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11-29-2019, 05:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Upgraded Tow Vehicle
Our 2008 Avalanche has been doing well towing our 5000 lb trailer. But, after only 2 years we have come to the conclusion the 2018 243BHSL is just lacking. Bathroom too small and seating not adequate. You learn eventually. ughh.
So we started by upgrading the tow vehicle to a new 2019 Ram Laramie with the 5.7 Hemi 4X4. Towing capacity 11,340 lbs. And we got such a deal
Now the hunt begins for a new trailer. Yippeeeeeeee. The bad news? Chances are that the new trailer may not be a Dutchman. Did I learn my lesson? Will you all miss me
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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11-29-2019, 06:02 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Beaver Dam
Posts: 895
Wisconsin
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Quality Travel Trailer Brands
I recommend iRV2.com for RV's, TT's, truck campers.
Quality Travel Trailer Brands
http://www.dutchmenowners.org/forums/f31/buying-a-travel-trailer-7369.html
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Paul Bristol
Dutchman Kodiak Cub KD176RD 2018
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
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11-29-2019, 06:26 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Central
Posts: 104
Massachusetts
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I upgraded my tow vehicle last June to a Chevy Duramax diesel
3 weeks later I jumped to a 2018 30 foot ….5er (keystone Cougar)
I am still here lol
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11-29-2019, 06:35 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Beaver Dam
Posts: 895
Wisconsin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mongo
I upgraded my tow vehicle last June to a Chevy Duramax diesel
3 weeks later I jumped to a 2018 30 foot ….5er (keystone Cougar)
I am still here lol
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iRV2.com would replace Dutchmen.org. iRV2 covers lots of TT brands.
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Paul Bristol
Dutchman Kodiak Cub KD176RD 2018
Nissan Pathfinder 2015
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11-29-2019, 06:50 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mongo
I upgraded my tow vehicle last June to a Chevy Duramax diesel
3 weeks later I jumped to a 2018 30 foot ….5er (keystone Cougar)
I am still here lol
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Outstanding!
I cant justify a diesel for us. We will probably keep the new trailer to 30 feet or so.
Have fun!
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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11-29-2019, 10:10 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Central
Posts: 104
Massachusetts
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyVeteran
Outstanding!
I cant justify a diesel for us. We will probably keep the new trailer to 30 feet or so.
Have fun!
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the price they worked out was impossible to turn down the diesel
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11-30-2019, 04:28 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mongo
the price they worked out was impossible to turn down the diesel
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Gotta Love a Good Deal
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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11-30-2019, 09:40 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Roselle
Posts: 1,292
Illinois
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Sold my Voltage over two years ago, but still read this forum daily. Lots of smart people on line here and I learn something almost daily. Most RV information crosses over all makes and models. Keep reading and posting!
Rusty
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2015 Black F-350 Platinum Diesel Dually Crew Cab
2019 Riverstone Legacy 38MB (Full Paint/All Options)
2015 Voltage 3990 (Full Paint, All Options) Sold 6/18
2005 Harley Ultra Classic w/too many miles
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11-30-2019, 10:03 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,066
Florida
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Yep! We'll miss you and your input. Just because you change (maybe not a dutchmen) you can still visit. LOTS of way smart folks here that know about RVing and the RV life.
Frank
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11-30-2019, 03:38 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Calabasas
Posts: 785
California
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@Armyvet, I would suggest you target a trailer that when fully loaded is still a couple thousand pounds below your max weight. Everything is easier that way. It also allows you plenty of cargo capacity too. And lastly remember that trailer manufacturers notoriously under weight their trailers. Batteries, propane and many other things are often not included in their dry weight.
I know you are an experienced RVer and likely know this but just thought I would throw that out there anyway.
Enjoy the new truck! We have a 2017 Ram (diesel unlike yours but still a Ram and very similar) and have really enjoyed it. The only real issue we had was with the tranny that took a few dealer visits to solve but was fixed under warranty. 3 or 4 recalls to deal with but otherwise very dependable. There is a Cummins forum that has lots of good information for non diesels too and as long as you can tolerate quite a few jerks and know it alls you will learn quite a bit over there too.
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2018 Voltage 3305
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11-30-2019, 04:48 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lcv800
Sold my Voltage over two years ago, but still read this forum daily. Lots of smart people on line here and I learn something almost daily. Most RV information crosses over all makes and models. Keep reading and posting!
Rusty
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Thanks, your right of course!
Staying here
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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11-30-2019, 04:50 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
Yep! We'll miss you and your input. Just because you change (maybe not a dutchmen) you can still visit. LOTS of way smart folks here that know about RVing and the RV life.
Frank
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Thanks! Right again!
Roger, Wilco
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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11-30-2019, 05:04 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dsol
@Armyvet, I would suggest you target a trailer that when fully loaded is still a couple thousand pounds below your max weight. Everything is easier that way. It also allows you plenty of cargo capacity too. And lastly remember that trailer manufacturers notoriously under weight their trailers. Batteries, propane and many other things are often not included in their dry weight.
I know you are an experienced RVer and likely know this but just thought I would throw that out there anyway.
Enjoy the new truck! We have a 2017 Ram (diesel unlike yours but still a Ram and very similar) and have really enjoyed it. The only real issue we had was with the tranny that took a few dealer visits to solve but was fixed under warranty. 3 or 4 recalls to deal with but otherwise very dependable. There is a Cummins forum that has lots of good information for non diesels too and as long as you can tolerate quite a few jerks and know it alls you will learn quite a bit over there too.
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Thanks, I hear you. Maxing out anything is a always not the best choice. But its there if you need it.
Our Avalanche was rated for only 7000 lbs. So we kept the trailer to 5000 lbs. I never towed it with water. Clean, gray or black. Took it to a scale loaded for camping. Surprised me. Trailer was exactly 5000 and the hitch 750. So this time Dutchman did not lie This time hahaa.
I don't know how experienced an RVer I am at 2 years but thanks. I am like everyone else. Wrong sometimes, but never in doubt LMFAO
Is your 2017 an 8 speed??
Have fun!
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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12-01-2019, 06:33 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Calabasas
Posts: 785
California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyVeteran
Thanks, I hear you. Maxing out anything is a always not the best choice. But its there if you need it.
Our Avalanche was rated for only 7000 lbs. So we kept the trailer to 5000 lbs. I never towed it with water. Clean, gray or black. Took it to a scale loaded for camping. Surprised me. Trailer was exactly 5000 and the hitch 750. So this time Dutchman did not lie This time hahaa.
I don't know how experienced an RVer I am at 2 years but thanks. I am like everyone else. Wrong sometimes, but never in doubt LMFAO
Is your 2017 an 8 speed??
Have fun!
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Actually, my 2017 is the 6 speed 68RFE. The cheaper of the two transmissions they offer for the Cummins diesel. I assume the Hemi option is different as well. They generally don’t offer up much more towing capacity than you need.
Enjoy your new setup once you get it figured out.
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2018 Voltage 3305
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12-01-2019, 04:13 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Thanks again.
Ours is an 8 speed. I am actually really liking the new truck. The interior is very nice! The Hemi is quick, And most important! The 'war department" is happy
Have fun all!
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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12-04-2019, 08:59 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Capron
Posts: 413
Illinois
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Our previous trip with my Platinum F150 was a bit nerve wracking as I had the wrong bars for the Blue Ox. While they distributed the weight perfectly, I could not get enough tension for sway control, on the way home, replaced the 1500 pound bars with 1000 pound bars. Problem solved, towed great. However, in my troubleshooting process, discovered the GVW hit the GVWR of the truck. Kids gained a bit of weight since last year.
Since I am selling the trailer to get a larger one next year, we too decided to replace the tow vehicle, except I didn't get rid of my Platinum, it's my DD. Instead bought a nice used King Ranch F350 6.7 Diesel. We took our last trip with it and it was like there was no trailer back there. What a huge difference between the 1/2 ton and the 1 ton!
Since we were in the need for a spare vehicle since we live in the country, and public transportation is non existent and driving a 1 ton 2 1/2 hours every day would be wearing, we now have a dedicated tow spare truck.
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12-05-2019, 03:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: tucson
Posts: 147
Arizona
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6 speed manual dodge diesel, but my question is " do bathrooms come roomier?" our shower is small, a friend of ours shower is small( 5th wheel ) another friend selling theirs in CT looks small in pictures etc,, had a buddy with a 40 foot tow hauler and I had to stand sideways to shower in a tub base, and dry off half way out of the thing..
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12-05-2019, 09:33 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by acdii
Our previous trip with my Platinum F150 was a bit nerve wracking as I had the wrong bars for the Blue Ox. While they distributed the weight perfectly, I could not get enough tension for sway control, on the way home, replaced the 1500 pound bars with 1000 pound bars. Problem solved, towed great. However, in my troubleshooting process, discovered the GVW hit the GVWR of the truck. Kids gained a bit of weight since last year.
Since I am selling the trailer to get a larger one next year, we too decided to replace the tow vehicle, except I didn't get rid of my Platinum, it's my DD. Instead bought a nice used King Ranch F350 6.7 Diesel. We took our last trip with it and it was like there was no trailer back there. What a huge difference between the 1/2 ton and the 1 ton!
Since we were in the need for a spare vehicle since we live in the country, and public transportation is non existent and driving a 1 ton 2 1/2 hours every day would be wearing, we now have a dedicated tow spare truck.
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The King Ranch is a nice truck. We almost bought one. But the Ram deal was too good
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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12-05-2019, 09:35 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rich2481
6 speed manual dodge diesel, but my question is " do bathrooms come roomier?" our shower is small, a friend of ours shower is small( 5th wheel ) another friend selling theirs in CT looks small in pictures etc,, had a buddy with a 40 foot tow hauler and I had to stand sideways to shower in a tub base, and dry off half way out of the thing..
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The 'war department" has been doing all the research for upgrading the trailer so far. And the bathrooms on even under 30 foot trailers are much better than out 24 footer. So its a matter of degrees.
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"the older my father got the smarter I got"
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12-05-2019, 11:00 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Central
Posts: 104
Massachusetts
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I had a Dutchman 202 rbs and shower was big enough
now I have a cougar 30 foot 5er and shower is nice
even has a seat to sit down …
I am 6'4 280 by the way …..and I have plenty of room top shower comfortably
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