RE: Weight Calculations
First thing you MUST do is load up your truck just like you will be loaded ready to camp. That means wife, kids,dogs,tools,ice chests loaded. Well you get the picture. Now go to the scales and get an accurate weight. Next add 200 pounds if you have a long bed,300 if short bed. This is for the hitch. Next, look at the drivers door post and get the trucks GVWR number. Subtract your scaled weight from this number. That is your REAL WORLD net cargo carrying capacity.
When you go looking at fivers, forget terms like "dry" or "shipping" weights. They are meaningless. Instead look at the trailers GVWR number. This can be found on the approx 2X3 tag near the left front corner of the trailer. Take 20% of that number and you will have a good approximation of the pin weight for that trailer. Now, does the pin weight added to the as scaled weight of your truck fall under the trucks GVWR? Yes= you have a good match. No= you have a bad match. It IS that simple!
Donn is pretty much dead on. You really need to scale it since RV's differ on the pin#. 17% is a very low number. My truck scales at about 11k loaded up.
Right on! Find a scale you can access, weigh your truck empty, each axle separately. Then fill the fuel tank, add your gear, wife, dog and whatever else you normally carry and weigh the truck again, each axle. Once you have the loaded weight you will see how much margin you have left to reach your GVWR, and, because you weighed each axle, you will be able to calculate how much capacity you have remaining on your rear axle for pin weight (rear axle or rear tire total weight rating minus actual loaded weight).
As has been mentioned 17% is a pretty low figure for pin weight. Most of the time my rig runs 22-23%. If I get over 25% I've got too much weight. That said, remember your 5er is like a teeter-tooter, the more weight you load behind the axles the less weight you have on the pin. It takes a little practice, but it's not rocket science and the fact you're asking the question indicates you're already thinking about it and should be able to handle it NO PROBLEM!!
Good luck, let us know how you do. Maybe we'll see you on the raod somewhere.
RE: does anyone own a fleetwood gearbox 395fs3g
You might move this post to the toy Hauler thread - probably lots of guys out there with your rig who could help..................
RE: Toy hauler removeable ladder
Yep, did that a couple years ago on our 3712TS.
I bought a set of four ladder mounting brackets, hung the ladder from the roof brackets and siliconed/screwed the new brackets to the drivers side of the back door, and transport the ladder there all the time. Sorry I don't have a picture, but and easy and inexpensive install.
RE: Best brands/models of toy haulers
We are looking to buy a toy hauler for our hobbies. What are the best brands or models? What should we avoid? What should we look for? Thanks for any advice!
Carrell & Brian
Hi Carrell & Brian,
Welcome to the Mental Ward (Toy Hauler section) of the RV.Net Forums!! You will find this is a fun place to be with lots of great people!
You will get better responses if you can supply some of the following info.
Type of TH you feel you want or need(bumper pull or 5th wheel)
Min/Max Lenght
Type of TV (Tow Vehicle)you plan to use
Number of people on average typically sleeping in it
Type and quantity of toys you plan to haul
Garage model or open floor plan
New or Used
Typical Area you plan to use it in (cold or warm climates, summer only or all year round use)
Budget range
Couldn't have said it better myself, so I didn't!
We use our Raptor 3712TS to haul quads once in a while, but most of the time the garage is my hobby room (RC airplanes)n and my wife's sewing room (quilting). We also use it as a play are for grandkids when it's raining at the beach and I use it as a mudroom when a couple of my buddies and I are fishing at the coast or on the upper Columbia. We really like like the separate garage and kitchen layout in our Raptor, and we've done a lot of small mods (like heat into the garage) to make it more useful.
Toy haulers are incredibly versatile, which is one of the reasons they are so popular, so give some thought to the questions above, go to the next RV show you can find and have a blast shopping!!!
RE: Taking DISH Network on the road
I used to take a receiver from home until I purchased a Hi Def receiver for the motorhome. As long as one receiver at home is hooked to a phone, you're good. If all you want is a standard def receiver, buy a Dish 311 on EBAY. They're cheap. Have it activated and take it with you. Simple as that.
We do the same thing - bought a HD DVR and tripple LDN portable dish for the 5er and leave the other recievers at home. Pay the extra $5/mo and have full HD TV in the 5er. Takes a couple minutes to set the dish up with a compass and meter, but once you've done it a few times its just a process. Having the DVR in the rig has the same benefits as having it at home, so not a bad way to go!!
RE: TH Question
We've got a lot of miles on our Raptor 3712TS - DW really likes the kitchen layout - keeps the grandkids at bay. Middle son has a new Recon from Jayco that they really like, but it's heavy and he tows it with an '08 F-450 dually.
Guess if I were you I'd be hitting the fall and spring RV shows to see what's out there. The big decision is 5er or Class A - your comfort level driving/towing probably needs to be the first consideration.
Good luck, let is know what you decide.
RE: Upgrading to a 5th Wheel/Toy Hauler
We tow a Raptor 3712TS (15,500 max weight) with our '05 F-350 6.0 CC LB SRW 4x4, and I can tell you that pin weight will be an issue. The reason I got an F-350 as opposed to an F-250 was the rear axle and chassis capacity improvement. I don't have the specs for your truck, but I can tell you that I have to pay attention to my loading to keep the pin weight under 2,75 lbs. It's not difficult now that I've had some practice, but you're going to have less capacity, therefore you'll have to get to a lower pin weight, so be wary about "salesman speak" that "you can tpow anything" with the F-250.
Remember too that any towable is like a teeter-totter, the more weight you put behind the fulcrum (axles), the lower your pin weight, so if you can stay under the 23K GCWR and load aft of the axles you can probably get to a pin weight below 2,500lbs, which should be your target assuming your not carrying 5 people and a cab full of rocks.
Good luck, let us know what you decide!
RE: Air Card information please
........... but if you do decide to activate it I've got a Top Global 3G Phoebus modem you can plug it into that I'll seel ya cheap! My 3-year-old Cingular card just died and I switched to a USB Mercury. MUCH faster!!!
RE: Ford's factory-installed-integrated braking
Could be a wiring issue as carringb said, but there are a couple other things to consider; depending on when the truck was built there may be a "flash" issue with his ABS controller (updated flash for trucks built before 3/31/05 about 9 -10 months ago). The other issue might be a common culprit, the 7-pin connector. Look for corrosion on the female (truck) connections and/or at the box on the fiver hitch as it can result in fault codes.
RE: Onan 5500 power increase!
OUTSTANDING!!!!!
You probably have started a whole new fad! Next thing you know Camping World will have "polished stainless dually pipes" for gen sets!
RE: removable 5th wheel hitch
B&W all the way. You get a gooseneck setup as well as a 5th wheel hitch when you order the companion. The companion comes out in 2 pieces. 5 min to install/get out and you have 100% of your bed when you take it out.
..........yep, B&W!!!
RE: BIO mandate WA and Oregon
That explains my drop in mileage after I bought fuel in Troutdale a couple weeks ago.
............yep, I've had a slight decline overall too. That said, the filter sales guys should be smiling!! ;)
RE: New Raptor Questions
Seems like tank capacities are always an issue - black tank, grey tanks, fresh water and fueling station. I don't think any of the tanks on our '06 3712TS are as big as the literature/dealer said; as an example the fueling station tank was supposed to be 30 or 35 gallons depending on the brochure you had in hand. I've purposely run it dry twice and was only able to put 22 gallons back in............
Like most answerers above, our galley tank always fills faster than the shower/lav tank. Original spec said they were the same.
That said, son's new Recon has the same issues, so sounds like an industry issue as opposed to a Keystone/Raptor specific problem.
RE: Toy Hauler Generators
I would never own an RV with out one. Beyond using it for camping, it is nice to have a generator at home in case if the power goes out for an extended period of time or in case of a natural disaster.
...........yep!!
RE: How much air pressure do you put in your air bags??
I run about 40psi in my F-350 SRW with our Raptor up; range is 35 - 45psi to bring the TRUCK to level, depending on how the rig is loaded. I've had my bags for three years and the instructions that came with it recommended keeping a minimum of 5psi in them when the truck is unloaded.
Lots of discussion on whether to keep the truck or the 5er level. MHO is that if your 5er hitch is set up correctly your truck and 5er will BOTH be level when loaded correctly.
RE: Keystone raptor 3814 weight
First of all find a certified truck scale you can weigh at - your critical weights are GCVW and rear axle weight.
Our '05 SRW F-350 6.0 CC 4x4 and Raptor 3712TS combo weighs in at 23,500 with the DW, Chase the wonder dog, full fuel, no water, normal food/stores, etc. and two of the middle sons 450 quads in the back. If we add water we go over 23.5K, but the pin weight actually goes down because the water tank is behind the axles. I run Firestone bags at 40psi to keep everything level. We do run the rig with no quads most of the time and then I do run full water to reduce pin weight. I'm usually at about 23K even in that configuration.
I've towed this combo nearly 18K with no issues, and I do weigh it at least three or four times a season in different load configurations just to see where I am.
Your 3814 is a little heavier than my 3712, but with a little loading practice you should be able to get a quad in without going over 23.5 or exceeding the rear axle capacity, give it a shot and weigh in at a certified scale.
Good luck!!
I forgot to mention you should move this to the toyhauler forum.
RE: So angry!!
I hear ya derwud, but now you have a very unique opportunity too. Once the fire is out, take them up there and show them the destruction. Then in following year go back and show them how the forest renews itself. Though my kids didn't see it right after there is a place we ride that is now full of 6' tall fir trees that have sprung up after the forest fire several years ago. It's a pretty amazing sight to see.
Sadly, it is a great teachable moment.. the problem is what will grow in it's place.. the pines may never return, I hope it doesn't end up going from a forest to a desert moon scape!
The Forest Service really needs to change their name to Forest Disservice.Its been a proven fact that the wild fires do open the pine cones and new growth will start. The public raised h--- about the Forest Service doing controlled burns and due to this we have more dry brush which is fuel for the runaway fires, the service in my opion does a great job, even though the public may disagree however one question I have for a critic, would you want to risk your life to fight one of thos humungus fire storms. I wouldnt, just like some who would never want to be a cop!
Yep, the fires do open the cones and the underbrush needs to be cleared. There will be rain at some point and hopefully some of those pin seeds will get a chance.
We have big fires up here n rain country too one of the largest was the Tillamook Burn which started in the late 30's and went on-and-off into the early 50's; it burned over 350,000 acres. If you drive through that area now you'd never know it had been devastated.
My point? Make this a true "teachable moment" by going back to your burned areas and planting trees. I did, with other Boy Scouts, four consecutive years in the Tillamook Burn in the 50's.
I'm betting the same spirit that keeps you guys going to the woods could get a lot of other folks interested in planting trees, maybe giving those beautiful pines you love so much a helping hand. So think about getting organized and getting the word out - I'll bet you guys would do great!!
RE: I towed a 28,000# trailer with a Dodge 3500SRW
Come on guys, I am pretty sure Skip was just have a bit of "tongue in cheek" fun, due to someone's earlier post about towed weight. Hell I towed 65,000lb airplanes all over the flightline with a measly little 302ci powered tow tractor and that ramp sure wasn't level. Anything can be done as long as speed is held low and common sense is used.
............yup!!!
