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RE: Sabre 34TBOK - 3/4 ton or 1 ton?
My first (previous) FW was very similar in weights to yours' and I pulled it with a 3/4 ton but with the truck's payload capacity of 2,500# I ended up exceeding the GVW of the truck (by a few hundred pounds) even though I was well within the combined tow limits for truck & trailer. I now have a slightly heavier trailer (mostly pin weight) and a new truck. I really wish I had started out with the 1 ton - would have saved a lot of money!!! The previous suggestions, given your shrinking family and likely increase in travel, are very good ones.
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oldbiker7
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04/28/13 09:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: New truck break in period.
The 500 mile statement is in our manual for the 3500 gas, but it doesn't state it anywhere in the duramax booklet. At least I can't find it. We were given both manuals. To be safe, I guess we will put off picking up the new fifth for another week. I'm sure they will hold it for us for another week. We are just anxious to get it.
The general break-in is 500 miles but I believe I also saw that it says to go 1000 miles before towing. As was said, the miles have more to do with components other than the engine which, I would guess, is why its not mentioned in the duramax manual.
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oldbiker7
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03/30/13 10:04pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: New truck option/will this pull our fifth wheel?
Thanks for all the advice. We purchased a new truck that will more than pull the fifth we have purchased.
Your new truck should do just fine. I recently traded my 2500 for the 3500 because of a new, heavier FW but I really liked the previous truck and I was pulling more weight than you will. You will especially come to love the exhaust brake when in the hill country.
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oldbiker7
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03/30/13 09:14pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Fifth Wheeling in the Colorado mountains?
I lived near Winter Park for years and the pass is much better than it was 10 years ago. It is double lanes on the uphill sections and the hairpins are not that tight - semis and other big rigs drive it regularly. An exhaust brake makes the downhill a piece of cake but its not bad without if you don't let your speed get away from you. Weekend traffic is much worse than weekday.
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oldbiker7
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03/30/13 07:41pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What truck do we need?
If we are purchasing a fifth wheel that has a shipping weight of 9080 lbs., 3050 carrying capacity, 1580 hitch weight, what GM or Ford truck do we need? Will a 2500 crew cab, standard box, 6.0 V8L vortec, 2wd with a 3.73 axle ratio do the job safely? the truck states GCWR 16000, trailer weight 9,700. Payload states 3,347.
I would recommend going with the 3500 - they are not that much more money and you will insure that you have plenty of capacity, now and in the future. As the others have said if you go gas then the 4.10 axle is probably a better choice. I would also recommend checking the actual payload capacity on the door jam of the truck you are considering - there are a lot of things that will reduce the actual from the advertised payloads.
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oldbiker7
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03/24/13 09:58pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Reese 15k Pro Series hitch
Is this a decent hitch? It is included with a fifth wheel purchase, but I want to make sure it's OK, or if we should be looking at something else?
I got one with my first FW and had trouble with it for 9 months. It would catch on the kingpin and not release so I could not unhitch. It may have been that my Reese Sidewinder setup was partly to blame but I ended up replacing it with a B&W Patriot and have been much happier. The Patriot is only about $425 so it is not that much more expensive. My RV dealer has also dropped the Pro line of hitches and includes the B&W with their new FW sales.
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oldbiker7
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03/24/13 08:41pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: What is your Bed rail to the ground height for a FW???
Know the new campers and trucks are getting higher..But My wife and I found a FW instead of a tt..Dealer said they can raise the FW with 4" square tubing to accomadate my truck height..
My bed rail to the ground is 63".
Sand piper 345 ret is level is 56".
Any one have this height and have a issue?
I'm guessing your truck has been lifted since my 3500 is only about 57" high at the tailgate. It would be better to return the truck to original height instead of attempting to raise the FW that much.
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oldbiker7
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03/21/13 09:20pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 5th wheel hitch height
I have mine set on the lowest setting (I think B&W is a little higher than some of the others out there). I did find that on the lowest setting you do not want to move the legs all the way back toward the tailgate. The frame of the head unit will hit on the lower box in that position so you would get a lot of clunking.
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oldbiker7
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03/21/13 08:00pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Bicycle carrier for Fifth Wheel ?
I had a 2" receiver welded to the frame of my trailer - it has worked fine but does require a sturdy bike carrier. I use a Thule T2.
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa418/oldbiker7/IMG_1638.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa418/oldbiker7/IMG_1552-1.jpg
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oldbiker7
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03/20/13 08:25pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Rear Kitchen Question
We have had no problems with our current rear kitchen or our previous TT rear kitchen. I suspect that most that have had issues were TV based. If the truck springs flex too much with road irregularities that will translate to a lot of up and down motion in the rear of the trailer. I used air bags in my previous truck to control that motion on rough roads.
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oldbiker7
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03/12/13 08:45pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: B&W Fifth Wheel Rails VS Goose Neck
I had the B&W Patriot with rails in my previous truck and am going with the same in my new one. I have never hauled anything that the rails interfered with and couldn't justify the higher cost of the gooseneck setup. If you were to haul loose bulk material such as gravel, dirt, etc. then the rails would be a problem.
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oldbiker7
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03/08/13 07:27pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: towing for dummies
From my own experience, I think it makes sense to buy a little more truck than what you need. We bought a 3/4-ton Ford diesel in 2000. We had a small 5er and figured the F250 would be enough truck. The problem was that within months we traded our 5er for a bigger one, and then a few years later we wanted a still bigger one... but we were at our weight limit so couldn't. Had I known what little extra it cost for a 1-ton, that's probably what we'd have gotten, and then my wife would have been happier with a bigger camper. And I'd have been happier with a happier wife! :B
That could be my quote - I agree 100% - I would have saved a lot of money if I had just started with the 1-ton that I am now looking for.
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oldbiker7
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02/09/13 09:11pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Artic Fox 32-5 M - seeking advice
wgriswold is correct about getting info from the Arctic Fox/Nash forum. A great many owners have apparently purchased their units from Thunder RV that is located a few miles from the factory in LaGrande, OR, although that would be a very long trip for you. Much of the savings comes from the lack of shipping costs. You can pretty much figure on needing a 350/3500 for their 5th wheels, they are heavy but very well built. We are very happy with our new one although we have only used it on one outing thus far.
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oldbiker7
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02/03/13 05:42pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: b&w patriot hitch hight
Mine is set at the lowest setting (height) and it is 16" from the bed of the truck.
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oldbiker7
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02/03/13 05:28pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: battery draw on my 5th wheel
I was told by my RV dealer (take it for what it is worth) that as long as the trailer is plugged in to any 110 power source the battery indicator panel will always read 100% because it is reading the shorepower not the battery.
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oldbiker7
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01/29/13 09:13pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Should I be concerned or not? (Weights)
hmalaga, you probably saw the numbers I posted to your previous thread. In thinking about my weights I believe the measured pin weight may have been overstated by at least 100# since I had some fairly heavy non-trailer furniture on the bed which probably transferred directly to the pin. Even with that the weight on my rear axle was 5,640#. I do run air bags on the truck, mostly to keep the headlights set correctly and to keep up and down movement at the rear of the trailer minimized (we carry bikes on the rear of the trailer). I also find the factory exhaust brake to be extremely helpful in the Colorado mountains. Feel free to send me a PM if you would like other details.
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oldbiker7
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01/14/13 07:51pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Duramax 2500 HD + Artic Fox combo ?
I am looking at:
The Artic Fox 27'() Gross dry weight 10210lbs) (GVWR 13900 lbs).
The Artic Fox 29' (Gross dry weight 12120 lbs / GVWR 16900)
The Artic Fox 29' (Gross dry weight 11245lbs / GVWR 15000.
I have a 2009 2500 HD crew cab 4x4 Duramax. I am just curious if anyone out there is pulling this type of combo. I currently pull a 28' Holiday Rambler. I know that the Artic Fox is heavier and really haven't started looking too deep into weight figures other than what I posted above. I am not going to upgrade the truck but will fit the trailer to the truck. I have never pulled with tanks loaded and do not anticipate doing this in the future thus I don't anticipate reaching the GVWR ratings on any of the units..Just checking for pulling experiences or wisdom with any of these combinations.
Thanks......
Our new 2013 AF27-5L modestly loaded, with empty holding tanks and one empty propane bottle, weighed in at 11,240# which was about what I expected since the dry weight was very similar to our previous KZ trailer. The surprise came with the pin weight which works out to 2,560# (23% of gross) whereas my prior trailer was about 250# less. I expected a little increase but was hoping the rear kitchen would help to lessen the pin weight some. That will put me over the truck GVW rating but I'll still be okay on rear axle and tire ratings so I guess I'll see how it goes. Clearly if you were to get near the trailer GVW of 13,900# (although I am not sure how anyone could add that much weight) a 1 ton truck would be mandatory. The combined TV/trailer weight was 19,000#.
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oldbiker7
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01/08/13 08:29pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: How do you travel with a Kayak
I carry mine inside the FW. With an open floor plan and a little under 3' in width with the slides in my home made rack sits on the floor between the slides. The rack will then come out of the trailer and goes in the bed of my truck for transport if necessary.
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa418/oldbiker7/IMG_1946_zpse60c5adf.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa418/oldbiker7/IMG_1951_zps83daba75.jpg
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oldbiker7
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12/23/12 09:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: KZ email address
If the above doesn't work you might try the KZ forum: http://www.kzownersforum.com/
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oldbiker7
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12/22/12 07:40pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Leveling fifth wheel
If you choose to raise the trailer more be mindful of your overall height. My Jayco 31.5RLTS is over 13' high from the factory.
Steve
That is my worry.
Right now, it's 143 " : just short of 12 feet
With your current trailer height increasing it a few inches should not be a problem. My KZ was raised 3" by a suspension shop by replacing the 2x2" tubing that the springs were attached to with 2x5" tubing. You can see the new tubing behind the tires in this picture.
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa418/oldbiker7/IMG_1997-1_zpsb93537c0.jpg
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oldbiker7
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12/14/12 09:43pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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