camper question

You can easily pull 7000 lbs, I would say it depends on how far and how often you are going to be pulling it though.  If you are buying on and going to set it on a lot all summer go as big as you would like, just take a little more time getting it there and home.  If you are having to pull every weekend then go smaller.  You should be able to pull a 30 footer no problem with an equalizer hitch. Just from my experiences.

+1

01sledhead Said:
You can easily pull 7000 lbs, I would say it depends on how far and how often you are going to be pulling it though.  If you are buying on and going to set it on a lot all summer go as big as you would like, just take a little more time getting it there and home.  If you are having to pull every weekend then go smaller.  You should be able to pull a 30 footer no problem with an equalizer hitch. Just from my experiences.

All4eyes Said:
+1

01sledhead Said:
You can easily pull 7000 lbs, I would say it depends on how far and how often you are going to be pulling it though.  If you are buying on and going to set it on a lot all summer go as big as you would like, just take a little more time getting it there and home.  If you are having to pull every weekend then go smaller.  You should be able to pull a 30 footer no problem with an equalizer hitch. Just from my experiences.

+1000 and emphasis on the equalizer hitch.  It's amazing how they take weight off your truck and level everything out.  And that trailer will follow you down the road, no swaying, etc.

I have a 2010 ram 1500 with hemi, pulls my 30' and my jet ski tandemed just fine. I would say i'm ullin around 8500 or so since the camper is dry weighted at 6600.

 TT would be fine if you are never going to be pulling a boat or other trailer behind you. Otherwise, what you loose with a 5th wheel plate in the back of your short box is no big deal. Safety always comes first.

simms,
what I was referring to with the 5 1/2 foot box is the fact that you need a sliding hitch. At least that is what I was told because the camper is so close to the cab of the truck. I was also told the hitches are very expensive. That is what I meant when I said messing with a 5th wheel plate. I wont be pulling a trailer behind the camper either way. Thanks for all the info guys.

 I am not sure what a sliding hitch is. I pull a 26 ft 5th wheel behind my Ram 1500 with a shortbox and a standard 5th wheel hitch no problems. So I am not sure who told ya that. 

the shortbox on my truck is only 5 1/2 foot and the normal short box is 6 1/2 feet on extended cab chevys and i believe fords also. that extra foot is the problem because the camper is very close to the cab and will hit the cab when backing up and turning at a sharp angle from what I am told. therefore a sliding hitch is needed so that the camper will slide back when the extra room is needed. Does anybody know more about this?

I've pulled TT and then I boughta 5th wheel. I would never go back to a bumper hitch. But anyway you are correct for the 5 1/2 foot box you need to have the slider hitch. They typically run $300 to $400  more than a standard 5th wheel plate. the slider part is used when backing the camper so it won't hit the rear glass and cab.

Really, I don't have one and have never had an issue. I have never heard of them and I guess I don't understand how the work and what their purpose is. Better google i guess. I aint gonna go buy one cause I have gone 3 years without one and have never hit my cab. I can still pivot on the inside wheels when I turn. 

jakecamper Said:
I've pulled TT and then I boughta 5th wheel. I would never go back to a bumper hitch. But anyway you are correct for the 5 1/2 foot box you need to have the slider hitch. They typically run $300 to $400  more than a standard 5th wheel plate. the slider part is used when backing the camper so it won't hit the rear glass and cab.

 Maybe I have the 6.5 foot box? I thought it was as small as they come.

 Googled them, way above my pay grade. And $500 up for a new one. Thats crazy. But if i was getting a loan for the camper, I would go with the 5th wheel and include it or work it into the deal.

I pull a 26 foot 5th wheel camper with my 05 chevy 1/2 ton. the box is barely 5 1/2 feet. The dealer wouldnt mount my plate because of liability reasons. I took it home and mounted it myself and have no problem pulling at whatever speed i want. Just have to be carefull when backing, and watch what your doing. It will crunch the back of the cab if your not careful. Ive pulled tt before and this is the way to go.

I wrestled with this problem a number of years ago.  I had a Ford Expedition with a 5.4.  I wanted to buy a 28 foot travel trailer.  According to the specs, it was too heavy for what the Expedition was rated for by a couple of hundred pounds.  Everybody I talked to said it should handle it with no problems.  I wasn't sure what to do so I asked the dealer if I could pull the camper to see how it pulled.  I'm glad I did because it really did feel too heavy to pull, and that was dry weight.  Your Chevy probably pulls better than my Expedition but you may want to see if you can pull the camper for a few miles to see what it feels like.  It may change your mind.  Find out how much the camper weighs, add at least 500 pounds and see if its over 7000 pounds.  I'm certainly no expert in vehicles but if it exceeds the towing capacity, I would go with something lighter.

I wish I wouldn't have bought a durango for this reason. I want to buy a camper, but what the hell to pull it with. I think the durango rated for somthing like 4000

SUV's are typically poor tow vehicles with the exception of some of the suburbans and of course the excursion. The suspension on most is set up for a soft ride, most have P rated tires, and usually a shorter wheel base, all poor attributes for towing!

I'm not gonna play weight police here but add atleast 1,500lbs to the dry weight of the camper! Keep in mind that you need to add water (40 gals= 330lbs), propane (50lbs), battery (100lbs),  clothing, food, dishes, coolers, gear ect ect ect. Then, after all of that don't forget to add yourself and other occupants and stuff you might put in the truck such as firewood or fishing gear. It all adds up! I've owned three campers and have weighed all three of them dry and loaded, mine have all had about a 2,000lb difference between the loaded and dry weight. My boat camper and truck (the train as I call it) together weigh in the nieghborhood of 22,000 lbs!

For my three campers the weight is as follows:

1987 25B Wilderness by Fleetwood (no slides, no AC, no extras) - 5,200 lbs dry / 6,700 lbs wet

1998 Wildwood 26FLS (Small slide, AC, awning ect.) - 7,000 lbs dry / 9,000 lbs wet

2005 Cherrokee 285B+ (2 slides, AC, Awning) - 9,300 lbs dry / 11,500 lbs wet

The first two were travel trailers and the last is a fifthwheel, the fifth wheel is considered 29 ft interior space and is more than what is comfortable behind a 1/2 ton. Yes, a 1/2 ton will get it to and from the lake, with a pair a white knuckles to go along with it! The 98' 26fls would be where I would draw the line on a 1/2 ton, for power and weight reasons. To each your own, these are my findings when it comes to campers.