New Park Model Camper-Towing Question

[Dabbelt1]

I am purchasing this new Park Model RV. 2010 Forest River RV Cherokee 39H Park Models at Collier RV Super Center Rockford Illinois Collier RV Super Center



Please let me know if my truck is up to the task of towing. I have a 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab 4x4 6. 7 cummins. I dont think the weight will be a problem but at 44 feet long----that has me a little concerned. Tongue weight is around 1300lbs. Do you think i will need air bags? It will of course have weight distribution hitch and friction style sway. Will my stock hitch be sufficient for this much camper.



Thanks,



Mike Dabbelt

Dabbelt Insurance Agency Inc.

 

[macdaddy]

I'll go first... .

At 1300 lbs of tongue you wont need Air bags. I would however make sure you fill up first and get fuel with the big rigs at truck stops. I would'nt tow that thing into a Am/Pm... ...



Mac

 

[ENafziger]

Hey Mike!

Congrats on the travel trailer purchase... it looks beautiful!

Concerning pulling this camper, here are my thoughts.

Your truck will do great pulling this, and will be able to handle the weight just fine! The long wheel base of the megacab along with the factory exhaust brake will help things along nicely as well.

You're doing the right thing by using a weight distributing hitch with sway control. Do you have one picked out already? If not, I'd strongly recommend the Blue Ox BXW1500 for this trailer.

The hitch weight of 1300 lbs may be something to be concerned about with regards to the stock reciever that came on your truck. I'm not sure if they changed things for the '08, but the hitch that came on the '06 and earlier trucks definately aren't up to the task. The stock hitch that comes with the towing package on a 3500 Ram is only rated for 500 lbs tongue weight! That's hard to believe on a 1-ton truck, but that's what the manual says. I'd recommend a good Class V hitch... like the Superhitch magnum, or the Putnam XDR, etc.

Eric

 

[NIsaacs]

Your truck will do just fine with that load. If you have towing experiance with long/large trailers, you will be fine too... no Circle K's tho...



Nick

 

[d6c]

Hmmm, question 1, can you license this unit for the road or is this actually a one-time move like a manuafactured home. And, question 2, if you can take the thing out on the road, can you insure it? As an owner of an agency you should be able to answer that one real quick.

 

[jelag]

My 30 ft 5er weighs more and has more tongue weight than this unit... and I know we've got more than 900 lbs of stuff in the basement and the rest of the unit... .

The numbers really seem wrong, or its designed to be used only in a park with lots of support under the frame...

 

[macdaddy]

Hey Mike!



a 3500 Ram is only rated for 500 lbs tongue weight!



I believe 500 pounds without Load Distributing.



Mac

 

[Dabbelt1]

As far as insurance on the rv, liability would fall under your tow vehicles liability, as far as physical damage protection (comprehensive and collision) just have it listed on your auto policy--or in some cases you will need a seperate rv policy.



Thanks to everyone for your input, not so worried about it now

 

[d6c]

So I guess it must be manufactured to be an RV, not a park model then. Park models that I have seen before are not designed to be used an RV.

 

[Grizzly]

I do not believe that your 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab 4x4 can handle that much Travel Trailer, nor can it handle 1300 lbs of tongue weight even, with a weight distribution hitch. You need at least a 3500 dually for that much trailer. Maybe even a 4500.



Speaking of trailers, if you haven't purchased one yet, consider a 5th wheel. They handle much better than a travel trailer. The TT you're considering only has two axles, I believe it should have three. You might also consider something better than a Forest River, which has never know for quality.



I wouldn't haul any 5th wheel larger than 30' with you truck and any travel trailer larger than 24'.



I strongly suggest that you re-think everything.



george

 

[HBarlow]

You didn't tell us the GVWR or loaded weight of the trailer. You should also ask the manufacturer what percentage of total weight is on the ball coupler.

Are you planning to pull that thing one time to a destination and set it up on a permanent basis? It would be unsuitable as a travel trailer since park models usually have no fresh water supply or waste water drain tanks. Can it be licensed for routine towing in your state?

 

[d6c]

I called the manufacture and asked if this unit was designed to be an over the road unit, answer was NO. Removable tongue was a dead give away when I saw a picture of it. The units are evidently intended to be a one time move and set-up permanently but that does not stop some dealers from selling them otherwise. I still would like to think that license/insure process would catch this and deter somebody from thinking that they can use this unit as an over the road RV.

 

[AABEN]

Park models are made to be set up in a park. They will not take a lough of wrought roads. Your hitch should be 5000lb with the weight distribution will help take some of the weight to your front axle. Put it on a scales and scale it out. My front axle 5. 160-back 4. 600 both 9. 760 with trailer 12. 160 both trailer axles 10. 880 =22. 460lb that is with out a full tank of fuel are my tool boxes. I will say 23. 000 in all

 

[HBarlow]

Cherokee Trailer 39H Three Bedroom Quad Slideout Williamstown New Jersey | 2010 Park Model, White Horse RV Center - New Jersey RV Dealer Jayco Winnebago Sunnybrook Weekend Warrior White Horse RV

I found a link to a dealer who has one of these park model trailers and lists specs. The claimed GVWR is only around 11,000 lbs. so tongue weight is probably around 1,500#. The OP's number is probably reasonably accurate.

Combined towing length will be in the range of 65'. I wonder if IN will allow owner to register and tow it without a permit.

The specs list fresh water and holding tank capacities so I guess these units have tanks.

Its been years since I've owned a conventional travel trailer but I think I remember the heaviest rated weight distribution hitch wa only rated for 1,000 lbs. Can you buy heavier ones now? Perhaps as much as 1,500#?

 

[ENafziger]

Its been years since I've owned a conventional travel trailer but I think I remember the heaviest rated weight distribution hitch wa only rated for 1,000 lbs. Can you buy heavier ones now? Perhaps as much as 1,500#?<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Yes, the Blue Ox BXW1500 that I suggested earlier is a 1,500 lb tongue weight rate hitch. It's a weight distributing hitch and sway control in one.

The factory receiver is NOT rated for 1,500 lbs though, even with a weight distributing hitch. That being said, I had 2,000 lb tongue weight on my factory hitch once for a short time, and it was suffering badly. The round tube rotated downward at least 10°.

--Eric

 

[HBarlow]

The original poster may get away with towing that trailer with a Blue Ox or other heavy wd hitch once on the factory receiver but sustained use might bend or crack the welds.

 

[macdaddy]

Hey HB

My owners manual (Which I haven't read since my truck was new) States that my stock factory hitch is a Class IV and is rated for 1400#'s Load Dist, and 14K. Whats with this max 500 stuff?. I like having my trucks bed for hauling stuff and have always had HEAVY TT's. I towed my last trailer which had over 1400 pounds of tongue for many miles.



Mac

 

[HBarlow]

Hey HB
My owners manual (Which I haven't read since my truck was new) States that my stock factory hitch is a Class IV and is rated for 1400#'s Load Dist, and 14K. Whats with this max 500 stuff?. I like having my trucks bed for hauling stuff and have always had HEAVY TT's. I towed my last trailer which had over 1400 pounds of tongue for many miles.

Mac

Don't know. It was not me that reported that.

I do know that many members over the years have reported their factory hitch receiver bent downward or they found cracked welds over time. The welds broke and I replaced the hitch receiver on my old '01 Ram.

 

[macdaddy]

Don't know. It was not me that reported that.



I do know that many members over the years have reported their factory hitch receiver bent downward or they found cracked welds over time. The welds broke and I replaced the hitch receiver on my old '01 Ram.

Your right.....

But that was on the stock 2nd gen's. My 99 had this problem.



Mac

 

[HBarlow]

Correction. Had to dig into my feeble and failing memory a bit.

My Ram hitch didn't suffer from cracked welds. I replaced the OEM hitch receiver on my '01 Ram because the locking pin holes used to lock the draw bar in the hitch receiver became elongated over time. The "egg-shaped" pin holes created enough clearance I could feel the clunk when starting the load moving.

The metallurgy in the OEM receiver was not up to the task.