Our NO SLIDE trailer is 5000#'s dry, goes between 6000-6599#'s loaded with a tongue weight of 850#'s. We tow with a 2007 Yukon Denali shorty - which is also a daily driver. We have a 6.2L V8 engine with 380 hp, 417ft-lbs of torque and I can honestly say I would never attempt to tow with a V6. Even a 4.7L V8 would have some struggles on this.
That website was very helpful, I read quite a bit on it.
Now, TV aside please, whether I get a V8 or V6 isn't the point of this thread although your post have been helpful. Either way I still want a light weight trailer so if anyone can offer more recommendations for lightweight trailer brands I would appreicate it. So far this is a list I've made of what I've looked at and liked.
Rockwood 2601SS two bunks, slide 4320/6392 29ft
Rockwood 2701SS two bunks (one big), slide 4297/6437 32ft
Ameri-lite 24BH two bunks, lift up queen 3625 + 2295ccc 25ft
Ameri-lite 25BH two bunks, more private queen 3940 + 3500ccc 28ft
Amerilite 27BH two bunks (one big), queen room, one slide n/a weight info
Passport 255BH two bunks (one big), 4280 + 1760ccc, 29ft
Passport 280BH two bunks, one big, couch/kitchen slide, queen room, 4580 + 1460, 31ft
Passport 290BH quad bunks, kitchen/couch slide, queen room 5051 + 2585ccc, 33ft
KZ Inc Spree 240BH three bunks, no slides 4169/6000 27ft
Just discovered Northtrail as well.
Edit: i think I'm going to rule out the Amerilites as I think a fiberglass shell would be easier to maintain.
I'd go with the V8 as most mention. Most V8 engines are fairly good on gas mileage these days, and can tow a small to mid-size trailer.
As for the TT, look at Coachmen RV and check out the Spirit of America, which is what I have only in an older model, and the Capri UltraLite. Both should be well within your limits, and the Spirit of America has a bunk version with a queen bed up front. The Capri has several options that you might find interesting, and are fairly low priced.
Whatever TV you decide on, and whatever TT you decide, just be sure to have fun when you can and enjoy your time camping.
R-Vision makes a number of different lightweights. I love my Maxlite 30bhs, but with 2 slideouts it's at 5,300# dry, and I would not want to pull it with less than a 3/4 ton TV when loaded for camping.
The ML-29BHS has a single "super slide" and lists at 4990# dry. Many folks on the R-Vision Camping Club Forum pull it with a 1/2-ton TV.
The Trail-lite models have a couple of bunkhouse w/ slides that weigh in around 4,800#: 8310S and 8311S.
2006 Maxlite 30BHS Maxlite Photos
Large: 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Quadcab 4x4 V-10 5spd manual 3.73
Equal-i-zer, Prodigy
Medium: '03 MPV ES
Small: '91 Miata Pad the walls, we got 8-yr-old twins in here!
Look at the Crossroads Sunset Trail trailers. They are light with slides.
I would also vote to go for the larger engine. A V6 will not cut it in MHO. My trailer is 5200# dry and I am pushing it with my Dodge Ram 1500 V8. After bolting on a cool air intake and dual exhaust she does much better. I will be upgrading to a larger TV in a few years when the trailer is paid down a bit. If you are buying a TV now might as well spend a few extra $$ on what your going to be happy with in the long run.
Crossroads Sunset Trail 30BH
Dodge Ram 1500 TV with dual exhaust and K&N cool air intake
2003 Polaris 600 Twin ATV
2006 SunL 110 ATV
1979 Honda Goldwing (riding restore)
We just bought an '08 Amerilite 27 BH. Dry weight is 5060 according to the stickers...have not weighed it but our 5.4 V8 pulls it just fine. I agree with most of the previous posters...get the V8...gas mileage sucks but it has enough power for most situations.
I would go with a full size truck with the large V8. You will find that the miles per gallon don't change much if at all going from V6 to a large V8 and anywhere in between. If you look at the mid size trucks you just get a smaller truck and about the same gas mileage. If you go with the full size truck with a large V8 then you open more options for a trailer.
Take a look at the Passport 255 BH. Dry Weight of 4280 hitch Weight is
440 does not have the slide you want but its lenght is 28'5" and you will probably be towing around 5000 like you want. It is a good trailer and should work for you.
Campincarters
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