Hello Everyone, Doing Research

[Choochooman74]

Hello Everyone,

I decided to join this forum as part of my research into my next travel trailer. Of course, every unit has its PROs and CONs on features that we like. Right now, the Sunset Trail ST270BH is high on my list of possible next unit. Of course, that is after I upgrade my TV first.

Little background, I use to camp back in the 90's when I was much younger and a lot less wise, at local race tracks. Then, I kind of grew up and downsize vehicles, and got out of camping, got out of racing, and decided to look for a career. After several jobs, I have been working with the railroad for 8+ years. 2 years ago, I wanted to start camping and introduce my GF and her daughter to camping. I bought my Jeep Liberty Diesel, and rented a 24 foot trailer. They loved it, and so we bought our Roo, which is about the limit for my Jeep. It tows fine, but it doesn't tow like my old 1 ton dually did towing my camper or the race car hauler.

Right now, my TV of choice is the Ram 1500 Turbo Diesel. I am shopping for trailers first, to make sure I am pretty much in spec with the TV, or else I may consider a 2500. I am not "weight police" material, as it doesn't concern me much if I am over at the CAT scales by a little bit (my current setup, camp ready, full of water (never travel full, but did for the weigh in) is 100lbs over TV GVW). I believe that as long as you know where you are, you do it safely, on a well maintained vehicle, 5 to 10 trips a year just over is not much of a concern.

[Lloyd]

Welcome to the forum.
I might be speaking to soon or out of turn here, but the way my memory serves me, that new diesel they put in the Ram 1500 doesn't have a whole lot of beans under the hood. I was looking at them about the time I got my Ford and was glad I went the way I did.
But maybe things have changed in the last year???

[WildWildWest]

Dodge today is all about fuel economy with the 1500 and they forgot some people like to tow with their 1/2 tons. If equipped with the 8 speed in the gas jobs they can't tow much more than a tent trailer (A colleague of mine has one and he hit the roof when he found it wouldn't even pull a decent boat). The diesel is rated for 9,200lbs which is just about the same as a properly outfitted 5.7 hemi for towing (5 speed transmission, etc.)

That being said, the trailer you are looking at falls into this category but the tow capacity of the Dodge 1500 diesel is well below the 11,000 pounds that a properly equipped 6.2L F150 or a V6 Eco boost F150 are rated for.

Chev/GM 1500 also has a higher capacity than Dodge at 11,500 with the proper package. But you won't get much fuel economy here.

[Choochooman74]

Both the HEMI and the Diesel have the new 8 speed transmission. I believe the package that I am looking for is rated around 8500lbs towing. The power on the 3.0l is more than the first generation 5.9 cummins in the ram, which was rated at 160hp and 400 ft*lb of torque.

I actually test drove one today, while my baby diesel is getting a new Suncoast converter. I was very pleased. Not as much power as my '91 7.3, but I feel that it is close to my '87 6.9...both had aftermarket turbos.

[WildWildWest]

That 8 speed doesn't give me much confidence given the ratings I have seen but I'm not a fan of Dodge's current direction. Would prefer it outfitted with a proper 5 speed for towing. It's unfortunate it's the only option after seeing what it reduced the gas engine capacity to for towing.

[Beamer5]

The 8spd with 3.92 is pretty darn good for towing...

[markandkim]

I have the 5.7 Hemi w/ 6 speed and mine is rated at 10,500 lb towing capacity

[markandkim]

They make a diesel Liberty?

[Choochooman74]

Originally Posted by markandkim

They make a diesel Liberty?

Yes. 2 years in the states, but the whole production in Europe under the Cherokee badge. The same motor was overseas in other vehicles like the Nitro and Caravan.