Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Keystone RV Forums > Welcome to KeystoneForums.com! > New Member Check in!
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 11-30-2022, 09:05 PM   #1
cbatsford
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 14
New to Site with 2022 Cougar 30BHS

Hello,

Just joined the group. Got our first trailer about a year ago (22 Wildwood FSX) and took it all through Idaho, Oregon, Northern CA - loved it - so we upgraded to a COUGAR 30BHS. This floorplan is amazing with our 3 kiddos (3, 5, 8). I tow it with a 2019 RAM1500 5.7 Hemi 4x4 Warlock.

I love the camping, etc. but also love getting back into my shop and 'geeking' out on all the new tech - solar, etc.

I have a lot of questions. Looking forward to hearing from all you experts.

Charlie
__________________
Cougar 30BHS 2022
RAM 1500 Warlock 5.7L 4x4
cbatsford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2022, 09:09 PM   #2
Max23
Senior Member
 
Max23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 577
Thats a big unit there. Welcome.
__________________
2023 Passport SL 229RK
2023 Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi.
Nebraska
Max23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-30-2022, 11:23 PM   #3
Gary R.
Senior Member
 
Gary R.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Oregon High Desert
Posts: 1,550
Hello, Charlie, and welcome to you and your family!

Congrats on that new Cougar.

Have fun and travel safe!
__________________
Gary & Deb (44 years)
RV: Keystone 2013 Alpine 3495FL
TV: 2014 RAM 3500HD Laramie Long Box, 6.4 HEMI, 4x4, 4.10's, with Mopar Puck system, and a B&W Companion hitch.
Retired Firefighter/EMT.
Gary R. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2022, 05:27 AM   #4
markcee
Senior Member
 
markcee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Sun City West
Posts: 907
Welcome to the forum!

As a fellow '1/2 ton' Cougar owner, also with a 9500 lb GVWR, be mindful that for the most part, the '1/2 ton towable' nomenclature is marketing hype. The 1/2 ton trucks most suitable for a '1/2 ton towable' trailer are stripped down base models, long bed version, with a heavy duty towing and/or payload package.

My trailer (1' shorter than yours) has a 1200 lb tongue weight when loaded to 8500 lbs. I towed it initially with an F150 'max tow' that had 1870 lbs of payload. Without loading much of anything in the truck I had a couple hundred pounds of payload remaining and was only 20 lbs shy of my rear axle weight limit.

Sounds like the Ram 'Warlock' is a lifted, off road type package vehicle. Lifted trucks are typically less suitable for towing and also likely have less payload capacity than other 1500s, as they have additional components added (more weight = less payload).

I'd take a look at the driver's side door pillar for the yellow and white Tire & Loading sticker which will list your truck's payload capacity as well a the other sticker there that lists its front and rear axle caps and GVWR. These will at least give you an idea of where you stand.
__________________
2022 Rockwood Signature 8324SB
2019 F350, SRW, 6.2L, 4.30 gears
Sold: 2020 Keystone Cougar '1/2 ton' TT, 29RLKWE
markcee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2022, 08:26 AM   #5
cbatsford
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 14
Thanks! Yes, checked it all out prior to purchase of new trailer and I am def on the max side of things - and really have to limit payload to stay under. Looking to upgrade to 2500 soon. Thanks again.
__________________
Cougar 30BHS 2022
RAM 1500 Warlock 5.7L 4x4
cbatsford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2022, 12:52 PM   #6
Roper46
Senior Member
 
Roper46's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 538
Welcome from south Georgia and congrats on your new Cougar.
__________________
Dan (USAF Retired)
2021 Cougar 290RLS w the Andersen Ultimate
2022 Ram 3500 SRW Big Horn Mega Cab
6.7L I6 CTD with Air Suspension
6 Speed Automatic 68RFE Transmission
Roper46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2022, 02:50 PM   #7
wiredgeorge
Senior Member
 
wiredgeorge's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,371
Quote:
Originally Posted by cbatsford View Post
Thanks! Yes, checked it all out prior to purchase of new trailer and I am def on the max side of things - and really have to limit payload to stay under. Looking to upgrade to 2500 soon. Thanks again.
You have already been notified that the 1/2 ton towable is something of a misnomer... a marketing jingle that doesn't live in the real world. With your family, chances are you will be close to gross weight in that camper. 1235 lbs based on 13 percent of gross weight. Don't know the weight of your family but say 550-600 lbs? Add hitch and you are looking at almost 2000 lbs hitch weight.

OK, the reason I bring this up is that MANY of the 3/4 ton trucks out there have less than 2000 lbs payload. My sister has a newish Ram 2500 with all the bells and whistles and her payload is just over 1800 lbs. You might consider going to a 1 ton. Same size but considerably more payload and the price is generally not much different at all. Just a thought. Good luck and happy camping!
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
wiredgeorge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-01-2022, 06:06 PM   #8
rhagfo
Senior Member
 
rhagfo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 4,161
Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge View Post
You have already been notified that the 1/2 ton towable is something of a misnomer... a marketing jingle that doesn't live in the real world. With your family, chances are you will be close to gross weight in that camper. 1235 lbs based on 13 percent of gross weight. Don't know the weight of your family but say 550-600 lbs? Add hitch and you are looking at almost 2000 lbs hitch weight.

OK, the reason I bring this up is that MANY of the 3/4 ton trucks out there have less than 2000 lbs payload. My sister has a newish Ram 2500 with all the bells and whistles and her payload is just over 1800 lbs. You might consider going to a 1 ton. Same size but considerably more payload and the price is generally not much different at all. Just a thought. Good luck and happy camping!
Well those 1,800# payload 2500’s are diesel. Likely the reason Ford and GM cheat and call a class 3 truck a 2500! 250 and 2500 are manufacturer labels that have been associated with class 2 trucks with max GVWR of 10,000#. In the last couple years Ford and GM have 250 and 2500 labeled trucks with GVWR greater than 10,000# making them class 3 trucks. Ram is still sticking to the 10,000# max.

That said I would also encourage the OP to skip a 250/2500 and get a one ton SRW.
__________________
Russ & Paula and Belle the Beagle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 14,000# GVWR (New TV)
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS 32’ GVWR 12,360
Visit and enjoy Oregon State Parks
rhagfo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2022, 05:53 AM   #9
ShotgunZ71
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2022
Location: Rural USA
Posts: 25
Congrats on the new camper and welcome to the group! I also have a 30BHS and we've traveled over 1100 miles in the past few months to various places. I tow with a Silverado 1500 LTZ 6.2 and Equalizer E4 WDH. My camper loaded up is at 8700 lbs. We don't take water with us, so that's not an issue with adding more weight. The truck tows it nicely, especially since getting the WDH dialed in.

If you do get another truck, I would skip the 2500 and would look at the 1-ton trucks just in case you go bigger with your campers in the future. We actually downsized to a 30BHS due to kids getting older and not going as often with us. The 5th wheel we had weighed more by itself than the truck and trailer together do now! I may get another HD truck in the future, but pulling the camper wouldn't be my sole reason. Something about driving the HD trucks since having them the past several years has a more commanding presence. LOL!

We've really enjoyed our 30BHS and the versatility it offers. The storage in the back, the open area in the living room and kitchen, plus those bunks when extra room is needed. Enjoy your trips!
__________________
2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
ShotgunZ71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2022, 04:47 AM   #10
spicercars
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Saginaw Mn
Posts: 1,712
Welcome from northern MN.
__________________
2012 Keystone Retreat 39 FDEN
99 Dodge One Ton Diesel Dually
spicercars is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2022, 12:52 PM   #11
jb44588
Member
 
jb44588's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 31
Coagulations and welcome.
You are going to love the camper and it will make camping so much more enjoyable for you and your family.
Something to think about. I have a 2020 Passport 3100QB, it’s a little heavier than yours. I had a 2012 Chevy 2500 HD crew cab and it had no problem pulling the camper. It was working hard (I’m sure yours does as well), head winds and long hills it worked even harder. I purchased a 2022 Chevy 2500 HD Diesel and the difference in towing is night and day. The towing is easier, smoother, we don’t care about head winds or hills anymore and because it’s not working as hard, it’s less stressful towing, it’s more enjoyable. Just something for you to think about.
__________________
John Cincinnati, Ohio
2020 Passport 3100QB
2022 Silverado 4x4 2500 HD
6.6 Duramax Diesel
jb44588 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cougar

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates in any way. Keystone RV® is a registered trademark of the Keystone RV Company.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.