 gears are a big improvement.

The head issue is don't improperly install the spark plugs or else they are prone to being ejected. The transmission is the same with a V10 or 7.3. I wouldn't call them particularly weak, but they won't last as long as either engine.

And the spark plug/head deal was fixed in late 01 with the PI heads.

[ExxWhy]

As a 2000 Excursion owner, I would dispute a couple things Tim/Amy says about them. This of course wanders from the original subject. 🙂

IMO, the V10 pulls trailers up mountains just fine, though I will agree the 4.30 gears are a big improvement.

The head issue is don't improperly install the spark plugs or else they are prone to being ejected. The transmission is the same with a V10 or 7.3. I wouldn't call them particularly weak, but they won't last as long as either engine.

[tim_and_amy]

I started reading the posts, then got a head ache, so as an excursion owner with a TT near your same length, I will give you some advice.
1. Don't buy a gas truck no matter what it is, chevy, ford or dodge.
2. I have owned, both suburban's and Excursions, the ford is WAY WAY bigger inside and WAY more comfortable for my family with four teens.
3. The excursion diesel pulls like a dream, and the 05 models have engine braking just by tapping the brake pedal.

HOWEVER, the downside to the excursion is the fact the wheel base is shorter than that of a pickup. So a long trailer tends to push the excursion around a little. But when we switched to the diesel that issue went away and it pulled much better.
If you don't need fourwheel drive, I would take and heed what others are saying, a 1 ton diesel van would be a perfect cross country road trip vehicle.
In either chevy or ford.
NEXT, STAY AWAY FROM 2000-2002 Excursions in both 7.3 and V10's . The 7.3 have weak transmissions, the V10's have head issues.
As for Ford V10's, I would not buy one to tow with unless it had 4.10 or 4.30 gears. These engines have a very bad flat spot in the RPM range due to the overhead cam design. They don't like to tow a heavy trailer up a steep grade.
Since having a diesel and towing with a diesel, I will never go back to gas.
As for fuel,
V10 was 11-12 around town empty and upto 17 on the freeway
v10 towing the trailer in my sig, which is 39' tail to tongue, was 8-9mpg with premium.
6.0L was 14-15 around town empty and upto 22 on the freeway
Towing same trailer 10-11 mpg.
As you can see the city and freeway empty pays off, but towing is not much more in MPG. But the difference in towing ability on the excursion diesel was instant. I would not ever buy a gas engine again. The diesel just pulls and pulls.

In closing, I would also suggest you not take peoples words or the internet for what a vehicles actual rating is. Both GM and Ford offer Fleet guides or up fitter guides that will show true ratings. Nine times out of ten the info at all the car sites are incorrect.
As an example, the diesel excursion is a GCWR of 20,000# with a Trailer MAX weight of 11,000# towing. BUT IT IS NOTED, as the military used the excursions, that rating IS BECAUSE the truck is built with the hitch BOLTED on from the FACTORY as part of the "Blocker Beam". The 11K rating is based on the fact that the HITCH is only rated at 12k. If you changed the hitch, you can tow a heavier trailer, but must monitor the GCVWR.
You should also know, that unlike GM, Ford has no mention of Weight Distribution hitches, which changes the tongue weight of the trailer.

If you are too look at the ratings for any 05 ford F250, F350 the bumper pull trailer max is 12,500 lbs, but the fifth wheel is 16,100#.

The excursion shares the entire drive train from the pickup, and only differs in springs. But the pickup springs can be put on the excursion to increase load capacity. Just like airbags and such.

[colliehauler]

jlfought wrote:
For an update on what TT we finally got and what vehicle we are looking at go here http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27558912.cfm

THANKS EVERYONE! I seriously could not have done this without all of you!!

It sounds like you did your homework. I wish you and your family on a trip of a lifetime good luck.

[camp-n-family]

clicky

[jlfought]

For an update on what TT we finally got and what vehicle we are looking at go here http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27558912.cfm

THANKS EVERYONE! I seriously could not have done this without all of you!!

[myredracer]

You need to think about all the potential downsides you can think of before getting into this, especially if your towing and camping experience is limited.

Forget about "towing capacity". Payload capacity will be your "enemy" and you should look carefully at that. If the TV has factory options, the payload capacity will drop. The payload capacity is only for a skinny 145-150 lb driver and no other payload. The little tykes will add payload as they all grow taller and heavier by the day. Don't trust the payload capacity on the door pillar sticker. Before you spend $$ on a new TV, load it will all the passengers, and anything else you would include on a camping trip, fill the fuel tank up and take it to a scale and subtract that from the GVWR. Or allow for the weight of passengers and other stuff you may take in it. Take away another 100lbs for the WDH too. You *could* get a surprise - ours is 800lbs less than the sticker amount for example.

Forget about any dry weights for the TT. Unless you know 100% for certain what the actual tongue weight is, use 15% of the TT's GVWR. Some TTs run up around 15% and you could end up in BIG trouble if you guestimate the tongue weight. Same goes for buying a WDH in advance of taking it to a scale.

For a family that size, you could have above average payload in the TT for all the clothes, food, toys & games, and other supplies. And if you had one or more full holding tanks, you could end up well over the GVWR. With our TT, we'll be over the GVWR with just one full tank and we only have stuff in the TT for two people and short trips. More TT weight = more payload on the TV's hitch.

39' is a long, long trailer. Think of what it will be like the first time you are on the road and all the mouths need feeding and you try and find a McDonald's to pull into. Or try finding a gas station to get that monster into. Same with stopping at a supermarket somewhere to get groceries. I find it hard enough sometimes with just a 29' TT. With a longer wheelbase TV and 39' TT, you will find it a challenge sometimes to get around corners.

Kids love their own independence and they love being able to sleep in a separate tent (unless they're really young). You could find that a smaller TT with a tent or two might be an option. If it's cold or raining, then it's closer family time... Have a good TV setup and stock up on lots of DVDs. If it will fit, you can replace a jackknife sofa with a hide-a-bed and gain more sleeping space.

Even if the TV could handle it on towing capacity, you don't want to be towing long distances and/or going up lots of hills near the max. rating as it will be harder on the engine and drivetrain and harder on braking. I would get the TV and TT brakes serviced to make sure they are in top condition. A good brake controller is a must too.

Lastly, before you sink a lot of money into that TT, I would look it over very carefully and especially anything to do with the frame and suspension. I would even suggest having an inspection done by a trained RV tech. If it were me, I'd even take it to a frame and axle shop to get the frame looked at. You never know what is lurking somewhere in or under that TT. Even brand new units can have major issues that may not be found by the average RV owner. The last thing you want to have to do is spend a lot more $$ on it for repairs or be stuck out on the road somewhere with a breakdown. Water damage can kill an otherwise good unit and you may not see clues at first.

When you get it all figured out, have fun camping. 🙂

[allen8106]

ed6713 wrote:
Everything's possible. Would I do it? Absolutely not!!

We dragged a 27' TT around with our Ford F250 for a few years. Even with that combination, you're really limited with campsites in public campgrounds like Forest Service, National Parks, etc. That's where we exclusively stay, so a 39' TT would be, for us, out of the question.

At 39' + the tow vehicle, forget it. With a few exceptions, only a large commercial campground will be able to comfortable accommodate you.

Disagree, JMHO

[johninedmonton]

Our trailer is 32' plus the tongue. It's a total of just over 37'6". It's the SportTrek 320vik by Venture RV.

We haven't had any issue finding places to stay with it. But then we mostly stick to KOA's

[jlfought]

goducks10 wrote:
I think I'd just get a nice 65-70" HD tv and watch the travel channel. Take the extra money and make several trips to Disney World:)

We don't even have cable lol Too much real life to get out there and experience to have time to watch it 🙂

[jlfought]

So we didnt get the 30' McKenzie. We found some rot under the slide and water damage in back storage compartment. And it felt small. Yikes. That's not good. We had been looking at 34-38 ft trailers. It's amazing what a few more feet can add. So now we are a little freaking out about the weight issue again if we go bigger.

I found a 35' Innsbruck that I like, but its dry weight is 8,570 LBS which was right around the 39' Dutchmen I think.

It would help if we had a bigger budget but we work with what we got(we are paying cash). God brought us to this so I know He has some TT out there that is just right for us in our price range. Patience isn't always my strong suit though 😉

Thanks everyone!

[jlfought]

dadmomh wrote:
Totally aside from the weight questions....that's a LOT of trailer and finding sites is likely going to take some serious homework. It's not that a CG wouldn't have a site that's long enough, the trick is getting the 39' + your tow vehicle maneuvered around trees and such to get to the site in the first place. I see a potential for KOAs in your future without good planning. With 7 you're for sure going to want full hookups or you'll be dragging the blue tote 3x a day. As for staying off the interstates, unless there is another reason, I think interstates would be a benefit since you won't be dealing with small town streets and corners.

Suggest you check into an app, and I don't know the name of it - someone here likely will, but it gives you info on fuel stops and getting in and out easily. Some of the Pilot/Flying J/Love's are great if it weren't for the cars parked directly in front of the building. Getting in is one thing, getting out is another. This app is supposed to help you with that.

Sounds like a great trip! Is this a travel/home study experience??

Well, Its a God thing actually. This is something we never ever wanted to do( I get motion sick and my husband hates camping). But last year a lot of things happened out of the blue in our life that turned our world upside down. During this storm I felt God bugging me about going full time on the road. I thought He was crazy and would not say anything to my husband who has lived in the same town all of his life. I told God that if this RV thing was from Him then he better be talking to my husband because I sure the heck wasn't. I didn't want that riding on my shoulders.

Not only that but it seemed that God was prodding us to sell the house we loved and give away everything in it( excuse me while I go hyperventilate).

Our family is very close to our extended family especially our parents ( the G'parents). I knew how thrilled they would be about taking their grandbabies away for a year.

And to be honest I didn't really want to do this, but then I also have had enough experiences to know that I also didn't want to miss out on God's blessings because it wasn't in my own plan. He has always been 100% faithful when we stepped out in faith at his prompting. Not always easy, but He has always been there.

So over the course of a few weeks, God did speak to my husband's heart about this cross country trip and we talked and took the plunge. Our house is up for sale we have gave away a lot of stuff and our house comes furnished. Now we just wait for God's timing.

Oh and during this period God has also laid it upon my husband's heart to do worship music(he plays the guitar and sings) at the campgrounds we visit and show the online Sunday messages from our (awesome) church.

So someone out there must need the good news of Jesus and the hope that only he can provide. 😃

And if it wasn't for that storm of life we were in we would have never been on this path. Praise God that He knows better than we do!

That's our crazy story. And what an amazing homeschool experience for our kids! The whole country is our classroom 😃

Proverbs 3:5-6 (My fave verse)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding but acknowledge him in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.

[jlfought]

johninedmonton wrote:
I'm also hitting the road, with my 4 kids and wife, for a year. 6 people. We looked at a 3500 truck and a 3500 van and decided against them. Why? Because when we aren't towing the trailer we will still need to go to museums and grocery stores and malls. Those are some BIG vehicles, but with very little room inside.

My decision was to get a '05 Excursion with the 6.0L diesel, get the engine bullet proofed, and fix it up to my standard. I chose against the older 7.3 because of the weak transmission and the general age (wear and tear) of the vehicles.

Our trailer weighs 7,500 dry. Loaded we will be closer to a realistic 9,000lbs. with all of our gear (read: crap).

While the Excursion is rated to be strong enough, 11,000lbs. of towing capacity and 1,800lbs. of payload (family weighs 750 and tongue will be another 850), we will also be adding to the suspension system for peace of mind. Airlift in the rear, upgraded springs in the front, and let's not forget the best damned brakes money can buy. Stopping is the most important part of towing!

It should be a safe hauler. At least the safest I can find/make. A truck isn't as safe for us, because having a kid sitting next to me and pulling at my arm is a danger, no matter the technology or truck size available. Space to work, to move my arms, is as important as anything else. Keep that in mind.

Also make sure you get the best hitch you can. I did months of research, tried 3 different hitches, and finally settled on the Andersen WD. It's spectacular, consistent, and reliable. Easy to use. There may be better hitches if you're an expert, but my wife can hook us up. And it's always the exact same fine-tuned setup every single time. That's also important; a consistent towing feel and experience.

Ultimately, be safe. Don't be stupid and risky. Remain calm and controlled at all times, and you'll be safer on the road than any piece of technology or spreadsheet can provide to you. If the driver is tired or grumpy, hopped up on coffee or not feeling well... don't drive. There's less margin for error here.

Safe towing!

WOW! That is almost exactly like our family, weights and all lol Thank you for all the great advice. What's the length of your TT?

[jlfought]

Mickeyfan0805 wrote:

jlfought wrote:
"We'll only be towing our TT for a few hours every week or two. But we will be spending weeks in our TT. Oh wait..." lol

If this is the case, have you considered the possibility of two vehicles? You could keep your current Suburban for family driving and pick up something to tow the camper at a relatively inexpensive price. This would not only open the door to more tow vehicles, but would also open the door to fifth wheels for more room when you are in camp.

We chose to go with the HD Suburban because we do long hauls (500-600 miles in a day). If we were only driving a few hours, however, we would have been far more apt to look at a pick-up and a fifth wheel.

If we weren't selling our home and heading out for a year that may be an option. But don't feel it would work well to be in two separate vehicles going cross country for year. 😃