Thinking about a 2013 361 REQS

[Wingate]

Just found pics of this on the Jayco website... !

http://www.jayco.com/products/fifth-wheels/eagle-premier/floorplans-specs

Was wondering if anybody has any first-hand knowledge of this model??. . Local dealer doesnt have one to walk thru. Seems to have a ton of options available...

How much truck am I going to need to safely pull this down the highway??. . Really don't want to put 6 tires on the ground(dually) but it might be more than my 3/4 ton wants??

 

[Bill Stockard]

Once you tow a fifth wheel with a dually, especially one that size, you will throw rocks at a SRW.



Bill

 

[Wingate]

I was afraid someone would say that. . ! Guess I will have to see what the dually costs vs. the SRW. .

My wife is trying to find one close by that we can go see in person... Floorplans and pictures really doesnt do it for me... I need to walk thru, sit down... etc...

 

[Bill Stockard]

Take your truck to a truck scale and weigh each axle and record the numbers. Add the empty trailer kingpin weight to your rear axle weight and and to the total weight of your truck when it was weighed. Compare that to the GAWR and GVWR figures on the truck's door. Bear in mind that the empty weight in the trailer spec is usually without and added options and doesn't include anything you place in the trailer.



Bill

 

[RustyJC]

For sizing purposes, figuring that the loaded pin weight will be 20% of the 5th wheel's GVWR is widely accepted methodology among seasoned RVers.



I've owned 3 Jaycos, 2 of them Designer 5th wheels. They were excellent units at their respective price points and backed up by Jayco's excellent 2+3 warranty (2 years bumper-to-bumper with 3 additional years structural) and outstanding customer service. I'd recommend them...



Rusty

 

[Wingate]

For sizing purposes, figuring that the loaded pin weight will be 20% of the 5th wheel's GVWR is widely accepted methodology among seasoned RVers.



I've owned 3 Jaycos, 2 of them Designer 5th wheels. They were excellent units at their respective price points and backed up by Jayco's excellent 2+3 warranty (2 years bumper-to-bumper with 3 additional years structural) and outstanding customer service. I'd recommend them...



Rusty

Agreed! Several years ago, we had a Designer Series 5er (no slides) talk about a quality built camper. . but HEAVY...

Currently have a 30ft. Jayco 298RES that we love. Typically camp with 4-6 other couples. . we have the only Jayco and have had only one recent issue( A/C freezing up) which they immediately fixed.

Other camping friends have had horror stories! Every one of them have said Jayco will be their next purchase...

Plan on makinng two major purchases next year, 5er and a new truck... just gotta start planning now so that I get both matched up to each other. . Will have to check into the B&W Companion setup to see what its max rating is. .

 

[RustyJC]

Will have to check into the B&W Companion setup to see what its max rating is. .

18K for mine.



Rusty

 

[Wingate]

2013 Heartland Bighorn 3610RE
Anybody got any info on this one? VERY similar floorplan, but a different manufacturer. .

 

[RustyJC]

You'd be well advised to do LOTS of Googling on Heartland RVs. An RVing friend of mine was back at the factory at least 3 times that I'm aware of for frame failures. One of the times, he left the factory and headed out on the backroads of Indiana to test the fix - within half an hour, the pinbox was flexing and moving, so back to the factory again!!

Also, check the axles, tires, etc. relative to the GVWR rating. They have a reputation for using marginal running gear.

Rusty

 

[Wingate]

You'd be well advised to do LOTS of Googling on Heartland RVs. An RVing friend of mine was back at the factory at least 3 times that I'm aware of for frame failures. One of the times, he left the factory and headed out on the backroads of Indiana to test the fix - within half an hour, the pinbox was flexing and moving, so back to the factory again!!

Also, check the axles, tires, etc. relative to the GVWR rating. They have a reputation for using marginal running gear.

Rusty

Thats all I needed to hear. . hahaha... . Thats already enough info to turn me away from them. . is the list of manufacturers as short for 5ers as it is for TT???

 

[Cummins12V98]

The 20% rule is way off on my RV. I have 4,500# pin weight and is 25 % of the 18K RV weight.

 

[RustyJC]

By any chance, do you have a generator in the front bay? Washer/dryer in the bedroom closet?

The 20% is usually pretty close, but on some of the full-time rigs with lots of accessories up front or "stuff" in the basement, they can get heavy on the pin.

Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

Wingate,

That's a 15,000 lb. trailer. Nothing good can come of pretending it is anything else. That's a minimum of 3k on the kingpin, more if as post # 11 suggests that trailer is heavier on the kingpin than average or has a generator added as mine does. A srw truck will be inadequate for the task and illegal if you are required to pull it across the scales. 20% is a good estimate but some run more as stated.

Forget the Heartland. Jayco is a good product for the price. You've already had positive experience with one Jayco, don't go cheap and regret it.

My guess is you'd have to be pretty lucky to find one local. Call Jayco and ask them if a dealer has one in inventory then if you're willing to drive that far call and make sure the dealer still has it before you pack for the trip.

New dually Rams are nice trucks and I hear they're almost free!

 

[Wingate]

Wingate,



That's a 15,000 lb. trailer. Nothing good can come of pretending it is anything else. That's a minimum of 3k on the kingpin, more if as post # 11 suggests that trailer is heavier on the kingpin than average or has a generator added as mine does. A srw truck will be inadequate for the task and illegal if you are required to pull it across the scales. 20% is a good estimate but some run more as stated.



Forget the Heartland. Jayco is a good product for the price. You've already had positive experience with one Jayco, don't go cheap and regret it.



My guess is you'd have to be pretty lucky to find one local. Call Jayco and ask them if a dealer has one in inventory then if you're willing to drive that far call and make sure the dealer still has it before you pack for the trip.



New dually Rams are nice trucks and I hear they're almost free!

Harvey... Can you get me on the list for one of those free ones??? I dont have to be at the top of the list... . 3rd or 4th in line will do... ! But, it has to be the new 13 model HO with the Aisin... no 12 models for me. .

I stumbled thru a dealer search for the Jayco and there appears to be several in the DFW area and in the Houston area... . Looks like a field trip is coming... !!

 

[HBarlow]

I can't even get me on the freebie list. I'm still happy with my "old" '08. Its becoming old and slow like I am.

 

[Wingate]

ok. . upon futher reading of the specs. . looks like its 6 wheels or nothing for that camper... If I drove a Ford, I'm sure I could pull it with a Mike Rowe Eco-Boost F150... Dang junky Dodge!!!.
We are gonna go do a walk thru on that Jayco in two weeks...
Any other brands to consider??

 

[HBarlow]

Wingate,

I'm partial to NuWa HitchHikers but they are more pricey. Bill turned me on to HitchHikers about six years ago when I was ready to retire my old Travel Supreme bought used. Very good products built, sold, and serviced by a great company and bunch of people.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

At least a 3500 dually, I shudder to think of how overloaded many rigs are on the freeways. Better to be a lot over safe than just a bit under.

 

[EricBu12]

Hey Harvey. Yeah my 09 is doing good still. . Hey I have that 36' Raptor, it has a heavy pin but i have a Garage that off-sets it with a heavy Quad. I use the 19. 5" Ricksons and 225/70R "G" tires. With 6 wheels on the trailer. It does pretty well. Was looking through the specs on the new 2013 trucks and man I wish I was rich enough to just get a new one... lol . .

 

[Wingate]

ok. . did a walk thru on the Jayco, WOW!!!. . We absolutely love it... . its gotta be a dually to do it safely. . but we are thinking this may be too much camper for weekenders like us. . Thanks to everyone for their input. .
Harvey, I read somewhere that NuWa is yet another victim of a dying economy... ?? Hate to hear when good companies lose out to lesser companies with better "window dressing"... There is an RV dealer about an hour from here with a big lot full of RVs and so many brands you cant keep up with them all... ... I know of several people who have purchased from them, yet all of them have buyers remorse over their purchase... From defective/substandard manufacturing to non-existent customer service at the dealership level... They have all ended up with their campers at the Jayco dealership where I purchased mine paying for repairs that should be manufacturers warranty...
No doubt, Jayco and my selling dealer have made several new future customers...