TT / TV -- the age old question again!

[Cicch95]

Hi all,
New to the forum and a potential addition to the RV world! Wife and I have decided we would like to get a travel trailer. This is so confusing and by all the reading I have done here and elsewhere I am not alone! So, I apologize in advance for the length of this post.

First the truck.....2014 RAM 1500 Express Crew Cab 4x4, 5.7 hemi, 3.92 gear, 8 speed auto, trailer tow mirrors and brake group, class IV hitch, trans and oil coolers, brake controller, heavy duty front and rear shocks. This all came from the build sheet.

GVWR: 6,900 lbs (from silver sticker on door)
Actual weight: 5,490 lbs with a full tank of gas. (nobody in it!)
True payload: 1,410 lbs
GAWR for front and rear: 3,900 lbs each (from silver sticker on door)
GCWR: 15,650 lbs (from Dodge site)
Tow capacity: 10,150 lbs (from Dodge site - seemingly meaningless!)
Wheelbase: 140.5"

So, the wife and I went to a few RV dealers and the first thing I learned was that they either do not care about your safety, your equipment, or they just don't know! Both tried to sell me 33' trailers in the 7,500 lb range. Totally disregarding payload. I was baffled by this.

The whole WDH thing is also very confusing! Does it "offload" TW to the trailer axles, therefore "giving" you payload back? Do you add the weight of the WDH before you subtract what it offloads or after?

All that being said....I have this trailer in mind......but am not sure it is a good idea. Can it pull it, sure. Is it safe to pull it and is it a good idea is another story. The elusive one in my case!

The trailer in question......2017 Keystone Bullet 274BHS. According to the Keystone website (at this point)....
Ship weight: 5,288 lbs
Carrying capacity: 2,297 lbs
Hitch weight: 585 lbs
Length: 30' 9' (manageable length??)

Right now our family of five weighs in around: 770 lbs. That's 2 adults, and 3 daughters (16, 12, 10) So...growing...but I imagine dropping off as adulthood is coming.

I would appreciate any thoughts, opinions, info to help me make an educated decision.

If any other info would be helpful that I may have missed, let me know.

Thanks,
-Rick

[Cicch95]

Thanks everyone for the info. It is much appreciated.

-Rick

[poppin_fresh]

In my opinion, you are fine. I have a 274BHS and while my Silverado has a couple hundred more pounds of payload, I think you would run out of storage long before you would approach cargo carrying capacity.

I am using the Andersen hitch which is not known for transferring a lot of weight back to the steer axle, but it does control sway very well. Plus it is very light, so it does not consume a lot of payload just by itself, which some heavy hitches can.

[TomG2]

Ron3rd wrote:

Tom, I would agree with you if he did not already own the truck. IMO his truck with do fine, but a 3/4 ton would be ideal.

We all have our opinions. Mine is based on towing dozens of trailers for thousands of miles with a variety of tow vehicles and I have come to the conclusion that a little extra capacity makes for a better towing experience.

The fact that the OP has a particular tow vehicle or trailer does not change the numbers.

[Ron3rd]

TomG2 wrote:
Go for it and be back in a few weeks inquiring about fancy hitches, suspension upgrades, LT tires etc. If you sat down and prepared an "almost good" situation, you could not have done a better job. I like excess capacity in my tow vehicles and the resulting great towing experience. Calculating weight gain on the kids is cutting it too close, for me. You most likely will be over your payload which is why I made the comment about the upgrades. Been there, along with a lot of other people.

Tom, I would agree with you if he did not already own the truck. IMO his truck with do fine, but a 3/4 ton would be ideal.

[Jackfate]

Last year I sold my new 2016 1500 ram outdoorsman cc sb 5.7 3:92 4x4 . It was a white knuckle affair, tried different wdh added air bags all for not . My tt is a open range 274 RLX 6200 lbs dw 8800 lb max about 31' total lgnt. I wouldn't tow a tt over 5000# max with with a 1500 and 24' long . I now tow with a 2016 3500 cummins ram cc lb tows like a dream . Parking is a different matter, always trade offs

Cheers , trust no salesman

[2012Coleman]

OP - don't stick your head in the sand while shouting "It's Doable"?

Here is an outside perspective - very informative.

Matching Trucks to Trailers

[Camper_G]

I think that it's doable, but in all reality with the dry weight you listed, you'll be up around 6500lb loaded weight with that rig, so the tongue weight you listed is likely light. A 30' trailer is a large tt, so you may get into the tail wagging the dog.

The trailers my wife and i are looking at around 29' and 7k gvwr and that's why i upgraded to a 3/4 ton truck, but i like more margin than most. Good luck with your decision

[TomG2]

Go for it and be back in a few weeks inquiring about fancy hitches, suspension upgrades, LT tires etc. If you sat down and prepared an "almost good" situation, you could not have done a better job. I like excess capacity in my tow vehicles and the resulting great towing experience. Calculating weight gain on the kids is cutting it too close, for me. You most likely will be over your payload which is why I made the comment about the upgrades. Been there, along with a lot of other people.

[Ron3rd]

Cicch95 wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
You're fine with that trailer and tow vehicle combo. Now hitch up and go camping!

Thanks for the reply Ron. No worries about the payload #'s?

The payload police might disagree, but I see no problem. Your truck is more than capable IMO.

[2012Coleman]

Your tongue weight is going to be more than you stated. Brochure weights are always understated. If your calculating, take the weight of the empty TT and add the estimated cargo weight. Multiply by 13 percent. Take this off your payload. Take another 100 lbs off for the WDH setup. Now take off the weight of the occupants and stuff your going to be hauling in the bed of the truck - bikes, firewood, waste tote BBQ, etc.

Good luck.

[Cicch95]

rbpru wrote:
My advice is always to rent what that you think you want. You learn a lot really fast.

Not a bad idea at all.

[rbpru]

My advice is always to rent what that you think you want. You learn a lot really fast.

Generally your limit is the cargo capacity, a lot of which is used up by tongue weight, the rest by people and stuff.

The cargo capacity is vehicle dependent, the dealer has know idea what your TV can carry. He does know what it can pull.

Floor plan lasts after all else is resolved or accepted.

[coolmom42]

Jebby14 wrote:
you will be close but in spec. make sure you don't pack too heavy. also a good wd witch will help but it doesn't get you extra payload. enjoy

This is correct.

The tongue weight of the trailer should be 10-15 percent of your loaded weight, for good towing. If you add 1200 lb (reasonable for a family) to the trailer dry weight, your tongue weight is likely to be around 800 lb.

That tongue weight is always part of the truck cargo.

A WD hitch uses leverage to move some of the tongue weight off the rear axle, onto the front axle and the trailer axle. Without that your front end will be light, headlights pointing up, and horrible unsafe steering.

[braindead0]

In my experience the hitch weight quoted in brochures is without propane and battery as those are added by the dealer.

Point is I'd be wary of that number. Brochure for mine says 340#, the reality is 550# with one bottle and a G24 battery and we pack light. I think in our case the manufacturer was really flaky about numbers. I would ask the dealer to put the tongue on a scale with full propane and batteries.