Picking up a new TT tomorrow!
07-18-2019, 08:35 AM
#1
Senile member
Thread Starter
Picking up a new TT tomorrow!
We're taking the '17 3.5eb Screw 4x4 to General RV and picking up a Sundance Ultra Lite 278BH tomorrow.
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
07-18-2019, 11:05 AM
#2
Senior Member
We're taking the '17 3.5eb Screw 4x4 to General RV and picking up a Sundance Ultra Lite 278BH tomorrow.
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
07-18-2019, 11:08 AM
#3
5.0 DOHC V8
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: The southern California sardine can
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Well, mister! we're excited for you! Congrats! 
I would only add (see what I did, there? hee)... never say "never" on how heavy you'll be, however here's hoping you are, and will remain, of the "Less is More" school of thought.
I would only add (see what I did, there? hee)... never say "never" on how heavy you'll be, however here's hoping you are, and will remain, of the "Less is More" school of thought.
07-18-2019, 11:36 AM
#5
5.0 DOHC V8
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: The southern California sardine can
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I'm impressed by your payload
Hi, John. Low-trim XLTs built for fleet use (such as my CPO-purchased XLT) Super Crew has a "combined weight of passengers and cargo should never exceed" of 2156 lbs, and that's with a 6800 lb GVWR. It would appear that the curb weight of this rig was just 4844 lbs before I threw some stuff into it (about what a 390 c.i. 1969 Country Squire wagon weighed back in the day).
07-18-2019, 11:52 AM
#6
Senile member
Thread Starter
They tried to do the 1000lb bars, but i pushed for the 1200lb bars....so i'm not sure which one that is.
As for loading: yeah,we have no plans to drive with full tanks, we don't dry camp much, if ever.
I think our payload is pretty good considering this is a pretty 'optioned' STX: side steps, rear e-locker (9.75" rear diff), 4x4, carpet, sync3, 3.5 ecoboost, tow package (not max tow). I figure i may swap in the 36g tank and knock 100lbs off the payload at that point tops.
As for loading: yeah,we have no plans to drive with full tanks, we don't dry camp much, if ever.
I think our payload is pretty good considering this is a pretty 'optioned' STX: side steps, rear e-locker (9.75" rear diff), 4x4, carpet, sync3, 3.5 ecoboost, tow package (not max tow). I figure i may swap in the 36g tank and knock 100lbs off the payload at that point tops.
Last edited by chimmike; 07-18-2019 at 08:06 PM.
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07-18-2019, 07:42 PM
#8
Senior Member
Congradulations....sounds like good times are coming.
07-18-2019, 08:27 PM
#9
Senior Member
We're taking the '17 3.5eb Screw 4x4 to General RV and picking up a Sundance Ultra Lite 278BH tomorrow.
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
I figured even at GVWR, we're well within spec.
Payload: 1942lbs
GVWR: 7,000
the manufacturer's site is goofy, but the dry weight is 6500lbs. https://heartlandrvs.com/2019/travel...ite/st-278-bh/
GVWR of the TT is 9565. Tremendous cargo capacity.
Will be using the Equalizer hitch.
Figure at worst case tongue weight of 15% of GVWR: 1,434lbs tongue weight. That leaves me 500lbs for occupants, cargo, WDH. There's 3 of us. Me, the wife, and 9 year old daughter.
The reality is, it will NEVER be loaded that heavily. I'm figuring we'll top out at 7,500-8,000lbs loaded, and worst case 15% tongue weight of 1,200lbs.
3.31 gears. But before y'all say anything, I have zero concern. More or less equivalent to 3.73s in the 6sp auto. In tow/haul mode using every gear to accelerate, this thing just flat out pulls. With premium fuel and tow/haul, i'll be good to go.
We're excited
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chimmike (07-20-2019)
07-20-2019, 07:48 AM
#10
Senile member
Thread Starter
Picked it up last night and drove home through a tremendously powerful thunderstorm in the Tampa Bay area. I couldn't feel the wind with the equalizer. I did get the typical push from fast or large vehicles...but no continued sway. With regards to power, the 3.31s didn't seem to hamper anything. It was happy as a lark cruising at 65 in 8th gear even up overpasses. I got into 9th a few times. I think a tow tune might be in my future.....
They set up the 12k equalizer, but it's got a little bit of sag (I do have a level on the front) but i'm not sure if they set it up right. Seems like more sag than I expected. Of course, it's a heavy camper (and I found out at home they didn't drain the freshwater tank as I asked them to before leaving).
Heck of a day yesterday as I spent the better part of the morning destroying my inlaws yard trying to get the old camper out. Truck got stuck, but was able to unhitch from the old unit and drive the truck out under its own power. Rented a bobcat (with tires, not tracks...of course the one with tracks was unavailable) and that thing dug in and rutted the yard some more. Suffice to say I owe my inlaws a truck of dirt and labor to spread it around. sheesh.
They set up the 12k equalizer, but it's got a little bit of sag (I do have a level on the front) but i'm not sure if they set it up right. Seems like more sag than I expected. Of course, it's a heavy camper (and I found out at home they didn't drain the freshwater tank as I asked them to before leaving).
Heck of a day yesterday as I spent the better part of the morning destroying my inlaws yard trying to get the old camper out. Truck got stuck, but was able to unhitch from the old unit and drive the truck out under its own power. Rented a bobcat (with tires, not tracks...of course the one with tracks was unavailable) and that thing dug in and rutted the yard some more. Suffice to say I owe my inlaws a truck of dirt and labor to spread it around. sheesh.