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Help with weight
Hi, We're in the planning stages of getting a TT for an extended trip. My wife wants plenty of room, but I'm concerned about the safe towing weight. The models she typically likes would end up weighing almost 6000 lbs. loaded. We have a 2002 Chevy Avalanche 1500 2WD with the factory trailering package with the following stats: GVW: 6800 GCVW 13,000 Dry Wt: 5437 Max Tow wt (via owner's manual) 7300 Rear axle ratio: 3.73 I've looked at several formulas that yield max values from 3750 to 5570. Given that they are all different, some (or all) of them must not be correct. Can anybody give me an accurate max towing weight that will be safe and not destroy my transmission? Also, are there cost-effective things I can do to the truck to increase it's safe towing ability? Thanks so much for any help you can offer.2.6KViews0likes12CommentsCable and Internet Availability
Hi, We are brand new to RVing and are planning a 6-month trip across the US. Sadly, we are addicted to TV and internet. I'm trying to decide if I need to invest in mobil satellite tv and mobil broadband internet or if I can rely on both being available at the campsites we choose along the way. Any thoughts or advice would be very welcome. Thanks!7.8KViews0likes45CommentsRe: Creative Ideas?
Thanks for all the input. I think I need to explain my situation better. The trip is a bucket list trip for my wife and I. We want to see the country, visit friends, and explore for a new place to live. I'm not opposed to depreciation. I fully expect to lose money on the deal. My concern was how much would I lose and how long and difficult will the resale process be. If I buy a trailer for 25k and then, after the trip I can sell if for 20k in 4 - 6 weeks, that would be fine. However, if it takes a year to sell if for 12k, that would be a problem. So, I guess what I should have asked is, what might I expect to get for a 6-month-old trailer that cost me 25k, and how long would it typically take to find a buyer. Thanks again for your time and expertise!!!398Views0likes0CommentsCreative Ideas?
My situation is unusual. We want a good trailer for a single, 6-month trip. We won't need it after that. Given what I've heard in this forum about resale values, I'm searching for a way to make this economically feasible. I can't afford to spend $20k - $30k without the ability to get most of it back at the end. A lease might make sense, but I understand that due to the depreciation, it's not even an option. The rental rates I've seen are outrageous for an extended trip, so that's out. Do any of the dealers have anything like a "buy-back" plan? Does anybody have any creative ideas? Thanks again for all the help!2.1KViews0likes19CommentsWeight Calculations
Hi All, First post, so please be gentle. We have never had an RV and are planning to buy a trailer for a long bucket-list trip. Before taking the plunge, I'm hoping to get a sanity check on weight limits so we don't make an expensive mistake. My truck is a 2002 Chevy Avalanche, 1500. The owner's manual says the max towing weight is 7300 lbs. and the gross combined weight is 13000 lbs. The dry weight of the truck is 5437 and the max weight is 6800, leaving a max truck payload of 1363. If I allow 745 lbs for people, fuel, and supplies, my truck weight would be 6182. As I understand it, I have to include the tongue weight of the trailer in the truck weight. So, that would leave 618 lbs. available for the tongue weight. If the truck can tow 7300 lbs. and my anticipated payload in the trailer is 609 lbs, then that would mean the max dry weight of the trailer would be 6209 lbs. If my calculations and assumptions are correct, then I need to make sure that the trailer I choose weighs less than 6209 and has a hitch weight less than 618. Is this correct? What am I forgetting? Is it a bad idea to get close to the maximum weights? Thanks for any information you can provide!1.4KViews0likes7Comments
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