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Warrader

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Everything posted by Warrader

  1. Thank you to everyone who reached out with advice and recommendations: I honestly do appreciate them all. After talking with veteran techs who have not only worked on these vehicles, but also towed with similar ones, I am still going to upgrade to a 5th wheel. Many of my close friends, who are also GM techs, have spent years evaluating and repairing Duramax diesels, coupled to Allison transmissions and suspended on GM chassis. Having consulted with them in their respective specialties, I am confident that the powertrain is sufficient, the suspension is worthy, and the brakes and chassis can handle the larger load. (Plus, my dad gave me the "thumbs up!") (This next part is very hard for me, so a little bit of grace and understanding at this point would be great.) Here is where things get real; as fellow "full timers," I'd ask for some "kudos" and support. I never thought that this would be my life; I lost everything in my divorce and I'm trying to find my way in this new life. Transitioning from a home on 2 1/2 acres to a 28ft box has been extremely challenging; it has been incredibly difficult to navigate this new set of life-rules. My desire is to trade this "box" for something that lends itself to an easier and more expansive living arrangement until I can get out of California and settle in a more conservative environment. (Read: Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota.) I hope my truck is up to the challenge, my paycheck can handle the expense, and my new friends on EscapeesRVclub can continue to buoy my attitude as I find my way. Stay tuned: more to come....
  2. You guys are all so great! I appreciate all of the input and I love that so many people are willing and ready to offer support. Having worked for a Chevrolet Dealership for 26 years, and having access to manufacturer information that many people don't, I think I've come to a conclusion: a lot of people over tow with trucks like mine! There are many forums that feature guys talking about towing way above the recommended GCWR. Luckily, this "campfire posturing" doesn't hold a lot of water with me. I want to protect my truck and keep driving it for another 200,000 miles. That being said, I've laid out the numbers, done some remedial math, (with a calculator!) and decided that I can pull a fairly nice 5er behind my truck. (NOT a Redwood! Holy cow! Those things are REALLY heavy!) Here's my math: The unladen weight of my truck, per my DMV title, is 6,725 lbs. Everything that I have read says that this includes a full tank of fuel. Now, whether it includes a fat guy like me in the driver's seat is up for debate. The GCWR, per the GM website, is 22,000 lbs. That means that I have 15,275 lbs. to work with above my unladen weight rating. As an aside, I have a "power up" chip and air bags to help with the load (which I know throw off the numbers somewhat). The Prime Time Sanibel 5th wheel I'm looking at has a UVW of 11,859 lbs., with a cargo capacity of 2,439 lbs. That means, fully loaded, it would "max out" at 14,298 lbs. Hitch weight is 2298 lbs., where my maximum is listed at 3000 lbs. So, after adding and subtracting, hopefully correctly, I end up with an allowable cargo balance, besides my truck and fully loaded trailer, of 977lbs. That's a lot of firewood! Add in a Dewalt generator and a fully loaded ice chest with beer, and I might be getting close to my max. But still way below the manly posturing on the LBZ diesel forums which tout 16,000 to 18,000 lbs. without a problem. It's never a problem, until it is. So, I'm going to look at this rig on Saturday. I like everything about it. At $55,000, it's well within my budget. I pray that I can stay cool, negotiate like a Wall Street pro and, hopefully, come away with a new place to live. Go math!
  3. My tow vehicle is a 2006 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6L diesel, so I can definitely pull a 5th wheel, just not one that's too heavy. My price range is about $55,000-$65,000. Thanks for the input.
  4. So, a little backstory: I'm 54 and I've been fulltime RVing for almost 3 years now. I have a 28ft travel trailer with 1 slide that I call home. Stir crazy? Cabin fever? Maybe a little. I still work locally so I'm not home much, except weekends. I'm looking to upgrade to a 5th wheel, 3-4 slides, 38ft or longer, gross under 15000lbs and limited sleeping numbers (the less sleep number capability the more room for other comforts). I've been online shopping for many months and, after reviewing multiple manufacturers, I've come to the conclusion that ALL brands have problems; and the haters love to post. I guess it comes down to manufacturer support more than complaints. So, I'm open to any suggestions about brands and how the manufacturers supported you when the inevitable breakdown occurred. Currently looking at a Crossroads Cameo. Thank you for your input.
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