1500 Ram and hideout 29BKS

Willie · 03-26-2014, 10:09 AM

I have a 2007 Quad Cab Dodge Ram with the 5.7. I ordered a new floor plan29BKS and the weights are

Shipping Weight - 7050
carrying CApacity - 2505
Hitch - 755

I have a WDH that will be fitted for this but haveing second thoughts on the weight.

Thoughts?

GaryWT · 03-26-2014, 12:02 PM

Nice camper, enjoy. As for towing, what is the payload of the truck and the tow value. You might not use the full carrying weight but at least a 1,000 or so pounds might be added. Good luck, hope it works for you.

audio1der · 03-26-2014, 05:56 PM

Which rear end gears do you have? What is your max towing weight? SO many considerations, but it does sound like you'll be flirting with some limits.

greengiant · 03-26-2014, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie

I have a 2007 Quad Cab Dodge Ram with the 5.7. I ordered a new floor plan29BKS and the weights are

Shipping Weight - 7050
carrying CApacity - 2505
Hitch - 755

I have a WDH that will be fitted for this but haveing second thoughts on the weight.

Thoughts?

My 2013 Hideout 29BHS has just about the same 3 weights as what you ordered. We love ours and hope you'll think the same. I tow with a 3/4 ton and to be honest, would not want to do so with a 1/2 ton (even though it's within the limits of most 1/2 tons).
It all comes down to your towing comfort level combined with your actual tow weights being in the range of the vehichle specs. There are plenty of towing threads (just look or search the towing forum) that can help you hit a scale and know exactly how to weight up your setup.
To consider: I'm 7k dry, about 9k loaded down. By the time I add the tongue weight, 5 people, 140lbs of dog, 5 bikes, three wheel barrows of firewood, and a cooler to the truck- you can guess I'm pushing the rear axle weight limit. I plan to recheck that number as soon as the trailer melts out of winter.
One more thought, and then I'll shut up. Hideouts are heavy compared to a bunch of other Keystone lines. I'm guessing it has something to do with the mega slide system and maybe bigger main frame (just my guess). This has benefits, one of which is the very sizeable outdoor storage areas compared to units that sit closer to the ground. Another is the 2500lbs cargo carrying capacity vs the other, ultra-light units that from what I've seen, have less than 1500 lbs CCC.
Good luck!

Willie · 03-27-2014, 04:55 AM

After some digging I have 3.92 gears and a tow package (all the extra coolers) and the max is 8450. So it see I could pull it a short distance 2 hours from my house. I wouldn't have too much stuff piled in it since their is three of us.

Any other thoughts would be great!

Thanks for all of those who chimed in

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Willie · 03-27-2014, 04:56 AM

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**JRTJH** · 03-27-2014, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie

After some digging I have 3.92 gears and a tow package (all the extra coolers) and the max is 8450. So it see I could pull it a short distance 2 hours from my house. I wouldn't have too much stuff piled in it since their is three of us.

Any other thoughts would be great!

Thanks for all of those who chimed in

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The issue I think you'll face more than any other is trailer tongue weight/payload of the truck. The empty tongue weight is 755 lbs. add 60 lbs of propane and a 50 lb battery and the empty tongue weight is closer to 865 lbs. If you load about 800 lbs into the trailer (and that's a conservative figure) you'll be pushing close to 900 lbs or more of tongue weight. The max payload of your truck is 1260 lbs. Subtract the tongue weight of 900 lbs and you've only got 360 lbs remaining for everything else. There is a "driver weight allowance" of 150 lbs, so if we add that, you're about 510 lbs. Now, subtract the weight of yourself and your other two family members and what's left is all you'll have for the weight of the distribution hitch, cooler, toys/games for the youngest member and any bikes, or other camping equipment you'd want to carry in the bed of the truck. Don't forget to also deduct anything you've added to your truck such as a bed liner, tool box, running boards, tonneau cover, cap, etc. All of that must be considered in the payload.....

You'll be close, very VERY close to your max carrying capacity even though you'll have almost 2000 lbs of extra "trailer towing" capacity left before you hit the "maximum trailer towing capacity" of 8500 lbs that's advertised in the brochure.

Willie · 03-27-2014, 08:57 AM

Just called to canceled the order for the camper. Thanks for all for your information. Search begins again.

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Willie · 03-27-2014, 09:45 AM

Why do they a WD hitch what is the point?

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**JRTJH** · 03-27-2014, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie

Why do they a WD hitch what is the point?

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What is your question regarding WD hitch? from what you wrote, it's difficult to decipher what you're asking....

Willie · 03-27-2014, 12:45 PM

Does the hitch redistribute some of the weight.

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Javi · 03-28-2014, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie

Does the hitch redistribute some of the weight.

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Yes a W/D hitch transfers a small amount of the hitch weight to the front wheels of the tow vehicle and a even smaller amount to the trailer wheels. But don't expect this to correct an overload situation, it's primary function is to put the headlights back on the road and out of the treetops.

homer3 · 03-28-2014, 07:24 PM

Willie, son (SoCalCPA) has 28RBS similar to your choice. He pulls with new RAM 1500, tow package and works with WDH. He says truck pulls well. He had some sag on rear end. It was suggested that he put add iar bags to rear suspension which did, He says things are all fine. Not sure how you contact using this blog, how you query a used ID on here see above if you figure it out. I will pass onto him.

Willie · 04-08-2014, 11:06 AM

What would be a safe hitch weight? Getting really confused on what is a safe and what is not. Can I go more hitch weight and less camper weight?

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KJcachers · 04-08-2014, 05:50 PM

Hitch/tongue weight of trailer + cargo and passengers in truck can't exceed the payload capacity of your truck.

KJcachers · 04-08-2014, 05:54 PM

Btw, we pull a bullet 246rbs with our 1500 ram. Knowing my tow was about 8800 I didn't want to push it so we went with the lite weight bullet. Even so, the tongue can get heavy with gear in the front storage, 2 full propane tanks and the battery on the tongue. Sags my truck almost 4 inches. The coils are soft for a smooth ride but I need to add air bags to firm them up while towing.

x96mnn · 04-08-2014, 06:01 PM

IN my opinion not a great combination. I own a 1500 and tow sprinter 266 and it is 6500pds. Truck tows it and I can keep the speed limit but you know there is a camper behind you, but it does it. I tow my neighbours camper which is the same length but weighs 1700pds less and it is a night and day difference. You do not even know there is a camper behind you!

Ask them to hook it up and take it for a test tow and decide for yourself. I think you would be pushing the limit but meet legal requirements.

Willie · 04-08-2014, 06:04 PM

I am looking for a different camper maybe a bullet but some of those campers have a heavy tongue weight was well so I am limited on what I cam get.

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x96mnn · 04-08-2014, 06:28 PM

It is not keystone but my friend has a sunset trail super lite model st270bh. Dry weight is 5300pds and works very will with a 1500 truck. They have a 33ft model there as well listed 6000pds. Made by cross roads.

**JRTJH** · 04-08-2014, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x96mnn

It is not keystone but my friend has a sunset trail super lite model st270bh. Dry weight is 5300pds and works very will with a 1500 truck. They have a 33ft model there as well listed 6000pds. Made by cross roads.

A 33' trailer will be extremely long for a short wheelbase 1500 series truck. There are a couple of posts in the last 2 days concerning wheelbase/trailer length. Look them up to get the formula to calculate max lengths. No matter if the tongue weight and total weight are "OK" if you get pushed around by passing 18 wheelers and side winds. It's no fun having a short wheelbase truck being pushed from lane to lane while dragging a "too long" trailer behind you that acts as a big sail with every passing truck.

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