Tow vehicle...15,000# GVWR

[TomR]

Just curious what tow vehicle safe for 15K GVWR NH... a 2 slide 32' used NH Classic??

I am guessing a 250/2500 Ford/Chev CC SWB OK...but 350/3500 better?

Am I in the ballpark?

Thanks...just looking TomR

[NULarry B]

Tom
I pull a 35 ft NUWA that loaded weighs 15500 lb and pull it with an F350 dually. I like the dually for the stability and wider stanc. A 250 or 2500 series is a little light for that weight of a trailer IMHO.

[dale60]

It's not just the pulling of the unit but being able to stop the unit. I would recommend getting the strongest truck you can for for your money.

[RustyJC]

The problem with a SRW truck pulling a heavy 5th wheel is the limited GVWR of the truck. The truck doesn't just have to PULL the 5th wheel, it also has to CARRY the RV's pin weight on the truck - this, along with the weight of the truck, occupants, accessories and cargo, counts against the truck's GVWR. SRW trucks towing a 5th wheel will invariably exceed their GVWR before reaching their GCWR or fictitious "manufacturer's trailer tow rating" as the weight of the 5th wheel increases.

The advantage of a dually is that it has a substantially higher GVWR - it can CARRY more pin weight than the SRW truck without exceeding its GVWR. Our 5th wheel has a 16K GVWR - I'd never think of towing it with anything other than a dually.

Rusty

[TXiceman]

Ditto on what Rusty said....

Ken

[TomR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman Ditto on what Rusty said.... Ken

When I "tour" the local campground...most 5th wheels have F250s or 2500 GM SRW. On the other hand most 5'ers are not the 15K New Horizon units. From the published weight stats...it does look like a 1 ton DRW would be pretty nicely matched with the 15K weight I mentioned.

Well, since I don't have EITHER (RV or TV) at this point it is a lesson I will take to heart

Thanks...TomR

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR When I "tour" the local campground...most 5th wheels have F250s or 2500 GM SRW.

Yes, and with all respect, many if not most of those are probably over their GVWRs as well, generally because if their owners looked at ratings at all, they just looked at the "manufacturer's trailer tow rating" and quit before they noticed the footnote accompanying that rating that says that none of the truck's other ratings (including GVWR) are to be exceeded when towing. You now have the benefit of knowing what they likely don't.

Rusty

[ralper]

Absolute minimum truck for your trailer is a 350 or 3500. A dually is great for stability. A four wheel drive is great for getting out of a grass spot after it rained all night.

[TomR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralper Absolute minimum truck for your trailer is a 350 or 3500. A dually is great for stability. A four wheel drive is great for getting out of a grass spot after it rained all night.

Thanks...I have already decided that any 5th wheel purchase will come before buying a TV. If I go TT instead of 5er it would likely be lighter and work with a 350/3500 SRW better. If I go 15K 5er I agree...think the DRW would really improve safety due to the significant additional carry capacity...over the SRW...even though I prefer SRW for daily use.

Thanks...Tom R

[Loren B.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ralper A four wheel drive is great for getting out of a grass spot after it rained all night.

Keep in mind that a four-wheel-drive truck will sit higher than the same truck with two-wheel-drive. This will reduce the clearance between the sides of the truck bed and the trailer overhang.

Obviously this is something that New Horizons deals with, but it’s something to consider when ordering a trailer or buying a truck.

Best of luck with the new trailer.

– Loren

[Loren B.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR Thanks...I have already decided that any 5th wheel purchase will come before buying a TV. If I go TT instead of 5er it would likely be lighter and work with a 350/3500 SRW better. If I go 15K 5er I agree...think the DRW would really improve safety due to the significant additional carry capacity...over the SRW...even though I prefer SRW for daily use. 　 Thanks...Tom R

Tom,

Your travel trailer may or may not be lighter than 15,000 pounds. We have a 34-foot New Horizons travel trailer on order and it’s expected to be about 12,000 pounds empty.

– Loren

[TomR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren B. Tom, Your travel trailer may or may not be lighter than 15,000 pounds. We have a 34-foot New Horizons travel trailer on order and it’s expected to be about 12,000 pounds empty. – Loren

Hi Loren...congratulations on the coming New Horizon! What are you going to tow it with. I would assume your 34' NH will have a GVWR of 16K#-17K#?

Also the pin weight will be pretty heavy. Seems like "most" NH when fully loaded for travel would push the limit on a 350/3500 w/SRW?...wouldn't you just about need the DRW for the carry capacity of the TV?

I think I would be comfortable with a 1 ton/diesel/SRW and be careful with the actual weights when loaded for travel. However, since I currently have no TV (at least over 10K class)...I would likely buy a DRW if I purchased a NH with a GVWR of 16k-17K#.

Thanks Tom R

P.S. Live in Minnesota...would be 4 wd

[Loren B.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR Hi Loren...congratulations on the coming New Horizon! What are you going to tow it with. I would assume your 34' NH will have a GVWR of 16K#-17K#?

Actually, Tom, we don’t know what the GVWR will be, but I’m guessing about 16-17K. I estimate that it will weigh about 15,000 pounds loaded and ready to go.
　

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR Also the pin weight will be pretty heavy.

We won’t have a "pin weight" per se. We will have a tongue weight on a standard ball-type equalizing hitch. I wasn’t willing to buy the Reese/DrawTite 18,000 pound hitch and instead went with the 14,000 pound Equal-i-zer. I have been using Equal-i-zer hitches for several years now and I love them. I recognize that it may be overloaded a bit, but I don’t abuse my vehicles and feel it will probably work just fine.
　

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR Seems like "most" NH when fully loaded for travel would push the limit on a 350/3500 w/SRW?...wouldn't you just about need the DRW for the carry capacity of the TV? I think I would be comfortable with a 1 ton/diesel/SRW and be careful with the actual weights when loaded for travel. However, since I currently have no TV (at least over 10K class)...I would likely buy a DRW if I purchased a NH with a GVWR of 16k-17K#.

The reason several posters here have suggested a one-ton dually is because you need to have the rear axle capacity to handle the fifth-wheel’s pin weight, plus the weight of all the other stuff you carry in the truck. This is not the case for a travel trailer.
　
Yes, my truck will be carrying some of the tongue weight from the trailer, but that will be in the area of 1200-1500 pounds, not the 2500-3500 pounds (or more) pin weight of typical fifth-wheel trailers.
　
I will be towing our new trailer with our 2500 (nominal 3/4 ton) Dodge. I have no doubt that it will handle the trailer just fine.
　
I haven’t checked the tow ratings of other brands, but Dodge sometimes rates the 2500 truck for a larger trailer weight than the identically equipped 3500 truck. This is because the 3500 truck itself weighs more and that extra weight subtracts from the rated trailer weight.
　

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomR P.S. Live in Minnesota...would be 4 wd

I live in Indiana and my truck is a 4WD also. I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t get 4WD, I’m reminding you that the bed-trailer clearance will be reduced compared to a 2WD truck.

If you do order a trailer from New Horizons, I’m sure they will ask you whether your truck is 2WD or 4WD, and will build the trailer with that in mind. Their ability to make exactly the right trailer for you is uncanny. (I say that without actually owning one yet, but I have faith that they’ll do exactly what they say they’ll do.)

Good luck with whatever trailer you choose. I don’t think you can go wrong with a New Horizons.

– Loren

[TomR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loren B. our new trailer – Loren

Opps! Sorry I read your post thinking you were ordering a 5th wheel from NH...my bad! Actually, I was speaking with Marty at the factory and asked if NH quit building TTs...since they do not show on the web site...she stated they have a couple in process as we speak...no doubt one is your!

I now understand how it does not have the pin weight/bed capacity problem. As you say though that is one big heavy trailer...how much more weight than your AS 34'? 3-4K#s?

Congrats...the 34' NH should be a really nice trailer!

Just curious...what factors led you to the TT vs the 5er? The ability to stay with 3/4 ton TV? Since you already own one? Any other TT advantages? I assume you could get nearly the same floor plan on a 5er?

When will you take delivery? Thanks...Tom R

P.S. Do you have your AS on Airstream Forum? TMR