Coachman Catalina Santara 271BH for 1st TT???

[ChiefGeek]

Hello,

I'm looking at purchasing an RV for our family to enjoy outings in. We were looking at a new Coachman Catalina Santara Series 271BH. Anyone have one, or does anyone have advice on purchasing one?

Thank you...

Steve

[IWillRVToo]

I like it.
Can you get to Byron, GA? They have a closeout at $13,311.
2012 COACHMEN CATALINA SANTARA SERIES 271BH #8590

[SmokeyWren]

If you realize that the Santara is Coachmen's "economy" series, then it might be what you're looking for. That one in Georgia is an excellent price for a bunkhouse TT that big and with the aminities it has. It's a "light weight" TT with no slides. It has a GVWR of 7,000 pounds, so almost any late-model V8 half-ton pickup (or with Ford EcoBoost V6 engine) and with the factory tow package should be able to tow the wet and loaded RV without overloading the tow vehicle. Wet and loaded hitch weight should be about 800 pounds, so be sure your wet and loaded tow vehicle can handle 800 pounds of hitch weight without exceeding the GVWR of the tow vehicle. And since it will weigh over 5,000 pounds, don't leave home without a weight-distributing hitch with sway control.

[ChiefGeek]

I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport that I'll use to tow it. Max. Tow weight is 5000 lbs. for the Jeep, so I'll be just at capacity with this TT.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by ChiefGeek

I have a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport that I'll use to tow it. Max. Tow weight is 5000 lbs. for the Jeep, so I'll be just at capacity with this TT.

No, you'll be about 2,000#'s over since the TT has a GVWR of 7,000#'s if you load lightly as most TT's are close to max when you get them.
Too much weight IMHO

[SmokeyWren]

+1.

Assuming the 5,000 number is the Jeep's tow rating, then your 14-year old Jeep will be severely overloaded with that trailer. Even the lightest normal TT will overload that Jeep. Back up to a mini camper such as a Scamp 16'
Scamp Travel Trailers: 16 Foot Photos
or a pop-up camper that has a GVWR less than 4,000 pounds if you want to have a camping experience without major problems with a busted tow vehicle. Here's one with a GVWR of 3,850 that your Jeep could probably tow with no problems:
Jayco 2012

[ChiefGeek]

I may need to upgrade my ride then, those others are too small. What's the most inexpensive tow vehicle for this weight? Ford F150?

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by ChiefGeek

I may need to upgrade my ride then, those others are too small. What's the most inexpensive tow vehicle for this weight? Ford F150?

All the full-size half-ton pickups from Ford, Dodge, GM, Toyota and Nissan are probably available with the proper options to tow a 7,000-pound TT. You want a "tow rating" of at least 8,000 pounds, but you'll be a lot happier with a tow rating closer to 9,000 pounds.

Assuming a new one, and assuming you need the crewcab body to haul your bunch, then the specs of the least expensive Ford F-150 SuperCrew with a tow rating of at least 9,000 pounds will be:

2012 F-150 SuperCrew 4x2 with XL trim, 5.0L V8, 3.73 e-locker axle, 145" wheelbase (5.5' bed), trailer tow pkg, and trailer brake controller. That combo has a tow rating of 9,600 pounds, so it will tow your 7,000-pound TT with no sweat.

Lots of other options are available, but you don't need any of them to tow that trailer. Invoice price is $31,175 for that F-150. Most dealers will sell you that truck for invoice cost plus TT&L if you negotiate at all well.

For used half-ton pickups, you have to be really careful to get one that has a tow rating at least 8,000 pounds. Most will have a long-legged rear axle ratio and maybe not enough engine torque to tow your trailer without overloading something. I don't know about the other brands, but for a used F-150 you want a 5.0L or bigger V8 engine and 3.73 axle ratio and the factory tow pkg. And if you go shopping for a used one, you'll quickly learn that very few F-150s will have the 3.73 axle ratio or the tow pkg, although most will have a 5.0L or 5.4L V8 engine.

[ChiefGeek]

Let's not "Assume" anything Smokey!

There's no way I could justify spending over $30k on a truck just to pull an RV 10 x's a year.

Maybe 1/2 that (or less), and used, as in eBay Motors used...