VanDrunken
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2010
- Posts
- 8
Last year, my wife and I bought our first RV and we love it. It is a Jayco 19H, and it's dry weight is 3600 lbs. We tow this trailer with a Mercedes-Benz ML500 (V8 SUV) that is rated at a towing capacity of 5500 lbs. Since this is the first rig I have ever towed I wanted to make sure it was something I could easily handle and learn at the same time. Needless to say, the first time i backed it up was interesting. I have since learned a lot and can back this puppy up with my eyes closed.
When I bought the trailer, I was fortunate enough to buy a hitch, weight dist, and sway bar that was basically used only once at a good price. The weakest point on the hitch was rated at 14,000 lbs. and was WAY overkill but I figured that I may be towing something bigger down the road and the price was right. The ML500 tows this trailer like it isn't even there. I can make it up steep inclines (10-14 degrees) and still maintain a 90km/hr speed, not that I do that all the time but it is possible.
So, since my wife and I love RVing so much, we were talking about upgrading our trailer, which got us talking about the life expectancy of the ML which is a 2002, which got us looking at a new tow vehicle. Long story short, I am planning on getting a new truck next summer, and a new 5th wheel the following spring.
---------------
Tow Vehicle
---------------
Ford F-150 Platinum
4x4
SuperCrew
5.5' Box
Max Tow Package (Increases towing rating to 11,300 lbs.)
---------------
5th Wheel
---------------
Jayco 31.5RLDS - http://www.jayco.com/php/products/floorplans.php?id=207&mod_id=1148
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs.) 8,900
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs.) 2,120
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs.) 11,400
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs.) 2,500
Since this is my first 5th wheel, I have many questions:
1. Jayco offers the Reese Revolution hitch for use with short boxes. Does anyone here have one and what are your thoughts? Also, what is your experience with towing with a short box? Why might I consider getting 6.5" box over the 5.5'?
2. Towing capacity of the truck is 11,300, trailer weighs 8,900 dry. When towing, trailer tanks will be empty and it is only myself and my wife (for now). Do you feel I have allowed myself enough headroom to carry my cargo, and still have a safe amount of power to tow this trailer?
3. What about tongue weight of the trailer? How do I know if the trailer will be too heavy for the truck? This one has me a bit confused.
4. Any other suggestions that you think a new-to-5th-wheeling camper might want to consider?
Thanks for your time!
When I bought the trailer, I was fortunate enough to buy a hitch, weight dist, and sway bar that was basically used only once at a good price. The weakest point on the hitch was rated at 14,000 lbs. and was WAY overkill but I figured that I may be towing something bigger down the road and the price was right. The ML500 tows this trailer like it isn't even there. I can make it up steep inclines (10-14 degrees) and still maintain a 90km/hr speed, not that I do that all the time but it is possible.
So, since my wife and I love RVing so much, we were talking about upgrading our trailer, which got us talking about the life expectancy of the ML which is a 2002, which got us looking at a new tow vehicle. Long story short, I am planning on getting a new truck next summer, and a new 5th wheel the following spring.
---------------
Tow Vehicle
---------------
Ford F-150 Platinum
4x4
SuperCrew
5.5' Box
Max Tow Package (Increases towing rating to 11,300 lbs.)
---------------
5th Wheel
---------------
Jayco 31.5RLDS - http://www.jayco.com/php/products/floorplans.php?id=207&mod_id=1148
Unloaded Vehicle Weight (lbs.) 8,900
Dry Hitch Weight (lbs.) 2,120
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (lbs.) 11,400
Cargo Carrying Capacity (lbs.) 2,500
Since this is my first 5th wheel, I have many questions:
1. Jayco offers the Reese Revolution hitch for use with short boxes. Does anyone here have one and what are your thoughts? Also, what is your experience with towing with a short box? Why might I consider getting 6.5" box over the 5.5'?
2. Towing capacity of the truck is 11,300, trailer weighs 8,900 dry. When towing, trailer tanks will be empty and it is only myself and my wife (for now). Do you feel I have allowed myself enough headroom to carry my cargo, and still have a safe amount of power to tow this trailer?
3. What about tongue weight of the trailer? How do I know if the trailer will be too heavy for the truck? This one has me a bit confused.
4. Any other suggestions that you think a new-to-5th-wheeling camper might want to consider?
Thanks for your time!