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CaptainChaos · 07-27-2018, 05:57 AM

Recently purchased a 33 Classic 10,000 GVW 1175 tongue weight
Pulling with an over qualified Diesel Pick Up

My second truck has 10,200 lb tow capacity Class IV 1,100 lb hitch 5.7 Hemi
we have a Blue Ox Weight Distribution System rated at 1,500 lbs

I have not tried pulling the 33 with the second truck yet.
It appears to be just within specifications by the numbers
Does anyone have any actual experience using a similar rated system ?

Sphere Guy · 07-27-2018, 06:12 AM

As experienced, your tongue weight will be higher than the published specs.

Sure you can pull it with truck #2, but do you really want too.

Just saying....

Daquenzer · 07-27-2018, 07:23 AM

I'd stick with the over qualified diesel for a TT that size.

Tyvekcat · 07-27-2018, 07:27 AM

We need 'Captain Chaos' on this forum ! Latest I have seen, the Acura MDX is all the rage for towing any size AS.

Diesel trucks are overrated for towing an AS. They are quite popular but definitely overrated.
That being said, I wouldn't want to use anything else or give mine up.
A 33' classic is probably way heavier than my 28' , I would think you would want/need something that wouldn't be pushed around, but that's just me.

Dom DeLuise was hilarious in the 'Cannonball movies' .

welcome to the forums. They're a blast !
safe travels!

mojo · 07-27-2018, 07:54 AM

There is a Smart Weigh service (individual wheel scales) at the Escapees Sumpter Oaks RV park in Bushnell FL. Hook up your rig and drive it there. If the payload capacities are within spec and it feels good towing then you will know if it is worth giving up the better qualified diesel truck.

pt.reyesfan · 07-27-2018, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChaos

Recently purchased a 33 Classic 10,000 GVW 1175 tongue weight

Pulling with an over qualified Diesel Pick Up

My second truck has 10,200 lb tow capacity Class IV 1,100 lb hitch 5.7 Hemi

we have a Blue Ox Weight Distribution System rated at 1,500 lbs

I have not tried pulling the 33 with the second truck yet.

It appears to be just within specifications by the numbers

Does anyone have any actual experience using a similar rated system ?

Stick with the diesel. Lower risk level. Less stress.

brick1 · 07-27-2018, 07:57 AM

Why?
brick

uncle_bob · 07-27-2018, 08:21 AM

Hi

At least check it out. Run over the CAT scales with both trucks and see what you get.

Bob

Francesca21 · 07-27-2018, 09:07 AM

Sure do. I have used a very capable Ram Ecodiesel and was right at the capacity. It was a mistake and I was constantly in trouble with anything but dead flat highway. I found myself I'll at ease at every Hill and from a dead start. The 30 percent rule of thumb is correct....need a rating of 30 percent above your tow weight. Bought a 2018 RAM with the CTD. Zero issues and my truck does not break a sweat

EarlM · 07-27-2018, 09:10 AM

I tow my 33 classic with a 3500 GMC Denali durmax

Great job

Many on this forum would tow with toy trucks, vans etc. you guys are not Wally B

Why?

Abraham · 07-27-2018, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainChaos

Recently purchased a 33 Classic 10,000 GVW 1175 tongue weight
Pulling with an over qualified Diesel Pick Up

My second truck has 10,200 lb tow capacity Class IV 1,100 lb hitch 5.7 Hemi
we have a Blue Ox Weight Distribution System rated at 1,500 lbs

I have not tried pulling the 33 with the second truck yet.
It appears to be just within specifications by the numbers
Does anyone have any actual experience using a similar rated system ?

I don't know what you consider 'an over qualified Diesel Pick Up'.
I have reffered to my Chevy 2500HD Duramax Diesel as 'overkill' for towing my 25ft Airstream and it is for actual trailer weight. However, it is NOT overkill for payload available. And I can't imagine anyone who already owns 'an over qualified diesel' would want to downgrade their safety and comfort, in a towing situation, to anything less. I own and have towed many large trailers with many different size tow vehicles. Nothing I have ever owned competes with 'an over qualified diesel' for towing Airstream trailers of 25ft or more.

Payload available with my 2500hd is just over 2000 lbs because the 4wd and crew cab add weight that takes away some payload. Not enough to cause me a problem, but must be accounted for when checking towing weight combinations.

Stick with the diesel for safety, if nothing else.

Happy trailering.
Abe

Bobbo · 07-27-2018, 09:53 AM

A trailer with a 10,000# GVWR can have a tongue weight of up to 1,500#. For sway prevention, at 10,000#, you need about 1,300# of tongue weight. I doubt, seriously, that when ready to camp your tongue weight is anywhere nearly as low as 1,175#. I agree that you need some cushion unless you are always towing across country as flat as Kansas. I think 30% is more than necessary. I think 20% is enough. The second truck is not enough truck. In my opinion, the second truck is not capable of towing anything that weighs more than 7,500# fully loaded. That does not mean "dry weight." And that is without the towing cushion that I would not be without.

uncle_bob · 07-27-2018, 10:22 AM

Hi

Keep in mind here that the 10,000 pound number on the Classics (either one) is the "fully loaded" number. To get it up to that point (either one) you need to dump at least a ton ( yes, 2,000 pounds) of "stuff" into the trailer. Yes, I like beer .... 2,000 pounds is a *lot* of beer ....

Bottom line - you may never get to 9,000 pounds in the real world. Depending on just where you decide to stash your 2,000 pound rock collection, the tongue weight could be anything from zero to 3,000 pounds (yes, both limits are pretty hard to do ...).

Bob

dmckeown8 · 07-27-2018, 10:25 AM

My Opinion, based on a similar experience.

My 2002 suburban, which has a 5.3 liter engine, 4.10 gears, and 4 speed transmission, towed an 8000 lb TT. Not the same as your setup, but many similarities. Your 2nd truck would tow it without question! However, here are my suggested thoughts and considerations:

1) Can you really stop the TT when you are towing at max limits? I used to be focused on the question "can I tow it" but after a Colorado mountain trip (long story) I changed the primary question to "can I stop it?"

2) The suspension on your 2nd truck will not be as stiff as the diesel and you will experience more sway regardless of the control hitch you use (my opinion)

3) After towing my camper for nearly 10 years with a half ton vehicle, at max limits, and then using a diesel, I would never go back. Too many positives! Here are a few:

- it is my experience that the impact of being passed or passing transfer trucks on the interstate results in sway impact. The sway is significantly minimized by the 3/4 ton truck versus the 1/2 ton suburban. I would guess that the stiffer suspension in the truck is the reason. I used the same 4 point sway control hitch on both vehicle, so no change there.

- Maintaining highway speeds is much easier (I run 65 in 70 MPH limits)

- Unquestionable ability to stop

- better fuel mileage (at least in my case). The suburban = 7 MPG. The truck = 11 MPG

Just my input and I realize there are many variables. Trust you find this helpful.

Safe Towing!

David

Rgentum · 07-27-2018, 10:37 AM

I put 30K miles on my AS 27FB towed by my 2015 Ram/Cummins 2500, which worked just fine, and then traded up to a 2018 Ram/Cummins 3500 (now with RamBoxes, which I heartily recommend), which tows it even better, as in "just not there." My daily driver is a 2003 Acura coupe, and I haven't tried towing the AS with that yet. I just wouldn't feel comfortable towing in a situation in which I thought the tail would be wagging the dog.

I met a couple at a recent AS Rally who were towing their AS 34 (likely similar in size and weight to your AS 33) with a gas F150 eco 3.5. They said it worked great for them. I remain skeptical and would prefer the cushion that the diesel 3500 allows.

My best to you however you decide.

supercubep · 07-27-2018, 11:28 AM

I learned years ago, best over do it then under do! I tow my 1969 31' Sovereign with a 2016 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4 crew cab long bed, Turbo Cummings Diesel. Overkill maybe, but an effortless tow vehicle.

CaptainChaos · 07-27-2018, 01:00 PM

Thank you all for the replies. Didn't anticipate so many. Nice to know you're all out there.
Not giving up truck 1. The AS and truck 1 are loaded and have been weighed. All good.
Leaving for Wyoming tomorrow.(Saturday) We pulled a 28 FC with the smaller truck.(2)
Want to find out if it would handle the 33. Back to the scale (with truck 2) one day I will go.
Thanks again, Safe Travels !

Scott59 · 07-27-2018, 01:21 PM

I'm not sure why you would ever consider pulling the 33' Classic with a 1/2 ton gas truck.

From a safety perspective: the stiffer more substantial frame, suspension and brakes on a 3/4 ton truck make a world of difference when compared to a 1/2 ton. You need to pull the Classic with both trucks if you have any doubts in what people are saying on here regarding the ability of the 3/4 ton diesel to ward off sway and brake much better. Braking will be much better and you can get an exhaust brake that will work in tandem with Hill Decline Control that uses your engine and transmission to slow you down instead of using the brakes which can overheat. I pull a 30' International with a GMC 2500HD Diesel and I've never yet felt the slightest sway and I"ve been pulling up and down the Appalachian Mountains many times. The brake controller on the dash is a must as well as the integration with the dash gauges when I switch into tow mode.

Diesel vs Gas: A 3/4 ton diesel, such as the newer GMC 2500 HD 6.6L turbo diesel with the Allison transmission, will have over 850lbs of torque. A gas engine will be less than half of that. The diesel will allow you to set your cruise on 65 and pull up a mountain without ever dropping out of gear. Its impressive.
You will also get 13-15 mpg which is much better than a gas engine will do.
Plus, with diesel, you get the added convenience of being able to fill up with fuel at a truck stop in the semi-truck diesel lanes which means you never have to figure out how your going to maneuver your way around a crowded, tight gasoline station full of cars. If the diesel pumps in the auto area look to tight or make you nervous at all, you simply pull around and line up with the big trucks, very easy.
Diesel engines are also build to last much longer than a gas engine. You can expect 300-500,000 of life as long as you maintain it.

I think you can tell, for me, the answer to you question is absolutely a no brainer, go with a 3/4 ton diesel for a trailer as large and heavy as your 33' Classic.

I understand that the 3/4 ton is a bit large when driving around as your daily driver when not towing, but, when you are towing, this is THE vehicle to own.

franklyfrank · 07-27-2018, 01:43 PM

No but if you install a ProPride hitch you can pull it with a Jeep Wrangler. Or Ford Fiesta .

Tyvekcat · 07-27-2018, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

No but if you install a ProPride hitch you can pull it with a Jeep Wrangler. Or Ford Fiesta .

Well just because you 'can', doesn't mean you should. There is a lot of stuff I see people do because they can, but it sure isn't the right thing to do.
Usually it hurts someone else.