Want to "trade up" to a TT but not sure what a 3/4 ton tow vehicle means

[bigdisneydaddy]

You could pull the 32 ft with a gas Suburban 2500 or a Ford Excursion, you may find a decent deal on the Ford and still be able to get the diesel.

 

[musicmama]

Wow, there really are a lot of choices out there. I think the only other area I have to explore is the hitch, and I'm not quite ready for that.

I've got lots of stuff to look at (truck, SUV, diesel, gas, HD or not, transmissions, etc.) and that's what I needed. Now I get to go price shopping and start my vehicle savings fund.

It's true - be careful what you wish for - I wished for info and I got it in spades. Y'all are THE BEST!

Guess I can finish planning for the non-camping vacation now.

 

[LONE-STAR]

If you are buying used and want a SUV then I would get a 2000 to a 2003 Excursion with a 7.3 diesel. Some 2003 and newer will have a 6.0. The 7.3 is a much better motor with less problems. I have had both motors and would love to have my 7.3 back. But if a truck will do nothing will pull like a dodge with a 5.9 diesel and get as good mpg. If you want more room in a truck then go for a 2006 or a 2007 mega cab.(in 2007 only the trucks made through March had a 5.9)

 

[LarryJ]

You've heard from me before - and provided some terrific answers - so I'm reaching out to you camping gurus yet again.

DH, DD and I want to go from our 29' no slide Class C to a Travel trailer, so that DD can have her own "room" and so that I don't have to drive separately when we go camping or rent a car when we're there. Our MH really doesn't have the best setup to try towing the car, although the previous owners left their hitch (which we had removed because we couldn't pull out of the yard with it on) and had apparently towed once or twice with it.

So -- went to the Hershey, PA RV show yesterday (it'll be on Travel Channel or one of those in a few weeks as it's a pretty big show) and found 3 TTs and configurations we really liked. All of them seem to require "3/4 ton" to tow as they are 30' - 36' trailers and 7000 - 8500lb.

Here's my question - what is a "3/4 ton vehicle"? Is it a big truck? Is it a big honkin' SUV? (I know it's not my Santa Fe.) Do those of you with TTs have a special tow vehicle?

Any and all info provided will be very much appreciated. Chances are, we'll be looking into a used version of whatever we need. But we need to know what to look for without walking into a dealer or checking Craigslist and getting taken advantage of.

I won't get into the TVs yet, but you mentioned 3 TTs which were 30' - 36' trailers and 7000 - 8500lbs. Often those wts are "dry wts" which are basically meaningless and a marketing ploy to show unrealistic low wts for trailers. I'm betting that these will weigh anywhere from 9000 to 10,000+ and have tongue wts well north of 1,000lbs. For starters can you give use the actual make and model of the trailers you liked?

If my above guess is correct with a few exceptions you're into the older 8.1 big block Chevy/GMC and the Ford V10 for gassers or many flavors of the diesels. The new Ford 6.4L diesel gets terrible fuel mileage.

There are many, many factors in matching a TV to a particular TT and I would recommend you start lurking and reading as much as you can on something like RV.NET where the breath of experience and knowledge base is considerably larger than here.

Just remember the old say about TT or Car salesmen when talking about towing .... "if their lips are moving they're lying"

Larry

 

[stacktester]

I don't think it's going to take a rocket scientist to set you up with a tow vehicle to pull a trailer. One important thing to mention too is, what is your budget?

 

[disney4dan]

Let me ask this -- is there anybody here who rents their tow vehicle when they go camping? Or is that a dumb question? (feel free to be honest)

Yes, there is at least one outfit I know of that rents Dodge 3/4 ton trucks with the Cummins diesel engine and will set it up for towing with an electric brake controller. That is how Nancy and I got into this, and I still wish I could afford the diesel package. We rented a 29 foot TT and towed it from Salt Lake City, UT through the Grand Tetons to Yellowstone National Park in 2006. The cost for the Dodge rental was around $500 for 9 days and included 200 miles per day. The trailer was about $880 for 9 days (insurance and daily use items like bedding and dishes were extra). It was a great way to start, but I caution you, I had experience towing before this trip and knew how to handle this combo. I just wish the people at the RV rental place had adjusted the trailer ball height correctly (it was set too high).

The truck rental place - http://www.ruggedrental.com
The trailer rental place - http://www.accessrv.com

To answer the other questions, 3/4 ton is the "listed" weight for what the truck can carry in the bed, but you will find huge ranges for each truck, even with the same manufacturer. Some 3/4 ton trucks can carry more than others, check the door post on the drivers side. A 3/4 ton should be able to carry 1,500 pounds in the bed in theory. That does not account for passengers, optional equipment, yadda yadda yadda. If you are seriously looking at trailers in the size you mentioned, I would recommend a 1 ton truck and get the 8 foot long bed and 4 door cab for the added wheelbase. Will be very stable on the highway. Won't be fun in a parking lot, but...

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Wow, there really are a lot of choices out there. I think the only other area I have to explore is the hitch, and I'm not quite ready for that.

I've got lots of stuff to look at (truck, SUV, diesel, gas, HD or not, transmissions, etc.) and that's what I needed. Now I get to go price shopping and start my vehicle savings fund.

It's true - be careful what you wish for - I wished for info and I got it in spades. Y'all are THE BEST!

Guess I can finish planning for the non-camping vacation now.

The hitch isnt all that complicated, alomost any truck in this size range will already have an adequate receiver for that size trailer. Unless you have a very large budget you will end up with a Reese dual cam or an Equalizer, both are weight distributing hitches that also provide sway control. The vast majority of RVers use these two brands.

 

[musicmama]

The TTs are Jayco Jay Flight, Wilderness LE and LA and Denali (and maybe Sandpiper). They are all bunkhouse models with the loft/sofa type setup. We're still learning about this - I have lurked at RV.net also, and this board has been the easiest to understand (for me, at least). I can see "loaded weight" on the specs, but I don't understand what "tongue weight" is that LarryJ mentioned. Is that the weight of the hitch?

I do not have a really large budget - our MH is valued at around $16k, so that's the TV trade as it appears I'm looking somewhere north of $40k for that - hopefully less if we can get a good deal or used, based on the suggestions so far.

I admit we know very little in this area, other than we'd like to trade up because of the "room issue" and the "extra vehicle issue", but we're trying to learn. We were lucky enough to be able to purchase our 1996 Class C outright, which gives us the freedom to consider the switch. DBILs and DSis felt we'd be much safer with a single vehicle (less to go wrong) and for DH to be able to learn how to drive something bigger than a car. He's done pretty well, but we know there's a big difference between a handling a Class C and towing a trailer.

I am immensely grateful for the patience and honesty that the members of this board have shown. It's clear that you all love camping and are willing to help others.

 

[jugman]

You can get a new TV for alot less than 40k, unless you want every option that is available. If you look you can pick up a used one for under 30k. Go to myrvtalk.com and look. They have both TV's and trailers for sale by owners.

 

[musicmama]

You can get a new TV for alot less than 40k, unless you want every option that is available. If you look you can pick up a used one for under 30k. Go to myrvtalk.com and look. They have both TV's and trailers for sale by owners.

Thanks. That's a site I've never heard of. Will check it out.

 

[LarryJ]

I don't think it's going to take a rocket scientist to set you up with a tow vehicle to pull a trailer. One important thing to mention too is, what is your budget?

Maybe not a rocket scientist, but IMHO a lot more diverse input from more than 10 or so of us here that tow TTs (a lot have MH and 5ers) than we can give her here with our limited resources.

I think I will wait till she posts over on something like RV.NET with her questions/concerns.

Larry

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Maybe not a rocket scientist, but IMHO a lot more diverse input from more than 10 or so of us here that tow TTs (a lot have MH and 5ers) than we can give her here with our limited resources.

I think I will wait till she posts over on something like RV.NET with her questions/concerns.

Larry

What are we Larry ? chopped liver ?
I think you are selling us a little short.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Yes...chopped liver! Not prime rib, like Larry.....who has refused his expert input until her question is asked on some other website, directing web traffic away from the DISBOARDS!!!!


I have learned as much, if not more than the OP from this thread....I thank everyone who wasnt too stuck up to lend their honest opinions and knowledge by way of experience. You guys rock!.....well, most of you rock, Im just not in the mood to go to other websites for stale, cut quick, sterile answers.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Considering that part of my job includes managing a fleet of 22 vehicles with a replacement value over $3 million dollars, including 3 large trailers I think I have a little something to offer.

Heck, even Donnie thinks I know what I am talking about.....

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Sounds like a worthy source to me.

 

[Gatordad]

Thanks. That's a site I've never heard of. Will check it out.

Considering that part of my job includes managing a fleet of 22 vehicles with a replacement value over $3 million dollars, including 3 large trailers I think I have a little something to offer.

Heck, even Donnie thinks I know what I am talking about.....

Not good enough for some people, who are too cool for the community board..... I trust you Scott, I just ignore you.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

thats okay Pete, I am getting used to it.

 

[Gatordad]

Maybe you should change your name to stupendous disney daddy.

 

[des1954]

Not good enough for some people, who are too cool for the community board..... I trust you Scott, I just ignore you.

I, for one, trust Donnie completely. I've seen him back a 5'er into a FtW site in record time!! In conversing with Donnie, he has a lot of knowledge and experience with all sorts of large trucks, trailers, etc. (Now, he stinks with a blender - but that's another subject )

I also trust Scott. I don't know why I do, but it's my intuition! He seems to have the right answer when he chimes in. Otherwise, I don't see him post anything if he doesn't have something worthy to say.

I've also seen some pretty questionable "do it yourself" fixes published in Trailer Life and Motor Home magazine. Just 'cause it's published in a national magazine, doesn't make it true or good.

AND... NEVER, EVER trust what a salesman tells you about vehicle tow rating. Most of them have never towed a kid's Radio Flyer, let alone a TT or 5'er. The same goes for RV salesmen. They are there at the dealership for one thing only, and that is a commission! I know. My DH worked for 2 car dealers & an RV dealership. Dealers need sales people - and not necessarily educated sale people. At most car & RV dealerships the average sales person stays 6-8 months before moving to the next job. That's how long it takes them to realize they are getting screwed on commission by the dealership owners. (Lazy Days may be the one & only exception to this. They seem to keep sales people.)

Always check the owner's manual for the tow rating. If you can, weigh your TT or MH when it's fully loaded before going any distance to make sure you're not over-loaded.

 

[jugman]

I have another site that sells repo's, www.commonwealthboatbrokers.com. They had a nice TT on there ealier today. The banks will take your offer and consider it. As far as the TV the diesel will pull better, but if you are not going to use it much then I might go with the gas.