2007 BigHorn by Hartland 3600RL fifth wheel - RV-Dreams Community Forum

TOMMASO · RV-Dreams Family Member

2007 BigHorn by Hartland 3600RL fifth wheel

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

Congratulations! Now, if you haven't already done so, join the Heartland Owners Group. You will need the VIN from the BH to join the club, but the online forum is free to anyone. There is a subforum for each line, and a general one that covers common stuff. Easy to navigate and lots of good information there. Just like here, they like pictures.

As for the truck, I'm thinking that you will need at least a one ton truck. Take the gross weight and pin weight numbers to a truck dealer and see what they can tell you. That pin weight may be on the light side. Someone with 5'er experience should chime in, but I thought it was supposed to be close to 20% of the weight. With a 16,000 pound GW that would mean 3200 pin weight. Remember that whatever tools, gear, passengers, etc. are riding in the truck come off of the truck's payload. Use actual weights if you can, but if you have to estimate it is better to guess heavier than lighter. Don't forget the weight of the hitch.

Any dealer can look up the VIN of a specific vehicle and tell you what it can carry, so when you get to the point of actually looking for the truck to buy have a dealer look it up. It is better to have more truck than you need than to be right up against the limit. If you find that you will be fairly close to the limits for a one ton truck you would be much safer to go up to the next step, say an F450 over the F350. Recent years have had some fairly hefty weight increases in trucks, so it is possible that you can get the necessary weight capacity in a one ton simply by going one or two years newer. That's what I meant by talking to a dealer prior to looking for the truck. Find out what will SAFELY handle your anticipated loads. Don't just take a sales person's comments. GET THE NUMBERS!

Again, congratulations and welcome.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thomas,

For safety reasons for that weight of trailer, I would agree with the idea of at least a 1-ton F350/3500 series truck. I'd also go a step further and suggest that you get a dually for better stability and carrying capacity. If there is even the remotest possibility that you might choose to go with a larger trailer later, then I'd also suggest bumping up to the Class 4 category like the F450. Among other things with the F450, they have a tighter turning radius, so when not towing, it is easier to handle in parking lots and such. When we traded up from our 2002 F250 extended cab pickup for the 2008 F450, we gained three feet in length because of the bigger bed and a full four door truck, but the F450 would turn in the same space as the old F250.

If you go with the newer trucks, you will find the better mileage, but at a higher purchasing price. Since I'm a believer that my F450's main job is towing a trailer with a GVWR of 18,500 lbs, I don't worry about mileage. Then again, we also have a Ford F150 for our daily driver and will likely continue to have the two trucks even after we finally get to traveling.

Good luck with your research. When choosing a truck, do NOT go by the manufacturer's "tow rating" for the truck. Get the GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicular Weight) and the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) and stay below those numbers. Also, with looking at the pin weight, 20% is a fair "estimate," but keep in mind any tools or other heavy stuff carried in the trailer's basement will add to that pin weight.

Terry

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I agree that you will want to start with a 350/3500 series of truck. If you are buying new you can tailor it for your needs/wants for now and the future. A also agree with David that the Heartland Owners forum is a very valuable resource with lots of information and plenty of other owners that can help and answer questions for you.

Zeek · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ford, Chevy or Dodge . . . that'll generate some posts