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Old 04-08-2021, 03:44 PM   #1
Ajbryant80
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Join Date: Apr 2021
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Uuuum we did a thing.....

Hi..... Wait... �� HI!!!!!

Thanks for permitting me into the forum.. We did a thing last June (I know it took me this long to find this forum). We are a family of 3.. I grew up in a camping family and my wife........ She went camping, but her family's idea of camping is going somewhere and staying at a hotel.. As for my daughter. She um... Well, she camps in cabins at girl scout camp..
I grew up camping in tents (the old canvas green Coleman tents, you may know.. The ones that if they got wet, you needed about five people to lift them then had to set them up in a barn or basement to air out for about a week so they could dry) for About 20 yrs I didn't have the ability to camp with work but 2020 and this whole covid issue. Our Disney Cruise was canceled, so I told my wife. We are going to look into getting a camper.. Surprisingly she agreed (I'm still in shock), so I started asking family members for pointers. And ended up looking high and low. I visited a few dealers and talked things over.. Well June 6th, 2020, we bought a 2020 Keystone Passport GT Series... Went camping 3 times last year and have booked 6 trips already for this year starting in May.
I'll post pics of the camper and truck we pull it with shortly. And I'm sure I will ask a few questions as they pop in my head while I'm perusing the forum...

Thanks in advance for putting up with the noob questions!!!


Link to pics and specs of camper.
https://www.byerlyrv.com/product/new...ies-1045450-29

The truck is a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 (not exactly stock under the hood.... In the pic you can see the truck with the "Carolina lean back" this has been upgraded as well). My brother-in-law runs a shop, and we decided to rebuild the suspension in the rear, and me being me, I had to tinker and quite possibly go overboard... Replacing the stock bump stops with 2 new bump stops rated for 8000lbs from E-trailer and air shocks (Monroe) rated for 1500lbs from a local truck parts shop. I run the shocks at about 70lbs of pressure can go up to 150lbs if needed but with this setup the truck barely squats now even with a bed full of fire wood, coolers, bikes and 2 propane tanks 1 for the black stone griddle and the other for emergency needs.
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Old 04-08-2021, 03:58 PM   #2
NH_Bulldog
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Congratulations, welcome and greetings from the only Henniker on earth!
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Old 04-08-2021, 04:06 PM   #3
Ajbryant80
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Greeting from one of the millions of Bryant's on earth!!! ��
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Old 04-08-2021, 04:07 PM   #4
chuckster57
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Welcome to the forum

Glad to have you, looking forward to hearing all about your adventures.
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Old 04-08-2021, 04:46 PM   #5
Ajbryant80
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I'll be posting trips and pics as the adventures unfold.
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Old 04-08-2021, 06:12 PM   #6
sourdough
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Welcome to the forum! Lots of great folks and tons of info here.

That's a great looking rig. Looking at the pic seems the back squats a bit. Just some things to think about;

Those addons you have subtracted substantially from your payload. My 14 Ram 1500 had a payload in the 1500lb. range, what does your white/yellow/black sticker say inside your driver door? You mentioned "rebuilding" the suspension with "bump stops" and air shocks. Realize that neither has anything to do with the truck being able to carry a large load; they just "cover it up".

The trailer has a gvw of 7800lbs. and a potential tongue weight of 1014lbs. at 13% gvw (normal). That comes directly off the payload number inside the sticker I mentioned. Might just do a little looking but a bedload of firewood, coolers, bikes and 2 propane tanks, I suspect (know), will put you well over payload and into what I would consider "not doing it" for me. JMO.

Edit: Looked like your wdh was a chain type and I couldn't see what kind of sway was there. IMO if it has the little clamp on sway bars dump them....and, I'm not a fan of a chain wdh either. Might want to look into those things.
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Old 04-08-2021, 07:30 PM   #7
Gary R.
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Hello and welcome, we are glad to have you along!

Take care and have fun!
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Old 04-09-2021, 06:58 AM   #8
Sarge2
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Welcome from Michigan... Nice Passport! Sounds like you've done some good upgrades to the Ram. Enjoy!!
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Old 04-09-2021, 07:16 AM   #9
Ken / Claudia
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Welcome, many older folks on here, me included all started with 1/2 tons pickups and dumped money and at times lots of money into them to make them a better tow vehicle. I suspect if towing a RV is what your plan is for family fun and vacations. You will out grow the trailer and want bigger. If and when you do, look for a pickup with more payload and better factory suspension, normally any in the 3/4 to 1 ton will work without any upgrades and the towing experience will be better. Unless you try them you may not believe it. But just read through the number of members who did upgrade trucks and their stories about towing.
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Old 04-10-2021, 03:48 AM   #10
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Welcome from northern MN.
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