Looking at getting a RV

[RDedrick]

I was looking at getting a RV and not sure what to get. I was looking at a 1989 AVION 34-VB, Triple-axle 34' Avion by Fleetwood. Well my truck handle this? I know the engine can but, I don't want to overload the truck. Any help or advice would be nice. Here is what I was looking at: http://adcache.rvtraderonline.com/3/9/1/81532391.htm.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Shouldn't be a problem if you go with a premium hitch setup.

 

[Grizzly]

You have plenty of power to pull a 34' trailer, but not enough stability for a 34' triple axle travel trailer. At least not with a 2500 short bed. I hear that Avion is a good unit, but it is still made by Fleetwood, which I wouldn't have any part of. Consider a 28' or less double axle 5th wheel, but nothing made by Fleetwood.

 

[wneubauer]

Nice trailer, watch the tongue weight but I don't know how the triple axle would effect that. With a good hitch, you should be ok... It's a big trailer, though... .

 

[jtsandbird]

you didn't mention your gear ratio or transmission. you need to be careful, the rv is listed at just under 10k unloaded. Check your towing capacity!! Why not consider a fifth wheel? i have a 33 foot with 3 slides and i love it. it weighs 11700 loaded and brand new was $ 20000.

 

[RDedrick]

I have an auto with 3:73.

jtsanbird, what kind of 5th wheel do you have? Would I have a problem with a 5th, have a short bed?

 

[EricBu12]

Dedrick,



I have a SB as well and I did several things to haul a pretty large trailer. Most you won't need to do all this... but for SB, you can get a pin box extention, which I have and use a regular 5th hitch



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or you can get the automatic sliding hitch that slides the pin back 14" when you turn...



http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-hitches/pullrite-superglide-hitch.htm





The trailer you are looking at is pretty heavy on the weight, the truck can pull it but you will be over on GCVWR when loaded. So you need to look for a GVW on trailers around 10K when loded or like 7500 empty, and you will be safe



If you are looking at getting a Bumper pull trailer, I can't recomend more, or suggest higher than a very premium hitch I owned once, than the HENSLEY HITCH



www.hensleymfg.com



They have a free video you can send for that will give you all the info and demo of how it works. It truly makes a TT feel like a 5th wheel when towing.



Other than that, everything else is what you will like to have inside and how much stuff you want to take, will the weight of the trailer take it?... . what you want to use it for, and will you grow out of it in the near future and might want something else? All this has to be considered.



If you do get something pretty heavy, like me... Some of the things you will need to be sure of and do,



suspension upgrade? I did the Roadmaster coil springs sold by Mr. Bob's for the pin weight



Tires? ... I have Michelin XDE-MS 245 70R 19. 5" "F" rated 12 ply rated at 4080# @ 95 psi.



transmission? I had to get a South Bend Clutch for my 6 speed



E-Brake... ... I added a Jacobs E-Brake for increased speed retarding... .



Sooooooo, got some more thinking don't you?

 

[KWheaton]

9995lbs. Gvw on that trailer should be fine. Just keep the tow vehicle under it's recommended Gross of 8800lbs. I've got a 28 ft. All American Sport tt (pics in rigs gallery), my trailer has a gross of 12000 lbs. I've had it loaded to 10600 lbs. and with a nice weight distributing hitch I only hit 8400 lbs. on the truck, that put me just around 19000 GCVWR. Towed like a dream last summer. You've got triple axles, so it should be easier to tow in a straight line anyways!



Now you need an Edge box with some bigger injectors, guages, and you'll be all set!



Happy motoring!



Kevin

 

[Gene Arnold]

RDedrick,



As you can see on my signature, I pull a 34' Airstream triple axle unit. I wouldn't hesitate to buy the Avion if it is what you want. My trailer grosses at 8800# actual scale weight, loaded and on the road. As to the swb stability issue; I wouldn't be greatly concerned about it as a quad swb is probably about the same wb as a regular cab lwb.



Having said the above, if I had my druthers I'd opt for a shorter trailer with a tandem axle setup. It's all in my head, but that extra axle makes me feel like the trailer is really looooong! In reality, it is only three feet longer than my old tandem axle Airstream.



Gene

 

[RKaniefski]

The one major thing I can suggest, is that you look at the interior with all the slides closed. Many Rvs with the slides closed cannot acess the ref. or other things in the kitchen. One model I have seen, you can't open the bathroom door with the slide in. When we travel we use ours as a rest area without having to open the slides every time we want to use the ref. or bathroom.

 

[RDedrick]

Grizzly, what do you not like about Fleetwood? From what I have been told, which may be wrong, Fleetwood makes or owens a lot of RV names. I don't want to get a bad RV and turn out to not like it. That would be a costly mistake.

 

[klenger]

... Fleetwood makes or owens a lot of RV names. ...

Some of us think that is exactly the problem.

 

[Dieselnerd]

When the RV industry took a downturn a number of years ago, Fleetwood bought out a lot of good name RV brands. Avion was one of them and many more. Avion had a great reputation but Fleetwood cheapened the construction and increased their profit. The same with many other good names. As more and more owners became aware of the quality problems in the Fleetwood line, word spread among knowledgable RV'ers and today the name Fleetwood usually means "cheaply made". I'm sure many are happy with their Fleetwood products but they have a poor quality reputation that will take a lot of work by Fleetwood to change most RVer's perceptions.

 

[JRBurton]

I have a 1997 Terry 30FT. Travel trailer that weighs just under 8000 lbs. empty & I have no problems towing .









2001 short bed quad cab , 6 speed manual w/354 gear ratio , everthing is stock so far , 57000 on truck .

 

[Grizzly]

a

Grizzly, what do you not like about Fleetwood? From what I have been told, which may be wrong, Fleetwood makes or owens a lot of RV names. I don't want to get a bad RV and turn out to not like it. That would be a costly mistake.

Fleetwood has never been know for quality. They use the cheapest parts they can find. They do make many RV's with many names. Just look them over carefully, look in the storage compartments. Look at the fit and finish. Then look at a quality RV to see the difference. You get what you pay for. Anything made by Forest River is just a notch above Fleetwood. Talk to the shop foreman of an RV repair shop for advice on a good quality RV. One who does not sell RV's is best.