For the RV people

After years of tent camping with a couple pop-ups thrown in the mix, we finally bought a travel trailer. Took it out last weekend for the maiden voyage and it went pretty smoothly compared to some of the travel trauma we've heard about. It's not a huge trailer, a 24 foot box and approx. 28 ft from hitch to bumper. On the 10 mile trip home the day day we bought it, we knew right away that we needed a beefier set up, so we had a weight distribution hitch put on and sway bar. We've got plenty of power to pull it, but we're a little disappointed by how much it squats the truck, which is a Dodge Ram 4X4, so now we're contemplating air bags too. Would appreciate any input from other camper pullers.

Thumbs UpCongrats on your upgrade. Yes, there will be changes and new experiences. But,
once you get everything equal with your expectations, you will be a happy camper.
For a time you will wonder, will the expenses ever quit? Depends on your expectations.
After a few trips, you'll be glad for the upgrades. Nice lookin' camper. Enjoy.

Yes on bags ,, nice camper enjoy

:popcornJust a note. The instruction books that came with the camper are key to knowledge
of the workings of your camper. Important things to learn about are the black holding tank,
anode in the hot water heater and how to prep for freezin' weather. Years of experience
can be costly or cheap, depending on your knowledge of what you purchased. Take care
of it and it will take care of you. Nuff said.

Nice rig! If you ever make it to the south-eastern part of the state, check-out Chester Frost Park, very well-kept, nice folks, and right on the Tennessee River.

Chester Frost looks nice, we'll put that one our list for sure. Luckily, the prior owners had all of the original paperwork and also made some notes with tips for us. We did some studying before we took it out, especially on dumping the tanks. Next trip is Pickwick in 2 weeks. Hope to have the air bags installed by then.

Nice set-up. WE are contiplating an RV. Well I should say, IF I want my wife to go camping I need to buy the Hilton on wheels. My biggest concern is towing a boat and camper with one vehicle.

Vonna & Paul, very nice camper. Now you have room for Billbob..:yikes:yikes

Nice camper......Best advise that I can give is get everything you need in the camper and leave it there.....I try to keep mine loaded so that all i have to add for a trip is clothes and grub. You will enjoy it.......

Air bags are nice and really help with keeping your steering good on the road. Get the pump and remote control/indicator so you can adjust on the road.

Nice upgrade, its going to be very nice

Thats a great looking one, congrats......we just upgraded our selves....ours is a 20ft travel trailer....nothing to special but we are excited....any one have any hint on keeping mice etc out while its put up?.....we pick it up saturday....all I have is the dealers photo for now...... http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...uyjames/rv.jpg

That's sharp! I know you can't wait to try it out. We had ours for a month before we were able to get away and try it out. You can stuff steel wool into any small openings - mice won't chew on it.

We've been doing some online research about the airbags. Seems that not all the vendors have come out with aftermarket products for our 09 Ram yet. We did find one that looks like it will fit the bill and is specific for the 09 Ram coil spring suspension. Since we checked on the RV dealer installing air bags and he shot us a price of $1200 for the automatic and $750 for the manual, we're thinking that we may do it ourselves. We can get the automatic setup for less than 1/2 their quote.

Hey Billbob - do you want the sofa or do you want to share the dinette with the dogs? :) :)

My wife and I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Same size too. I found my 03 Chev 1/2 ton was too light. The newer Chev 1/2 tons are actually 5/8 tons that is what we have now. I don't know why they still call them 1/2 tons. You mentioned your gear as "equalizers and Sway bars". The dealer I bought our camper from recomended hokking them in the 2nd link. I found things were more level in the 3rd. I pull my 16' Tracker behind our camper. I have had no problems yet. The dealers scrooch up their necks when they see the hitch on the bumper of the trailer. I don't know if I could get away with it with a bigger boat. This is by far the best toy i have ever owned. ENJOY
I don't know if I would trust BillBob sleeping around my dogs!!
DP

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Originally Posted by DRPEPPER

My wife and I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Same size too. I found my 03 Chev 1/2 ton was too light. The newer Chev 1/2 tons are actually 5/8 tons that is what we have now. I don't know why they still call them 1/2 tons. You mentioned your gear as "equalizers and Sway bars". The dealer I bought our camper from recomended hokking them in the 2nd link. I found things were more level in the 3rd. I pull my 16' Tracker behind our camper. I have had no problems yet. The dealers scrooch up their necks when they see the hitch on the bumper of the trailer. I don't know if I could get away with it with a bigger boat. This is by far the best toy i have ever owned. ENJOY
I don't know if I would trust BillBob sleeping around my dogs!!
DP

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RoflRoflRofl

A little hint about "black streaks" on campers. Was by an RV dealer one day as he was cleaning a camper and he was using Awesome, its a yellow spray cleaner you get at Dollar General. He said don't leave it on paint in the sun too long or it would take it off. Good stuff and cheap, can get it in refill bottles too.

I don't know if I would trust BillBob sleeping around my dogs!!
DP

X2

I assume you have verified that it is legal to double haul a boat behind a trailer in your state. It is not in SC, unless it is a 5th wheel which DOT considers one unit (the truck and the 5th wheel).
Just FYI in case you travel in other states.
SeaRay

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Originally Posted by jeepguyjames

any one have any hint on keeping mice etc out while its put up?

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Remove ALL food, and sweep (vac) all crumbs, I've heard everything from mothballs to dryer sheets (in/around the camper), as well as stuffing steel wool in any openings (vents/etc). Congrats on the purchase BTW, Nice! Hope you get much enjoyment from it.

I just added a hitch receiver to the back of dads 16' TT so he can pull his boat behind it. He used to do this every year he went to Florida. I think he may have had to bypass a State which didn't allow it however. I used to do it as well with my enclosed cargo "stealth" camper.

:popcornIf the camper will be stored for any period of time, without cover, don't forget to cover your tires. Dry rot is expensive.

Very nice rig there Ms. Crappie Stalker. If you do get the air bags make sure they are set up independantly of each other. If not when you turn or go ever uneven roads it will still allow you to lean as the pressure moves from side to side. If you ever thinking of coming to Florida pm me and I can give you feed back on the many campgrounds I have stayed at in Florida. Good luck and enjoy the adventures. Oh and no tandem towing in Florida either.

Air bags will work, but theres something else also. Check them out Torklift.com | Home of Torklift International I have air bags on my truck for our Truck camper. But also Adding Rancho RS9000 Shocks was the best thing I did. Caught them on sale for around $44. each

We also bought a new camper Friday. Not a small one but a camper. 5th wheel 40 ft long.

Attachment 93500Attachment 93501Attachment 93502


Also be careful towing the boat behind that one. In Tn It has to be a 5th wheel unit. But you see a lot of them towing with even popup's. You should have bought our Truck camper. Then no issues with towing the boat.
Also be sure to have someone weld a hitch to the frame don't use one of those bolt on the back bumper deals hate to see that War-Eagle pass you. Good luck.

Not sure if I will out a hitch on the back of this one. But then again it will be under 80ft long LOL

No, no, no -- We're not towing the boat behind the camper. Someone posted that as a response to another post. Neither of us is comfortable with that setup at all. We'll be taking 2 trucks everywhere we go from here on out.

That's one purty camper ya got there Red!

Attachment 93508up graded to this from a 1978 Dodge class c . for short trips pulling a boat is ok behind a traylor like others have said some states don`t alow it Ga does.


stil have the 78 dodge for sale

Attachment 93509onley 55000 miles new interior and awning

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Originally Posted by Mrs. Crappie Stalker

No, no, no -- We're not towing the boat behind the camper. Someone posted that as a response to another post. Neither of us is comfortable with that setup at all. We'll be taking 2 trucks everywhere we go from here on out.

That's one purty camper ya got there Red!

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Thanks the Pretty part of this one was free. We found the deal of a lifetime in it.

Pete

Ga. has a length limit i think 60 or 65 Ft. the amount of traylors don`t matter . this is the last time i checked

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Originally Posted by papasage

Ga. has a length limit i think 60 or 65 Ft. the amount of traylors don`t matter . this is the last time i checked

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In Tn its 65ft and 5th wheel unit can only be 36ft. Ours is 40ft 6" but don't think they would check it being the boat and trailer is only an extra 20ft.

all charges were DROP :biggrin :biggrin

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

Nice set-up. WE are contiplating an RV. Well I should say, IF I want my wife to go camping I need to buy the Hilton on wheels. My biggest concern is towing a boat and camper with one vehicle.

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We got ours for sale if you want a really nice clean RV. Price negotiable.


Used 2001 Winnebago Adventurer for Sale | RVRegistry.com

SeaRay

Carefull with them bed slide in campers. I spent 3 hours Monday night helping my neighbor get his off the fence and in teh back of his truck. Not sure how it happened, however one of the front posts gave way, caused the other front post to give way. If it wasn't for his fence it would have landed on the ground. Fortunately the wife and I noticed his delima as we left the house for a shopping excursion. I stopped and offered a hand, he is 70'ish and was going to attempt it himself with a bottle jack. We ended up using his engine hoist, my engine hoist, my 7000 pound floor jack, a dozen or so cinder blocks, and a pile of lumber. We managed to get the camper stable, then off the fence, then high enough to get his truck under, in the bed so he could more it away from the fence, and then lifted it up one last time so he could get it in the bed. Which is where is sits today. Last I knew the insurance company was coming by today to give it the once over. His wife talked him into selling the 5th wheel and getting the slide in. This convinced her to sell the slidein and buy the 5th wheel again. Turns out the front leg that gave way, wood rot around the anchor bolts.

You all have some awesome looking campers!

How much different is it to dual tow than single towing?
Will that second trailer track the same path as the first?

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

How much different is it to dual tow than single towing?
Will that second trailer track the same path as the first?

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I "dual tow" with a bumper pull. It took a little getting used to being so long back there. I don't like being able to monitor the second trailer. I can't see it unless I am turning. As far as tracking, I have never had a problem. Mrs DP and I want a 5th wheel. Monkey Wrench has a horror story of pulling his boat behind his 5th wheel. But, I have had no problems. My fuel milage seems to be the same with two as it is with one.
DP

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Originally Posted by billbob

all charges were DROP :biggrin :biggrin

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:yikesRofl

I have a 22' that I pull with my 1/2 ton and use a Weight - Distributing Hitch. Pulls very well and very easy to use. You don't have to add anything to your truck with these.
Adjustable Trunnion Weight Distributing Hitch - 1200 lb Tongue Weight - Camco RV 48003 - Hitches & Hitch Bars - Camping World

It may be sheer coincidence, but a couple weeks after our first trip with the camper, a seal failed in the rear end of the truck (which we got repaired with 250 miles left on the warranty, yay!) and the truck now sits almost a full inch lower (unloaded and unhooked) than if did before. We've been doing a ton of research over the past couple weeks, gathered a lot of information and made some decisions. When you enter your truck info on the Dodge website, it says we should have an 8400 lb towing capacity. After more digging on other sources, we found out that's only with 17" wheels and 3.92 gears. Our truck came with 20" wheels and 3.55 gears, which significantly reduced towing capacity to 7,000 lbs. The dry weight of the camper is 5100 lbs. Adding in weight of LP gas and just a 1/2 tank of fresh water, along with supplies and gear puts us too close for comfort. So, this truck is now officially dedicated to boat towing only. We're picking up our "new to us" truck tomorrow. 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with a 5.9L Cummins. No worries about towing with 13,000 lb towing capacity! We debated this back and forth and it may sound like overkill now, but it's probable that we'll upgrade campers in a few years and this truck should be able to handle anything we throw at it. Now we can finally get down to having some fun!


Just a side note: our 09 truck is the first year they came out with the coil spring rear suspension. Evidently it's been an issue because the 2013 model has the option of an integrated air suspension with 5 height settings for leveling the ride when loaded.

.....and so the cycle continues. Me and Mrs DP are considering the same thing. Our first truck was too small for our current camper. Now we want a bigger camper; which our current truck will be too small for. I guess it will stop when the money runs out. But, it is fun!!
DP

Well, we're getting closer. Didn't get the truck picked up till yesterday - part of the deal was they had to replace the front windshield and it took some extra time. But it's finally home. Now, Paul's gotta work OT this Saturday and Sunday, 10 hr days all next week, except for the 4th, and the following weekend too. Don't get to test out the new combo til at least the 13th of July. The goal is to be camping every weekend this fall!!!

get a ford f250 with a v10, i have one and it will pull a house off it's foundation. Less maintenence than a diesel and the fuel mileage ain't as bad as you would think.

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Originally Posted by Hanr3

Nice set-up. WE are contiplating an RV. Well I should say, IF I want my wife to go camping I need to buy the Hilton on wheels. My biggest concern is towing a boat and camper with one vehicle.

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that dodge 5.9 is a fine vehicle. i travel for a living and pull/haul large and heavy loads. my previous work truck was a '06 dodge with the 5.9. i put almost 500,000 miles on it, the only trouble i had was the transmission, which went out at 250K. The cummins motor is almost bullet proof, just keep the fuel and air filters serviced and it should last a long time. By the way, you must have gotten lucky or knew someone who was ready to sell because those trucks are hard to find.

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Originally Posted by Mrs. Crappie Stalker

It may be sheer coincidence, but a couple weeks after our first trip with the camper, a seal failed in the rear end of the truck (which we got repaired with 250 miles left on the warranty, yay!) and the truck now sits almost a full inch lower (unloaded and unhooked) than if did before. We've been doing a ton of research over the past couple weeks, gathered a lot of information and made some decisions. When you enter your truck info on the Dodge website, it says we should have an 8400 lb towing capacity. After more digging on other sources, we found out that's only with 17" wheels and 3.92 gears. Our truck came with 20" wheels and 3.55 gears, which significantly reduced towing capacity to 7,000 lbs. The dry weight of the camper is 5100 lbs. Adding in weight of LP gas and just a 1/2 tank of fresh water, along with supplies and gear puts us too close for comfort. So, this truck is now officially dedicated to boat towing only. We're picking up our "new to us" truck tomorrow. 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 with a 5.9L Cummins. No worries about towing with 13,000 lb towing capacity! We debated this back and forth and it may sound like overkill now, but it's probable that we'll upgrade campers in a few years and this truck should be able to handle anything we throw at it. Now we can finally get down to having some fun!


Just a side note: our 09 truck is the first year they came out with the coil spring rear suspension. Evidently it's been an issue because the 2013 model has the option of an integrated air suspension with 5 height settings for leveling the ride when loaded.

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Originally Posted by feeshrman

By the way, you must have gotten lucky or knew someone who was ready to sell because those trucks are hard to find.

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Luck and a little "right place, right time" thrown in, which is just not normal for us :) We've been doing a lot of research, so when we decided to bite the bullet and upgrade trucks, we were specifically looking for an 05 or 06 with the 5.9. Paul and I were both wearing out all of the auto search sites and craigslist and all the dealers within 100 miles. We had just about decided to go with an 05 that needed a little tweaking (new tires and exhaust) when this one popped up. I had just been on this dealer's website the day before and it wasn't there. It was a one owner trade in with 95k miles. We definitely plan on taking very good care of it and hopefully it will last as long as so many of the others we've heard about. Another c.commer and good friend, Roybuoy and his son run 3 trucks with this same engine and each one has 500k + miles.

Took our 1st trip in the camper....drove 4 hours north to lake erie....weight distribution and sway bar hitch made the drive smooth sailing.....enjoying the camper a ton....pulled good with the truck.....fishing has been good also....... Link to fishing report below.....http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...705_101013.jpg
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/ohio/...-big-pond.html .........have a great wk end all, God bless.