Can I tow this...

[Pug59]

We are looking to buy a new travel trailer. The one we are looking at is an Ameri-Camp T315QBS. It's dry weight is 6805 lbs. Loaded it is 11280. Says it can be loaded with 4058 pounds od gear... that seems like a lot. The tongue weight is 1120. The lenght is 32'11". My tow vehicle is a 2003 2500 HD HO CTD QC LB with 4. 10 gears and the towing package. From what I can tell, my CGWR is 20000 and the towing capacity is 12,950. The truck weights in at just under 7000 which makes the math add up. My questions are:



1. Can I tow this?

2. Do I need a new hitch to replace my stock on on the truck (not the bumper hitch)

3. Are there any visible differences between a class III and a class IV hitch.

4. Does anyone know anything about Ameri-camp? Seem like a high quality trailer, but only have been around 4 years.



Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

 

[Cryppie]

Running the risk of being flamed... you can pull it without any problems; BUT you will also probably be close to your GCWR. There are many here (and there) that routinely tow well over double our truck's max GCWR with no problems at all. That said, it is a personal decision, how comfortable you feel with towing near your max rating, how experienced you are pulling a load, how well your truck and trailer are maintained, how you drive when towing... etc. My last truck also was a 2500, and I pulled my 37' 5er all up and down the left coast with no issues whatsoever (at 15k). Granted, you're looking at a TT, but I don't see that you should have issues with it. As far as your hitch goes, I would recommend at least a class IV (which should be marked/stamped on the hitch), and have your dealer or someone familiar with weight distribution hitches help you with the initial setup. I haven't heard of Ameri-Camp, but there may be others here that can chime in. Good luck and happy RV'ing.

 

[rblomquist]

Agree with above.



My trailer weighs 11,500+ fully loaded and like many toyhaulers it is heli tongue heavy. I haven't weighed the tongue because it'd prolly scare me but I do use a real heavy duty load distribution hitch. Oh yeah, the hitch is the factory one and I've had zero problems towing the TT (plus, boat etc) year-round. We're pretty hard core recreational campers going anywhere from 200-700 miles round trip at least 1 weekend a month.



Happy towing/camping



p. s. Don't know how the 48RE is but the 47RE was no fun at all towing heavy (until I went aftermarket). I would strongly recommend gauges (includ trans temp) and maybe a extra capacity pan just as insurance.

 

[Sojourner]

Says it can be loaded with 4058 pounds od gear... that seems like a lot. The tongue weight is 1120.

That is a lot of weight capacity for a travel trailer that size. That extra capacity sure is convenient.



Perhaps DC changed up the factory receiver hitch on your 3rd gen truck to where it is stronger than what came on my 01, but I can tell you from experience that with that much tongue weight you definitely want a good quality weight distributing hitch and an anti-sway bar/friction brake (about $100) to reduce sway. I was unable to fit the weight distributing hitch saddles to a heavy trailer I had to pull and the 1,000+ tongue weight twisted my factory receiver down on the first good bump I hit, so now I have a stronger aftermarket receiver. If you can afford it, the ultimate hitch solution for a bumper pull is a Hensley Arrow which will make your bumper pull track behind you like a fifth wheel from what I understand.



You definitely have the rig to pull it troublefree, as long as you take care of and monitor that transmission as was mentioned.

 

[gonzo2]

You should be just fine with a proper WD set up. I can't see you loading up that much payload either. The manufacturer probably uses the same frame for a heavier trailer as well and thus allows the extra payload on your model.

You will probably be towing in the 9,000 lb range which is quite within your truck's and factory reciever's range. 3rd gens recievers are class IV.

On Edit

1)Yes

2)Not with WD

3)No, except the sticker

4) Sorry

 

[Pug59]

I might have been a little vague on the hitch. I do have the factory hitch which I thought was a class IV. And with what I read here, assume it is. I have the Reese Dual Cam Sway set up on my current 27 foot bunkhouse with 800 lbs bars. I guess I might need the 1200 lbs bars. The TT mfg. uses dual 10 inch "I" beam construction for the frame of the trailer. In 20 years when the TT is crap, I'll rip of the top and make a car carrier out of it!



PS... . this is not a toy hauler, just a TT... . just a heavy one at that.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Check your owners manual , I think it still is 10,000 lbs limit on bumper hitch and over 10,000 lbs fifth wheel . Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[bombero]

Unless you put a full loaded jeep in the back, it cant weigh that much' If I was you I would do a lot more looking and research before I would buy anything!

 

[DIESELMAN]

Yes, you can, bend the receiver that is. My '03 with 1150lbs on the tounge (Desert Fox 28K) bent the factory receiver down nearly an inch in 3500 miles of rough roads, with the WD bars on (first Alaska Trip). The proper hitch at a minimum for me was a class V Titan with the 2-1/2" shank opening. It will install below the factory hitch, takes the worry out of your mind, and the shear mass on your a$$ makes the tailgators stay back :-laf