Jayco Legacy Tow Vehicle

[caribbeach]

We are having a really hard time finding a tow vehicle for our 2009 Jayco Legacy. Weighing in dry at 14,500 I hear its a good idea to add 6,000 lbs for contents etc. I know this topic is beat to death but how did you go about choosing your tow vehicle. DH feels like he really want a Dodge Ram and from what I can tell there are a couple of 3500's out there that will do the job, but MAN are they hard to find!!! Seems like you have to be so careful about - the transmission, the cab, the bed, 4wd or 2wd, the rear wheels - dual or single, etc etc etc. DH just doesn't have time to help me look (not retired yet) so its up to me and we need to get this purchased by this time next year, which is when we plan to go fulltime.

Any help appreciated!!

[lx22f/c]

6000 pounds sounds high to me on contents.
Decide on a make then just order one. Thats what i have done on my last 2 vehicles. You can get every thing you want and a better price than whats on the lot.
Good luck

[Rustic Eagle]

Based on the 36RLMS's GVWR of 17,500lbs you won't be adding 6,000lbs in cargo. Based on the potential loaded FW and FW pin weight IMO you should be looking into a 1 ton diesel at a minimum (ideally a DRW) ........., and this won't be an over-kill TV. I would figure a loaded pin pin weight of 20% to 25% of the FW's loaded weight...... many use 20%.

Your actual loaded FW weight can very depending on your loading habits....., but full-timing loaded weights tend to run higher then a weekend camping trip.

2009 Jayco Legacy 36RLMS:

Weights:
Unloaded Vehicle Weight..... 14,490 lbs. (actual ship weight is higher)
Dry Hitch Weight............... 2,170 lbs.
Gross Vehicle Weight.......... 17,500 lbs.
Gross Cargo Carrying Capacity.... 3,010 lbs.

Measurements:
Exterior Length 38' 4"
Exterior Height with A/C 161"
Bedroom Interior Height 79"

Tank Capacities:
Fresh Water Capacity (gals) includes water heater 112
Gray Wastewater Capacity (gals) 80
Black/Toilet Wastewater Capacity (gals) 58

Bob

[caribbeach]

Hey Bob,

I appreciate that info - I have seen you post these before, where do you get all that? Also, if you don't mind me picking your brain a little.. What the heck is pin weight anyway and why is it important? I know these questions may seem logic to you (and you've probably answered them a hundred times) but to a newbie not so much.. How do you know that a truck is one ton - is there an easy way to tell. Sorry, I'm just a girl and hoping you can help me out DH just doesn't have the time to figure all this out

[clutch]

Check this place out. They have a huge selection of trucks all the time. http://www.davesmith.com/index.htm

[Doug]

Originally Posted by caribbeach

Hey Bob,

I appreciate that info - I have seen you post these before, where do you get all that? Also, if you don't mind me picking your brain a little.. What the heck is pin weight anyway and why is it important? I know these questions may seem logic to you (and you've probably answered them a hundred times) but to a newbie not so much.. How do you know that a truck is one ton - is there an easy way to tell. Sorry, I'm just a girl and hoping you can help me out DH just doesn't have the time to figure all this out

Pin weight is basically the tongue weight for a 5th wheel. The weight that sits in the bed with the pin hitch.

I believe on trucks, 150/1500 are 1/2 ton, 250/2500 are 3/4 ton, 350/3500 are 1 ton.

Ford uses the 3 digit numbers and Chevy uses the 4 digit numbers.

Your dealer or seller should also be able to translate model number for you to weight rating.

Your looking for a 1 ton.

Doug

[Rustic Eagle]

Since your FW is relatively new (2009), I went to the Jayco website and checked the Jayco "Archive" link which is found at the bottom of their website. The are numerous other sources for data, it just depends on the subject matter.

"Pin Weight" relates to fifth wheel trailers (FW), and "Tongue Weight" relates to travel trailers (TT). In the case of a FW, the "Kingpin" (pin) is the steel pin located on the front of the FW, and the "Fifth-Wheel" is the hitch that is mounted in the bed of the pickup truck. With TT's the loaded tongue weight is the amount of weight placed on the truck's hitch ball located at the rear of a truck (near the bumper).

The "pin weight" is the amount of weight the FW places on the TV's fifth-wheel hitch. The RV and hitch manufactures recommend that the "pin-weight" should be 15% to 25% of the FW's loaded weight for controlled TV handling. Do to the large basement storage areas in most FW's many folks find that a 20% loaded pin weight seems to be the average.

GM & Ram refer to their 1-ton trucks as 3500 Models, and Ford as a F-350...... in all cases this will be noted on the side of the truck. When using a pickup for towing what becomes critical with the heavier FW's TT's etc., is the truck's "Payload Capacity"......, and can very depending on the particular 1-ton model (body style, 2-wheel versus 4-wheel drive, single or double rear wheels, etc.).

Hope this helps.

Bob

[troutslayer]

You are asking the right questions so keep it up bucause there is a lot to learn. I can't add to the excellent information Bob has already given. BTW tire age on a fifth wheel is also very important. If your 2009 has the original tires you will probably be due for replacement within the next year (no matter what the tread looks like).

[caribbeach]

don't dealers lie to get the deal. Not trying to be negative, just sayin..

[caribbeach]

We requested new tires on the FW when we purchased it, should have taken pictures of the old ones, but didn't think to do it. The tires look good though and have those little "sticky" things on them, so I'm hoping they really changed them. Who knows about quality though.. Can you tell I don't trust sales people?

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by caribbeach

We requested new tires on the FW when we purchased it, should have taken pictures of the old ones, but didn't think to do it.......snip

Check the tire manufacture's date code on the side of "all" the tires, that will give you some indication on how new they are.

Bob

[troutslayer]

This article will tell you how to identify the tire code and the age of your tires.

http://rvbasics.com/techtips/RV-tire-age-how-old.html

[bbrown]

Most newer 3/4 ton trucks will tow that weight...realistically, you don't NEED a 1 ton dually but they handle the higher pin/hitch weights better. When you look at TVs, be sure you know the pin weight of the 5er (assume 20% of FW) and verify that the TV rear axle load capacity will handle it. Then look at the Combined Weight Rating of the TV by adding the 5er weight (fully loaded) plus the TV weight (also fully loaded). Or an easier way is to just add together the dry/unloaded weights of both and add 15% (rough guesstimate for both fully loaded). For instance, my TV weighs 6K empty and the 5er weighs 7600. So, 6000 + 7600 x 1.15% = 15,640. My TV Combined weight rating is 16,200...so I'm good...plus I have weighed my rig fully loaded as well and it only weighs 15,093. I've got plenty of spare room under my max. I also calculate my pin weight to be 1800 #s, while my rear axle will handle over 3000. Again, plenty to spare.

[gtsum2]

A 5er pin weight will be around 20% of total weight. I would go by 20% of the gross weight rating of the 5er. Based in that, you are looking at one ton diesel srw and likely a drw. Put 2500lbs of Lin weight in most 3/4 ton trucks and u will be over the cargo capacity of the truck easily (unless u don't take passengers in the truck etc). Tow rating doesn't mean much as I have found out...it is all about cargo capacity.

[northmeck0255]

Remember, it isn't just "Can I pull it?".

The more important question is, "Can I stop it (safely) in a HURRY??".

A dually has twice as much rubber gripping the road, and often larger brakes and an engine brake.

[fthorsby]

Also, you can easily order the vehicle and your husband want or need. I have a 2014 Ram 3500 dual rear wheel, diesel on order right now. Should be here next week, its taking about 7 weeks, but you have time. I'm pulling a new 40' Jayco 5th wheel.