New:
If upfront costs are a concern then look at the Jayco Eagle, Sunnybrook Solanta, Nash, and the Crossroads Cruiser.
If your looking for a little nicer trailer then check out the Arctic Fox or Sunnybrook Titan.
Used:
Sunnybrook, Travel Supreme
You should consider joining the RV Consumer Group. Not cheap but well worth it. www.rv.org
It could help prevent you from making a very costly mistake.
Smokey, oops, Grumpy, what do you think of a Wildcat by Forest River? I went with a buddy about 4 hours ago to look at a used (but like new) 2004 28' with a slideout, and he bought it on the spot, private party. It sure seemed really nice to me, high quality with mucho options.
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Smokey, oops, Grumpy, what do you think of a Wildcat by Forest River?
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I don't know anything about them. Forest River makes 10 different brands of RV trailers, and I don't have any idea which is their economy brand and which is their luxury brand. They list them alphabetically on their website: http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?nav=rec
Thanks, if I remember right, people have said good things about the Forest River line. I was impressed, but there again, mine's an oldie but goodie and this one is new and loaded. I think like has been posted before, no matter what brand, it depends on the factory crew and quality control at the time the thing was built.
Anyone have any info on Ameri-camp TT's? They look nice and seem to be built well.
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2003 F-250 6.0, slushbox, no muffler
2003 Focus ZTS ebony quad eyed carbon fiber fetishist(if that wasn't a word before,it is now) street legal like the pope is a card carrying satanist.
Can't say much for the TT because I have the 5er and wife and kids love it. Built pretty good, had a drawer bracket break and dealer took care of it right away. Would I buy another AmeriCamp, you betcha. I had a light weight Shasta and it was a piece of junk. Leaks all over the place, wood warping, floor falling out and it was only 2 years old. I have the 31 foot AmeriCamp now and I think it is built as good as the more expensive units. I don't live in it like the full timers so that might make a difference.
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2003 F-250 XLT towin machine, 6.0 diesel, 4x4 sof, cc, short bed, toreador red, color match rhino liner spray in bed liner, draw-tite fifth wheel hitch, chrome nerf bars, Ziebart rust protection, Bull Dog keyless entry, extang tonneau cover, Banks exhaust tip, Husky floor mats, Fumoto F-111 oil drain valve. Towing a F300BHS Ameri-Camp fifth wheel. Truck was delivered 2/1/2003 and ordered sometime 11/02
i haul jayco tt's for a living and am looking into purchasing one soon, they seem to be pretty nice, i did own a skyline nomad for 9 years and it went through hell and back, when i sold it it was still in very good condition though.
youll enjoy what ever you get!!
rob
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2001 F-350 Crew Lariat PSD 4X4 Auto 3:73 Long Bed SRW
Thanks K5OIT,
I have never seen that website before. It's amazing how close most of those ratings matched the ratings available from
RV Consumer Group.
Spent the weekend looking at TT and decided the new 5vers are the way to go. In the past, our old one was a one bedroom that was great for a retired couple, which my parents are but not for the family.
They have some great new two bedroom models out, think the one we are leaning towards in the Sierre 315xxx.
Might try to find one of the longer versions, but none are local to me.
Anyway, thanks again to everyone for your input and website links!!
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Spent the weekend looking at TT and decided the new 5vers are the way to go.
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Uhhhhhh, Houston? We have a problem.
This guy has a 2000 F250 SC 4x4 PSD and he wants a 31' 5er.
If we assume all those guys are right that say there is no difference between an F-250 and an F-350 SRW, then let's assume he has an F-350 SRW, with a GVWR of 9,900 pounds.
Newmar makes nice 5ers, so let's look at the new one that's their least-expensive model - and assume it's also their lightest. Newmar Cypress 31RKCL. Click here. That's the shortest one Newmar makes, and it's a little over 31' long, with a GVWR of 16,250. Unlike most RVers, let's assume they can keep the wet and loaded weight down to only 15,000 pounds - way below GVWR for that 5er.
15,000 pounds gross weight with an 18 percent pin weight means 2,700 pounds of pin weight (a.k.a. hitch weight or kingpin weight).
The wet and loaded truck with family inside, full tank of fuel, toolbox full of tools, cooler full of cool, and various "stuff" will gross around 8,000 pounds. So that leaves 1,900 pounds for pin weight without exceeding the GVWR of an F-350 SRW. And that leaves 12,000 pounds for gross trailer weight without exceeding the GCWR of the tow vehicle.
In other words, the 31' "economy" 5er in the Newmar line will overload their F-350 SRW by 800 pounds over GVWR and 3,000 pounds over GCWR of their tow vehicle.
What to do? Either back way off on the size of the 5er, or else plan on buying a lot more tow vehicle to tow it with.
About the max they can expect to tow with their current tow vehicle would be my Keystone Sprinter 25 with one slide. GVWR is 7,900 pounds, and you can bet it grosses really close to 7,900 pounds when wet and loaded for the road. With 17 percent pin weight, that's 1,343 pounds on the pin, or a GVW of about 9,350 on the two pickup axles. And less than 16,000 pounds GCWR, so no problem there. Of course, they'll be overloaded over of the GVWR of their F-250, but remember we're assuming it's really an F-350 SRW so they won't feel so bad. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
How much truck will they need to tow that Cypress without being overloaded? Ignoring that nonsense about not loading down the trailer, 16,250 pounds worth of trailer at 18 percent pin weight is about 2,925 pounds. With a growing family, they'll want a CrewCab, so that's about 8,500 pounds wet and loaded weight for the tow vehicle, or a GVW of 11,425. 8,500 for the tow vehicle plus 16,250 for the 5er is 24,750 GCW. So they need a truck with 26,000 pounds of GCWR.
That truck is a 2005 or 2006 F-350 DRW with the TowBoss option. That gives them the 26,000 GCWR and plenty of GVWR at 13,000. They could even take GrandMa along on a trip with no feer of overloading. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
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[ QUOTE ]
Spent the weekend looking at TT and decided the new 5vers are the way to go.
[/ QUOTE ]
Uhhhhhh, Houston? We have a problem.
This guy has a 2000 F250 SC 4x4 PSD and he wants a 31' 5er.
If we assume all those guys are right that say there is no difference between an F-250 and an F-350 SRW, then let's assume he has an F-350 SRW, with a GVWR of 9,900 pounds.
Newmar makes nice 5ers, so let's look at the new one that's their least-expensive model - and assume it's also their lightest. Newmar Cypress 31RKCL. Click here. That's the shortest one Newmar makes, and it's a little over 31' long, with a GVWR of 16,250. Unlike most RVers, let's assume they can keep the wet and loaded weight down to only 15,000 pounds - way below GVWR for that 5er.
15,000 pounds gross weight with an 18 percent pin weight means 2,700 pounds of pin weight (a.k.a. hitch weight or kingpin weight).
The wet and loaded truck with family inside, full tank of fuel, toolbox full of tools, cooler full of cool, and various "stuff" will gross around 8,000 pounds. So that leaves 1,900 pounds for pin weight without exceeding the GVWR of an F-350 SRW. And that leaves 12,000 pounds for gross trailer weight without exceeding the GCWR of the tow vehicle.
In other words, the 31' "economy" 5er in the Newmar line will overload their F-350 SRW by 800 pounds over GVWR and 3,000 pounds over GCWR of their tow vehicle.
What to do? Either back way off on the size of the 5er, or else plan on buying a lot more tow vehicle to tow it with.
About the max they can expect to tow with their current tow vehicle would be my Keystone Sprinter 25 with one slide. GVWR is 7,900 pounds, and you can bet it grosses really close to 7,900 pounds when wet and loaded for the road. With 17 percent pin weight, that's 1,343 pounds on the pin, or a GVW of about 9,350 on the two pickup axles. And less than 16,000 pounds GCWR, so no problem there. Of course, they'll be overloaded over of the GVWR of their F-250, but remember we're assuming it's really an F-350 SRW so they won't feel so bad. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]
How much truck will they need to tow that Cypress without being overloaded? Ignoring that nonsense about not loading down the trailer, 16,250 pounds worth of trailer at 18 percent pin weight is about 2,925 pounds. With a growing family, they'll want a CrewCab, so that's about 8,500 pounds wet and loaded weight for the tow vehicle, or a GVW of 11,425. 8,500 for the tow vehicle plus 16,250 for the 5er is 24,750 GCW. So they need a truck with 26,000 pounds of GCWR.
That truck is a 2005 or 2006 F-350 DRW with the TowBoss option. That gives them the 26,000 GCWR and plenty of GVWR at 13,000. They could even take GrandMa along on a trip with no feer of overloading. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
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Wow, good information. Guess when pulling the 38 ft Cedar Creek my F250 was a tad over loaded. Hard to believe the truck went to Toronto and California with so few problems. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img]
Anyway, I appreciate the information. It doesn't take such a tone to get a valid point across and help educate someone.
With that said, not trying to fight but if you have some thoughts feel free to pm me so we do not fill up the board with insulting banter. Been a member for a short time and a lurker for quite a long time and never have I seen such a reply from a member, let alone a moderator.
I really appreciate the time you spent. Your numbers are slightly off but the point is valid.
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