Prospective Buyer, NEW to all but tent camping

I tow a 2720sl with a HD 3/4 ton truck and although I have never had a problem, there have been several times where I did not feel like the TV was overkill. Your TV will move the TM from place to place, but there will be times when it is not comfortable doing it and it will shorten the life of the vehicle. Also equally important to pulling the TM is stopping the TM/TV combo.

[tgpmd1]

Having towed our 2720SL through the Colorado a few times going out West and seeing family in Lafayette, CO, I recommend getting the largest tow vehicle you can. We camp quite a bit with our TM and have a 17' canoe, bikes, a rocket box and one kid. But, he likes to take a friend or two camping, so you need to figure in the 'stuff' teens need to take as well. We also dry camp from the east coast out west and like to carry a full tank of water so we can stop Wal-Marts or Sam's Clubs each night and be fully self contained. If you figure the weight of the water, a precharged toilet, food and the big kid toys, the weight adds up. But that's just my two cents. We also are big into Boy Scouts and Venturing (co-ed Scouting) and use our TM quite a bit for that as well a family camping. It also doubles as my office once a year during camp (I'm a volunteer Camp Director). We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our TM and found a great deal on a used one for one third the price of new. Our friends from church also recently purchased a used one as well. It's a great 'second home'.

[LoveToCamp]

If kn1ghtus wants to camp in the places I do, and it sounds like he does, he will just be getting close to the general camping area at 9,000 feet!

I have a 5.7L in my wife's Grand Cherokee, and heading up to Cripple Creek I had to downshift two gears in some spots, just to stay close to 55 mph. In my mind, I would not like to do that frequently. That's why I got my diesel Grand Cherokee. Much better at pulling the grades. I'm with tgpmd1 - get the most TV you can afford. It will last longer. I keep my vehicles to at least 250,000 miles, so I want it to be able to go where I want to go, without complaining about it.

so I just paid last night to be a full member, hopefully Chris will turn it on tomorrow and I'll be able to get full access-- and will then address each of the comments-- It's a bit overwhelming, alast thing I want to do is buy a 35,000 dollar TV+10-15,000 for a TM and not feel safe/comfortable--

I guess the biggest thing is finding the right balance for the individual hmm? thanks for all the input, I'd still like to hear from more people who have the 2720's and what they pull with (and heck anyone from Colorado too! Thanks for the tips LoveToCamp)!

Okay so I'm a real member now what places would you have me read about

1. learning towing 101 (tow hidge sway diferential stuff)
2. Still good places to go camping 'round these parts!
3. Some more discussion about TV pulling a 2700dryweight TM with a 5,000 TV (we really don't want to get the

durango

but if it will work better here in the mountains)

I think I'm going to go buy a 2007 limited durango v8 hemi today only 49,000 miles on it and I can get it for a good price. there goes our MPG, but dang it all this is what we want to do, and if having a tow of 7400 is going to make a huge difference we're goign with it!

[Bill]

I think that is a good move, kn1ghtus. Not a NECESSARY move, but a really good one for your situation. You can load the car and the camper pretty much as you want, take extra kids, go to high altitude places, and not have to worry or fret about preparations. For camping in the Rockies, that will be worth a lot.

First place to start reading is in our Technical Library, aka Trail Manor Information You Won't Find Anywhere Else - the first forum at the top of this board.

Enjoy - and tell us stories of your experiences!

Bill

Signing the paperwork now for it!

[rvcycleguy]

Sounds like a good plan with the Durango. I pull with a Tundra V8 that rates at 7200lbs tow weight. I'm glad we have the power to take almost as much as I want to with me and wheel base that gives me the confidence that the TM won't be pushing me around.

[hillbillyhotel]

Congrantz on the new tv, that will sure do the job you need it to do, and welcome aboard