Not a camper yet but looking

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 01:09 PM

Hey guys...got a 2012 Hemi express with 3.55 axles. Been looking at the flight 29QBS and the 28BHHS. Also got a good quote on a '13 whitehawk 31DSLB. The truck is rated at 8500 towing and I've read a few posts on towing. Just wondering if the payload rating would be dangerous with a larger camper? But I've got a family of 4 and don't really want a 26BH or BHS. The 'Hawk is prob my best bet at 6200 lbs. Thanks Brian

RedHorse1 · 10-13-2014, 02:57 PM

Hey Brian,
I get kinda preachy about weights, so I'll apologize first.
If the advertised weight of the TT is 6200# then that's "roughly" what it will weigh from the factory. That's an EMPTY weight, no batt, propane, water. We found on our 1st TT (X23B) we weighed about 1000# more than the yellow sticker after we put all our "stuff" in it. So you could estimate 7200# in trailer. The "ideal" tongue will be 13% of that, so about 936#. Add 75-100# for a WDH and you can expect the tongue weight will be 1036# (I try to estimate on the high side).
Next, load up the tribe, fuel up your truck and head for the CAT Scale (the CAT Scale is your friend). For about $10 it will tell you what the front and rear axles weigh. The difference between the drive (rear) axle weight and the Rear GAWR is how much additional weight you can add to the rear. If that's more than the 1036# (say 1500#) then you are good to go.

This a link to a sticky that will help you understand the Weighing process
Good luck and keep checking in.

spoon059 · 10-13-2014, 03:13 PM

The only downfall of half ton trucks is low payload. The Ram is a nice truck, but they generally have the lowest payload of half tons. Make sure you know you much available payload you will have after loading up passengers and gear. Once you know your available payload, you can start narrowing down a camper.

The 26BHS is a great trailer, I really like that floor plan, except it only has a 76" queen bed. I need a fullsize queen.

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:16 PM

Thanks for the help. Thinking the same thing. Looked at the Ram website and with 3 passengers, I'm looking at 1200 payload and 7300 towing so I should be ok. The wife and I have discussed it and we'll try to keep the weight down with paper plates and plastic forks and getting groceries at site.
Yeah I drive a truck and the current CAT scale is 10.50, so backing won't be an issue.
Not crazy about the 31DSLB bunkhouse but the quote was a good one and with the fiberglass body, it's probably too good to pass up. Just hope it's there in the spring when we plan to purchase. Thanks again, Brian

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:20 PM

Forgot too, lol, the 17 year old wants to go to Disney after graduationso we may be planning a trip to Ft Wilderness. Live in NC so it gets flat in GA. We love Gettysburg and stayed in a cabin at Gettysburg campground, but it's 7 hrs uphill to pull up there though. Bet I won't get 20 mph lol.

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:33 PM

Yeah Spoon know what ya mean. Had a '08 Tundra with 10500 towing that would be paid off but got a wild hair and got a Mazdaspeed3 (face palm).After a year and a half, you start missing having a truck. The Ram was a cheaper way to get back to a truck.

**Crabman** · 10-13-2014, 03:39 PM

Welcome to the forum! Best of luck on the trailer quest.

clubhouse · 10-13-2014, 03:41 PM

At least load up the family and weigh the truck to see how much cargo capacity you really have available.

I have the 29QBH and my tongue weight is over 1000lbs. By the time I add a lite firewood, bikes and the dog w/ crate in the truck I have well exceeded 1200#.

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:42 PM

Appreciate it, thanks. VA eastern shore is a great location. Drive up to Temperanceville a lot.

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:51 PM

We'll do it. There's a truck stop with a CAT scale about 5 miles way. Thanks

brianNC · 10-13-2014, 03:53 PM

Love the bunkhouse in the QBS, but the one I looked at was aluminum rated at 7200 dry so it's prob outta my range.

**Crabman** · 10-13-2014, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianNC

Love the bunkhouse in the QBS, but the one I looked at was aluminum rated at 7200 dry so it's prob outta my range.

Yes and the loaded for camping tongue weight of that trailer would likely be even more of a concern for your truck, it would eat up much of the payload.

cekkk · 10-14-2014, 11:56 AM

Not trying to hj, but I'm curious. All these threads about what a half-ton can handle makes me wonder why folks planning on towing don't just go with a 3/4 in the first place? Price, engine choice, ride? I know nada about half tons, so I'm really just asking.

DocBrown · 10-14-2014, 12:22 PM

Lots of things. for many of us the truck has to double as a daily driver. I have a 23 mile drive to work, so my wife gets the truck most days and I take our HHR. I can pretty much guarantee that my 1/2 ton gets better non-towing mileage than a 3/4 ton. It's all about what's realistic. Then again we don't have the needs/wants of others when it comes to camping. So my 1/2 ton is more than enough truck for my needs.

That said, even a 3/4 ton has it's own limits, so why not just opt for a 1 ton?

cekkk · 10-14-2014, 02:24 PM

Doc, "That said, even a 3/4 ton has it's own limits, so why not just opt for a 1 ton?"

I did.

Those sound like good reasons. In our county most of us drive many miles to town and use our trucks daily, but often use them for hauling and towing more than campers. Many more 3/4 and 1 tonners than half-tons in the WM lot.

I've had an F250 and it had limits, just as they all do. But it had pulled a fiver nicely (not by me, my cousin) and had the added features offered over the 150 in that era. But as I said, I'm not familiar with today's half-tons. I'd have to do a bit of research to see if there is an increased capability in towing capacity, payload, brakes, suspension, engine options, etc., as was the case a few years ago.

I'll be interested in other replies.

DocBrown · 10-14-2014, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cekkk

I'd have to do a bit of research to see if there is an increased capability in towing capacity, payload, brakes, suspension, engine options, etc., as was the case a few years ago.

There is, to a point. Weak areas are still payload and tongue weight, though my Sierra has a 1600+ payload, which is on the higher end of 1/2 ton payloads. Certainly nothing like a 3/4 ton though. If they increased those, there'd be no point to offering a 2500/250 series truck. As I see it, much of the increased towing capacity in 1/2 tons is more about marketing than real world application. That's what confuses people, they see a towing capacity of 10k# and think they can literally tow a 10k# travel trailer, without understanding all the factors involved. So they go out look at trailers, see the "dry weight" and buy a truck with a TC based on that number. Only to find out that, yes, they should have bought the 3/4 ton.

cekkk · 10-14-2014, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBrown

As I see it, much of the increased towing capacity in 1/2 tons is more about marketing than real world application. That's what confuses people, they see a towing capacity of 10k# and think they can literally tow a 10k# travel trailer, without understanding all the factors involved. So they go out look at trailers, see the "dry weight" and buy a truck with a TC based on that number. Only to find out that, yes, they should have bought the 3/4 ton.

Nice to hear that. I've seen those F150 commercials and never quite bought towing 11,300, and with a six. Hope this doesn't start a war with the half-ton guys towing space shuttles!

Nighthawk 96 · 10-14-2014, 06:04 PM

Can you pull the White Hawk, yea. Will you like to pull it with your current truck, probably not. Truck is going to work real hard with the 3.55 rear end.

Tongue weigh on my 27DSRL can get over #1000, which maxes out my payload and maybe a little more. We also use paper plates.

Good luck with your decision and

Welcome to the JOF!

RedHorse1 · 10-15-2014, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianNC

Forgot too, lol, the 17 year old wants to go to Disney after graduationso we may be planning a trip to Ft Wilderness. Live in NC so it gets flat in GA. We love Gettysburg and stayed in a cabin at Gettysburg campground, but it's 7 hrs uphill to pull up there though. Bet I won't get 20 mph lol.

The Bride and I just made the trip to Ft. Wilderness. We loved it!

uzikaduzi · 10-15-2014, 02:03 PM

i'm new to this forum but i just traded in my 267bhs because i was over my 1600 pd payload in my 5.4l f150... i was just shy of 1000 pds tongue weight (which was the limit for the factory hitch with weight distribution) and I also had 3.55 gears. It was not anywhere close to enjoyable to tow. I know we're talking 2 different trucks and 2 different trailers; however, I think my f150 is pretty similar to your dodge and the 267bhs is lighter than what you're looking at... on the other hand you see people pulling larger campers with 1/2 tons and swear they can't even tell it's there (which i call complete bs on) but i guess comfort is quite subjective... If you're comfortable almost certainly being over on payload and being 3500-4000 rpm going up hills and sill slowing, I'm sure your truck can pull it. Personally I wasn't.

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