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Old 08-18-2020, 04:17 PM   #21
ewbldavis
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I had a 2015 1500 Sierra, a 2015 6.0 2500 Silverado, and now a 2019 6.0 2500 Sierra.

Real world, our 36ft Cougar (9400# empty / 1570# pin weight) feels like a perfect match for the truck. Camper GVWR is 11,500, which is a nice cushion for the 14k tow rating.

I went with Andersen and love only having a turnover ball (B&W).

I think if you stick with a dry weight of 10,000# max and GVWR under 13k, you'll be quite happy with how it tows. I didn't look at anything over 12k because I didn't want to be at limit. Truck pulls 5er quite well. Hardly a difference from our 6800# TT.
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Old 08-18-2020, 04:17 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaju65 View Post
I don't have anything in the bed right now. It's a 6 ft bed.
Great, then you'll want to think about a hitch with a set back or a slider. There are several hitches that work with a gooseneck ball that will provide a nice set back which helps in keeping the trailer away from the back of your truck in tighter turns. I haven't even come close to contact in my normal driving and parking.
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Old 08-18-2020, 04:58 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewbldavis View Post
I had a 2015 1500 Sierra, a 2015 6.0 2500 Silverado, and now a 2019 6.0 2500 Sierra.

Real world, our 36ft Cougar (9400# empty / 1570# pin weight) feels like a perfect match for the truck. Camper GVWR is 11,500, which is a nice cushion for the 14k tow rating.

I went with Andersen and love only having a turnover ball (B&W).

I think if you stick with a dry weight of 10,000# max and GVWR under 13k, you'll be quite happy with how it tows. I didn't look at anything over 12k because I didn't want to be at limit. Truck pulls 5er quite well. Hardly a difference from our 6800# TT.

I might note that there are many more weight considerations in addition to, and probably more important, than the 14k max tow rating. A 11500 5th wheel (dry gvw, max tow and pin weights are meaningless) at 20%+ pin will overload most 3/4 diesels along with the OPs gas 3/4 at 2864 payload. Have you ever actually scaled your truck/trailer against the weight sticker inside the door? "Feeling" like a match vs staying under weight and safe, knowing your numbers, are 2 very different things.
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Old 08-18-2020, 05:09 PM   #24
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I might note that there are many more weight considerations in addition to, and probably more important, than the 14k max tow rating. A 11500 5th wheel (dry gvw, max tow and pin weights are meaningless) at 20%+ pin will overload most 3/4 diesels along with the OPs gas 3/4 at 2864 payload. Have you ever actually scaled your truck/trailer against the weight sticker inside the door? "Feeling" like a match vs staying under weight and safe, knowing your numbers, are 2 very different things.
Being that this is my 4th tow vehicle and 4th camper, and I am an engineer by trade, yes... I've checked numbers and know right where I am. I'm trying to give a simple answer without suggesting an F450 for a 6800# trailer.

Since labels have dry and gvwr, figured it would help simplify.
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Old 08-18-2020, 05:41 PM   #25
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I'm sure you're good if you say so but you recommended up to a 13k 5th wheel to a novice that has a 2864 payload. That's not prudent or being safe IMO - just sayin.
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Old 08-18-2020, 06:02 PM   #26
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Confusion and misunderstanding is what isn't safe.

I was answering the OPs question. Don't need overly conservative weight police telling me I'm not prudent or safe when I calculate this s*** for a living. He wanted real world answer.

Sidenote: your username is familiar. You own a Crossroads product?


No, don't like them. To each his own but, as I'm sure you know, numbers are numbers..
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Old 08-19-2020, 04:05 AM   #27
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OP, Your truck can handle the pulling part just fine. The issues that John brought up regarding the floor plan are valid; first the floor in the bedroom will be cold. What is cold? Toss a small rug outside the bathroom area; you will hardly be able to trot around the bed anyway as it is a low rise bedroom. The TV issue can be solved by screwing a mount to the wall with an articulating TV mount. We had the same issue (our couch was on the opposite side of the camper than the Winnie) and the person sitting closest to the slide out wall (me) couldn't see the TV. I put up a furniture grade backer of 3/4" plywood stained to match the wood in our camper and mounted an articulating TV mount to it and can now turn the TV about 20 degrees towards our couch and that works fine. The bed in your prospective Winnie is a full queen giving you a lot of NICE mattress options; that is GOOD as an RV mattress is usually NOT GOOD. The only real negative I saw was the pantry so far away near the steps. The chef won't appreciate that but that is a minor consideration.
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Old 08-19-2020, 06:21 AM   #28
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The TV setup isn't ideal I agree. That's one of things I also look at when we view trailers. I like the idea about putting in a new mount for it. The floor plan is also an issue that we'll have to think about.
Anyone have any model suggestions (Bumper pull or 5er ) that we should look at that fall under 10K GVWR and sleep at least 6?
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Old 08-19-2020, 06:29 AM   #29
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Ewbldavis, just so we know since you are an experienced RVer and engineer. I will assume you know your vehicles payload rating. Please list it and what the pin wt is of the trailer. Help us understand what your talking about. It would also really help the new guy who started this.
If my understanding of your knowledge of payload rating and real pin weights is wrong it's okay to admit it.
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Old 08-19-2020, 06:32 AM   #30
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If you're looking to sleep six (I'm guessing 2 adults and 4 kids) then I'd narrow the search to bunkhouse models. Kids will want their "own space" and using a sofa or dining booth as a bed EVERY NIGHT gets old. Setting up for an occasional guest is one thing but setting up/breaking down every day becomes tiresome. JMHO
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Old 08-19-2020, 09:24 AM   #31
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As Marshall points out a bunk model is probably what you want if you have multiple kids and are considering using the dinette as a sleeping surface.

When we were young we used tents, pickup topper, slide in camper and pop up with the kids. Them sleeping "wherever" was sort of the way it had to be and we didn't spend much time at it. Our first travel trailer was bought without a lot of thought. I was going to use it for work (and let them pay for it in lieu of lodging) and we would benefit by using it for vacations etc. It was fun and novel at first but after a while trying to negotiate that narrow trailer (no slides) while the kids wanted to sleep in, prepare breakfast or anything else became a real irritation for us so think about that.
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Old 08-19-2020, 04:58 PM   #32
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Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia View Post
Ewbldavis, just so we know since you are an experienced RVer and engineer. I will assume you know your vehicles payload rating. Please list it and what the pin wt is of the trailer. Help us understand what your talking about. It would also really help the new guy who started this.
If my understanding of your knowledge of payload rating and real pin weights is wrong it's okay to admit it.
My payload sticker is 2570, pretty close to OP. I have a crew cab, so I expect the smaller double cab gives him a 300# advantage.

Actual scale weight loaded for a week was just over 11k for the 5er...like just under 11,100# or something...I don't have the scale paper anymore. Pin was 19??#. About 17%. Our stuff is pretty evenly distributed since it's a rear bunkhouse.

It handles quite well and we're good on payload.
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Old 08-20-2020, 08:08 AM   #33
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Originally Posted by kaju65 View Post
The TV setup isn't ideal I agree. That's one of things I also look at when we view trailers. I like the idea about putting in a new mount for it. The floor plan is also an issue that we'll have to think about.
Anyone have any model suggestions (Bumper pull or 5er ) that we should look at that fall under 10K GVWR and sleep at least 6?
Friends have a Passport 3221BH. Another option is 292BH. Both are travel trailers.

We loved not tearing things apart for beds with our pop-up, and is why we've stuck with bunkhouse models.
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Old 08-23-2020, 09:11 AM   #34
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My 6.0 gas 3/4 ton 4wd is pulling a 24’ trailer with a GVW of 7200#. Flat ground is fine. Can pull slight grade at 4k rpm but need to mash gas pedal on steeper grades closer to 5k rpm which I don't like so I just slow down. I could give you axle loads, truck GVW etc but this is real world info. My combo is within spec for various weights. Truck is actually rated for 10k Towing but I would expect less performance. Grant it, mine is a 2001 so pulling effort could be different with your year and model.
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Old 08-23-2020, 11:30 AM   #35
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Spreadsheet

I have an Excel spreadsheet that I created that could help. Does anyone know how I can add that to a reply?
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Old 08-23-2020, 03:59 PM   #36
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Our 2012 Keystone Avalanche max gvw 14400, loaded to camp weighs 13880 with 3200 pin weight, making most 2500s under rated
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