Joining the Keystone Family

[JoelandMimi]

We are new to big trailer living. We had a pop up and decided we needed more room for the wife and I and three dogs.
We purchased a 2010 Keystone Springdale 298bhhs and tow with a 2004 GMC Yukon XL. Based in Milton, Florida. Retiring One Weekend at A Time.

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[ctbruce]

Welcome to the forum from Kansas City, MO! Glad you're here! Enjoy your rig!

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[66joej]

Welcome to the forum from Radium Hot Springs BC.
Enjoy that Springdale. Fully retired in 1998 almost 20 years ago and still getting used to it. Fun though.:D

[PARAPTOR]

:wlcm: to The Forum From Western PA

Congrats on your new to you Springdale ! Enjoy !

Be Safe and Happy Camping :camping:

[heiserk0410]

We are new to big trailer living. We had a pop up and decided we needed more room for the wife and I and three dogs.
We purchased a 2010 Keystone Springdale 298bhhs and tow with a 2004 GMC Yukon XL. Based in Milton, Florida. Retiring One Weekend at A Time.

Sent from my LG-H740 using Tapatalk

Welcome to the Keystone family from Mid-Michigan. Was down in Milton, Fl a couple months ago. Nice area!

Ken.

:camping:

[Jeepshots]

Welcome to the forums from Central Arkansas! Lots of good info floating around here. Drag up a chair, get comfy and start poking around. Enjoy your Springdale!

[msubobcats]

Welcome to the forum from Northeastern california. Enjoy
Lots of knowledge on this site.

[busterbrown]

We are new to big trailer living. We had a pop up and decided we needed more room for the wife and I and three dogs.
We purchased a 2010 Keystone Springdale 298bhhs and tow with a 2004 GMC Yukon XL. Based in Milton, Florida. Retiring One Weekend at A Time.

Sent from my LG-H740 using Tapatalk

Congrats on the new trailer. Hope you enjoy it. Just noticed your TV is a older model Yukon XL. If the Springdale specs I found online are accurate, your trailer may be way over the capacities of that Yukon. Safety before anything else is something that this forum encourages and promotes. Welcome from Michigan.

[JoelandMimi]

Congrats on the new trailer. Hope you enjoy it. Just noticed your TV is a older model Yukon XL. If the Springdale specs I found online are accurate, your trailer may be way over the capacities of that Yukon. Safety before anything else is something that this forum encourages and promotes. Welcome from Michigan.
Thanks for worrying about the weight and safety but I checked it all out before purchasing, even talking to GM rep that I work with in the area. With the weight distribution hitch and Air Lift 1000 Series Air Spring Bags everyone says I am well with in the safety zone. It does not hurt that I am OSHA certified construction safety man, that makes me a little picky about those things.

[busterbrown]

Thanks for worrying about the weight and safety but I checked it all out before purchasing, even talking to GM rep that I work with in the area. With the weight distribution hitch and Air Lift 1000 Series Air Spring Bags everyone says I am well with in the safety zone. It does not hurt that I am OSHA certified construction safety man, that makes me a little picky about those things.

I'm glad you're satisfied with the GM rep's response. They must be well versed in trailering mechanics, model specific capacities of 14 year old Yukons, and safety regulations that guide RV fitment to tow vehicles. If your TV is the 3/4 ton variant with a 20,000 GCWR and mated to either the 8.1L big block or 6.0L Vortec small block, you're probably in the "safety zone". Read no more.

If, however, the TV in question is the more common 1/2 ton 5.3L, 13,000 lb GCWR, with a payload cap of around 1,400 lbs, you're most definitely towing in unsafe territory and you should take a serious look at the numbers. Your tongue weight ALONE will be at approx 13% of your trailer's 9,500 lb GVWR (1,200 lbs), almost 88% of your payload capacity. Include things like a WDH, batteries, and propane and you'll be over capacity before adding TV occupants and cargo.

Remember, adding/changing components such as airbags, shocks, springs and light truck tires do nothing to "increase a truck's capacities". That is a common misconception.

I'm a big proponent of 1/2 ton vehicles pulling trailers WITHIN the specifications of the TV. Many on here discount any 1/2 SUV for pulling a trailer larger than a PU or hybrid. I towed with my Yukon XL Denali (properly equipped) a trailer that was 2,000 lbs lighter on GVW and lighter on hitch weight. The HP, torque and stout 6 speed 6L80 tranny exceeded the HP, torque, and 4L60-e performance by significant margins. It towed good even on long, mountainous trips. But I was close to limits in payload, GAWRs, and hitch capacity. I would never fathom pulling (with the Denali) a trailer heavier than the Bullet I currently own. A Hensley hitch made the world of difference but took away another 80 lbs of payload.

So, my DW and I talked about an upgrade. My Yukon's driveline was 9 years old with 100K on the clock. With several long distance trips ahead of us, I recently decided to replace the Denali and pull the trigger on a 3/4 ton RAM. I would have kept the Denali longer if the RV trips were local and short. But I was in search of mechanical reliability. Didn't want a fuel, oil, or water pump going out 1500 miles away in Yellowstone NP or up the east coast in Prince Edward Island. Plus my children are getting bigger and requesting more "take alongs" than when they were toddlers...another serious hit on payload.

Again, if you're sporting a 2500 series Yukon, take my comments above just as review rhetoric for future forum members who need some perspective on towing capacities. On the other hand, if you're comfortable towing your fully loaded trailer with a popular 2004 grocery getter variant, stop at the scales next time out. You just may be in for a rude awakening.

[14george]

Welcome to the fourm congrats