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09-14-2020, 07:43 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: RIDGETOWN
Posts: 10
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New in Ontario Canada
Hi folks,
We are just retiring and acquired a 2006 Zeppelin 271 travel trailer. We love it and are just doing some personal finishing touches before our first trip out. Our tow vehicle is a Ram 1500 Hemi rated to 10500 lbs I believe. It towed nice hoing it home. Qe have a few questions we will be posting as we are newbies to these trailers but looki g forward to it. So hello all and thanks for a place to share on
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09-14-2020, 08:39 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayao
Hi folks,
We are just retiring and acquired a 2006 Zeppelin 271 travel trailer. We love it and are just doing some personal finishing touches before our first trip out. Our tow vehicle is a Ram 1500 Hemi rated to 10500 lbs I believe. It towed nice hoing it home. Qe have a few questions we will be posting as we are newbies to these trailers but looki g forward to it. So hello all and thanks for a place to share on
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Just FYI! That 10500lb max tow weight doesn't really apply to RVs, mostly a big sales gimmick. If you're towing a utility trailer loaded with blocks over the axles then YES it'll tow it, but that in no way compares to towing RVs.
Check the yellow/white sticker on your driver's door post, it'll state "occupants & cargo must not exceed XXXX lbs", that's the available payload of YOUR truck. From that number subtract 10-15% of the GVWR of YOUR rv from the manufacturer label on the drivers side front corner of the RV to get the tongue weight + the weight of everyone/everything in/on your truck that didn't come from the factory + the weight of the hitch & see where you stand. I'd bet with a 30'+ older heavier rv once you've loaded it up you'll be way over loaded for any 1/2 ton truck.
If that's the only option be sure you have a good quality WDH with sway control, good LT tires, not P rated, on the truck, constantly be aware you've got a giant sail behind you able to push your lightweight truck around & drive safe.
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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09-14-2020, 09:36 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: RIDGETOWN
Posts: 10
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We bought an Outdoorsman with 3.92 gear ratio, heavy duty upgraded tow package, heavy duty rear suspension. We towed it 2 hrs home and it was a breeze 1600rpm and dead level. We added dual sway bars for the highway too. So we hope it does ok. First impressions towing it were quite acceptable.
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09-14-2020, 09:49 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Picacho, Az
Posts: 6,809
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayao
We bought an Outdoorsman with 3.92 gear ratio, heavy duty upgraded tow package, heavy duty rear suspension. We towed it 2 hrs home and it was a breeze 1600rpm and dead level. We added dual sway bars for the highway too. So we hope it does ok. First impressions towing it were quite acceptable.
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That's great, but I'd still advise checking the numbers just for your own benefit or worse case of an accident where you could be liable for being overloaded.
If I were guessing your payload will be around 1600lbs, the tongue weight at/near a 1000lbs off of the number + 100+lbs for the hitch doesn't leave much for "stuff".
__________________
Full-timed 10+ years
Sold '13 Redwood FB
Traded '13 GMC Denali DRW D/A
Replacement undetermined
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09-14-2020, 09:53 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayao
We bought an Outdoorsman with 3.92 gear ratio, heavy duty upgraded tow package, heavy duty rear suspension. We towed it 2 hrs home and it was a breeze 1600rpm and dead level. We added dual sway bars for the highway too. So we hope it does ok. First impressions towing it were quite acceptable.
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Report what your payload is... Example of payload sticker (not sure if this is the same in the land to the north):
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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09-19-2020, 08:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Oregon High Desert
Posts: 1,553
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Greetings and welcome from the high desert of eastern Oregon!
__________________
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.
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09-20-2020, 02:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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Hello and welcome to the forum.
You may be near the max payload all loaded and ready to go, max gvwr on that trailer is this side of 7000lbs. Which isn't bad.
All I suggest is that you pay close attention to the suspension and tires of both vehicles. Given the age of the trailer, the tires, springs, and shackles replacement should have been very recent. If not, I would make those changes. OEM shackles wear really quickly, the attached picture is from a 2015 trailer that i just replaced with upgraded shackles and wet bolts. The holes elongate rapidly and without proper attention could cause problems large enough to negate any mods or upgrades you have done inside the trailer. Mono leaf springs have a shelf life.
Only you know how much weight you will put into the trailer, what your driving style is, what type of camping you enjoy or even how far you go to go camping. We're just looking out for your best interests in relation to the shape and weight of you new to you trailer. Enough preaching from me. 
Good luck, and happy trails 
__________________
Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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09-22-2020, 04:25 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: RIDGETOWN
Posts: 10
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Thanks for all the advice and warm welcome. Our plan next spring is to have the trailer in to have the suspension, brakes and propane system all checked. We use it every weekend in the yard to get accustomed to it and note things we feel it made need. Most trips will not be far for now.
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09-22-2020, 05:16 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
Report what your payload is... Example of payload sticker (not sure if this is the same in the land to the north):
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It's the same George just in metric
__________________
Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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09-22-2020, 07:24 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Northofu1
It's the same George just in metric |
My payload sticker has both pounds and kilos but was curious if vehicles manufactured in Canada had the same sticker or they are under some other rules or such. Canadian manufactured trucks made in Canada for Canadian sale have the same placard?
__________________
wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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09-22-2020, 09:03 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Markham, Ontario
Posts: 1,942
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It's the same......
__________________
Dan & Serena
2019 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD SLE
2015 Cougar X-Lite 29 RET
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09-22-2020, 10:52 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: RIDGETOWN
Posts: 10
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Sorry yes in Canada in kilo and lbs.
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09-22-2020, 11:11 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
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Welcome from S.E. Michigan... about 20 miles from Sarnia....
Sit back and enjoy.... 
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09-23-2020, 08:59 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: RIDGETOWN
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge2
Welcome from S.E. Michigan... about 20 miles from Sarnia....
Sit back and enjoy.... |
Hi there Sarge2 we are pretty close, near Chatham which is an hour to Sarnia. Before all this Covid we spent many a weekend in Port Huron and Detroit. Beautiful fall colors will soon be here.
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09-23-2020, 01:26 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Richmond
Posts: 625
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that's for sure.... used to vacation in Muskoka with friends on Lake Joe.... first summer we missed in 25 years....
Also miss our trips to the Casino thru the tunnel.... Hate this non sense.... I'm headed up north on Oct 9th to view the fall colors and camp in West Branch for a few days.... probably be the last trip unless something else pops up....
Be safe over there...
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