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Rocky2304
20 Post Club
USA
27 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 05 2007 : 6:10:14 PM
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I'm begging for help!
I need to hear from some folks who actually pull a 5th Wheel with a true 1/2 ton pick-up! I'm talking real 1/2 tons, Ford F-150's, Dodge, Chevy or GMC 1500's, with the average 5.?L V8, no HD models or VMax packages with 6.0L or bigger engines.
I have been told by every dealer I've visited that I can tow any of the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5th wheels with my GMC Sierra 1500, but the owner's manual clearly states that for Gooseneck and 5th Wheel Trailers, the limit is 6800 lbs! The majority of the 5th wheels I've seen have dry weights of at or over that weight, so there is no room for gear, food, water, etc!
Any practical experience with towing a 5th wheel with a real 1/2 ton? We're looking at the Rockwood 8240SS or the Flagstaff 8524RKSS, which has the lightest dry weight of any of the models with a slide.
Any help or guidance here would be greatly appreciated!
Paul & Sylvia... :)
2008 Rockwood 2304
2007 GMC Sierra SLT
Just us and the 8 lbs ruler of the house, Kacey the Pomeranian
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Lee F
20 Post Club
USA
49 Posts |
Posted - Aug 06 2007 : 08:05:10 AM
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My Rockwood 5er weighs about 5000# loaded, and, after 6000 miles of towing, I have decided my F-150 is just working too hard. The 8240SS will weigh around 8000# loaded. In my opinion, that's just too much for a 1/2 ton truck. I've ordered an F-250.
Lee
2007 Rockwood 2150 (Their smallest 5er), Almost every option.
2004 F-150, SC, 6' bed, 5.4 V-8, 4X4, Prodigy, 14K Superglide.
2008 F-250 with 6.4 diesel ordered 7/18. (F-150 was working too hard.) |
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Safety Guy
5 Post Club
USA
5 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 21 2007 : 07:48:07 AM
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I used to tow my Flagstaff 8528CKSS with a F-150, 5.4, with a 3:73 rear end. Now it pulled it okay, but that unit was a lot for the truck. I know my trailer weighs 7,980 lbs. loaded for a week long summer trip and the pin weight is 1,780 lbs. I weighed it at a CAT Scale. Thes pin weight number put the F-150 over the gross vehicle weight.
I upgraded to a F-250 PSD and now I can get out of the gate at red lights and move the unit up hills much easier.
If you travel on vacations with your trailer, I think you will find that a bigger truck is the ticket. Much more comfortable and easier on the truck itself.
Good Luck!
Richard
Lafayette, LA
Rich & Colleen |
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larry1585
New Member
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Oct 08 2007 : 4:58:20 PM
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| i have a flagstaff 8528RLSS 2008 model and i pull it with 2001 dodge ram 1500 automatic with overdrive. i lock out overdrive and it does a fine job the weight dry ic 6348 & GVWR is 7987. but uses a lot of gas about 8to 9 miles to gal. |
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Radio
New Member
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Oct 18 2007 : 8:33:05 PM
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What engine/tranny/axle is in your Chevy? Not all 1/2 tons are equal. Not to bash your truck but my 07 F-150 (with 5.4L V8 and 3.55 axle) will pull 8600 conventional TT, and because of the economy axle it's on the low end of the F-150 range which tops out over 10,000 conventional TT. Are you sure that number is right? Take it to the dealer and ask the service department what the limit would be.
Radio |
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Rocky2304
20 Post Club
USA
27 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2007 : 11:38:05 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Radio
What engine/tranny/axle is in your Chevy? Not all 1/2 tons are equal. Not to bash your truck but my 07 F-150 (with 5.4L V8 and 3.55 axle) will pull 8600 conventional TT, and because of the economy axle it's on the low end of the F-150 range which tops out over 10,000 conventional TT. Are you sure that number is right? Take it to the dealer and ask the service department what the limit would be.
Radio
Radio,
That rating is based on the owner's manual, which is probably on the conservative side, but if it were to ever go to arbitration over a dispute for service due to failure, that's the document that would prevail!
My axle ratio is actually lower than yours (3.73), but due to the taller tires I'm running, I've calculated the rear ration as being 3.55. At this point it's not an issue being as we found a TT that weighs in at under 7000 with all our stuff.
No offense taken about the truck, I've been a Ford guy for years, and quite franky, the only reason we have a GMC now and not a Ford is because GMC has a 12 adjustable driver's and passenger seat, and my wife has a bad back and found the GMC more comfortable than the Ford on long hauls!
Paul & Sylvia... :)
2008 Flagstaff 829RGSS
2007 GMC Sierra SLT
Just us and the 8 lbs ruler of the house, Kacey the Pomeranian
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Bud
20 Post Club
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - May 13 2008 : 7:56:00 PM
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Ontario Canada here and we tow a 30ft rockwood signature ultra lite 8280SS with a v8 Chev 2006 with a 5.?L engine, axle ratio 3.73 and we put over 15,000 on our unit this winter and we were getting approx. 14 miles to the american gal. towing. The truck has had an additional leaf spring added and we are quite happy with this. Also no problem finding gas to put in it . Our friend has a new 2008 diesel and had all kinds of problems finding the ultra low sulphur in south Texas this winter.
That said Rockwood needs to take a bit more care in FINISHING off their trailers so that some of the issues that we have experienced do not happen. |
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BobBlooms
5 Post Club
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 06:13:24 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rocky2304
I'm begging for help!
I need to hear from some folks who actually pull a 5th Wheel with a true 1/2 ton pick-up! I'm talking real 1/2 tons, Ford F-150's, Dodge, Chevy or GMC 1500's, with the average 5.?L V8, no HD models or VMax packages with 6.0L or bigger engines.
I have been told by every dealer I've visited that I can tow any of the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5th wheels with my GMC Sierra 1500, but the owner's manual clearly states that for Gooseneck and 5th Wheel Trailers, the limit is 6800 lbs! The majority of the 5th wheels I've seen have dry weights of at or over that weight, so there is no room for gear, food, water, etc!
Any practical experience with towing a 5th wheel with a real 1/2 ton? We're looking at the Rockwood 8240SS or the Flagstaff 8524RKSS, which has the lightest dry weight of any of the models with a slide.
Any help or guidance here would be greatly appreciated!
Paul & Sylvia... :)
2008 Rockwood 2304
2007 GMC Sierra SLT
Just us and the 8 lbs ruler of the house, Kacey the Pomeranian
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BobBlooms
5 Post Club
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2008 : 06:23:41 AM
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| My first time on the forum. I need time to get use to the touch and feel of the system. But to get to the issue. I have a 2005 F150, 5.4 V8 tow vehicle. My 5er is a Rockwood 8283SS. I have pulled it up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida and west to Niagra Falls with out a problem. I found that by shuting off the overdrive the tow vehicle was more responsive. |
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axesbowledaslove
New Member
USA
2 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2008 : 1:56:10 PM
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| Just got done towing a 26' Flagstaff fifth wheel from the Illinois/Iowa border all the way to California. No problemo with a Nissan Titan half-ton crew cab. |
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rvcampers02
20 Post Club
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2008 : 8:07:08 PM
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| We are towning a Flagstaff 8528RKSS with a Ford F-150 crew cab 1/2 ton. Haven't had any problems and we are averaging between 10-11 mpg. I can appreciate where the power issue with a bigger truck would be an advantage, but I am very satisfied with F-150 pulling this 5th wheel. No problems going up and down the hills of northern Iowa/Illinois. |
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Bud
20 Post Club
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2008 : 8:20:26 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rocky2304
I'm begging for help!
I need to hear from some folks who actually pull a 5th Wheel with a true 1/2 ton pick-up! I'm talking real 1/2 tons, Ford F-150's, Dodge, Chevy or GMC 1500's, with the average 5.?L V8, no HD models or VMax packages with 6.0L or bigger engines.
I have been told by every dealer I've visited that I can tow any of the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5th wheels with my GMC Sierra 1500, but the owner's manual clearly states that for Gooseneck and 5th Wheel Trailers, the limit is 6800 lbs! The majority of the 5th wheels I've seen have dry weights of at or over that weight, so there is no room for gear, food, water, etc!
Any practical experience with towing a 5th wheel with a real 1/2 ton? We're looking at the Rockwood 8240SS or the Flagstaff 8524RKSS, which has the lightest dry weight of any of the models with a slide.
Any help or guidance here would be greatly appreciated!
Paul & Sylvia... :)
2008 Rockwood 2304
2007 GMC Sierra SLT
Just us and the 8 lbs ruler of the house, Kacey the Pomeranian
We have a Chev 2006,v8, 2w/short extended cab, 5.?l, with 3.73 axle with trailering package and we pull the 30ft signature ultra lite 8280ss Rockwood 5th wheel with no problems. We put one extra leaf in the springs and have Truck tires. The pin weight is only approx. 900lbs with this trailer and we have lots left over. Our gas mileage is very good as far as we are concerned.
We were from Ontario canada to Mission Texas this winter and there were no issues with the truck pulling this unit. We had a 21 ft. rockwood before and it doesn't feel much different with this one, only when you need to back into a site you need your radios instead of hands.
I did my research before buying th eunit for which units our truck was ok to pull. Good luck.
On the road again eh! from east side of Algonquin Park
Ernie and Karen |
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TrailerFool
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - Aug 14 2008 : 9:59:32 PM
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Has anybody tried towing a Rockwood or Flagstaff 5th-wheel with a '07 or '08 Toyota Tundra? |
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larrymjr
5 Post Club
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2008 : 12:15:26 PM
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| I pull a 2005 Flagstaff 8528GTSS 5ver with a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4. The 2002 Ram has the old 360cid engine in it. It has a lot of guts, but drinks a lot of gas (6.5gpm pulling the trailer). All I did was put the largest tranny cooler on it that Dodge offered and a set of AirLift bags. Other than that, it crawls up the mountains but runs out quite well in the flat lands. |
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valnal
New Member
Canada
2 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 1:28:10 PM
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I have the 8240 , pull with 1500hd GMC, have gone thru the numbers, mim I would go is the 1500 Hd
2006 Rockwood 8240ss
2005 GMC 1500HD
HiJacker slider |
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viper48
5 Post Club
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Sep 09 2008 : 3:50:19 PM
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Hello, I have not been on this site in quite some time but I have a 2006 30' Flagstaff Fifth Wheel Model 8528BHSS and the dry weight on the 5er is 6400 lbs and when the wife gets thru loading it for a trip we are well over 8000 lbs. I was told by the salesman that sold us ours that it could be pulled with a 1/2 ton. I used to pull it with a 2500 Chevy 6.0 gasser and it would do good on the flats and strain on the hills and I got around 9 mpg when towing. There is no way that I would even try to pull it with a 1/2 ton. I am not saying that 1/2 tons can't pull 5er's because there are some that are lite enough that can be towed. The only thing with a 1/2 ton is that you are limited on pin weight. My pin weight is around 1700 lbs loaded to go and that is more than most 1/2 tons can handle. I upgraded to a Chevy 1 ton diesel and now I have no problems.
2006 30' Forest River Flagstaff Model 8528BHSS Fifth Wheel
2000 Chevy Silverado 2500, 3/4 Ton, 4x4, Long Bed |
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phil-in-nc
5 Post Club
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Aug 25 2009 : 4:36:08 PM
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| First time on this forum so bear with me....I pull a 2005 flagstaff 8528rlss with a 2001 chevy 1500 4x4. 5.3liter with the 373 gear rated for 8400 gross trailer weight. I have had no trouble with this unit and truck combo I weighed before my week trip to the beach this year and my actual weight was 7900# and 980 on the hitch pin. the truck handled great and got about 10-5 mpg. I pulled to The blue ridge mountians last fall all though probly a few hundred lbs lighter (weekeend trip not all week) it still pulled good not setting any land speed records on the hills but pulled them fine. and about 8 mpg. so I am completly satisfyied with my truck/trailer combo as the truck is paid for and I can buy alot of gas for what the payments on the new truck would cost! |
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08flagvlite
5 Post Club
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Dec 04 2009 : 1:08:00 PM
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| I pull a 30 foot travel trailer with an 06 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab Hemi 5.7 w/3.54 rear, and it's really not enough truck for this. Mine is an 08 Flagstaff V-lite, 7575 lbs dry, as delivered. Truck has enough power, but mileage is around 7 to 8 mpg's at 65, and I use a Reese dual cam setup, but it just does not feel stable enough. I live in Florida, and would not attempt pulling this to the mountains. Randy |
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phil-in-nc
5 Post Club
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2009 : 09:38:20 AM
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Pulled Black Mountian on I 40 in north carolina heading to Asheville NC for a long weekend this past October and the Truck handled OK, Still no land speed records but have no doubt it will be able to do this again. Mine is a 5th wheel and feels stable just slightly under powered. its about 7900 loaded but only 6400 dry.
Safe and happy travels to all,
Phil & Melissa
05 Flagstaff 5w 28rlss
01 Chevy 1500 Z71 4x4
"Better to be in a boat with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with a boat on the rocks" |
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HobbyTalk
New Member
3 Posts |
Posted - Dec 29 2009 : 12:43:40 AM
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| I have the same 5er as you. Have you actually weighed your 5er or are you just going by the advertised weights? Thanks. |
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4huskers
New Member
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Jan 01 2010 : 08:05:13 AM
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| We have a Rockwood 8283SS that we used to tow with a 2003 F150. I had the 7700 package and the suspension could more than handle our 5ver. The problem was the lack of HP that 5.4 produced. Driving around north Texas it was passable, but I wouldn't have taken it to the mountains. We upgraded to a '06 PSD last year and never looked back. Just wish the new truck had the King Ranch interior the old one did. |
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wizard
5 Post Club
12 Posts |
Posted - Jan 02 2010 : 07:39:51 AM
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I purchased a new F150 xt.cab xlt in june i am glad that i had no plans of towing my 2008 Flagstaff 24RKS very far we are seasonal here but when i aquired a new site last fall for the 2010 season i had to move it.What a surprise when the weight was put on the truck it sank down so bad it was dangerous glad i only had to go about a football field away for the new site.The dealer that sold me the truck and the dealer that sold me the rv insisted the truck could handel rv with no problem.(1st time i towed it as it was delivered by the dealer new in june 2009)
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phil-in-nc
5 Post Club
USA
12 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2010 : 8:35:08 PM
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Hobby Talk,
I have the acutal weight ticket at home. I weightd it at the local quarry I dont rember the actual weight on the ticket but It was just a few pounds shy of 7900lbs loaded with water, Propane, grocerys, clothes,cooler and 2 bicycles for a week trip to the beach. This also Includes the weight of a Hitch rack on the back that holds the cooler and rolls of outdoor carpet.
Safe and happy travels to all,
Phil & Melissa
05 Flagstaff 5w 28rlss
01 Chevy 1500 Z71 4x4
"Better to be in a boat with a drink on the rocks than in the drink with a boat on the rocks" |
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Who's towing a 5th Wheel with a 1/2 Ton?
