Hello all, Steve and Teresa Karolek from Pewaukee, WI. My parents had a pop-up when I was young and I've been a tent camper since my earliest days as a scout. Teresa and I have enjoyed many wonderful camping experiences and decided it is time to "graduate" to a trailer. My tow vehicle (RAM 3500 w/ max tow abilities) is on order and should arrive soon. We've rented a TT for the upcoming Rally in Seviervile. If our timeline holds, we'll buy our trailer (almost certain to be a Grand Design Momentum 397TH) this time next year for some trips to ease into the life and retire in early 2022. We're looking forward to the Rally and hope the current rains and flooding don't have a negative impact...
RonC said
01:27 PM Feb 11, 2020
FWIW ... it’s usually better to buy the trailer first, then buy the truck that meets your needs. That said, if you buy the truck first, it becomes the limiting factor in what size/weight trailer you can buy. If your truck is a SRW then the RAWR becomes a big part of the decision. The “published” dry pin weight isn’t relevant. The pin is normally about 22-23% of the trailers GVW, what it actually weighs. If you use the trailers GVWR, you should be able to calculate your “real world pin weight”. That number must be carried by your rear axle. I hear people say “it pulls it just fine” when describing their use of an undersized truck ... which demonstrates a lack of understanding of all the various weights and how they play into the proper match of truck to trailer. Educate yourself and make safe choices. Welcome the group. You will learn a lot at the educational rally, it’s a wise investment to getting off on the right foot!
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 11th of February 2020 01:30:12 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 11th of February 2020 01:31:28 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 12th of February 2020 11:39:43 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 12th of February 2020 11:40:25 AM
karoleks said
04:44 PM Feb 11, 2020
RonC, generally good advice, appreciated. I went through the exercise of "what am I likely to want to pull and what will I need in order to pull it". I ended up ordering a RAM 3500 with the High Output Cummins diesel, Aisin transmission, DRW, auto-leveling, 30K 5th wheel hitch, etc and everything else included with the max tow package. I will have no problems with any trailer I eventually decide on.
Hello all, Steve and Teresa Karolek from Pewaukee, WI. My parents had a pop-up when I was young and I've been a tent camper since my earliest days as a scout. Teresa and I have enjoyed many wonderful camping experiences and decided it is time to "graduate" to a trailer. My tow vehicle (RAM 3500 w/ max tow abilities) is on order and should arrive soon. We've rented a TT for the upcoming Rally in Seviervile. If our timeline holds, we'll buy our trailer (almost certain to be a Grand Design Momentum 397TH) this time next year for some trips to ease into the life and retire in early 2022. We're looking forward to the Rally and hope the current rains and flooding don't have a negative impact...
FWIW ... it’s usually better to buy the trailer first, then buy the truck that meets your needs. That said, if you buy the truck first, it becomes the limiting factor in what size/weight trailer you can buy. If your truck is a SRW then the RAWR becomes a big part of the decision. The “published” dry pin weight isn’t relevant. The pin is normally about 22-23% of the trailers GVW, what it actually weighs. If you use the trailers GVWR, you should be able to calculate your “real world pin weight”. That number must be carried by your rear axle. I hear people say “it pulls it just fine” when describing their use of an undersized truck ... which demonstrates a lack of understanding of all the various weights and how they play into the proper match of truck to trailer. Educate yourself and make safe choices. Welcome the group. You will learn a lot at the educational rally, it’s a wise investment to getting off on the right foot!
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 11th of February 2020 01:30:12 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Tuesday 11th of February 2020 01:31:28 PM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 12th of February 2020 11:39:43 AM
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 12th of February 2020 11:40:25 AM
Steve