Truck to tow 39' Carriage Cameo - RV-Dreams Community Forum

njb1957 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Truck to tow 39' Carriage Cameo

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

lets start with Trailer loaded weight & pin weight.......knowing that will give you a better idea of pricing out your truck.

you always get the specs and the trailer first.......makes it alot easier to find the truck that will pull it.....

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like Lucky Mike says, get your trailer specs. first. However, I would strongly recommend that whatever you choose, stay with dual rear wheels on this size coach. With the higher profile and heavier pin weight, you will have much more stability by going with a dually. Right now all of the Big 3 have about the same tow ratings of the 1 ton (350 / 3500) models but I'm not sure about the heavier (450 / 550) models and know very little about the medium duty rigs. Weights will be the key in determining where to start though.

-- Edited by RickandJanice on Thursday 8th of May 2014 06:54:59 PM

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

What model and year Cameo? Most are well into the newer dually 350/3500 and UP category. Our Carrilite weighs in at 18k with a pin of 4500 with little water on board. We're moving to an HDT as soon as possible.

njb1957 · RV-Dreams Community Member

Gross weight is 15,999, Dry 13,650

Hitch weight is 2,780

How do I find the pin weight?

So far I hear get a dually - for stability when driving.

Don't get a 6.0l. Not sure why. But what about 6.4 or 6.7? I see mostly 6.0 for used trucks.

3/4 ton or 1 ton?

I will be buying used.

RV is a 2011 37cksls.

Thanks for all your input so far. :)

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would definitely start out with a 1 ton dually with a 20 or 25k hitch.....

is this your unit....if so Im sharing its spec's so others with more exp. will chime in

www.exploreusa.com/inventory/136345/New-2011-Carriage-Cameo-37CKSLS.aspx

pin weight and hitch weight are the same thing....

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

The hitch weight you list of 2780 is the empty trailer pin weight. At gross weight you could expect 20-25% of your cargo, water etc. to be added to that. Therefore 15999 less 13650 equals 2349 net cargo weight. 20% of that is 470 or 25% is 587 lbs. add either of those numbers to the 2780 and you have the pin weight on your hitch at gross trailer weight (+ or -) You are looking at from 3250 lbs to 3367 lbs. of weight on your hitch. Approximately. So far, any one of the newer(ish) 3500 duallies looks more than capable of towing it and stopping it, if you don't load a bunch of really heavy extra stuff on the truck.

I have heard a lot of dissing of the 6.4 Ford engine not so much on the 6.0 or the 6.7 GM Duramax seems well liked as is the Dodge Cummins.

Better off with the one ton.

My opinion only FWIW

Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 9th of May 2014 06:09:44 PM

bigboomer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Everyone has his or her own opinion on this but here is mine. There is certainly a lot to consider, but for me there was one thing and one thing only...stopping the trailer you towing behind your truck. All of the pick-ups today say they can tow X. Who has who beat for towing capacity....that's great but with using the theory of inertia, once you get an object moving you can keep it moving unless there is a sudden change to that objects motion, i.e. braking! In essence any of the pick-ups will get your trailer rolling but until you experience that same trailer pushing you thru and intersection with the brakes mashed to the floor on a panic stop, you will not believe that you need truck designed for both starting and stopping.

Based on our CGVWR we can tow up to 23,000 with Bigboomer, but I would not try and approach that max capacity and trying to leave a little insurance in reserve. Our present rig has weighed in fully loaded at just 16,000. The new rig we pick up next Saturday will be by design weigh in just around 17,000 fully loaded. The first thing we will do is weigh in at the scales for our records and knowledge.

Again, just my opinion but I do not trust a auto manufacturers numbers who are in a competition for who has the biggest truck!

Les