Hello. RV Newbie here... Need help understanding the 'hidden' elements of choosing a first RV (towing capacity). My owners manual says 6700 lbs. I have been looking at the Jayco 23FB and the Jayco 24rks. Both will bring me (once loaded with the 1100lbs I estimate my wife, myself, dog, infant and equipment will load at)I am looking at the upper end of the 6700 lbs. Please, any advise so I don't overextend my truck... Thanks D
Have you included water, propane, full gas tanks, double what you think you, your wife and infant will need and also the dog's needs. Now add food and little things like tapes, discs, computer, and toys. Where does this leave you? You must plan the worst case and work from there. Good luck
You'd probably hate it that tow combo. Seriously, not a good idea to run at the max towing capacity. I'd stay below 80% of any max rating, including tow vehicle, trailer, and combined rating. Either get a lighter trailer, or a bigger truck. Trust me - it's from experience.
Dodge 1500
25' Trailer, ~6000 lbs.
Of course, if you're wanting to get a new truck, then this is a perfect strategy!
I have the identical truck and can't imagine pulling anything heavier than my '07 Fleetwood Utah CP Pop Up....the gears are gonna kill ya'
*Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"
First that sounds like a lot of weight for a 23 - 24 Ft TT. Are you sure about that. My Jayco which is 31.50 ft weighs in close to 6500#. It is a light weight but gee that sounds high for the trailers you are looking at.
Ultimately, you will find towing performance is marginal at best. The 3.42 rear end will not give great towing performance. You will find yourself in second gear a lot of the time with the engine screaming even on small inclines. In addition you will be really taxing the engine, transmission and rear end of the truck. Expect repairs. Lastly, the truck is very likely to be over the GVWR and GCWR once you have everything loaded and hooked up. You need at least a margin of 10-15% so with a towing capacity of 6700, the max you should be looking at is around 6K pounds, loaded and ready to roll.
I think you are really pushing the limits on this one. I think you need another truck. Not necessarily that you need to go to a 3/4 ton but certainly a 1/2 ton with the 6.0 engine and min of 3.73 rear end or lower (remember the higher the number the lower the rear end ratio, the better off you will be)
David,Wife,4 kids,SIL,1 grandchild
2003 Ford Excursion Eddie Bauer 7.3 PSD w/3.73 rear end
Jayco Kiwi Too 30T bunkhouse w/triple bunks
Prodigy Controller
Reese Dual Cam HP
Michelin LTX M/S
2001 F150 SuperCrew
> 2006 Chevy 1500 4x4, Z71 3.42 axle, tow pckg >
Don't believe that salesman. That truck combo is not good for pulling anything bigger than a pop-up!
If you ever have to pull up any kind of 'hill' you will soon be looking for a bigger tv.
I use to pull my TT with an 04 2wd, 5.3L auto and the 3.42 gears, and mine is almost 6000# loaded with all my stuff. It did it fine, but was really overloaded a little. It shifted down and wouldn't go into OD at all, so I had to pull with the OD off and the tow/haul button pushed in all the time.
Mind you that my TT weighs almost 6000# loaded ready to camp, though. If it weighed any more, it wouldn't have been able to do it, as I was at the max I could handle with this setup. It wasn't the suspension or engine or tranny. It was the rear end that gave me the worst problems. Had it been the 3.73 I have now in my Z71 extended cab, it would have been just fine, as it is now.
I'd look at changing to a smaller TT, but not to a popup. You could handle something that the manufacturer says weighs dry weight of 3800# max, because once you load everything up, that 3800# will quickly become another 2000# of stuff, and that would put you at the same spot I was. You can do it just fine, but you won't like your mileage or how it shifts all the time.
Tim
on edit...I can't believe they would put a 3.42 rear end in a Z71. Most of them come with the 5.3 liter engine, auto, and 3.73. Check to make sure it IS a 3.42 because I didn't think they would do that rear end on the Z. AND, an axle upgrade is not possible with the 4X4 in that truck. Too much to change in the entire gear train.
If I don't meet your expectations
Maybe you should lower your standards.
Sorry to say that the downfall of your TV is the rear gear. If it was a 3.73 it would work in most cases. I tow our cruiser that loaded weighs, give or take a few pounds depending on the trip, 7000lbs with my 03 suburban 5.3, auto,3.73, and have not had a problem at all. I take it easy on steep grades 5% to 7% and all is well. My GCWR is 7500lbs. Talk to your dealer to see what it would cost to change the gear. Some dealers have people order trucks that should not be ordering trucks. I bet the cost of changing the gear would be less than what you would have to eat trading for bigger TV. Just my 02
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