amdoucette01
Charlottetown, PEI
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My partner and I bought (a bit impulsively) a new travel trailer yesterday - a 22 ft 2007 Fleetwood Mallard. The salesman told us that our 1/4 ton V6 little truck will pull it no problem, but the more I'm looking on line (which I probably should have done before yesterday!), the more scared I'm getting. The towing capacity of our truck is 5500 lb and the trailer's GVWR is 5600.
I'm hoping someone out there can give me some advice... do we need to buy a new truck as well??
I'm also a bit concerned that we made a mistake going with a wood frame trailer instead of fiberglass.
Did we make a big mistake?
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Bmach
Spfld, Ma
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Joined: 08/26/2004
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Yep you are not even close to being able to tow with your truck. Just starting out you are already 100# over weight. Now add in what ou are putting in your truck and trailer and you will be way overweight. You will either have to get a new truck or try to get them to take back the trailer.
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windriderjr
Massachusetts
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Joined: 03/20/2007
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You will be neither safe nor happy towing over your weight limits.
You wanted a new truck anyway, admit it 
DW and I in our Gulfstream Amerilite 21MB
Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - Duramax Diesel 6.6L - Allison Tranny
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - Major Mike Shearer - British Army - Basra, Iraq
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luck would have it
Dimondale (Lansing), MI
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GVWR is is the maximum allowable total weight of the unit. What is the actual weight of the trailer?
Dave.
2004 Chevy Silverado Z71, Ext. Cab 5.3L
Prodigy Brake Controller
Husky WD Hitch
Dual Cam Sway Control
2007 27' Salem BHBS (Bunk Slide/Super Slide)
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jay2003
San Joaquin Valley, California
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Joined: 04/14/2005
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What type of truck?
You could do as I do and put everything in the trailer to keep from exceeding the GVWR of your truck. The more you put in your truck the less your tow rating because you get closer to your truck GVWR. You could be ok depending on how you load up and where you go. My tow rating on my "little" V6 is 6500#. The brochure for my trailer stated the GVWR of the trailer was 6000#. When I picked it the frame was stamped GVWR of 7000# (I had looked at one at an RV show with 6000# stamped but I wanted a different interior color). Dealer stated that some were made with a larger GVWR. However that gives me CCC of 2400# which I'll never reach unless I carry boxes of rocks. I'm right around 5000# fully loaded (about 1000# of gear depending on the trip).
Using the GVWR of the trailer is a good measure but it's not the absolute gospel as in my example. You're gonna get people here that start the V6, V8 diesel debate but you can take some of that with a grain of salt as well. My truck does very well... granted it's a newer V6 which is compariable to some older V8's. I'm sure this thread will be full of comments here shortly though.
05 Toyota Tacoma DC 4x4 SB Off-Road Package w/Tow 128" WB
2005 KZ Jag 24JB*Newer Model Floorplans Slightly Different
Prodigy Brake, WD hitch, friction sway
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Honda EU2000i Generator
Me.. the wife, the 5 year old, and the 2 year old
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amdoucette01
Charlottetown, PEI
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I knew it... I had a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach yesterday, and I should have listened to it!
Neither of us know anything about towing a trailer and trusted the salesperson too much!
Thanks so much...
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scout3399
raleigh nc
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it may not be as bad as the other say
1 the dry wieght is 3465lb
that means you have 2035 lb for cargo people incluld propane water battery and any other opt not stander to the unit, so if you are carfull what you keep in you TT and TV it may work get a good wdh with swag control
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Yeldarb
Omaha, Nebraska
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Joined: 03/07/2008
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GVWR is the gross weight allowed, not what it weighs empty. Theoretically you CAN tow this trailer but you'll want to keep your weight UNDER 5000 on the TT to keep yourself under the 10% rule. If your dry weight is around 4000lbs you'll have some room but you'll have to be practical. Don't tow with tanks full, don't bring the WHOLE kitchen sink with you, don't bring more than you need. You need to be sure to take into consideration the weights of FULL propane tanks and your WDH hitch. Another thing to consider is how well your truck has been maintained and you probably won't want to pull up and down the mountains.
It won't be perfect BUT, you can make it happen but you can't be oblivious to the details and don't try to WIN any races.
PS: That sickness in you stomach is probably "buyers remorse", most of us have had it from time to time, it will pass. You've got a trailer and you've got a TV now make the most of it and HAVE FUN...
Brad('67) and Valerie('68) Clements
Alyssa('95)
Samson and Toby
2008 Cherokee Grey Wolf 28BH
1999 Chevy Silverado 5.3 3.73 1500 Z71
(Yes it tows my TT quite nicely thank you  )
Omaha, Nebraska
Camping Nights in 2008 - 29
Our Camping Adventures
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amdoucette01
Charlottetown, PEI
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This is so helpful... thanks so much. I'm feeling very overwhelmed at the moment. Excited, but overwhelmed!
We have booked a site on a campground in Maine in August - about 750 km (460 miles) from home, so I want to make sure we will be safe on our first adventure!
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luck would have it
Dimondale (Lansing), MI
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scout3399 wrote:it may not be as bad as the other say
1 the dry wieght is 3465lb
that means you have 2035 lb for cargo people incluld propane water battery and any other opt not stander to the unit, so if you are carfull what you keep in you TT and TV it may work get a good wdh with swag control
If this is the correct weight than you should be ok. I had an S-10 with a tow capacity of 5200lbs and I towed a 23' HTT weighing 3800. Pack light and fill the fresh water tank at the campground and you should be ok until you get to a point where you can upgrade your TV. With the V6 you will struggle off of the line but on the open road it will do fine. tow in 3 gear and don't the cruise kick it into passing gear on the hills. Make sure you have a good WD hitch and sway control.
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