Look for your Thoughts

[Xanderman]

Hi Everyone,

The family is looking into getting a Springdale 282BHWE. Just have some questions with towing it. I currently have a 2012 Silverado Half-ton its got the 5.3L and rated to 9600# The trailer if loaded right to the max would be about 8300. I am getting a WDH with built in Sway from the dealer. The truck has got the towing package and all the things I need I am just wondering if it will actually pull this trailer of course the dealer is saying Yes no problem but still a little nervous about it. The weights all seem to work and fit just looking for your thoughts.

[Xanderman]

Sorry I moved this to the towing thread didnt notice it before

[B-O-B'03]

That is pretty large and heavy trailer, with a lot of wind sail potential, to pull with a 1/2 ton.

The thing to check is the towing capacity label, usually in the drivers door area and see what the gawr, payload, gcwrs are, for that specific truck.

With a dry weight of 6791 + carrying capacity of 2729 you are looking at a tongue weight of 958 - 1428 pounds, if you balance the load to be 10 - 15% of the trailer weight.

The dry weight does not include batteries, propane, water,etc unless all that came from the manufacturer.

Once you get everything loaded in the truck (people, pets, fuel, firewood, chairs, etc) and add the camper tongue weight... all that goes towards the truck's payload capacity, not towing capacity.

All the numbers must line up.

Whatever you decide a weight distributing hitch will be a must.

Good luck, keep us posted.

-Brian

[B-O-B'03]

I posted this in your other thread.

That is pretty large and heavy trailer, with a lot of wind sail potential, to pull with a 1/2 ton.

The thing to check is the towing capacity label, usually in the drivers door area and see what the gawr, payload, gcwrs are, for that specific truck.

With a dry weight of 6791 + carrying capacity of 2729 you are looking at a tongue weight of 958 - 1428 pounds, if you balance the load to be 10 - 15% of the trailer weight.

The dry weight does not include batteries, propane, water,etc unless all that came from the manufacturer.

Once you get everything loaded in the truck (people, pets, fuel, firewood, chairs, etc) and add the camper tongue weight... all that goes towards the truck's payload capacity, not towing capacity.

All the numbers must line up.

Whatever you decide a weight distributing hitch will be a must.

Good luck, keep us posted.

-Brian

[dcg9381]

If the weights work, including the pin weight on the truck, then yes, you should be able to pull it. In all reality, the issue typically isn't getting the RV towed, it's getting the RV stopped and hauling all the vertical load safely...

In terms of what you are comfortable with - take your time, drive slow, leave a lot of stop distance, and buy walkie-talkies for spotting.

I prefer a trailer to be no more than 75% of the rated capacity of my truck, but that's a preference.

[Tebpac]

This helped me out:

http://www.rvforum.net/joomla/index....owing-capacity

[notanlines]

Xman, I'm kinda looking to go along with Bob. Too long, and too heavy for a half ton. You would be towing an exceptionally large sail, at the mercy of all large trucks and cross winds. Just my opinion, YMMV.

[Hodgy]

.

Wow, 8300 lbs for a 5.3. You would be asking a lot from that little V-8.


.

[Firewall]

It will "tow" it but you may not be happy. I tried towing my 32' trailer with a 1500 (8500lbs), it towed fine but the truck was overloaded, braking was bad and as has been said the wind will bother you. 1000lbs on the tongue took just about all of my payload capacity.

When I was able I upgraded to a 2500 and it was night and day. Good luck with your purchase and I hope everything works out for you!

[JRTJH]

xanderman,

I'm not sure all your data is accurate. Here are the specs for the 282BHWE from the Keystone website:

Shipping Weight 6791
Carrying Capacity 2729
Hitch 720
Length 32' 1"
Height 11' 3"

As you can see, it's significantly heavier than you state: "The trailer if loaded right to the max would be about 8300" Actually, the GVW is 9700 pounds. That puts the 10% hitch at 970 and the 15% hitch at 1455.

Most people who buy a bunkhouse model do so because they have children that will be travelling with them. So, the number of people, their "goodies" that are loaded in the cab, any cargo placed in the truck bed, and any improvements/additions to the truck (bed cap, mud flaps, running boards, bed mat, etc) all deduct from the available payload.

You might be able to pull it off, but as previous posters have indicated, if you load like most RV'ers and have more than a "very small and young family" you're likely to be well over the truck payload, possibly over the rear axle rating and the towing experience is very likely to be less than favorable, quite possibly bordering on or crossing into the "white knuckle experiences" that we all try so hard to avoid......

I'd say that you're quite possibly on the verge of overloading the truck and probably beyond that maximum weight.

A 9700 pound GVW trailer that's 32' long isn't a good match for a truck rated to tow a max trailer of 9600 pounds

[Freeheel4life]

Not to keep re-iterating on what others have said, but I'm going to throw in my .02
Our TT is 28' 7" and I tow it with a 5.4L f150 and I hate it. I often tow it dry as well because it's winter and we just pack a 5 gallon jug and refill it. Still hate it . According to sticker in my cupboard I'm 6500 dry. Plus 30# bottles, batteries and gear I'm an easy 7k+(never been to the scale). If I only towed on the flatland with only a tailwind I'd maybe consider not hating it. I also regularly tow 19-23 ft wakeboard/comp boats and the larger boats work the 1/2 ton on long climbs. I'm a mechanic so I change my fluids constantly due to weight I tow/duty cycle of the TV and I can say for a fact it's hard on the truck. One hot climb last summer cooked the paint off the rear diff cover. Have never overheated but it's a huge PITA when it's hot out.
DW hates it too. Which makes my driving experience....not fun. She's shopping trucks daily but it's really null until we payoff a commuter rig in our fleet. If I wasn't stuck with the camper and car payment I would be done with the 1/2 ton tomorrow. Our salesman told us the same thing he probably telling you. Why I'm here now....or at least one of them

[ctbruce]

My half-ton was a great truck. But it also was not as relaxing nor as fun as toeing with my one-ton diesel. It just is what it is. Regardless, I will probably go with a one-ton from now on. I like big trucks, and I cannot lie!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

[Gegrad]

Xanderman, you probably want to look at an Ultralight in a similar floorplan if you want to keep your truck. My truck is equipped the same as yours and does quite well, but my trailers' GVWR is right at 2,000 lbs less than the Springdale's. I also carry very little in my bed (I don't boondock, so no generator, etc.) I would not want to tow anything heavier with it, which is why I went with an ultralight, as I knew the wood framed Springdale's were too much (I also prefer the appearance of the fiberglass exterior).