guinness1
Michigan
Full Member
Joined: 09/19/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Online
|
I am looking to upgrade my Fleetwood Niagara PUP to a TT. I have only just begun looking at TT's, but one model that has caught our attention is the 281BHS from Bullet (Keystone). My TV is a '06 Dodge Durango 5.7l Hemi with 3.55 axle ratio. The numbers on the truck are: GCWR=12500 , GVWR=6750 , GAWRF=3600 , GAWRR=3900. The TT is listed (in catalog) as 5060 dry and a carrying capacity of 2480. The dry hitch weight on the TT is 540. How can I determine if this would be a safe setup or not? I looked into changing the axle ratio to 3.92 which would change some of the TV numbers. I am so confused. I wish it would be so simple as "This TT - yes, this TT - no". Thanks in advance for any and all responses.
|
Bumpyroad
Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 12/01/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
what does your truck actually weigh? if the TT weighs 5060 dry it will weigh 6060 wet with some stuff, leaving you 12,500 - 6060 =6440 for the truck wt with load/passengers,etc. could really skimp on loading the TT.
many other issues but this is a start.
bumpy
* This post was
edited 07/28/10 02:29pm by Bumpyroad *
|
Revo-Ray
Tampa, Florida
Senior Member
Joined: 02/22/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Also take into consideration your wheelbase (119") towing a 31' trailer.
Someone else had this link, its a good rule of thumb.
Wheelbase and Length
2007 Chevy Silverado 5.3 Crew Z85 Suspension Z82 Tow Package
Plus all the Hitch, Sway and Brake Goodies
2010 Dutchmen Aerolite 29RL-SL
1986 Coleman Newport Pop Up
1 Very Beautiful Wife
1 Boy 17
1 Girl 13
1 Travel Ready Spoiled Boston Terrier
|
JFG
TN
Senior Member
Joined: 07/01/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Your D with the hemi and 3.55 is rated for 7200 lbs max... I think you should consider a bigger truck or smaller trailer.
Fred
|
LAdams
Northern Illinois
Moderator
Joined: 10/06/2000
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
You might try searching on "can I tow this" and see what the responses are...
To start, add all the weights of your family and then the tongue weight of of the trailer loaded... figure 13% - 15% of the loaded TT weight per Bumpy's answer... If the loaded TT weight is #6060 per Bumpy's post then tongue weight would be about #787 for 13% and #909 for 15%... Add your families weights to the TT tongue weight and then add these to the D's ACTUAL weight when loaded with fuel and all cargo you might carry in the D... If your under the Durango's GVWR rating and GCWR rating (figuring #6060 for TT weight) you should be able to tow it...
All that said, I think the TT in question might be a little too much for the Durango and it's 3:55 rear axle and 119" wheelbase...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
|
|
|
Jimehc
Taylorsville, Kentucky
Senior Member
Joined: 07/01/2010
View Profile
|
Your GVWR for the truck is 6750 and the trailer GVWR is 7520
These two values do exceed the GCVR rating of 12,500
C/P
A vehicle's GCWR is a specific weight determined by the manufacturer to be the maximum weight of a loaded tow vehicle and its attached loaded trailer. The total weight of the tow vehicle and trailer should never exceed the manufacturer's listed GCWR
|
Terryallan
Foothills NC
Senior Member
Joined: 06/28/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Revo-Ray wrote:Also take into consideration your wheelbase (119") towing a 31' trailer.
Someone else had this link, its a good rule of thumb.
Wheelbase and Length
The lengths to WB listed, are pretty much wrong. and not really a good rule of thumb. There is NO relable WB to trailer length formula.
The best rule of thumb, well just rule. stay inside the factory recomended weights, and you will be good. By the time the trailer gets too long. You will be over weight.
I believe the OP will be over weight by the time he loads the TV, and hooks the dry TT to the TV. 12500lb GCVW is not that great. Plus. The weight given was brochure weight. It will be heavier than that when it gets here.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
Lazy Campers
NC
|
LarryJM
NoVa
Senior Member
Joined: 11/09/2007
View Profile
|
Terryallan wrote:Revo-Ray wrote:Also take into consideration your wheelbase (119") towing a 31' trailer.
Someone else had this link, its a good rule of thumb.
Wheelbase and Length
The lengths to WB listed, are pretty much wrong. and not really a good rule of thumb. There is NO relable WB to trailer length formula.
The best rule of thumb, well just rule. stay inside the factory recomended weights, and you will be good. By the time the trailer gets too long. You will be over weight.
I believe the OP will be over weight by the time he loads the TV, and hooks the dry TT to the TV. 12500lb GCVW is not that great. Plus. The weight given was brochure weight. It will be heavier than that when it gets here.
While I agree that the table you are referring to is overly pessimistic it does make the point that WB does matter in the overall stability of a TV/TT combo and just using wts. as you suggest is also just as bad as the table you say is not a good ROT.
The GCWR limit has little to do with the overall safety and stability of a particular TV/TT combo. Such factors as proper tongue wt., TV to TT weight, and TV WB to overall TT length are much more important ... it's just there is no real formula out there to plug in numbers to get a feel for how safe and stable any particular TV/TT combo will be. Of course the final factor is a properly matched and tuned in WDH and sway control system. The best source is actual experiences from those that have been there, done it and have the T-shirt.
I know I would not want to be towing a 31' TT with a 119" WB vehicle and personally based on everything I have read would be looking for a TT in the 26/27' and under range with a GVWR of no more than about 6,000 lbs.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
ALL TRAILER MODS>>ETERNABOND INSTALL>>RAINKAP INSTALL
|
shbiv
Louisiana
Full Member
Joined: 11/04/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I personally think you will be just fine with that combination. I had a similar combination with a 2007 Nissan Armada (not big tow rated for 6500 lbs) and a 2008 Surveyor SV291 (very similar to your floor plan) without any problems. The Armada had a little more wheelbase and a little more torque.
Looking at the Office Dodge Body Builder Guide, your 2006 Durango has the following towing specs for an SLT with the HEMI and 3.55 rear end:
GVWR: 6500, Payload: ~1610, Curb Weight: ~4,887, GCWR: 12,500
Tow Rating: 7450
The 3.92 rear end increases tow capacity about a 1,000 lbs but I do not see the huge benefit unless you are going to keep the TV for a long time and do a ton of towing with it.
The camper you are looking at has a GVWR of around 7500 which is right around your tow rating and I doubt you will be more than 6000-6300 lbs loaded. The TT is a little long, but I think with the right WDH setup you will be just fine.
I would do it without any reservation, but that is just me. It all depends on how much you will tow. If you are the occasional weekend camper with some longer excursions throughout the year (without visiting 8-10,000 foot elevations), I think you will have a good experience.
Just my humble thoughts.
2007 Dodge Ram Mega Cab, HEMI, 4.56 gears 
2010 Nissan Armada SE
2010 Crossroads Zinger 29DS
|
atvanish
Central PA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/09/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
You will be right at your limits - take it from experience 
Mine is 27' long and 6000lbs loaded and ready to camp towing it with the same vehicle... Flat, local, occasional towing I feel good with. If it was towing it cross country I would use the 3/4 ton truck for a trailer of this size. Just my .02.. You'll have plenty of power but the Durango's suspension and payload are a little soft
2004 Dodge Durango Limited, 4x4 Hemi, 3.55
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 POWER WAGON, 4x4, Hemi, 4.56's
2005 Dutchman Lite 27B
|
|
|
