Have patience please bc this is our first post ever and we need some help. We have given up the tents and our new TT is going to be delivered in a week. Hubby drives a '05 Dodge Ram Quad 1500 w/5.7 Hemi and mine is '05 Chev Suburb 1500 w/Vortec 5300 V8. Our TT is '09 Forest River Wildwood with GVWR 11,035 and dry ship weight of 7,695. We are having "Equal-izer" put on TT prior to delivery but need to decide which vehicle we should use as our TV. What do you recommend?
We will only be using our TT on weekends and plan on packing light...paper products for dishes, etc. Also, we plan on sticking close to home for camping until we have learned the ropes. Will any of that make a difference in your response?
Wildwood TT wrote: We will only be using our TT on weekends and plan on packing light...paper products for dishes, etc. Also, we plan on sticking close to home for camping until we have learned the ropes. Will any of that make a difference in your response?
No, you are already overloaded before you put anything in the trailer. A good safe point for a 1/2 ton is maxed out 6000lbs. Maybe 6500 if you want to push it. With the trailer you ordered, you need a 3/4ton.
Mike-
Thanks for your prompt response. I was afraid of this news and had mentioned my concerns to hubby. I just needed confirmation. Thanks for your help!
Wildwood TT wrote: Mike-
Thanks for your prompt response. I was afraid of this news and had mentioned my concerns to hubby. I just needed confirmation. Thanks for your help!
Don't take just my word on it. Wait and listen for others to chime in. There are going to be some on here that will tell you that the trucks will pull a semi.
I am just giving you an honest opinion that I wouldn't do it. I have had 1/2 and 3/4 and have pulled a lot of utility trailers as well as my tt. I wouldn't be afraid to pull more weight than that with a 1/2 on a gooseneck if the load where flat, but you are not just pulling the load, you are pushing wind. It all plays in.
Good luck.
The good news is that there are a lot of used 3/4tons going really cheap right now.
Good advice. We have 3 children under age 9 and don't want to risk anything when towing our TT. I will wait to hear from others but I agree that now is a great time to buy a used 3/4 ton. I just spoke with a local dealer a couple of weeks ago and he seemed anxious for our business. By the way, I noticed you are in OK. We are only 15 min. from the TX-OK border.
You are way to heavy for a 1/2 ton vehicle. I sure wish you would of come here first before you bought such a big trailer. If you haven't signed all the papers you can still back out of the deal. If you love the trailer you better be looking at a bigger TV to tote it. Dodge has done a great dis service in boasting up the new Hemi into something it isn't. Some may claim you can handle the load if you buy a $3,000 Hensley hitch, but to heavy is to heavy. Sorry, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I have the same weight trailer, maybe a few hundred pounds heavier, and you see what I tote it with. You don't need a 1 ton dually, but you do need a 3/4 ton TV at least with the capacity to handle the load. Be glad you found out now, then after you got it home like some folks.
NCH
2000 Ford F350 4X4 PSD,CC, DRW
4:10's, BTM Muffler, Isspro Gauges,
Coolant Filter,CCV Mod
FTVB , Ford AIS
6.0 Cooler,SCT2 W/DP's 40 tow & 80 econo,Zoodad mod
2005 Keystone Hornet 30BHSS
Reese Dual Cam
Family of 4 saved by Grace!!! MY TRUCK OUR TRAILER
All will tell you. I believs 1500, and 150s are good TV. I don't call them 1/2 tons. Cause they aren't. and If your TT ended up 8000lbs or less loaded. I would say you are ok. but. You are starting out at the top of the capacity. there are 5 of you, So you will have food for 5, clothes for 5, and be carrying 5 in the truck. you may even take bikes in the truck. Every pound you put in the truck takes away from the listed tow capacity.
Even with a tow cap of 9000lbs. time you load the truck. You will be down to 8500 or less. You are starting aut at 7700. With stuff for 5 in the TT. Sheets blankets, grill, pots pans, You will be up to 8500lb pretty quick, and that is before you fill the propane tanks, or have water in any of the tanks.
As for staying close to home. Loss of control, is loss of control. On your street or on the interstate.
for your weights. I would suggest you skip the 2500s, and 250s, and go straight to 3500s, and 350s. And even though I hate them. A diesel may be your best bet.
NCH-
Please don't apologize. I so appreciate your honest opinion and thank you for your insights. We have not signed the papers yet but I spent countless hours researching TT's make/models and finally found the one that fits my family perfectly. Hubby isn't attached to his current truck and is not objecting to looking at a used 3/4 ton. We will hold off on signing anything and see if we can find a new TV that will safely handle the TT we want. If we can't find anything that fits our budget then I will be disappointed but I also firmly believe that (after much prayer) we have to trust that things will happen as they should. Thanks, again, for your response!
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