Travel Supreme Classic - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Melstar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Travel Supreme Classic

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melanie,Travel Supreme are well built units and well thought of.One thing though they are very heavy so plan on a BIG truck to pull it with.Depending on model they even stretch the limits of a 1 ton dually.

Melstar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you George. Every unit I look at - I'm told F250 diesel will be plenty enough and no dually.

My favorite rig is the Mobile Suites, however, my friend who just bought a new Heartland Big Horn told me the same.....they looked at MS and found out they are very heavy and all they have is a F250 with no dually.

Don't we want a "heavy duty" for long term living?

thanks for your replies....I appreciate it.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melanie,

While I cannot answer your specific question about the Travel Supreme, I must emphasize to NEVER take for granted what you are informed about the capabilities of the towing vehicle.

I don't want to speak to one's friends, but I do know that salespeople are not known for being very truthful about whether one's truck will "handle" the fifth wheel in question.

First of all, find out how much the fifth wheel you are interested will weight fully loaded. Each has a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) which should not be exceeded by putting in too much "stuff". Second, find out the actual weight capabilities of your towing vehicle to see what it's GVWR and GCVW ratings are. (GCVW is the actual weight for both the tow vehicle AND the fifth wheel fully loaded and with full tanks and passengers.)

You don't want to exceed the GCVW either. While many a salesperson has said something like, "Oh, yeah. That truck will 'handle' that trailer", keep in mind that 'handling' the trailer is different than being really 'capable' to tow it. It is one thing to pull the trailer, but sometimes a whole different experience to be able to stop the trailer, especially on a downhill slope.

While, I don't know what the specifics of your truck is, I can't give you a definitive idea of the weight capabilities of it. Over the two years of my research, I have accumulated a few Ford brochures in pdf form. According to them, one needs to know what the year, wheelbase, engine size, and differential ratio is to accurately know what the pickup is capable of handling.

Jo and I have purchased a Mobile Suites 38 footer that when loaded should be around 18,500lbs. To handle that load, we went with a Ford F450. There are a number of heavy Mobile Suites out there that are being pulled by smaller pickups, but I am known as the KING OF OVERKILL and wanted to make absolutely sure that my tow vehicle will handle what I am towing. (I am a former 18-wheeler operator.)

As for your question about having a "heavy" unit for "long term living", I have to agree with that. That is why we went with the Mobile Suites. It has a 15" frame, where a lot of other units are smaller in size. While smaller frames may be OK, I believe that if a unit is going to be towed quite a bit, then it surely needs to be heavy enough to handle the frequent towing.

Good luck in your research and selection process. It can be fun as well as frustrating. Just don't give up.

Terry

Edit Reason: Just as a thought for you, if you should purchase a Travel Supreme, keep in mind that the company is no longer in business. Thus, make sure that you get every owner's manual for the unit that you can. While many of the "sub-systems" and appliances may still be supported by the original manufacturer of those items, the fifth wheel itself has no support.

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Tuesday 22nd of June 2010 08:12:09 AM

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was told by a salesman that a Chevy 1500 truck (F-150) could safely pull any 5th wheel manufactured.

Don't you love salesmen

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Bear II wrote:

I was told by a salesman that a Chevy 1500 truck (F-150) could safely pull any 5th wheel manufactured.

Don't you love salesmen

That's GREAT!!

I've been talking with one salesman and he's been quite up front.

I'd ask about the specifics of the 5er and what it would take to tow it. We'd go into the office, get the weight sheet out for the specific 5er and a tow guide for whichever make of truck I asked about.

He knew this stuff off the top of his head out on the lot but then would say "let's go look it up, just to make sure".

When we get our 5er, we will be going through this salesman for sure. I have talked to others who said "Yeah, you can tow this with a 150. Hell, even had one tell me I could tow their unit (in the 15K weight range) with my Dodge Dakota! It's only a V-6! Ran away from that dealer.

Ask the questions but arm yourself with information beforehand. This way, you can tell if you have a good salesman or not.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melanie,Take it from someone who has already went the 3/4 ton single wheel route and now have the one ton dually.A F-250(3/4 ton) is NOT enough truck for a heavy 5ver. Don't make the expensive mistake I made of buying the wrong truck then having to buy another.

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Travel Supreme was a quality trailer.

ourZbiz · RV-Dreams Family Member

I say go with a dually.

Having had a 37.5 ft. Jayco Eagle 5'er I would never tow something long or heavy without a dually. Like mentioned earlier, some 5'ers are better suited for the F450. Do your research and if needed, bring the weights here for help.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry hit this right on the head. Towing capability and capacity is not a question of opinion, but engineering and science. Every truck manufacturer published the towing capacity of ever model and configuration they sell every year and these specs are available through Trailer Life who publishes a yearly directory.

That's not to say that an under rated truck cannot physically tow a given trailer, however when an emergency situation happens, that truck may not be up to the job, and you might have a bad accident, lose your home, or worst of all, kill someone.

If you wouldn't get on an elevator rated for 1000# with 20 people, why would you consider towing a 18000# trailer with a truck rated for 15000#?

Life is too short and death is too long, for me to gamble.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

I pull a Carriage Cari-lite Xtreme 5 and it is heavy! I went with the 6.7 Cummins Dodge Dually. Don't forget the bigger trucks have heavy duty brakes too and you will need that when trying to stop that trailer. I have the Jake break and Tow haul too.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melanie,

I sent you a private message. I thought I would mention it here as well, just in case that you check into the forums but don't always log in.

Terry

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Melstar wrote:

Thank you George. Every unit I look at - I'm told F250 diesel will be plenty enough and no dually.

My favorite rig is the Mobile Suites, however, my friend who just bought a new Heartland Big Horn told me the same.....they looked at MS and found out they are very heavy and all they have is a F250 with no dually.

Don't we want a "heavy duty" for long term living?

thanks for your replies....I appreciate it.

Pull it, you betcha. How long? Whole different issue. How well? 'Nother whole different issue. The F-250 has the exact same engine as a 350 or 450. But, wait that is BUT, the suspension and carrying capacity are far different.

Then you ask about Heavy Duty. In the RV lexicon HD is considered a Class 8 truck. Think over the road semi as HD. MDT is something like the Volvo Class 6 or Freightliner M2 or Sport Chassis.

If you are thinnking Mobil Suites at about 36 feet, look at nothing less than what Terry and Jo have. If my treasure ship ever comes in, I will be the proud owner of a Sport Chassis MDT and MS. Until then, I will have to travel with what I have.Watch the mouth of some salesmen. In case it is moving, they may be lying to you. An F-250 has limitations.