FamilySuperTrip
Open Road USA
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Joined: 02/06/2012
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The Family and I went a picked up an older RV, that was in amazing shape for its year (1978) Almost like it never was driven off the lot, but it wasnt enough room, for us all so i went and picked us up a travel trailer to tow around with it a 30 ft Americana.
1978 Fleetwood Jamboree 23ft with a 5.7L V8 to sleep 3-4 of us
towing a
1986 30ft Americana, to sleep 4-6 of us!
We, currently planing a 11000 mile road trip to criss cross the great american west.
The tow max on Camper is 8000 lbs
the Gross Trailer Weight is 3500 lbs dry,
Getting a Weight Dist* Hitch 10000 lbs rating soon
Installing a high-flow water pump for cooling system
Did we miss anything? And did we do good?
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JoeGood988
S.Dakota
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Joined: 03/04/2005
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As long as you stay in areas where you don't have mountains to climb or go down you should be ok. You'l find out how underpowered you'll be climbing steep grades and I'm sure the engine isn't fuel injected to altitude will decrease your pulling power. Then there is the parking trick. Not all campgrounds have pull through...some places you refuel are terrible and if you can't back up that's a problem too. Plan on unhooking the trailer from time to time in order to park...practice backing and parking the trailer with the motorhome...good luck
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2chiefsRus
USA Somewhere
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FamilySuperTrip wrote:
Did we miss anything? And did we do good?
Welcome to the Forum! Sounds like you have a plan. How long are you going to be able to take to do the 11000? Are you planning on trying to use just pull-throughs at campgrounds or get two sites - one for each RV? When do you leave on the trip?
Dave & Kathy
2007 Monaco Knight 40PDQ towing 2003 Odyssey
Fulltime since October 2007
Before you give someone a piece of your mind, make sure you can get by with what will be left.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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You MAY be ok but you mention both the GROSS weight and the empty weight as the same thing so pretty hard to say unless you plan on towing it empty. One other thing is that Max towing ratings are ALWAYS with a completely empty tow vehicle and I doubt if you're traveling with the tow vehicle empty so it might be important to know the real weights. Those issues are a satisfaction issue only though and the only SAFETY related issue you'd have is to stay below the GVWR and the GAWR of both vehicles.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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Your way overweight on using a Jamboree to tow that much weight. First off the frame and engine on the Jamboree will not handle that heavy a trailer unless it's total empty. If you need the extra space I'd go with a pop up lot less weight and smaller. Will this be drivable maybe, will the Jamboree hold up doubtful, and definitely not safe on the highway. The Jamboree will be over weight with passangers, fuel, and items you take along before you even add the trailer weight. You have to add every person in the vehicle plus every ounce you add after you first drive to a scale and see what they both really weight empty.
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Finally Fulltiming
Summer: NYS Finger Lakes; Winter: Someplace warm
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Be sure to take a few short, local, shake-down trips prior to the big one.
If the MH has been sitting a lot recently, there's likely a whole bunch of electrical & mechanical issues waiting to be discovered. It will also be useful for all the family to sort out living arrangements & storage and personal space conflicts.
The big trip should be a lifetime memory-maker for all. Good Luck.
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psa0298
Alberta
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Double check your numbers. Find the sticker inside your motorhome with the GVWR/GVCW, etc. I would question 8000 lb max tow rating with a 5.7L motor. in a motorhome. It is VERY hard to find any gas powered motorhomes with that kind of towing rating. I would also want to weigh that trailer before you head out...3500lbs sounds light for a 30ft trailer. Welcome and good luck.
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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You need to do some more homework before you head out on a 11k mile trip with that combination. As noted that is a lot of trailer to pull with a small MH of that vintage. Your numbers don't look right. If all the numbers work out be prepared to do repairs along the way to the 1978 drive train as I am sure it will be stressed.
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bikendan
Napa, Cal.
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i'm having difficulty believing a 5.7 v-8 motorhome has 8000lbs. of towing capacity.
and the same thing goes for a 30' TT that weighs only 3500lbs. dry.
these numbers are so crazy, it's hard to take you seriously.
something in your numbers ain't right or this a Troll post.
you need to post GVWR for the MH and the TT. you also need to post the GCWR of the MH.
towing a 30' TT with a 5.7 truck would be doable but a motorhome with that size engine carrying the weight of the MH AND a 30' TT?
Dan- Firefighter , Shawn- Musician/Entrepreneur , Zoe- Faithful Golden Retriever , 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche LS, 2007 Rockwood Roo 23SS w/Equalizer and Prodigy, and 5 Mtn. bikes and 2 Road bikes
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Allworth
Orlando, FL
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How are you going to STOP that combination???
Formerly posting as "littleblackdog"
Martha, Allen, & Blackjack
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"Real Trucks Don't Have Sparkplugs"
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