Websites for Finding a TT

[Buckshotiii]

Hi Guys,
I'm new here and have a question...does anyone know of a website were I can search all manufacturers' models at one time (not all by one manufacturer but all TT by all manufacturers)?  I know some sites let you search certain manufacturers (basically only those that the particular dealer sells) but with so many manufacturers and so many models, my brain is turning to mush.  Just when I think I have found one I like I see another from another manufacturer that I didn't know existed. 

Fortunately, I live in Northwest Indiana and there are at least 6 major dealership within an hour and a half drive so I intend to go and walk through a number of them before I would buy.  I would just like to be able to narrow my search without traveling all over the place.  Basically, I'm looking for a TT that will sleep 6-8+ with a budget of up to $20,000.  I would love to have at least 1 slide out to give plenty of elbow room and large bunk beds.  I've looked at Skyline's models and like several.

I have a 2012 Ford Expedition 4x4 XLT.  Based upon what I can figure, the heaviest TT I can safely pull is something about 6000 lbs GVWR (but would like to stay closer to 5000 lbs).  I know I need a weight distributing hitch to tow that large of a TT.  Specs for the Expedition are 7500 lbs GVWR, 15000 GCWR, 8900 max tow capacity, 57781 GVW, 4250 RGAWR, and 2809 RGAW.

One specific question I have is if I find a TT whose dry weight is below the 6000 lbs tow capacity but its GVWR is over the 6000 lbs tow capacity, as long as I don't exceed the 6000 lbs tow capacity by loading the TT with supplies, liquids, etc., is that safe?  My concern is finding a TT that is below 6000 lbs GVWR that would still be able to handle the extra weight of at least 6+ people sleeping in it plus liquids and supplies.  Like I said, this would be my first TT purchase so I'm a little green and don't feel comfortable relying on a salesperson's opinion.

Any information would be appreciated!!!  I apologize if I might be confusing terms or what I'm talking about!  Thanks everyone.

Joe

 

[Gerry R]

What you are asking is quite a can of worms but I have a few thoughts and I know others more knowledgeable than I will chime in. First NEVER use dry weight for anything because they are heavier when they leave the factory by usually hundreds of pounds. Instead use gross weight because after a few seasons camping you will be amazed how much ''stuff'' you load not even considering things like fresh water, canned goods, fuel, wood for camp fires and on and on. To answer your first thought on where to look, most areas have RV shows once or twice a year and I would suggest that as a start. Also in my opinion you should first find the maximum weight your truck can carry on its rear axle and look for a RV that carries 12-15% of its ''gross weight'' on the tongue. So after weighing your truck's rear axle with a full tank of fuel, all the gear you plan on carrying and all the people going, subtract that weight from the gross rear axle weight allowed you will know how heavy your RVs tongue weight can be to tow safely with a weight distributing hitch. If that sounds intimidating it must be done to tow safely, which I hope you'd agree. With all that said I would either downsize your trailer size a bit or upgrade to a bigger (read heavier like 3/4 ton) truck. Also NEVER NEVER NEVER believe an RV salesman about whether your truck is capable of pulling the RV he is trying to sell, do the homework and figure it out. It's not rocket science. Good luck and happy camping. Also I might suggest that after deciding what you want a used unit will be much more affordable than a new one. We started with a used toy hauler then after two seasons upgraded to a larger used TH and both proved to be good units.

 

[warsw]

Go to your local book store and get a RV Buyers Guide. It will list most of the manufactures RVs and all of their specs.

 

[Buckshotiii]

Thanks for the info Gerry R.  Safety is key and I will not sacrifice my family's safety by trying to squeeze by with a larger trailer.  I'm not going to be getting a larger vehicle anytime soon, so I'll just have to adjust the trailer size.

With regard to the weight of the trailer, are you suggesting weighing the trailer at the dealership (assuming the dealership has a scale) or is checking the certification that comes on the trailer sufficient?  Either way, I guess if I stick with a trailer whose GVWR is under my safe towing capacity and whose tongue weight is also within safe parameters, I should be good to go as well, right?  Sorry for being a pain 

Joe

 

[Frizlefrak]

  Either way, I guess if I stick with a trailer whose GVWR is under my safe towing capacity and whose tongue weight is also within safe parameters, I should be good to go as well, right?  Sorry for being a pain 

Joe

Yes.  Assuming you don't overload the trailer.  Load it with boxes of concrete, and all bets are off. 

If you are concerned, load it as you would on a normal trip and put it on a scale.  Will put your mind at ease.

 

[Carl L]

Thanks for the info Gerry R.  Safety is key and I will not sacrifice my family's safety by trying to squeeze by with a larger trailer.  I'm not going to be getting a larger vehicle anytime soon, so I'll just have to adjust the trailer size.

With regard to the weight of the trailer, are you suggesting weighing the trailer at the dealership (assuming the dealership has a scale) or is checking the certification that comes on the trailer sufficient?  Either way, I guess if I stick with a trailer whose GVWR is under my safe towing capacity and whose tongue weight is also within safe parameters, I should be good to go as well, right?  Sorry for being a pain 

Joe

We generally recommend using the trailer Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) in estimating towability. [GVWR = shipping weight + cargo carrying capacity].  It is a number you can easily find in mfr spec sheets.  Trailer GVWR is also found on a unit's DOT plate on the left outside wall toward the front.

You list the Expy's tow rating as 8900 lbs.  Working with that number, discount that tow rating by 10% for truck loads beyond a 154-lb driver and fuel.  [With 5 passengers in an SUV, you are pretty well going to need that discount. : ]  That would bring that tow rating down to 8000 lbs .  Look for trailers with a GVWR of less than that 8000 lbs.

If you would travel in the Rockies and the west, altitude is going to bite on your power at the rate of 3% rated HP per 1000 feet altitude.  Allow an additional 10% for that out in the west which brings your tow rating down to 7100 lbs and your maximum trailer GVWR  to 7100 lbs.

Tongue weight is not usually an issue with travel trailers.  Travel trailers use weight distributing hitches to distribute the tongue weight of the trailer equally between the tow vehicle axles.  The tongue weight will be about 11-15% of the trailer weight.  Thus your 8000 lb trailer GVWR will load only about 960 lbs on your hitch or 480 lbs on each axle (12% of 8000 lbs).  Fifth wheel trailers are an entirely different matter but you are not going there, so neither will I.  8)

OK, so stick with 8000 lb or lighter trailer GVWRs on the flat country -- 7100 lbs or lighter out in the mountain and Pacific west -- and you should be cool.  Or as cool as six people in a travel trailer can get cool. 

 

[Buckshotiii]

Thanks everybody for all the info.  This process is both exciting and enlightening!

Joe

 

[Frizlefrak]

Thanks everybody for all the info.  This process is both exciting and enlightening!

Joe

It's exciting as in fun if you do the research before you buy the trailer.  It's exciting (and not so fun) if you find out the hard way after you buy the trailer.  ;D

 

[muskoka guy]

you mentioned having to get a hitch. if your vehicle is not equipped with a tow package you might want to consider a transmition cooler installed as well. i order all my trucks with a tow package and i know it includes a tranny cooler. the experts here might have some other recommendations as to what else might be included in a normal tow package, possibly an electric brake controller.

 

[Buckshotiii]

Muskoka guy, I have the standard hitch setup (comes with a 4 pin but not 100% sure of trans cooler), not the heavy tow package (which is 7 pin with heavy duty radiator and trans cooler), and is not weight distributing.  Obviously, I'll get one installed if/when I get a TT.  We had a horse trailer when I was younger and we needed the electric brake, so I'm familiar with those.  It was funny the first time you stepped on the brakes if you forgot to readjust it after the horse was out of the trailer.  In any event, I'll definitely buy the next vehicle with the heavy tow package factory installed.

Carl L, I reread your reply and was a little confused at first.  However, I did a little more research and realized I had the wrong max tongue weight per vehicle specs.  The Expedition, with a weight distributing hitch, has a max tongue weight of 1,335 lbs (not the 890 lbs I thought).  Once I reran the numbers with the correct max tongue weight, I get numbers very close to what you suggested.  You appear to know what you are talking about

Frizlefrak, that is exactly why I am asking these questions here!!!

Thanks again very much for the insight.

Joe

 

[Gerry R]

Sorry for being a pain 

Joe
No you are not a pain because you only ask questions that most of us have asked that want to tow safe. That's why there are forums IMO.
Gerry