How big is too big?

[Ereynolds72]

I'm a potential rookie RVer and I'm looking at a used 35' 5th wheel; a Fleetwood Westport (Avion). The guy says it weighs 10,100 pounds. My GCVWR says it's 20,000lbs so I'm still within the limits. But this thing looks huge! Seriously though, is that too much camper for a SRW 3/4 ton truck?

Just looking for opinions and maybe some encouragement. Maybe even some opinions on the model. It's a '95 model year.

Thanks

 

[mrtrombley]

My first 5th wheel was a '95 34' Westport. It was a very good quality unit, I hauled it all around the country living in it full time. At that time, Avion was the next step up and top of the line for Fleetwood. My Westport was very well insulated and had inside the cubby hookup for water, therefore keeping the connection from freezing. It also had some other real nice features, such as a "load panel" main electric panel that would drop circuits off as necessary when the draw got to be heavy, only 30 amp service back then!

I have always pulled with a 1 ton dually, but I think a 3/4 ton would certainly do the job. My pin weight was only about 2200 lbs, which wasn't bad. Just make sure that the RV has good tires, that's one thing that I think is very important for pullin, especially long distance.

Good luck, tell us how it goes.

 

[kompressor]

Another thing to be concerned about is the pin weight of the 5th wheel so you don't exceed the GVWR of the truck.

 

[jelag]

We have several work trailers we tow with our 3500's and have one truck that has pulled a 20K lb trailer for the past 250K miles... . We do have that truck overloaded but it works fine... . but as a driver you just have to be more careful.....

But I doubt that a 35 ft 5er only weighs 10K... . my 30 ft 5er is close to 12K and has an additional 1,700 lbs of tongue weight... .

If your new to towing and RVing... . you just need to take your time and get used to the unit out on a quiet country road..... learn its in's and out's.....

The other key factor is the short box... . you've got to be really aware of what your towing... or have a hitch that will shift when you start to back up... . I've got a good friend, who has towed for years and has banged the back of his cab on his truck 3 or 4 times... .

BTW - best of luck and have a wonderful time. .

 

[HBarlow]

I'm a potential rookie RVer and I'm looking at a used 35' 5th wheel; a Fleetwood Westport (Avion). The guy says it weighs 10,100 pounds. My GCVWR says it's 20,000lbs so I'm still within the limits. But this thing looks huge! Seriously though, is that too much camper for a SRW 3/4 ton truck?
Just looking for opinions and maybe some encouragement. Maybe even some opinions on the model. It's a '95 model year.
Thanks

The trailer you mentioned may be a very good trailer but I think it would be a mistake for you to buy it to pull with a Ram 2500.

If it is a well-built fifth wheel of that size that trailer may have weighed 10,100 lbs. going down the assembly line before the appliances and upholstery were installed but not ready for use. Don't accept bs like that from the seller.

All you have to do to determine the true ready-to-travel weight is read the GVWR off the manufacturer's VIN decal on the left front. A trailer loaded with food, clothing, camping gear, and personal items plus water in the fresh water tank and LPG in the bottles will weigh VERY close to GVWR.

My guess is if that trailer is of good quality it will have a GVWR of around 14k to 16k. If it's lighter than that it is not a well built trailer. My HitchHiker fiver is labeled a "32" but is actually 33' 9" long and has a GVWR of 14,100 lbs. I tow it with a drw cab and chassis and wouldn't want to own and tow one any heavier.

Figure about 20% of GVWR for kingpin weight which is going to be resting on the rear axle and rear tires of your truck. If it has a generator set in the basement it can be as much as 25% of GVWR. A Ram 2500 is plenty strong enough to pull it but the important question is will it overload your rear tires and will it be safe to tow?

I wouldn't do it. My recommendation would be a smaller fifth wheel with a GVWR no higher than about 12,000 lbs. You would enjoy towing a smaller one much more and feel much more comfortable when road and weather conditions are less than ideal.

 

[rluft]

I agree w/ HBarlow. That trailer is probably heavier than 10k, add your stuff and you will be at or over your GCVW. Alot of guys do it, I do it, I don't like being pushed around by my trailer so I am trading for a motor coach (Cummins powered of course). Having to much truck is a good thing; having to much trailer, not so much.

 

[Hoefler]

Like said above, that is most likely the weight as it rolled off the the assembly line. By the time you stock it and move in, you will add at least 4,000 pounds. Look at the Gross Vehicle Weight of the trailer, that is what I would start with. With the height of this rig, and potential weight, your rear tires are a major concern. The wider foot print is worth its weight in gold when you get in a cross wind out on the open plains. While the drive train can readily handle the load, you may be overloading your rear tires and wheels.

 

[Ereynolds72]

Thank you gentlemen for your input. Having slept on it, I think I will pass on this particular 5er and keep my eyes out for a smaller one.

 

[MMeilicke]

Good decision. I am a full time RV'er and weight is a huge issue. I have always approached the issue of weight based upon the weight limits as set by Dodge. Be mindful of each and every weight limit. You may be OK is one area, such as towing capacity, and not good in others, such as axle weight limit. And with the 2500, the axle weight capacity may be your weakest point. Use the gross vehicle weight rating as posted on the 5th wheel for your weight determination of the 5th wheel. Take all of the emotion of the deal and recommendations of the salesman out of the equation when determining if you can tow safely. It is all a numbers game. Enjoy your 5th wheel, and have a great time RV'en. I am pulling around 13,500 lbs with my 08 dually and am very pleased with the performance of the both units.

 

[HBarlow]

Thank you gentlemen for your input. Having slept on it, I think I will pass on this particular 5er and keep my eyes out for a smaller one.

Ereynolds,

Thank you. Your thoughtful response to our negative advice is reassuring. Many of us who "have been there, done that" are often dismayed when we offer similar advice with good intentions only to see it ignored.

 

[JMcCoy]

I'm just glad when people bother to research and make an educated decision. It is safer for everyone on the road. Hats off to you.

 

[Loren]

Our 1995 Avion fifth-wheel with two slide-outs weighed 14,000 pounds when it was loaded. I weighed it.



I towed it with our 1995 Dodge diesel with the automatic transmission. It was way too much for that truck.



I don't belive that the one you were considering weighed anything near 10,000 pounds.



Good choice to pass on this one.



-- Loren

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Just read my signature...

 

[Bug Out]

My first 5th wheel

I bought my first 5th wheel in N/cal from a typical Rv dealer. ( Santa Rosa Rv. no longer around)



It was a 26' Wanderer by Thor with no slides. Great deal. I forgot the GVW or the hitch weight, but the selling dealer told me that my 73 Chevy 1/2 ton would pull it just FINE! I just rebuilt the whole truck, Engine, trans, suspension, r/e brakes everything, except the rear leafs. .



I believe the hitch weight was around 1500lbs or so. The Chevy had a stack of leaf springs I think about 7-8 deep. I thought it would be fine too, as the leafs were really thick... ... ... ... . The same stack you'd see on a 1+ ton nowadays.





Anyhow, on the pickup day, they lowered the 5th onto the poor 1/2 ton 73 Chevy and the bed went down to level, then kept going down ever further. I thought " Holy COW", those stack of leafs are bending over like nobodies business... .



Anyhow, I drug the 5th wheel home, tail sagging between its legs, to the storage lot and began my search for a REAL P/U.



I found a 97 Dodge CTD dually 5 spd 2wd and never looked back. Bought a 05 dually new and have never had problems towing any of the 5th's I've had since.



The 97 towed a Alpenlite 36' 5th that was 14,500 and didn't blink once. She pulled it in cross winds, you name it. That convinced me dually was the way to go. PITA some times parking, but beyond that, can't beat'm.

 

[HBarlow]

I bought my first 5th wheel in N/cal from a typical Rv dealer. ( Santa Rosa Rv. no longer around)

It was a 26' Wanderer by Thor with no slides. Great deal. I forgot the GVW or the hitch weight, but the selling dealer told me that my 73 Chevy 1/2 ton would pull it just FINE! I just rebuilt the whole truck, Engine, trans, suspension, r/e brakes everything, except the rear leafs. .

I believe the hitch weight was around 1500lbs or so. The Chevy had a stack of leaf springs I think about 7-8 deep. I thought it would be fine too, as the leafs were really thick... ... ... ... . The same stack you'd see on a 1+ ton nowadays.


Anyhow, on the pickup day, they lowered the 5th onto the poor 1/2 ton 73 Chevy and the bed went down to level, then kept going down ever further. I thought " Holy COW", those stack of leafs are bending over like nobodies business... .

Anyhow, I drug the 5th wheel home, tail sagging between its legs, to the storage lot and began my search for a REAL P/U.

I found a 97 Dodge CTD dually 5 spd 2wd and never looked back. Bought a 05 dually new and have never had problems towing any of the 5th's I've had since.

The 97 towed a Alpenlite 36' 5th that was 14,500 and didn't blink once. She pulled it in cross winds, you name it. That convinced me dually was the way to go. PITA some times parking, but beyond that, can't beat'm.

A good story. I suppose you could say the lying RV salesman did you an unintentional favor because his duplicity led you to many happy years with Cummins powered Dodges.

 

[Bug Out]

Yep, sure did.

Can't thank him enough. . I've got the best HD P/U I think thats on the market. .

 

[BIGNASTY]

Size

The thing that I think most people fail to think about is how the trailer is going to be used. I live in the west and allot of the Forest Sirv. campgrounds and National Park campgrounds have length problems. I have found that my 29 ft TT is said to be to long for some of the above campgrounds but with a little thought and a little practice. you can get a larger trailer in some of the spots they say no way. But on the other hand if you like RV parks the size is not an issue. JMO

 

[ringneck]

Barlow is right,if you are not fultimeing why buy a sled ,a 30f that has 3 or 4 slids.

 

[Superglide]

I have a 2003 27' Jayco Eagle TT with a slide. Had I known it was only going to be me using it, I would have gotten something in the 22'-25' range. I'm now going to sell as I rarely use it as the cabin is built. One big plus for this TT are the tanks: 53 gal fresh; 51 gal black and 90 gal grey.

 

[RVTRKN]

As long as you are with in the axle ratings for steering and drive as well as well as your trailer/5ver axles, you can, and don't let anyone tell you other wise. A 2500 can pull that IF you stay within the ratings. Drive carefull and weigh it when leaving your area, if you have to empty tanks as needed, do so but I doubt you will have to. My 34' Arctic Fox can be pulled by a 2500 (weighed as proof) with empty tanks.