Truck for Eagle HT 27.5

[jfreeland518]

I am seriously thinking of changing my class B for a fifth wheel and have my eye on a 2016 Eagle HT 27.5 rlts. What trucks are best for the smaller Jayco's? I am getting recommendations for both 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks and figured I would ask those of you who have the smaller lighter Jaycos what you drive and how you like it. Thanks!

[xrated]

Originally Posted by jfreeland518

I am seriously thinking of changing my class B for a fifth wheel and have my eye on a 2016 Eagle HT 27.5 rlts. What trucks are best for the smaller Jayco's? I am getting recommendations for both 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks and figured I would ask those of you who have the smaller lighter Jaycos what you drive and how you like it. Thanks!

We need more information about the trailer. GVWR, pin weight (although the published empty pin weight is basically useless....no one goes camping with an empty trailer). Mountain type towing or mostly flat part of the country? Gas or diesel? Just remember that any truck you buy, all of the weight capacities of the truck need to be adhered to...Truck GVWR, Front and Rear Axle weight rating, GCWR, Trailer towing capacity. Also remember that your Cargo Carrying Capacity (yellow payload sticker on the driver's side door post usually), is the payload capacity for THAT particular truck and every single thing you put in or on the truck, counts against that payload number. The payload number is only the truck, a full fuel tank, and and a 150 lb driver. Passengers, cargo, 5ver hitch, etc, all count against the payload capacity. Pin weight will always be higher than the published number, as it is a pin weight when the trailer is empty. So you see, you may find that anything 1/2 Ton might be overloaded before you even start adding "stuff" for use.....I don't know, as I have no idea what the trailer weight or pin weight numbers are.

Edit.....
Ok, so I looked up that trailer from the Jayco website and here are some numbers...
Unloaded weight of the trailer 8000 lbs
Empty pin weight..1520 lbs
Of course you'll need a 5ver hitch...add another 150-175 lbs.

So totally empty trailer with no water, propane, cargo, battery, etc, you are already in the approx. 1700 lbs of weight to deduct from your truck payload capacity. And remember, do NOT go by advertising brochere numbers for payload, that is a single cab, 2 WD, stripped down version truck. Hope this helps. And BTW, in my humble opinion, you are clearly into the 3/4 Ton truck area, especially is you want some spare capacity as far as payload, axle weights, towing reserve, GCWR, etc.

[jfreeland518]

Thank you for all of that information. There is definitely a learning curve here - I am taking notes!

[Ourvail]

Wife and I owned a Eagle HT26.5BHS before moving up to a non HT unit. I towed it with a stock 2015 Ford F-250 and could not get it to sit level as they are built for the shorter-stanced HT trucks. We "flipped the axles" and made every adjustment to the pinbox and hitch we could and it still rode heavy on the rear wheels. The only other options were to either have steel spacers welded in to the coach or lower the truck and neither of us desired to have a taller coach with young children AND I wouldn't want to lower the truck. The HT 5th Wheels are strange birds... too much weight loaded for the typical HT Truck and too short to work with a stock heavy duty pickup. Wish I'd taken a pass, that was an expensive trade.

[KFM]

Would definitely go 3/4 ton truck at minimum. Doesn't cost much more to go 1 ton in the event you wanted to move to larger 5er in future.

[Butch50]

OP, check your PM I just sent you one.


Butch