Well,I just went through a divorce, wife got the house, and recently had a friend inform me of some land his brother was selling. I was supposed to be closing on the property this week and things fell through. It was an absolutely georgious piece of property. Its was perfect for me! 6 acres w/ a 2bay shop w/ an apartment above. Had a deck that went from the back door of the apartment to the lake. Anyways, I'm figuring that since I caint reason spending the money on rent and I want to travel some. I'm thinking of buying a toy hauler to live out of 4 a minute! So my question is: what size toy hauler will my truck (in sig.) handle. It wont be hauled often and of course will have trailer brakes. I need it to be able to haul my 4 wheeler and tools. I've looked on Ebay and seen some that look perfect. 2008 Sunny Brook Big Dog for example Ebay item # 160226149079. Sorry, I dont know how to post links. I'm an aircraft mechanic so I've got lots of tools! Is this really feasible w/ our trucks? I really don't want to get rid of my 1st gen. I've kinda fall'n in love w/ the old heffer! Any and all comments, questions, tips, money orders, advice, laughs, etc. welcome! Thanks! And sorry if not enough info!

 

depends, you have a 300,000 mile stock 518 trans it looks like in your sig. otherwise the truck could no doubt probably pull 15000 pounds...also you just go to the address bar at the top of the page,highlight it with mouse,right click push copy and then go on the thread or post on here and right click and push paste whereever you want it like this (heres the trailer) http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUNNY...spagenameZWDVW


now you should be able to click on the ebay link and take you right to it...deffinely a really sweet trailer!!

 

I definately will be beefing up the tranny. Really, if I do this, I am gonna invest enough to do it right. I think it would be pretty sweet to see a 1st gen hauling that monster. Do yall think that a beefed up 518 would handle it ok or gonna need to go newer? If its gonna take too much I'll just buy a 2nd gen dually. I really want to stick with the 1st gen though!

 

a goerend brothers TQ and a transgo shift kit would do a world of wonder.

 

As far as quality goes, Sunny Brook are very high quality units. However, just some advise on R.V.s. Never buy an RV without a personal/hands on/visual inspection. Don't trust the sales person to be honest or frank about problems with the unit. Pin them down and ask questions. There are a lot of nice ones out there and there are a lot of people also trying to pawn off there troubles to someone else. Sorry for your woes and trouble, but if I was single, Id do the same thing. Good luck to ya.

 

The big thing about trailers is breaking coming to stop. The other thing I would do would buy the NV4500 kit get rid of the Auto replace it with the 5 speed, i think that would best for towing. The trailers i like are the Heartland Trailers they have the Best insulation on the market i think. http://www.heartlandrvs.com/product....pe=Toy+Haulers

 

I tow a 30ft 5th wheel Toyhauler with my 1st Gen. I have a 5 speed manual tranny and changed the 16cm to a 14 cm housing (original was a 21cm ). Towing has not been a problem. I cruise at 65 to 70 MPH. Stopping is a little iffy. I would like to find some 2 or 4 piston calipers to replace the marginal 1 piston calipers on the front.

 

Thanks for the feed back guys. I'm really think'n I'm gonna do this! I figure with a hydro boost and good trailer brakes I aught to be alright? and which do ya'll prefer? Fifth wheel or Goose neck? Thanks again,

 

Trailer brakes are the answer. I pull 15 to 20k and couldn't stop it with an 07 without great trailer brakes. You could put lockup in and go with a Jake, they ar e pretty handy too.

 

The fifth wheel would be easier to tow . Goose neck are usually utility trailers

 

Thanks! I'm set up for a goose neck now but Kinda figured 5th wheels where better! Any real problems out of goose necks?

 

My living quarters trailer is goosneck, it pulls great! You may want to look into a nice horse trailer, they're alot stouter than travel trailers. And alot of them have ramps on the rear.

 

I'LL look into that. Thanks! Does anyone know if a srw can handle the weight of say a heartland cyclone. It seems to be about as big as they come. I realize it would do best with a 3500 maybe a newer model, but as long as it can safely be done w/ some common sense and proper safety precautions I'll probably do this. But not sure yet if I want to get into purchasing a new truck and trailer.

 

Hey guys! I'm planning on going to take a look at some trailers this weekend. Any help full tips, or areas I should look at real well. Especially w/ a used trailer? Whatever I get is going to be relatively new 2006> And I plan on looking in the 32'> sizes. Anyways, thanks for all the info.!

 

This is a subject I have a bit of exp with. Now not exactly your truck set the way yours is but you can see they way mine is set up below.

A stock first gen will have a heck of a time pullin the thing. Maybe on a flat but not with any kinda incline. You will have to do mods to get the power up to where you won't get killed on the highway. Don't ask how I know this.
That Big Dog is a heck of a trailer. That thing is hugh. If you could get it rollin in stock form your bigger problem is stoppin it. The first gens don't like to stop much. The weight your hallin is a real stress on the ole girl. That bein said I tow a fifth wheel the gvw comes in at about 22k. I know the weight is there for sure and have to pay attention. The truck will pull it but stopping is another story. This is the job of the exhaust brake. Don't think you don't need one. Well maybe not need but you better like brake work without one. Remember the ole Dodge doesn't like to stop.

Didn't look but if your an auto you better look into a cooler. Don't know much about the auto except they weren't be best for heavy haulin in first gen form. I hope you have a 350 also or consider suspention upgrades.

It will cost ya a few bucks to do it right but it's cheaper than a new one. These ole trucks weren't designed for the kinda weight your gonna haul. Ya gotta build it to fit.

You will need to do most of the normal mods to the Cummins including the 4" exhaust. That with the bhaf made a bid difference in power and egt's. The egt's are the other major problem after stopping. Before the bhaf and exhaust work I drove with one eye on the road and the other on the egt's. And I mean all the time. It's considerably better now but ya still have to keep an eye on the temps.

Will she pull it? Yep. Do you have to do a bit of work? For sure

Just looked at your sig. Looks like your tuned for power. You will have to adjust for "sustanable" power not short burst power. Two differnet things. I'm not anywhere even in the ball park of Wanna's power or acceleration but I'll bet he will tell ya I can pull better. Ya gotta build for sustanable "foot in it" power. Three hundred and fifty horse will do no good at all if you can't keep your foot in it for a long pull up a hill. I guess it's a marrage between power and egt's. The trick being as much power as you can get with the way your setup that you can sustain without gettin your egt's to hot. I have mine tuned a little hot but I just shift when gettin to my egt redline. That gives me a bit more power but I need to watch the needle.

HTH