zen2185RI

I wanted to do a quick update on what I've found. Using BigRockMedia Safe Travel Trailer Towing Calculator, I am good to tow the Grand Design 2670MK. Please check my numbers to make sure nothing is out of whack.

We started working on our excessive debt back in 2006. Not like we were not paying things down before, but we were on the slide at that time. By the time 2008 rolled around and things crashed, we were already had a plan in place. That plan has been revised so many times since, but it's working. 52 seems a little early to be really considering retirement, but I feel like we should be establishing a plan. Sure it's going to change 1, 10, 1000 times before actual retirement. In fact, I don't even know what retirement will look like. I might be working part time. I still feel that we should be working on a base plan. My wife is 54 and just can't wrap her head around starting to plan. She tells me there is nothing we can right now other pay down the debts. She has given me a soft ok about a travel trailer when we get three of a major payments taken care of.

Looking at the following, 2013 Jayco White Hawk 27DSRB. Specs: Length - 30.92 (bit longer than I was looking for) GVWR (lbs) - 7750 Dry Weigh (lbs) - 5615 Payload Capacity (lbs) - 2315 Hitch Weight (lbs) - 630 With a payload of 1673 - That leaves us with 1043 (lbs) for passengers and gear in the truck. Total weight of the 2 of us brings it down to 593. The 7750 is below the 8K mentioned in other replies to this thread. Again, this is just an example to make sure that I am looking at the numbers correctly. Oh and since fresh water post from earlier of 27 (gallons) is considered low, this one has 46 gallons. Within the next year to year and a half, three major debts will be paid off. Freeing up funds to start looking seriously. Jason

It did have a turbo but not inter-cooled in the 1989 RAM 250 - 5.9L Cummins 6BT (12 Valve). Debt free is going to be key. We are not planning a full-time RV life. If I can get the wife to jump on my bandwagon, we'd still only be part-timers. Going out as often as I could. My bucket list is long. Jason

Unfortunately we are making a sprint to get our debts paid off while maxing out retirement/HSA investments. This is limiting us to smaller sized RVs. I just don't have the money right now and don't want to take any new debt to purchase a replacement for my 2020 RAM 1500. I completely get your point, and that is how my dad did it. He had his 1989 RAM 250 with the Cumins diesel. That put him in the driver seat to buy a well maintained Airstream. The last one he bought was a family moving up to a larger RV for retirement, and it only cost him $12500 in 2002. That same 28' footer in the shape it was in would sell for a great deal more. I don't recall the model name or year. Later in 2010 timeframe he got rid of his 89 RAM with well over 350k miles and bought a Toyota Tundra to two it. He was not a fan towing it with the Tundra. It was in specs, but a real beast to two with such a small truck. I wish he would have kept it. If he did, we would have certainly bought a RAM 2500 to meet our needs. As you pointed out, it's ideal to find someone that is upgrading to purchase their used well maintained RV. That is our hope. I've only pointed out new models as a means to understanding the weights and my limits. Heck if I could find a 23' Airstream Safari in excellent shape and reasonably priced, I'd buy that. Thank you Jason

Ken I would most likely go lower than 8000 to give myself more wiggle room. Again this will be a beginner RV for us. If this goes well, then we'd be looking to replace my truck with a 3500. Wish I had stuck with my original idea of a 2500, but I can make a 1500 work for the 2 of us to start out. This why I suggested something with a much lower GVWR. I am going to struggle with meeting my price point along with a GVWR that is acceptable to tow. Just for a little more education, we would be starting with short weekend trips locally. Overtime we'd extend our trips ensuring that we remain within our weight limits. With each trip we would gain knowledge and determination if this is what we want to do come retirement. If we decide to go forward, we'd purchase a larger truck and then a larger trailer to meet our needs. This first phase will take place over the course of 5-10 years as we approach retirement. Retirement is when we plan to take our bigger trips whether they be with an RV or deciding to go without an RV and go with hotels. Jason

Thank you. Learning more with each post. Jason

Thank you. Great information to look at and thank you for correcting my mistakes.

My son is 6' 4", and two daughters both 5'8". They are older and will not be coming with us, but that is a good catch. I'm 6'3". Plus if they were to come with us, I'd want them to be able to fit in the bed. Thank you Jason

The good thing is I know that a trailer of this size and weight for my wife and myself would keep me in the proper range. Then down the road I can look to get a 2500 or 3500 and a larger 5th wheel. Around this sizing, could you recommend different brands/models that I could look for used. Thank you Jason

Here is what the door sticker has: GVWR - 7100 LB GAWR Front - 3900 LB, GAWR Rear - 4100 LB From the RAM Truck Towing by VIN number - Max Payload - 1673 LB , Max Towing 11,290 LB From the link provided for the EZ Towing Weight Calculator (using 5227 (range from RAM is from 4798-5227) as a guesstimate) and a tongue weight of .10 says I might be able to tow up to 11,000. Looking at Arlington Trailer near us, they have a New 2022 Keystone RV Springdale 1760BH: (outside of price range, but used as an example) Hitch weight: 520 lb Cargo weight: 704 lb Dry weight: 3796 lb C ombined Cargo and dry weight: 4500 lb Water 27 gallons (8lb/gallon): 156 lb Grey Water 30 gallons (8lb/gallon): 240 lb Black Water 30 gallons (8lb/gallon): 240 lb Propane 20lbs (4lb/gallon): 80 lb Guesstimate total weight: 5216lb. Hopefully I captured everything and used appropriate assumptions and didn't miss any needed weights. One other question I have is at what point do I need to be concerned about the size of brakes? My dad and I talked about this in the past. This is why he chose a 1989 RAM 250 with the Cumins diesel. Thank you Jason

In 2020 I purchased a new RAM 1500 with 3.92 rear axle ratio rated at 12000+ towing. We are in our early 50's with a junior in high school and a junior in college. My parents owned several pop ups and Airstreams. I am looking for something to get us started. This would allow us to go on short weekend trips locally and slowly branch out. If things go well and I can sell the wife on it, we'd upgrade to a RAM 2500/3500 and a large 5th wheel. For now it's about getting going. Budget would be up to 18k.