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08-28-2012, 08:04 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,740
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A critical item regarding your TV. Make sure it has a tow package; some brands appear to have multiple tow packages now days. So do a little homework. Make sure you have the correct rear end gear ratios. They can be extremely expensive to change out later. Tow packages usually give you larger mirrors (never large enough), hitch, gear ratio, prewired for electric brakes. Some vehicles I understand now have an integrated electronic sway package. Many of the tow packages also include a button (tow/haul mode) to change your AFT shift points and lock you out from using overdrive.
Also you need a good WD (weight distribution) hitch, and there are a lot out there. I use an Equalizer brand with integrated sway bars. I absolutely love my hitch, but it was costly, but worth every penny. My parents use Reese with Dual Cam Sway Bars. It too is a fabulous but only with the dual cam sway bar addition (my opinion).
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08-29-2012, 07:49 AM
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#22
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Alachua, FL
Posts: 5
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Thanks to you guys, we've learned quite a lot over the last week. We're hooked on the rear captain's chairs design, but there are still two models contending; the White Hawk 27DSRL (less weighty than the 26RLS) and the Rockwood 2604. One thing I find curious is that the White Hawk has a fridge in the bedroom. It seems redundant because it already has a full size fridge.
One dealer I visited suggested that I consider a 15,500btu a/c. Since I live in Florida, it seems this may be good advice. Are there any other worthwhile options we should consider?
Thanks,
Andrew
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08-29-2012, 08:16 AM
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#23
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 147
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I would look at the Jayfeather Select 28U. It has a slide but it isn't huge and lighter weight. Slide probably goes out about 18 inches and everything is still accessible with the slide in.
__________________
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3/ 3.73 Tekonsha Primus brake controller
2011 JayFeather Select 29L
Husky Centerline WDH
w/ active anti-sway
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08-29-2012, 10:03 AM
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#24
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alerra
Thanks to you guys, we've learned quite a lot over the last week. We're hooked on the rear captain's chairs design, but there are still two models contending; the White Hawk 27DSRL (less weighty than the 26RLS) and the Rockwood 2604. One thing I find curious is that the White Hawk has a fridge in the bedroom. It seems redundant because it already has a full size fridge.
One dealer I visited suggested that I consider a 15,500btu a/c. Since I live in Florida, it seems this may be good advice. Are there any other worthwhile options we should consider?
Thanks,
Andrew
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For sure get the 15K AC unit. Just a few bucks more but living in FLA you want the extra BTU`s.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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08-29-2012, 10:06 AM
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#25
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
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Quote:
One thing I find curious is that the White Hawk has a fridge in the bedroom. It seems redundant because it already has a full size fridge.
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I think that`s an outside access fridge.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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08-29-2012, 10:11 AM
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#26
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JAMMFAM
I would look at the Jayfeather Select 28U. It has a slide but it isn't huge and lighter weight. Slide probably goes out about 18 inches and everything is still accessible with the slide in.
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I cannot find the 28U or a few others such as the 28R on the 2013 website. It seems a bunch of models were replaced or discontinued in the TT lineup.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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08-29-2012, 10:21 AM
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#27
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 28
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We have a new Whitehawk, absolutely love it. Our model is a 31dlsb, and it tows like a dream. High crosswind on our first trip out and no instability at all. They say the wide stance axles of the Whitehawk improve towing, maybe something to it? x2 on the slide..
__________________
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 5.0L
2012 Jayco White Hawk 31 dslb
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09-03-2012, 09:51 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 184
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Upgrade the customer value package to include the 15M A/C and also get the technology package, electric stability jacks, electric tongue jack and the power awning.
We also ordered the free standing table with 4 chairs, exterior grill & roof ladder. The only options we didn't get were the hide a bed and aluminum wheels.
We love our White Hawk!
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09-07-2012, 12:41 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 147
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Mrnoyb, how do you like the 2012 chevy? I've wondered if upgrading from my 2008 with the 4-speed tranny to the 6 speed tranny would be worth the trouble. I could wait 2-3 more years and get the diesel I want or I could trade now or within a year and just get another gasser.
__________________
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3/ 3.73 Tekonsha Primus brake controller
2011 JayFeather Select 29L
Husky Centerline WDH
w/ active anti-sway
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09-07-2012, 01:06 PM
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#30
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 9
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One thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is the length of the trailer vs the length of the tv. The wheelbase of the Jeep or Durango is fairly short (in comparison to a truck). In my experience the longer the wheelbase the more comfortable to tow. There will be less sway with a longer wheelbase. Of course a high quality hitch with sway control will help but may not cure some problems. I used to tow with a '04 Durango that had all the towing goodies and sway was still an issue when a big semi would go blasting pass us. We have a '12 X213, so 21' ft trailer. Now I have a '12 Ram and man that thing is sweet, we hardly move at all. Just my $0.02...
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09-07-2012, 05:54 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 184
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JAMMFAM
Mrnoyb, how do you like the 2012 chevy? I've wondered if upgrading from my 2008 with the 4-speed tranny to the 6 speed tranny would be worth the trouble. I could wait 2-3 more years and get the diesel I want or I could trade now or within a year and just get another gasser.
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I've logged 7300 miles so far and towed the White Hawk for 3500 of those. Average fuel economy has been 12.3 MPG. So far my truck has performed flawlessly. As you might expect climbing 6-7 % grades is the only time I've ever felt having more torque would be useful. It only takes 5-10 minutes to crest most mountains and during the climbs the powertrain maintains 4500 RPM and during the summer heat the transmission temperature peaked at 225 degrees, neither of which is close to redline. I exercise patience and fall in behind the semi's. Any other time my pickup hums along at 2200 RPM with the trailer in tow.
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09-07-2012, 08:16 PM
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#32
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3
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NEED ADVICE!!!! We are currently shopping for a new travel trailer. We have been looking at numerous of trailers for around 8 months. What started as fun has turned into a nightmare. Of all the trailers we have looked at our favorite seems to be the Jayco Eagle 308rets. It has a uvw of 7660 and a hitch wgt of 990. It seems that all the trailers we have been interested in are very close in wgt. 6800-7800 lbs empty. Our biggest concern is our tv 2009 Ram 1500 5.7 3.92 rear axle. My concern is with my rear susp. being too soft. Is anyone on the forum towing a trailer of this wgt w/this truck?? Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.
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09-07-2012, 11:33 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 147
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"Weigh" to much trailer for a half ton, JMO. My trailer UVW was 5800 lbs. leaving factory and can go up to 7500 lbs. with a hitch weight of 695 lbs. But starting out at a weight of 7660 lbs. and then going up from there, man I just wouldn't feel comfortable. Good luck.
__________________
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3/ 3.73 Tekonsha Primus brake controller
2011 JayFeather Select 29L
Husky Centerline WDH
w/ active anti-sway
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09-08-2012, 08:25 AM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 626
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Not a TT but we tow a 5W Eagle HT 23.5 with a dry weigh of 5800. Got to dealer at 6500 and loaded, no water, we are up to 6800 lbs. we have a 2010 Ram 4X4 quad cab Hemi and it tows great. I don't feel like the truck is overloaded at this weight but I would not add an extra 2000 lbs. I think that wathever dry weight you see inspecs (not yellow sticker), add another 1000 lbs.
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09-08-2012, 02:11 PM
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#35
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3
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Thank you both for your replies. I guess I should have said my biggest concern is the hitch wgt. I have used the truck to pull a 28ft enclosed trailer loaded with race car, parts, motors etc and 2500lbs of tools and box that sits in the nose of the trailer. The loaded trailer weighed in at nearly 10000lbs. the 5.7 hemi had no probs. The prob was with the rear sag. I don't want to run down the road with the rear bumper on the ground and steer tires off the ground. I know there are weight dist hitches. never having used one of these hitches I can't hardly believe they can move all that much wgt. I have logged over 4 million miles in 30yrs at a gvw of 80,000lbs but not with a 1/2 ton lol. Heavy wgt is not new to me. I'm really wanting to know if I can make the truck sit close to level when pulling a trailer with a hitch wgt of 900+lbs. also we are not going to be pulling the trailer everyday. We are going to use it for work and will be sitting on locations for weeks at a time. We are wanting to purchase a trailer next week at the Dallas RV show, so please keep the comments and opinions coming. Thanks very much
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09-08-2012, 02:56 PM
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#36
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikep64
Thank you both for your replies. I guess I should have said my biggest concern is the hitch wgt. I have used the truck to pull a 28ft enclosed trailer loaded with race car, parts, motors etc and 2500lbs of tools and box that sits in the nose of the trailer. The loaded trailer weighed in at nearly 10000lbs. the 5.7 hemi had no probs. The prob was with the rear sag. I don't want to run down the road with the rear bumper on the ground and steer tires off the ground. I know there are weight dist hitches. never having used one of these hitches I can't hardly believe they can move all that much wgt. I have logged over 4 million miles in 30yrs at a gvw of 80,000lbs but not with a 1/2 ton lol. Heavy wgt is not new to me. I'm really wanting to know if I can make the truck sit close to level when pulling a trailer with a hitch wgt of 900+lbs. also we are not going to be pulling the trailer everyday. We are going to use it for work and will be sitting on locations for weeks at a time. We are wanting to purchase a trailer next week at the Dallas RV show, so please keep the comments and opinions coming. Thanks very much
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Your loaded hitch weight will likely be considerably more then the 990 dry hitch. Also all passengers and gear in the truck count against the payload which IMO is the achilles heel of the half tons, I now own both a 1500 (1400lbs payload) and a 2500 (3400+lbs payload) an there`s no comparison in the weight BEARING abilities of the two, not as much as the highly touted tow rating. I think your concerns about the soft suspension on the 1500 with that much hitch weight are well placed, I felt like I was maxed out with my combo which has a 900+ loaded hitch weight. I had to use Timbrens to supplement the rear suspension on the 1500, but still was not satisfied.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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09-09-2012, 05:47 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 626
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I use Timbrens and they work really well. Easy install and no worry or air leak or adding/removing air. Air bags will bring you back all the way up but like I said, not worry free like Timbrens. These will not add payload but will level the truck up
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09-09-2012, 08:07 AM
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#38
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3
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thanks again for the quick responses. i agree that the tembrens are worry free, but how is the ride????
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09-09-2012, 08:35 AM
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#39
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Virginia`s Eastern Shore
Posts: 17,091
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikep64
thanks again for the quick responses. i agree that the tembrens are worry free, but how is the ride????
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On mine there is a 1.5" clearance between the Timbrens and the axles when the truck is empty so the unloaded ride is unaffected.
__________________
2017 Coachmen Catalina 283RKS
2018 Ford F250 Super Duty 6.2l CCSB
2010 Jayflight 28BHS (sold)
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09-09-2012, 03:20 PM
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#40
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 626
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crabman
On mine there is a 1.5" clearance between the Timbrens and the axles when the truck is empty so the unloaded ride is unaffected.
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X2 unloaded ride is the same and loaded, ride is great not harsh at all. I cannot compare to airbags, I have never tried them.
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