Just joined! 2021 368MBI

[DanoND]

Just bought a 2021 368MBI and am excited to use it this spring. It'll need tires and a few small fixes but is in otherwise great shape. Pull it with a 2019 F250 crew on bags.

We have a bunch of kids ages 16 to 24 who are also looking forward to a camping season with enough room. I also have an old 1999 Coachmen 29 footer with a single slide I co-owned with a buddy. Was not sufficient as we usually end up being the center of activities everywhere we camp. Way too small.

Looking forward to learning something instead of facepalming my way through Facebook groups!

--
Dan

 

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum :wlcm:

Congrats on your new to you trailer. If it’s a fifth wheel, that’s a lot of trailer for a 3/4 ton.

 

[DanoND]

That trailer is well within the towing and payload spec, and with 40 lbs in the airbags is more stable than a 1 ton without. I've had it cross country and through the mountains with ease. As with everything, I don't speed, I take my time around corners, I don't drive in high winds, etc. Easy.

I'm also a pilot. I understand equipment and personal limits quite well.

 

[sourdough]

Welcome to the forum! As Chuck mentioned the 368MBI is a lot of trailer for a 3/4 ton. I looked at one when I had a 3/4 ton (gas) and it would have exceeded my payload (which is more than a diesel....if you have a diesel). DW is still wanting a mid room 5th wheel and I watch weights.... What does it scale and what is the payload of the tow vehicle? Maybe there's a way......

 

[flybouy]

That trailer is well within the towing and payload spec, and with 40 lbs in the airbags is more stable than a 1 ton without. I've had it cross country and through the mountains with ease. As with everything, I don't speed, I take my time around corners, I don't drive in high winds, etc. Easy.

I'm also a pilot. I understand equipment and personal limits quite well.

Welcome to the forum. I to am a pilot and weight and balance of an aircraft doesn't translate to that of a truck and an rv. When I owned boats it didn't translate to boats either. I find it hard to believe that the trailer you bought can safely be hualed around with any 3/4 ton truck. For safety sake I'd urge you to research the subject further. Having "a bunch of teens" camping means having a bunch of food, clothing, and gear on board as well. You will be loaded up close to or perhaps over the trailer gvr.

My honest recommendation is to put the trailer in a seasonal spot in a cg until you are able to get a more appropriate truck safe travels.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

Welcome and congratulations.

I am a bit confused though, you say that you just bought the 5th wheel and are looking forward to using it in the spring, but in the second post you made you said that "the trailer is well within the towing and payload spec, and with 40 lbs in the airbags is more stable than a 1 ton without. I've had it cross country and through the mountains with ease." Are you referring to the 1999 Coachmen or the new to you 5th wheel? Because the new 5th wheel is NOT well within any towing or payload spec for your truck.

Not to pile on, but that 5th wheel has a real-world pin weight of about 3,200 lbs. Air bags deduct from the weight carrying capacity of the truck, they do not add to it. Once you add a good 5th wheel hitch, and let's say 4 people at an average per person weight of 150 lbs. plus any other gear or cargo or anything in/on the truck that wasn't there when it was "born", you are realistically at least a few hundred lbs. over 4,000 lbs. of added weight, which is unheard of for all but a few single cab, stripped down, 2 wheel drive, gas engine, 3/4 ton trucks. Having an F250 Crew Cab myself, I can tell you I only have barely enough capacity for the pin weight of that without the hitch, people or gear, and that is with factory towing and suspension upgrades.

As a pilot, I would expect you to be very detail oriented and actually know your real numbers and the capacity of your truck, not just wing it and say it handles good, so I am fine. Seriously, you really should load up the camper and the family and then do a couple of weighs at a Cat Scale and see just how much you are over the capacity of your truck. Don't do it because we say so, do it for your family's safety and for the safety of others on the road.

 

[workinonit]

You guys are a tough crowd. If he doesn't come back it wouldn't surprise me.

 

[Gkri]

You guys are a tough crowd. If he doesn't come back it wouldn't surprise me.

Think about the consequences of the collective knowledge of this forum saying everything is fine, go ahead and exceed payload. Do we have any liability for not providing honest answers? What about our conscience if we read that an overloaded truck/trailer combo got pushed through a traffic signal and killed innocent people? Or toppled over in high winds? It looks like I just upset a new member with honesty in another post. Should we just ignore safety, hide our heads in the sand? But what if someone we did not advise honestly is on the road with me or you and there is an accident? One that just maybe we could have prevented by explaining tow rating verses cargo rating?

 

[chuckster57]

Think about the consequences of the collective knowledge of this forum saying everything is fine, go ahead and exceed payload. Do we have any liability for not providing honest answers? What about our conscience if we read that an overloaded truck/trailer combo got pushed through a traffic signal and killed innocent people? Or toppled over in high winds? It looks like I just upset a new member with honesty in another post. Should we just ignore safety, hide our heads in the sand? But what if someone we did not advise honestly is on the road with me or you and there is an accident? One that just maybe we could have prevented by explaining tow rating verses cargo rating?

Well said. We all have to share the highways and with the number of knuckleheads that think us RV’s can maneuver like a compact I don’t like to have to think about that fiver hooked up to a truck that’s not rated to pull it. Sad but I see it a lot.

 

[DutchmenSport]

Wow! I agree .... tough crowd.

I'll take the more gentle approach.

WELCOME to the Forums! I hope you enjoy your new camper and wish you many happy adventures!

 

[flybouy]

I look at this differently than some folks do. The analogy I use is comparing this to helping someone who asks for assistance working on their car.

Let's say your adult neighbor asks for help. You agree and go to their car. The car is jacked up with a scissors jack that came with a different and much lighter car. The jack has a flat lifting plate and the car requires a notched pinch weld jack plate. There's no other support and the tires aren't Chocked. You point out the dangers and the neighbor says "it's OK, I've done it this way before."

Do you say "well, OK then, let's go for it!" because you don't want to hurt their feelings? I couldn't live with myself if I encouraged them and they were injured or worse. I'll welcome the ill feelings towards me if they stop and do some research on how to safely carry out their desire. JMHO, YMMV

 

[NH_Bulldog]

I make no apologies to anyone. My entire life I have been in the fire service, the military, and an EMT. Helping people is in my blood whether I like it or not. I simply cannot stand by and watch an accident waiting to happen without at least mentioning something. I don't do it in a scolding way, nor do I wag my finger at people or portray myself as being better than anyone. If that upsets people, well that's just too bad, don't come here seeking validation for a bad idea.

The fact is, I have been on the other side of this discussion and I listened to what others told me, and as "painful" as it was to swallow my pride, I took the necessary actions so that my family remained safe as we travel around this great country of ours.

 

[LHaven]

Think about the consequences of the collective knowledge of this forum saying everything is fine, go ahead and exceed payload.

I think his point is that it might be advantageous for us to figure out how to exercise the same bedside manner as doctors use when they have to give you and your family members the bad news. It's not a talent I have myself, but I recognize when it's being done well.

 

[workinonit]

Think about the consequences of the collective knowledge of this forum saying everything is fine, go ahead and exceed payload. Do we have any liability for not providing honest answers? What about our conscience if we read that an overloaded truck/trailer combo got pushed through a traffic signal and killed innocent people? Or toppled over in high winds? It looks like I just upset a new member with honesty in another post. Should we just ignore safety, hide our heads in the sand? But what if someone we did not advise honestly is on the road with me or you and there is an accident? One that just maybe we could have prevented by explaining tow rating verses cargo rating?

I never said anything about saying what he's doing being fine. He simply joined the forum, stated what he has and said hello. He never asked anyone's opinion or advice on towing. He made statements.

 

[workinonit]

I look at this differently than some folks do. The analogy I use is comparing this to helping someone who asks for assistance working on their car.

Let's say your adult neighbor asks for help. You agree and go to their car. The car is jacked up with a scissors jack that came with a different and much lighter car. The jack has a flat lifting plate and the car requires a notched pinch weld jack plate. There's no other support and the tires aren't Chocked. You point out the dangers and the neighbor says "it's OK, I've done it this way before."

Do you say "well, OK then, let's go for it!" because you don't want to hurt their feelings? I couldn't live with myself if I encouraged them and they were injured or worse. I'll welcome the ill feelings towards me if they stop and do some research on how to safely carry out their desire. JMHO, YMMV

This gentleman never asked for your help or advice.

 

[workinonit]

I'm just saying why blast someone a half dozen times with the same rhetoric. Once is enough and not nearly as intimidating.

 

[sourdough]

I never said anything about saying what he's doing being fine. He simply joined the forum, stated what he has and said hello. He never asked anyone's opinion or advice on towing. He made statements.

When a trailer has a tire about to fall off going down the highway do you just "watch" because they didn't ask or flag them down?? I prefer to try to help folks and folks try to help me - especially when it's something I'm unaware of. Not doing so is irresponsible IMO.

 

[flybouy]

This gentleman never asked for your help or advice.

That's true, however, I still cannot stand by blindly and not say anything. I don't consider any of the comments to be condescending or harsh eith÷r. Maybe I'm not as "sensitive" as some folks are. If you see someone getting in their car and notice they have a flat tire what do you do? Do you wave and say "Have a good day!" I will say "Excuse me. Are you aware that your tire is flay? Do you need help changing your tire?".

 

[JRTJH]

This gentleman never asked for your help or advice.

I'm not sure you're correct in this statement.... Read his FIRST POST, last sentence: "Looking forward to learning something instead of facepalming my way through Facebook groups!"

Looks to me that he opened the door with that last sentence and members are "trying to instruct" or "teach him what he apparently doesn't know or has overlooked, rather than facepalming through Facebook groups...

But hey, if anyone chooses to ignore the obvious, well, that's certainly their prerogative... What is also true is that other members who feel differently also have the ability to exercise their prerogative and "say something".... As usual, YMMV.

 

[workinonit]

Yep. Y'all are all correct. Only thing is you are now preaching to each other because he hasn't been back and probably won't be. All I was saying is just lighten up a bit. 6 or 8 people don't have to hammer someone with the same post. That typically makes someone dig themselves in even more and in a case such as him they just don't come back. It's not just here. I see these safety guys on the tractor forums I'm on blasting new owners that don't have proper ballast for their front end loaders or lifting or pulling more weight that the ratings. God forbid they drive their tractors without the roll bar up.