Mallard 39D to big?

[Snow man]

I am looking at a Mallard 39D,I dont know much about these,but the price is right,and its got plenty of room. I am a little uneasy about the stabilty of my short bed truck. The trailer weighs 7530 empty,and has a max GVWR of 11K,I figure ill be at 8500-9000 ready for the road. My question is,do you think ill have a problem towing this thing safely? Il be using a W/D hitch,and if needed a sway control. My truck is in my signature,my factory tow rating is 11450,my real tow rating is actually 10350,since ive weighed my truck,with me,wife,kids,fuel it weighs in at 7650. I also have a pacbrake. I took this away from the 18000,to get that. I know my tongue weight will put me real close to the 8800-if not right on it. Any feedback would be appreciated. I dont plan on towing this thing much,ill be leaving it in a park for part of the season,but if i want to tow it,I dont want to have to borrow my dad's 3500.

 

[Bob Wagner]

I have the Mallard 29 5S and love it



I will check out your model # for details

 

[dalton4]

Snow Man, suggest that you give serious thought to your camping needs and where you like to camp. I assume that the 39 indicates a length of 39 feet. If so, that is a lot of length and rear swing out. Units of this size requires parking space that will push some campgrounds to the max limits and some will just be too small. This will be just about like pulling a semi and will restrict your mobility. Longer length and comfort comes with a price. Good luck.



Jerry

 

[MABurns]

I've been to a number of campgrounds in your area and although it is big and you will be limited in a few sites with a 39 footer. Mine is 34 and you just have to be realistic in where you go.



As far as your truck towing it, you shouldn't have any probems. With the right about of hitch weight and a sway control it should handle it alright.



I learned a lesson the hard weight, if it sways hit the gas not the brakes. Good luck and happy camping

 

[Bob Wagner]

no problem

you and SSL could get together



http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/mallard/ma/ma_specs.asp?model=MA39D#

 

[Barry]

I have 2 37Ws in my rental fleet. I use them for stationary rentals. I do not let the customer pull those... ... we deliver them and set them up. I really would not reccomend using one for camping. It would not be long and you will find yourself leaving the thing home rather than fooling with it. At that point, you would have just defeated your purpose for having the thing in the first place. Buy something FUN!

 

[Snow man]

Bob,thanks for the feedback,my cousin has a mallard 37,and he loves it,he pulled it for 2 yrs with his 96 Z71 1500HD,with no problems at all,now its in a seasonal spot. Bob,who is SSL?Jerry,thanks for the help,I really want a 32-34 for towing,and the 39 for seasonal,but gotta have just one. I have 3 kids,and they all bring a friend at one time or another. I will likely be putting mine in a campground for the season,once they have a spot available,but if i wanted to pull it,I was hoping it wouldnt be a total white knuckle experience. I have towed a lot,just not anything this long with a pickup,I have an CDL A,and big trailers are nothing new to me,but usually there's a Pete in front of a 39 fter. This camper is actually 39 ft from tongue to tail,the trailer body is 35'. It has one one big slide. I was surprised the empty weight was under 8K. I can get this unit brand new for what 2 yr old used ones are going for around here. My price limit is 20K,and this ones under it brand new. I really want a 5w,but kingpin weight,and 2500 4x4's are not compatible. Id be at least 1200 over weight with a 34ft 5wheel. The rv dealer said he wouldnt hook the camper to my truck, it wasnt big enough,yet they were hooking a tandem axle pop up that was huge to a Venture minivan as he told me,the bumper was almost on the ground on the minvan,and the front end was almost topped out,this van was overloaded with luggage,and people . before they even backed up to the camper. He went on to tell me that even though my truck can tow it,the trailer is over the lenth limit of my truck, I asked him to show it to me on paper,he couldnt find it,and said he'd fax it to me-I cant wait to see this. The only lenth limits Im aware of that DC has are for the V8 grand cherokee-I think its limited to a 26 ft trailer with a V8,no matter if its below the 6500 lb trailer weight,this was on the old grand cherokees,Im not sure about the 99 and newer ones. They told me if i bought it they would tow it to the front and id have to hook it up,on my own,and they would make me sign a waiver. This is the same place that let my cousin tow his 37 out of there with his 1500 2 yrs ago. Oh yeah,one more question,this thing has a 6 gal hot water heater,gas or electric,is this enough?

 

[Bob Wagner]

La Casa de st. Laurent

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