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Old 09-16-2012, 03:52 PM   #1
Duvalfamilycampers
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TV may be a deal breaker

I need advice......we are planning on buying a Bullet 230bhs. We own a 2011 Jeep Cherokee Grand Laredo, 3.7l 6cyl (rated at 5000# tow weight). The bullt has a dry weight of 4200# and a hitch weight of 450#. I just wanna make sure we could handle this without endangering my family or hurting the TV...thanks for input...really really love the 230bhs
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Old 09-16-2012, 04:23 PM   #2
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Duvalfamilycampers, welcome to the forum! Without going into great detail, I'd suggest you will be over the weight limit for your Jeep, once you add up the weight of the trailer options, the items you will pack into the trailer, food, clothes, and stuff; and your family in the vehicle. You might want to consider a smaller, lighter trailer or a larger Tow vehicle.
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Old 09-16-2012, 04:29 PM   #3
Duvalfamilycampers
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Thanks for the reply...These RV saleman will tell you anything to by a TT, We were told at a reputable dealership that if we did not do mountains and stayed in flat areas, we could pull a 4800# apex trailer...
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Old 09-16-2012, 04:52 PM   #4
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Not a chance. We have a Liberty with factory tow and the 3.7l 6 cylinder and had issues with a 3300lb small hybrid. Can it pull it okay at slow speeds/ in town? Yes. The real problem was when we hit the open road and had that wall dragging behind creating such wind resistance we were constantly running high RPMs to try to stay up to highway speeds. Finally gave up and bought a Ram truck with the Hemi. No more problems. Also, dry weight doesn't include full propane tanks or battery or any gear in the camper. Your passengers and all your stuff in your tow vehicle count against the tow rating of the Jeep as well.
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Old 09-16-2012, 05:25 PM   #5
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I believe I have posted this info previously as someone asked the same question about the new Grand Cherokee.

I've got the Hemi version of the '11 Grand Cherokee sitting in my driveway. It's a great hot rod but I would not expect it to haul anything heavier than a hybrid in the 3,500# GVWR weight group. It's just not a real tow vehicle.

Look around the forum here. Almost everyone of us is towing with a half ton pickup or bigger (depending on the trailer), equipped with tow packages, etc.
There is a reason for that.

Every once in a while, you will find an experienced RV owner that tows a pretty good sized rig with something like your Jeep. Not saying it can't be done safely, but without the depth of knowledge and experience that they bring to the table, it's not the right thing to do for yourself, your family, or the rest of us who share the highway with you.
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Old 09-16-2012, 07:14 PM   #6
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I towed our last trailer, a Coachmen 23GSX hybrid ~5000 lbs 500 lbs tongue, with my 2008 4Runner V8 Limited. It's rated at 7000 lbs tow and 700 lbs hitch. It towed great, plenty of power and torque, but wheel-base was the big concern. The Equalizer kept everything in line, but I never felt comfortable or that I'd be able to have the control I would need in an emergency. You might keep that in mind since the Jeep and 4Runner are similarly sized and configured vehicles.
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Old 09-16-2012, 07:33 PM   #7
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We are thinking of trading the Jeep for maybe a Chevy Silverado with a 4.7 l 8 cyl
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Old 09-16-2012, 08:04 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Duvalfamilycampers View Post
We are thinking of trading the Jeep for maybe a Chevy Silverado with a 4.7 l 8 cyl
You mean a 4.8 truck? Just get the 5.3. It cant cost that much more and is better.
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Old 09-17-2012, 03:31 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ls1mike View Post
You mean a 4.8 truck? Just get the 5.3. It cant cost that much more and is better.
+1

Get the larger engine and full tow package. You will not regret it.
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Old 09-17-2012, 07:45 AM   #10
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I agree with all of the above, that you cannot tow your Bullet and do it safely with your current TV. Good choice to trade up and I agree with Steve to get the larger engine & full tow package, you will be glad you did. In the future you may want to tow a larger RV and my moto is "more tow capacity is better".
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Old 09-17-2012, 09:08 AM   #11
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that's a lot of trailer for a grand cherokee! yikes! maybe hybrid would be a better choice. had one and towed it with a frontier no problem. weight was around 3500. wouldn't have towed much heavier with it. probably somewhere comparable to a grand cherokee. with a silverado you would be fine
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Old 09-17-2012, 05:54 PM   #12
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Three problems with the GC.

Payload is low - suspect you'll be way over with loaded tongue weight and passangers/cargo.

Engine - you'll run out of power really quick. Ratings are not everything. You might be able to manage cruising in flat land, but any hills and you'll be gasping.

Wheelbase - just not long enough - stability will be an issue - especially in an emergency situation. Yes, you can get a pretty high end sway control system and that may help a lot.

Some guys will get on here and tell you they pulled a 30ft trailer over the Rocky Mountains with a 4 cylinder Suzuki Samari and they didn't even know the trailer was back there! Yes, some things can be done. It's really a matter of how well.
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Old 09-17-2012, 06:53 PM   #13
Duvalfamilycampers
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agreat input thanks everybody, we are so excited about joining the RVing community...we think we might have found a vehicle for the Bullet 230bhs we want.

2009 GMC Sierra 1500Crew Cab Short Box 2-Wheel Drive SLE, 5.3L 8 cyc

Any thoughts on this vehicle?
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Old 09-17-2012, 06:56 PM   #14
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That sounds nice. You should be good with that. Just watch your pay load.

Do you figure your trailer is about 6400 loaded?
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Old 09-18-2012, 01:52 AM   #15
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you'll be good
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Old 09-18-2012, 05:21 PM   #16
Duvalfamilycampers
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Also looking at a 2009 dodge ram 1500 quad cab with 5.7 Hemi...any thoughts
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Old 09-18-2012, 05:45 PM   #17
Duvalfamilycampers
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Toyota tundra seems like a great tow vehicle with the 5.7 L
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Old 09-18-2012, 06:29 PM   #18
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Have a 2012 Tundra 5.7L V8. Tow a 6700 Cougr 29Rev. Tows really well.

Have an issue at times in a campground at 5 mph, going up a steep hill, with loose gravel. Slip it into 4WD at times, if needed, for 50 feet. I suspect any 1/2 ton truck rear wheel drive will behave the same way......wheels will spin/slip some. Other than that I love the Tundra.

Have to be honest though, we are borderline on payload. MHO: 1/2 ton pickups, in general, cannot tow anywhere near their brochure max towing capacity without exceeding the payload. If I had to do it all over...I'd get the 3/4 ton GMC either Vortec gas or diesel (if I wanted to spring for the extra $$$).
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Old 09-19-2012, 01:58 AM   #19
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agree with chris 1999. any 1/2 ton will do. Mine also occasionally slips on stones at c.g. just put it in 4wd and good to go. chris also probably right about payload. I probably come close to payload too. but I can't afford to drive or buy a 3/4 and mine seems to do the job fine.
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Old 09-19-2012, 02:55 AM   #20
Duvalfamilycampers
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We are purchasing a bullet 230BHS with a dry weight of 4200# and a max capacity of 6400#, a hitch weight at 450ish...I feel the Dodge ram 1500 or Tundra would be more than adequate,,,,both have a 5.7L of course.
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