Hi from Iowa

[Jswcamping]

My husband and I live in Iowa. Early 50’s. 6 grown/in college kids, 2 grandchildren ages 2 and 6 months. We have 3 dogs (German short hair and two frenchies).

In August we purchased a 30ft grand design and loved it! We loved it so much that we went to an RV show and a month later, we bought the big dogs….Avalanche 390ds. We haven’t even picked it up at this point!!!

CRAZY!

We plan to do a lot of weekend trips, a trip to visit our daughter in Denver this May and hopefully a month trip between Thanksgiving and Christmas to the Smoky Mountains.

My husband was in the army for 20 years before starting another career at John Deere. I was a stay at home mom. I owned a yoga studio for about a decade that we sold in August (and lead to the first trailer purchase).

[sourdough]

Welcome to the forum! Lots of good folks with tons of knowledge here. I responded to your question about washers and dryers in another thread. That is a large trailer. I'm hoping you have a dually to tow it???

[Jswcamping]

We have a 2021 Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by Jswcamping

We have a 2021 Ram 3500 Turbo Diesel.

The point to the remark about having a dually is that the gross weight of your new camper is 16,500 lbs. An estimated pin weight will be 23 percent of 16,500 lbs or 3795 lbs. Add the weight of the hitch you intend on using plus the weight of cargo in the truck including passengers. You are likely over 4500 lbs and that counts as payload.

In the door frame of your Ram is a yellow/white placard that will tell you what your payload LIMIT is for safe and legal carrying with your particular Ram. I suggest you may want to take a look as that is a very heavy 5th wheel. i personally have a Ford F350 and my payload is right at 4000 lbs and your 5th wheel plus my hitch/passengers/stuff in truck would put your set up way over my payload limit. Here is a sample of the payload placard:

[spicercars]

Welcome from northern MN.

[Gary R.]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by Jswcamping

My husband and I live in Iowa. Early 50’s. 6 grown/in college kids, 2 grandchildren ages 2 and 6 months. We have 3 dogs (German short hair and two frenchies).

In August we purchased a 30ft grand design and loved it! We loved it so much that we went to an RV show and a month later, we bought the big dogs….Avalanche 390ds. We haven’t even picked it up at this point!!!

CRAZY!

We plan to do a lot of weekend trips, a trip to visit our daughter in Denver this May and hopefully a month trip between Thanksgiving and Christmas to the Smoky Mountains.

My husband was in the army for 20 years before starting another career at John Deere. I was a stay at home mom. I owned a yoga studio for about a decade that we sold in August (and lead to the first trailer purchase).

Welcome aboard!
Hopefully you've got enough tow vehicle for the new Avalanche? That's 42' long with a 16.5k GVWR, that's dually territory for sure.