Alfa Gold

[hhranch]

Anyone have any experience with an Alfa Gold. I have a chance to buy a 2001 30 foot model at a great price it weighs in at 11800 empty and I have a 98. 5 24v with a modified automatic 4" BD exhaustsystem, BD exhaust brake and mild edge chip.



Has anyone owned an Alfa Gold? What is your experience with the quality?



How would a 2500 tow a trailer with a Gross weight rating of 13800 pounds?



Thanks for the response.

 

[Sarge]

They are well built trailers, I have looked at buying one myself. The big issue you are going to have is that they are HEAVY. Pulling wouldn't be a problem. The pin weight is going to put you over by 600 to 1000 pounds on your pay load, but it will hold it. That 11800 is probably the weight on the sticker on the side. The real weight is going to be considerably heavier. Remember, it's not how much you can pull, it's how much you can safely stop. If you have a 5ver hitch already, hook up to it and go weigh it somewhere, you will be surprised. Then check the GVW of your truck. Let your conscience be your guide... ... ... ... Sarge

 

[rweis]

I have an ALFA Ideal (2004 296 #12061) and see sig for the truck.



Eventually I am going to put disc brakes on the ALFA to stop it better. I did put a BrakeSmart on my CTD and that helped A LOT!!!!!! ALFA uses Dexter axle sets. Crawl under, get the axle ID # and call Dexter to see what kind of axle / braking system size you have. Yes they are heavy, but they are really nice! LOTS of storage!



I also flipped the axles to get 6" more ground clearance and have been glad I did.



I really like our ALFA. Not had any significant problems. GOOD mfg support, they really try to get stuff straightened out.



There is an ALFA owners site on Yahoo. Go to the ALFALeisure web page and you can get to the owners site from there.



The Gold's is heavier than my Ideal, everything but the battery slide out tray is about the same. The biggest concern owners have is A/C to the bedroom. The A/C works pretty well but air flow to the bedroom is not good. I put a portable (not window mount) A/C downstairs if the outside is really hot during the day and upstairs at night.



Good luck,



Bob Weis

 

[Beast2B]

I would also suggest air bags in the rear for extra overload. The adjustability is great and it has helped A LOT to cut down on the bobbing of my toybox (12k gvwr)

 

[Driftwood Ram]

Anyone have any experience with an Alfa Gold. I have a chance to buy a 2001 30 foot model at a great price it weighs in at 11800 empty and I have a 98. 5 24v with a modified automatic 4" BD exhaustsystem, BD exhaust brake and mild edge chip.



Has anyone owned an Alfa Gold? What is your experience with the quality?



How would a 2500 tow a trailer with a Gross weight rating of 13800 pounds?



Thanks for the response.

Like Bob said, check out the Yahoo site. As far as the truck goes, we pull a 2000 Ideal 31RL which is lighter than the Gold empty but grosses the same. You will definitely be over the 8,800 GVWR of a 2500. Last time I weighed we were at 9,200 and I think we have gained weight since then. Time to put this thing in a diet. Oo. Oo.

Tracy

 

[YOOPERVIC]

I have pulled a '98 Alfa Ideal, 35 ft. , with a 2500 CTD since 1998. Been to all

of the states, including Alaska, ('cept Hawaii), and have never experienced a

problem pulling. The truck handles all of the mountains with ease. However... . , mine is a six-speed manual. IMO, an exhaust brake is an ABSOLUTE necessity, but the use of an exhaust is

usually questioned with an automatic. Don't raise the trailer by moving the springs on top of the axles unless the front is riding low. The trailer should ride fairly level when being towed to avoid putting extra stress

on one axle. Usually an uneven trailer in tow can be leveled by raising or

lowering the hitch in its frame in the bed of your truck.



We have really enjoyed our Alfa. In fact, we are in the market for a 2004. Be sure to join the national organization.

Great rallys. Got any questions, give me an e-mail.