Pulling 377RLBH with 04 Diesel Dually

[Lowmiler]

Crew cab, 4x4. Anyone doing it here? GVWR is pretty high on this model, even though we don't plan on fully loading her up.

My only comparison is my 40' enclosed race trailer, weighing in a few thou lbs less, and it's a slow chug from a dead stop and is 45mph up a steep hiway grade. Is the 377 too much rig for that generation TV?

Saw over a dozen mid bunk models at the Hershey RV show today and the 377RLBH won hands down with the family.

Thanks, Todd

[Rustysocket]

It's a lot of trailer for sure. One of my favorite floorplans, it was just out of my budget when we were buying.

Can't really answer you regarding the truck. I'd be more concerned with the stopping ability than anything else.

[3'senough]

What manufacturer? Ford, Dodge, or Chevy? Then we can help give some further insight.

That's a lot of trailer coming from someone in the same class.

[Springhook]

I pull my Northpoint 377 with a '16 Ram Dually Diesel. The truck does a great job. Hasn't seen any real mountains to speak of yet, just Texas Hill Country. I get the feeling she won't have a problem with real steep grades. As far as stopping power, we will have to wait for the brakes to be replaced. I had the dreaded grease on brake drum problem on the RV. It is in the shop getting the once over. Luvin the 377.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by 3'senough

What manufacturer? Ford, Dodge, or Chevy? Then we can help give some further insight.

That's a lot of trailer coming from someone in the same class.

2004 GMC Sierra 3500, Crew cab, dually, 4x4, LLY Duramax, Alison.

[3'senough]

Since it's pre boxed frame technology and the spring packs on most early 2000's were not what they are since roughly 2010, I would say air bags or Timbrens are mandatory for starters. That pin has to be around 3200 or so loaded is my best guesstimate.

I had an 03 F350 that I had to tune and air bag to be able to tow comfortably. That being said my current TV is stock and handles more than my 03 did and then some.

Also make sure you get the Mor Ryde pin box.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by 3'senough

Since it's pre boxed frame technology and the spring packs on most early 2000's were not what they are since roughly 2010, I would say air bags or Timbrens are mandatory for starters. That pin has to be around 3200 or so loaded is my best guesstimate.

I had an 03 F350 that I had to tune and air bag to be able to tow comfortably. That being said my current TV is stock and handles more than my 03 did and then some.

Also make sure you get the Mor Ryde pin box.

Ok, so will sub standard springs manifest themselves in a sagging rear? Hard to believe they can't handle the load, freaking truck rides so hard with properly inflated tires, I assumed my stock springs were monsters.

I've never tuned my truck, even though I'm in the performance automotive aftermarket. It's only seen tow duty and I never wanted the extra engine stress when putting it under extreme tow stress.

Is the Mor Ryde pin box the one that floats laterally to eliminate chucking? Or is it something specific to accommodate deficiencies in my generation TV?

Thanks. A new truck ain't in the budget.

[Lowmiler]

Oh, and dry pin weight is advertised at 2820 for what it's worth.

[Dave A]

Our 2016 Ford F350 does a fine job, I did add airbags to improve the ride and raise the rear end.

[Lowmiler]

Yeah, I wouldn't have concerns if I had any dually made in the last 5 years or so, but mine is from an era when power ratings were maybe 2/3rds of what they are now.

[Summitstev]

Lowmiller,
Here is my info with CAT scale weights from July of this year

Tow Vehicle – 2017 Ram 3500, dually, diesel, crew cab, long bed, 4x4 – factory Mopar 25K hitch
Trailer – 2016 Northpoint 377RLBH – no generator – GVWR = 16,500

TV – Factory sticker info
• GAWR / Front – 6000 lbs
• GAWR / Rear – 9750 Lbs
• GVWR – 14,000 Lbs
• Max cargo – 5477 Lbs

TV – Cat Scale Ticket – full fuel tank, me, DW and some stuff we keep in the cab when traveling
• Steer Axle – 5180 Lbs
• Drive Axle – 3900 Lbs
• Total Axle – 9080 lbs

Truck measurements
• Top of bed height / Empty = 60 Inches
• Front bumper height / Empty = 33 Inches

TV / Trailer – Cat Scale Ticket
• Steer Axle – 5300 Lbs
• Drive Axle – 7520 Lbs
• Trailer Axle – 11,820 Lbs
• Gross Weight – 24,640 Lbs

Truck measurements
• Top of bed height / with trailer = 54 Inches
• Front bumper height / with trailer = 33 Inches


Based on my calculations, I come up with the following:
• Actual Pin Weight / 7520 – 3900 = 3620 Lbs
• % on pin: 3620 / 15440 * 100 = 23.4 %
• Total Trailer Weight / 3620 + 11,820 = 15,440 Lbs
• Weight under trailer GVWR / 16,500 – 15,440 = 1060 Lbs

[3'senough]

Originally Posted by Lowmiler

Ok, so will sub standard springs manifest themselves in a sagging rear? Hard to believe they can't handle the load, freaking truck rides so hard with properly inflated tires, I assumed my stock springs were monsters.

I've never tuned my truck, even though I'm in the performance automotive aftermarket. It's only seen tow duty and I never wanted the extra engine stress when putting it under extreme tow stress.

Is the Mor Ryde pin box the one that floats laterally to eliminate chucking? Or is it something specific to accommodate deficiencies in my generation TV?

Thanks. A new truck ain't in the budget.

Mor Ryde is for any generation truck and cushions the front to back chucking. It will not eliminate it, but reduce by more than 50%.

As for spring pack your going to need to put the trailer on it, load it and see where you land. I would guess about 4-6" depression standard spring setup.

A small war broke out in 2009 and on for heaviest payload and towing power. From there we had each trying to out do each other. My current truck is 385 HP factory. 30K towing capacity. It squats 3" when I put my 3K pin on it. My 03 F350 would go almost 6" under that load and the airbags were a must. The only tune I would do on my last TV was a tow tune. Never did I put the high performance one on. I also had 3" turbo back exhaust retaining the cat which helped.

If you put the spring packs next to each other for my current and last TV you would think the 03 came out of a 1500.

It severed me well and I never felt overwhelmed. The only issue I had was high temps climbing grades in a few cases where I pushed it too hard. Downgrade it handled fine, but my current TV factory engine brake makes it even better.

The latest generation of 3500's from say 2010 and on seem far more suited for the larger 5'ers regardless of make stock.

This is just based on my experience towing 2 x 40ft plus 5'ers which I am sharing.

[oh355mbqs]

Hi Lowmiler,

You might look at the Eagle 355MBQS, it is a slightly smaller version of the 377. The GVW is 14250

[Lowmiler]

Thanks for the insight, everyone.

Summitstev:

According to Jayco, the 377RLBH has a dry weight of 13855. When you weighed it at 15,440, do you figure you had ~1600lbs of "stuff" in it, or do you think Jayco's numbers are low?


Dug up my original owners manual, and found the following within:

Max trailer weight for 6.6 Diesel Dually is 16,500lbs
GCWR is 22,000lbs
Max pin weight is 3,500lbs

GVWR for the truck is 11,400lbs, 4,800lbs front axle, 8,550lbs rear axle.

However, if max trailer weight is 16,500 and GCWR is 22,000, does that mean my truck weighs 5,500 "dry"? Seems light to me.

And I assume that GCWR would include people on board, so how can anyone even be in the truck with a 16,500 trailer attached? That would mean the truck is even lighter than 5,500lbs, right?

Confused.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by 3'senough

It severed me well and I never felt overwhelmed. The only issue I had was high temps climbing grades in a few cases where I pushed it too hard. Downgrade it handled fine, but my current TV factory engine brake makes it even better.

Thanks for sharing that, do you recall what your power ratings were stock and after you put on the tune? Did you ever pull with stock power with your 03 Ford?

[Summitstev]

Lowmiller

I'm pretty sure i had 1600 lbs of stuff in the trailer - we live in it full time so the scale weights include all our clothes, full cabinets and fridge and equipment in the basement.

You list the axle ratings but you'll want to know the actual empty weight of your truck - so it would be worth a trip to the scales. As you state, your max towing capacity is at 16,500 - the GVWR of the trailer - this is different than payload.

Your stated max pin weight - which is probably total "payload" is less than the pin on my trailer - then you still have to add people in the cab and anything else you have in the bed of the truck.

There are some great threads on this site that I spent hours reading as I was looking at the TV I wanted to purchase to pull the 377.

Hope that helps

[3'senough]

Originally Posted by Lowmiler

Thanks for sharing that, do you recall what your power ratings were stock and after you put on the tune? Did you ever pull with stock power with your 03 Ford?

325 Stock in the 6.0 with 4.10 rear. When tuned it was said to kick it up 50HP. I did notice it struggle getting off a full stop and my fuel mileage went down vs having the tow tune. I used an Edge tuner which also gave me all my internal info like oil, trans and coolant temp. That allowed me to set alarms for high points as well which I liked.

I did 5 seasons with it and was happy, except for the suspension. Had to have the airbags to sit level.