We put a down payment on a new Starcraft trailer. Weight of 6500lbs. We plan to tow it twice a year to a seasonal spot and back with a 2005 Durango. The Hemi AWD with 3.92 gears is rated for 8700lbs, which shouldn't be an issue. We have shore power and city water on site, so I will likely just take out the batteries from the rig and leave it dry. Unlike our MH, we will never dry camp with this one. The only thing we plan to add to it is blankets, a few pots and pans, a dorm fridge in the basement and an ice maker (probably only 200lbs worth of stuff when all is said and done). The dealer is also including a WD hitch, which I realize are fairly heavy, but I will still be quite a bit under the tow rating.
The RV dealer was skeptical, but I am pretty confident in the weight vs the rating.
My main concern is that I just replaced the bumper with a like new one from a 2008 since the old one rusted out. I added some drain holes and caps to reduce moisture inside the bumper frame, which is how the old one rusted to begin with. But since the 2008 7 -pin connector has a different housing than the 2005, I need to rewire the 7-pin connector and I might as well add a brake controller.
Anybody have any recommendations? I am looking at a Reese or Curt. Should I stick with analog or is there any benefit to a digital brake controller?
Also, there should be a connector under the dash already since this had the factory tow package, but I still need to look inside to find it and check the wiring to make sure it is large enough.
As I recall, the factory connector only had 16AWG wires to all of the 7-pin pins, so I will beef that up to 8AWG since I have that laying around rather than buying a new spool of 10AWG.
Should I be looking at anything else? I do have a PS cooler and Trans cooler already installed from factory (also as part of the tow package)
The RV dealer was skeptical, but I am pretty confident in the weight vs the rating.
My main concern is that I just replaced the bumper with a like new one from a 2008 since the old one rusted out. I added some drain holes and caps to reduce moisture inside the bumper frame, which is how the old one rusted to begin with. But since the 2008 7 -pin connector has a different housing than the 2005, I need to rewire the 7-pin connector and I might as well add a brake controller.
Anybody have any recommendations? I am looking at a Reese or Curt. Should I stick with analog or is there any benefit to a digital brake controller?
Also, there should be a connector under the dash already since this had the factory tow package, but I still need to look inside to find it and check the wiring to make sure it is large enough.
As I recall, the factory connector only had 16AWG wires to all of the 7-pin pins, so I will beef that up to 8AWG since I have that laying around rather than buying a new spool of 10AWG.
Should I be looking at anything else? I do have a PS cooler and Trans cooler already installed from factory (also as part of the tow package)
