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Old 09-01-2014, 06:24 PM   #1
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Hi

Hello All,

Just though i would say hi and introduce myself.

I am new to the travel trailer camping as I always used a tent. The wife hates tent camping as she "doesn't have a place for everything"

We are planing on a grabbing 2014 or 2015 299bhsl Kodiak express either at the fall RV show or ordering one around February.

I look forward to reading and grabbing as many tips and information as I can before the start of the 2015 summer camping season.
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Old 09-01-2014, 09:43 PM   #2
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& welcome!
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Old 09-01-2014, 11:26 PM   #3
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Welcome aboard!
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Old 09-02-2014, 08:11 PM   #4
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Welcome............ Should be able to get a better deal on a left over 14 compared to a new 15.
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Old 09-03-2014, 01:35 PM   #5
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Old 09-03-2014, 04:54 PM   #6
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Welcome!

Tow vehicle? Since you say your new to this, I'll point out that a tow vehicle's cargo carrying capacity is usually the limiter on how large of a TT it can tow. Dealers (both vehicle and RV) will point to the max tow rating as a selling point, but TT's have a heavy tongue weight which must be supported by the tow vehicle and that is usually the capacity number that gets reached first. That TT may have a tongue weight around 900 lbs when fully loaded. Your tow vehicle's payload capacity will need to accommodate that weight plus whatever other weight you'll be carrying up front, including the weight of a weight distribution hitch, driver, passengers, gear in the front and gear in the bed (if it's a truck).

299BHSL
Unloaded Weight 6,320
Cargo Capacity 1,280
Hitch 759 (that's 12% of the dry weight. 12% of the TT if loaded to the max would be ~900 lbs)
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Old 09-03-2014, 07:36 PM   #7
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My tow vehicle is a 2013 ram 5.7 4x4 crew cab. I have a tow package on the truck, and will be buying a weight distribution hitch and a cam style sway control. I was also thinking about air bags, but might defeat the purpose of a weight distribution hitch. I went to the dealer and was told I'm good up to 9600lbs.
I have not purchased the trailer yet so I can still look at other models, and see what else we like. Purchasing a new truck is out of the question and I will need to make do with the current one. If looking at a new model of trailer is required i still have options, thanks for the tip.
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Old 09-03-2014, 08:40 PM   #8
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9600 lbs sounds like a max tow rating. It may have a max cargo capacity in the 1400 lb range, it will say so on the sticker on the driver's door. That's the capacity number you will reach first. A generic way of deciding on a max loaded trailer weight that does not exceed that value would be weight of family and all gear in the truck + 100 lbs Weight Distribution Hitch (WDH) + 12% of LOADED TT weight < 1400 lbs. 12% is a rule of thumb for TT tongue weight, could be 10-15%). So using the TT you're interested in and assuming the tongue weight could be as much as 900 lbs if loaded to its max rating, 1400 lbs - 900 lbs -100 lbs (WDH) = 400 lbs of cargo carrying capacity left for carrying you, your family, and all the gear you want in the truck. Will you and the family and your gear weigh less than 400 lbs? Of course I've assumed your TT is loaded to its max capacity which may be totally unrealistic. A rule of thumb is to assume 1000 lbs to account for camp gear and water and add that to the TT's dry weight. If you pack light and/or don't bring water, then assume less. Water weighs about 8 lb/gallon.

Or to look at it the other way. If you shopped by max tow rating and went out and bought a TT that weighed 9600 lbs when fully loaded, then you could estimate that the tongue weight would be 12% * 9600 = 1152 lbs. Then add 100 lbs for the WDH. Now you've got about 1300 lbs of weight on the truck from tongue weight and hitch alone. If your max cargo capacity is 1400 lbs, that means you're left with only 100 lbs for you, passengers, and gear which I assume is insufficient.

Oh my god, I've become the weight police! My personal setup has me exceeding my truck's rated capacity by a bit, so I sympathize with others in a similar situation. But as long as you still have not purchased the TT, you can use this knowledge when making your decision.
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Old 09-03-2014, 09:32 PM   #9
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Old 09-03-2014, 10:37 PM   #10
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Thanks ewarnerusa for the math...I think my head just exploded

I will input the numbers I have and see how it all pans out.
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Old 09-04-2014, 01:14 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E.Fudd View Post
Thanks ewarnerusa for the math...I think my head just exploded

I will input the numbers I have and see how it all pans out.
It can be confusing. As a quick and dirty method... I take 75% of the gross towing capacity of my vehicle and then look at trailer Max GVW to get me in the ballpark. Then start crunching the numbers.

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Old 09-04-2014, 01:28 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ewarnerusa View Post
Oh my god, I've become the weight police!My personal setup has me exceeding my truck's rated capacity by a bit
LOL, Its amazing how smart we become after buying the first trailer

Mr. Fudd, one thing I did was stop by a truck stop and actually get the truck weighed with me and my wife, dogs and a full tank of gas. This really helped me figure out all of my weights.

BTW the trailer you mentioned will be just fine with your truck!
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Old 09-04-2014, 04:00 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E.Fudd View Post
My tow vehicle is a 2013 ram 5.7 4x4 crew cab. I have a tow package on the truck, and will be buying a weight distribution hitch and a cam style sway control. I was also thinking about air bags, but might defeat the purpose of a weight distribution hitch. I went to the dealer and was told I'm good up to 9600lbs.
Depending upon what axle ratio & model you have. Check out this chart. I don't see any 9600lbs rating.

http://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towi...wing.Specs.pdf
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Old 09-04-2014, 10:45 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by EricNSTL View Post
LOL, Its amazing how smart we become after buying the first trailer

Mr. Fudd, one thing I did was stop by a truck stop and actually get the truck weighed with me and my wife, dogs and a full tank of gas. This really helped me figure out all of my weights.

BTW the trailer you mentioned will be just fine with your truck!
Yup... The thing is I actually had a reasonable plan for getting a TT that wasn't too heavy for my truck. Then we were offered a great deal on a TT that seemed to have everything we wanted. Yeah, it was heavier than my plan, but I can always pack light right?

I definitely imagine myself with a more capable tow vehicle in the future, but for now I'm working with what I have!
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