Can I tow it?

[stl_tl]

Hello all.Â* Thanks again to all who gave me such a warm welcome in the newcomers forum.Â* I'm grateful for these forums because I'm a total RV newbie.Â* For the past day, though, I've been in a bit of a panic over the towing of the 2011Â*Zinger 26BH we plan to buy.Â* I orginally figured I would be able to tow this comfortably butÂ*on another rv board a person withÂ*almost the same truck mentioned purchasing the 26BH and many recommended against it saying it was too much for his truck.I have a '10 Ram 1500 Crew Cab SLT 4x4, Â*5.7 Hemi, 3.55 axle ratio and 17 in wheels.Â*I have the tow package.Â* According to dodge.com/bodybuilder my TV has a max trailer tow weight of 8450 and a GCWR of 14000.Â* The dry weight of the Zinger I'm looking at is 5994 with a hitch weight of 912.Â* When you add passegers, cargo, fuel, etc., I wonder will I be overweight for my truck?Â* Should I consider a smaller TT?Â* I'd love to hear from other Ram 1500 owners or anyone with an opinion or advice!Â* Please let me know if you need more information as well...I'm still learning what all of the acronyms mean and what's relevant.

Â*

TonyEdited by: stl_tl

[jgerni]

Sounds like your truck should be able to handle that trailer without much issue and you should be able to stay in your weights. Just be careful onhow much you load in the bed of thetruck...like don't try and carry a whole load of firewood with you...etc.

[fhenn]

I would think that you would be ok with that combo. Just remember that there are some in other forms that if you are not pulling with a Peterbuilt you are endangering everything

[Stan]

My advice is to get the Zinger weighed before you purchase. Advertised weights are often underestimated. With the numbers you posted, I see you being able to add about 1500lbs of food, clothes, camping gear, etc before reaching your max. If the actual RV weight is 400lbs more, then you food/supply weight drops by 400lbs. If you can get it weighed, don't forget to add for propane, water, etc.

[laurie]

We have a 05 Dodge 1500 4 dr hemi and tiw a sunsrt trail 29rl with no problems lots of power.

[gtoguy1967]

As others have said above, You should not have any issues. My dad had one of these trucks and pulls a taller camper and I would guess weighs a little more and he does OK.

[stl_tl]

Thanks for all of the input folks. I crunched the numbers and I should be fine. I'll be close to 14000 so I probably won't win any races or want to climb Pikes Peak but should be ok.



Tony

[gtoguy1967]

Tony, Looks like we are close, We are just north of Englewood. Will you be doing the state parks ?

[artgpo]

For some reason I finally read the entire the weight sticker on the driver's door jam. It states that my truck's carry capacity is 2,380 pounds. That means this beast weights a hefty 6,820 lbs! The main thing I learned is that with the weight of a full tank, about 280 lbs, the hitch, 120 lbs, passengers, 400 lbs and the pin weight of approximately 1,800 lbs, I am at 2,600 lbs! This is over the truck's capacity by 220 lbs. My solution would be either a severe diet or I stay home. I would venture a guess that I am okay but would not want to carry any more than this.
For a long time I have been advocating staying within the safe limits of one's tow vehicle and here I am over that limit. My calculations were based on me thinking the truck weighed 6,600 lbs. Thinking is dangerous.