first rv

[paco maloco]

searching for my first fifth wheel and trying to do my homework. Do I sacrifice quality construction going from the Eagle to the Eagle HT? If so I need to focus on a newer truck instead (even though it is a dually but only 200hp) rather than the camper. Any thoughts are appreciated

[Dbunke]

I wouldn't assume your 200hp dually cannot pull an Eagle. Older diesel engines didn't have much hp but they had plenty of torque. Check your trucks towing and cargo capacities and decide from there. As far as an Eagle vs HT quality. Just me but I think the Eagle is just larger and has more and or nicer amenities. Not necessarily lower quality. Have you looked at both units to see which one suites your taste and needs?

[sturgissteele]

Welcome to the site from SW Michigan! Hope you find the right one!

[TxLoser]

Quality is no different between the two lines. I’ve owned both. I don’t think they’re constructed any different aside from the frame. Heavier frame on the Eagle. More niceties on the Eagle. That’s about it.

What year make and model of truck?

[02camp]

I'm not sure there is a "sacrifice quality construction". There are more standard items on the Eagle over the HT i.e. 2nd AC, 16" tires vs 15", etc. Also it stands to reason the frame of the Eagle will be heavier since they are typically larger with bed slides vs. either no bed slide or a closet slide, etc. The point is the construction methods and materials are similar in both lines and both are constructed on the same factory line.

I can give you the 3 most important reasons why we chose the Eagle HT over the Eagle:

1. The Eagle HT fit our budget better.
2. I didn't want a 1 ton truck. I feel more comfortable pulling a "half ton" fifth wheel with a 3/4 ton truck and felt like I would need to step up to a full ton truck to achieve that same level of comfort with the heavier fifth wheel.
3. I didn't want a 36+ foot fifth wheel. I wanted to stay as close to 32' as possible.

I am curious to know what your current truck is. You may need to be truck shopping no matter which fifth wheel you choose. I purchased an F-250 with the 7.3 ltr gas. We ordered the Eagle HT 27RS that is supposed to arrive the middle of November.

Good luck!

[paco maloco]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Quality is no different between the two lines. I’ve owned both. I don’t think they’re constructed any different aside from the frame. Heavier frame on the Eagle. More niceties on the Eagle. That’s about it.

What year make and model of truck?

it is a '97 silverado with a 6.5 turbo diesel. I have had a horse trailer with living quarters .hooked up to it in the past before I figured all duallies were not created equal. I plan to hit the road and explore with the rig so not wanting to be broke down in the middle of BFE.

[TxLoser]

Given the age and specs of the truck, I’d probably aim for an HT model were it me. Less weight and a little less frontal area to fight the winds. As posted above. Same quality. Nearly identical construction.

[paco maloco]

Originally Posted by TxLoser

Given the age and specs of the truck, I’d probably aim for an HT model were it me. Less weight and a little less frontal area to fight the winds. As posted above. Same quality. Nearly identical construction.

Appreciate the info. Do you happen to know the differences in Jayco"s different models? This purchase will be my first and hopefully last so hopefully get maybe 15 years out of the trailer.

[paco maloco]

I own a "97 silverado with a 6.5 turbo diesel. Have been told it only produces 200hp. Have owned it for 20 years with only 150k miles garage kept. Hate to get rid of it if I dont need to. With no truck payment it allows me to afford a nicer rv

[paco maloco]

I do not need a huge trailer since it is just me. A lot of the campgrounds I visit as a tent camper are not designed for very big rigs. I see them struggle to park. But on the same token due to the shortage of new and used inventory, I will be probably be buying new so can get everything I may want

[WayneTaylor]

That truck should pull an HT Eagle with no problem!

[TnHiker]

Originally Posted by paco maloco

I own a "97 silverado with a 6.5 turbo diesel. Have been told it only produces 200hp. Have owned it for 20 years with only 150k miles garage kept. Hate to get rid of it if I dont need to. With no truck payment it allows me to afford a nicer rv

As you see in my signature I have an Eagle HT. We are very happy with it, bought it new and also note I have an older truck. My 2002 F350 7.3 Turbo DRW is stock has 62,000 miles now and I have no trouble pulling the HT. Before the HT we had an Eagle Super Lite that was about 1000 lb. heavier than the HT and no problems pulling it either. My old Ford has also been garage kept from birth and looks near perfect. (Specs for the F350; 250 hp and 505 lbs. of torque.) I think you will be fine with your current truck pulling an HT. Sometimes I wonder about how the older trucks were rated. I have driven the new trucks with a 6.7 and they are obviously way more powerful than my truck (rated twice the HP and torque) but it doesn't seem to to be twice the power like they are rated. I would love to have a new truck but it is really hard to justify spending $70,000 when my truck gets the job done. Good Luck on your new camper and God Bless!

[escapees]

Do not get rid of that 7.3....keep it.
I have seen trucks like yours with 400k+ miles and still pulling.

[TnHiker]

Originally Posted by escapees

Do not get rid of that 7.3....keep it.
I have seen trucks like yours with 400k+ miles and still pulling.

A good friend of mine has a 2001 F350 7.3 Turbo DRW that he bought new. He is a used car dealer and pulls a car hauler trailer all the time. It has over 600,000 miles and he uses it every day. It has not had a major rebuild yet. General maintenance, one transmission, and injectors once. He says he expects to get 1,000,000. That would be amazing.

[LuckyDuck]

‘Tis why they call them million mile motors. I’ve only got 888k left.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by escapees

Do not get rid of that 7.3....keep it.
I have seen trucks like yours with 400k+ miles and still pulling.

As our camping Days Are Over I recently sold my trailer. Soon thereafter with a tear in my eye I sold my 2002 7.3 dual rear wheel 4-wheel drive F350 with only a hundred and twenty-three thousand miles on it. I had quite a few mods and it was just like new. The tow rating on it as near as I can tell was 13100 lb.
The OPhas a 6.5 Chevy Diesel, he does not say whether it is Turbo or not. And looking the model up it seems like a turbo was available. However, the tow rating on that dually as near as I can make out, with no differentiation in ear ends, is about 8000 lb. My wife's Expedition will pull 8000 pounds, although if I ever let her pull that much it would have to be a bass boat and not a sailboat. My guess is that Chevrolet in those days was minimizing tow capacity. Sure wish it was that way today.

[RickandBecky]

We decided to purchase a 2020 Eagle HT after shopping both the Eagle and the HT line. We love our 30.5CKTS with the Farmhouse interior and primarily purchased it due to the payload on our 2018 Ford F-250 diesel. Even with the lower overall fifth wheel weight, we are very close to being at the payload limit—not close at all on the towing limit. So, no matter which fifth wheel you buy, pay attention to the weight it will add to your truck, mainly due to the pin weight of the fifth wheel. Hope you find a great camper from Jayco!

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by cekkk

As our camping Days Are Over I recently sold my trailer. Soon thereafter with a tear in my eye I sold my 2002 7.3 dual rear wheel 4-wheel drive F350 with only a hundred and twenty-three thousand miles on it. I had quite a few mods and it was just like new. The tow rating on it as near as I can tell was 13100 lb.
The OPhas a 6.5 Chevy Diesel, he does not say whether it is Turbo or not. And looking the model up it seems like a turbo was available. However, the tow rating on that dually as near as I can make out, with no differentiation in ear ends, is about 8000 lb. My wife's Expedition will pull 8000 pounds, although if I ever let her pull that much it would have to be a bass boat and not a sailboat. My guess is that Chevrolet in those days was minimizing tow capacity. Sure wish it was that way today.

That had to be sad, selling your 7.3. Hope you got a good price for it — they definitely are worth it.

[TXJACO]

My DW and I decided on the 2020 280RSOK TT. I have the F250 with the 6.2L gasser and it pulls it just fine. They are supposed to be “half ton” towable, but there is no way in heck I would ever pull it with a half ton. I wish I would have bit the bullet when I bought my F250 and just bought the F350 dually diesel. But, that would have been another $15-$20k. As anyone will tell you here, you can’t ever have too much truck!

[Jim Smyth]

What ever you get make sure its 50 amp service and two AC units.