What kind of camper do you have?

Just picked this up 23ft StarCraft trailer.

 

Finally got to use my camper, went to Myrtle Beach State Park. 2013 Jayco X19H


Here it is after Camping World installed the weight distributing hitch...

Here it is after I Re-installed it correctly.

 

Nice! I like that color on your truck. I've been looking for another truck. I have 310,000+ miles on my 2008 6 speed. How did your 3rd gen do towing your camper? How's the power?

 

Power? What power? Nah, it has plenty of power but it’s all in the wrong spot. It managed ok, on the steepest grades, I77 near Mount Airy, if you are not in 3rd above 3500, you’re not going to maintain your speed. Keep the revs up and it’s fine, but it sure feels like it’s working! This morning north of Pittsburgh there was a 30mph head wind, even on flat sections I had to keep it in 4th to maintain 65. I actually slowed down to 60 for awhile. What this truck needs IMHO is the 2.7 re-engineered and turbo charged. Low end torque.

5th for flat sections, 4th for even the slightest hill (took most in 4th) 3rd for the steepest grades. Averaged 10mpg at 65mph. Exactly the same as my 1995 25’ Itasca Passage motorhome got on the exact same trip. That motorhome weighed about what the truck and trailer combo does too. Technology changes, but physics is physics. Moving something with the same frontal area, at the same weight, and the same speed takes the same amount of energy. It’s just the motorhome had a 454 with 450ft/lbs of torque at like 2000 rpm.

 

Dude your truck looks outstanding! Do I recall you saying you were running 37's?

 

Thanks!

Yeah I'm running 37s

 

Thank you for your honest and detailed response. I'm not sure if my 4.0 would do it much differently.

 

2018 Keystone Rov 173RBRV

 

We just bought a 2019 Keystone Springdale 311 RE model. The RE stands for rear entertainment. No bunks. The rear has dual slide out so you basically have a full living room.

 

Are you towing that with the Taco?

 

Just put a deposit on a 2020 R Pod 190! I'm picking it up on Thursday. It's under 3000 pounds dry weight, anyone think I need a weight distribution? The dealer is installing sway control.

 

You might not, but always a worthy investment. Safety is something you can't put a price on. What is gross and tongue weight?

 

Tongue weight is 336 lbs and I think gross weight is around 3800 lbs. The dealer seems to think I'll be fine with just the sway control and no weight distribution.

 

Try it and see. You can always purchase one after the fact for much less than the dealer. But always remember that they are just looking for a sale, not your best interests.

 

Weight distribution YES
Sway control NO

Last year we pulled our R Pod 179 home (from the dealer) with a 15-20MPH cross wind with no sway control and no swaying.
R Pods just don't sway, very stable. Keep it nose heavy and you'll never have any problem.

 

WD is a definite.

Listen to @OldManTan you must!

 

18’ VRV

 

I would worry about that color and sitting in the sun Otherwise nice setup.

 

Oooh that tundras hawt

 

Just picked up my brand new R Pod yesterday! Sway control and no WD, truck did fine towing home through a thunderstorm.