Thinking of buying a 2023 Grand Design Transcend Explor 260RB

[Rambilt]

Has anyone here towed a similar size and weight Travel Trailer (2023 Grand Design Transcend Explor 260RB) with 2021 1500 Ram Hemi 3.21 crew cab? We loved the layout.
Dry Weight
6,147 lbs.
Payload Capacity
1,548 lbs.
GVWR
7,695 lbs.
Hitch Weight
627 lbs.
I currently have a much smaller and lighter travel trailer right now around 4500lbs dry weight and probably 450 hitch weight. My wife wants to upgrade to a bigger trailer for comfort and safety when we go to Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yellow stone national park and Mount Rushmore this summer. We already have our reservations made to different RV parks that we will be staying while on this trip. My trailer only has a single axle and my wife thinks it's not safe to travel long distance.

v/r

Rick

 

[Loudram]

You should be fine as long as you have a quality weight distribution/ anti sway hitch. Keep an eye on your tongue weight. I have a 30' Coachmen Spirit Ultra Lite with similar weights. My brochure tongue weight is in the mid 600 range but my actual tongue weight is upper 900. I use a Weigh Safe True Tow hitch.

 

[jws1982]

As long as you’re within your payload and tow capacities, you should be fine insurance-wise on the truck. As stated above, make sure you have the proper towing equipment and weight distribution hitch. Proper towing equipment and setup is critical to safe towing with 1500’s at their weight limits.

 

[Rambilt]

Thank you guys for the response. I do use a weight distribution hitch and a cheap anti sway bar from harbor freight. I have to stop on the side of the road before getting on the freeway to tightened the anti sway bar so it'll do what it's supposed to do. It's kind of a hassle but have to make do with it for now until I upgrade to a combo WDH/Anti sway. Will probably have to trade our current travel trailer for the Grand Design travel trailer. What do you guys suggest fro installing a receiver hitcher two electric bike.?



v/r

Rick

 

[Willwork4truck]

Go on the rv forums so you can get blasted by the "weight police"...
You are on the high end of your truck's capabilities. Doable but may not be very comfortable especially in high wind situations or climbing steep grades.
Just remember any suspension mods do nothing to increase your legal and safe payload and axle ratings.
Flat land towing at 60 mph in low winds, after you've gotten the loaded rig weighed at a CAT scale and are within all limits, then ok. Guessing at your weights and/or going 70-80 on P tires? Not so much...
I towed for years but always with a 3500 SRW. Trucks are more capable now but there are certain laws of physics that just don't change.

 

[Loudram]

Thank you guys for the response. I do use a weight distribution hitch and a cheap anti sway bar from harbor freight. I have to stop on the side of the road before getting on the freeway to tightened the anti sway bar so it'll do what it's supposed to do. It's kind of a hassle but have to make do with it for now until I upgrade to a combo WDH/Anti sway. Will probably have to trade our current travel trailer for the Grand Design travel trailer. What do you guys suggest fro installing a receiver hitcher two electric bike.?



v/r

Rick

You will definitely need to upgrade that hitch. Weight safe true tow and the Equalizer hitch are two top hitches. I've owned both and they both work great. I've also heard that the Reese Dual Cam is a good one but I've never used it.

I'm not sure what your asking about the e-bikes. I know they weigh more that regular bikes. I carry our bikes in the bed of my truck when we go camping. I'm close to my payload limit but I'm still under it. My wife's bike is an e-trike and mine is a regular mountain bike.

 

[Willwork4truck]

E V E R Y single thing other than a 150# driver and a tank of gas has to be deducted from your truck's yellow sticker payload. The weights of the hitch, passengers, anything brought into the cab or bed, anything hung off the ft bumper, heavier than stock wheels or tires, suspension mods and 12-13% of your actual loaded trailer weight... Have you done those calculations?

Ways to score points (not): Wifey and everyone steps on a scale. All other items are either weighed on a scale or you just go to the nearby CAT scale as if you are fully loaded up and leaving on your trip. Pro tip - dont fill the fresh water tank more than just enough to flush the toilet a couple times... like maybe 5 gallons max. Water is 8# a gallon. Same with carrying propane. Buy that near your destination. Consider buying a lithium battery and dumping the factory lead acid.
Oh those solar panels you want to add to the roof? More weight...Same with all the camping crap.

My kids would load up the storage compartments with every precious rock, pine cone, stick etc so on the way back we were probably as heavy or heavier than going out.

Or just get a gasser 2500 and "forget about all the aforementioned stuff"...

 

[Rambilt]

I'm not sure what your asking about the e-bikes. I know they weigh more that regular bikes. I carry our bikes in the bed of my truck when we go camping. I'm close to my payload limit but I'm still under it. My wife's bike is an e-trike and mine is a regular mountain bike.

I need a better hitch receiver installed at the back of the trailer so I can travel with my two e-bikes mounted at the back of the trailer on a bike rack.

 

[Rambilt]

E V E R Y single thing other than a 150# driver and a tank of gas has to be deducted from your truck's yellow sticker payload. The weights of the hitch, passengers, anything brought into the cab or bed, anything hung off the ft bumper, heavier than stock wheels or tires, suspension mods and 12-13% of your actual loaded trailer weight... Have you done those calculations?

Ways to score points (not): Wifey and everyone steps on a scale. All other items are either weighed on a scale or you just go to the nearby CAT scale as if you are fully loaded up and leaving on your trip. Pro tip - dont fill the fresh water tank more than just enough to flush the toilet a couple times... like maybe 5 gallons max. Water is 8# a gallon. Same with carrying propane. Buy that near your destination. Consider buying a lithium battery and dumping the factory lead acid.
Oh those solar panels you want to add to the roof? More weight...Same with all the camping crap.

My kids would load up the storage compartments with every precious rock, pine cone, stick etc so on the way back we were probably as heavy or heavier than going out.

Or just get a gasser 2500 and "forget about all the aforementioned stuff"...

We have a CAT scale close by that I haven't tried yet but I do planned on using it when I do buy this new Travel trailer. I really don't like to worry about having an overloaded cargo at the back of the truck. Thanks for the good advice.


v/r

Rick

 

[Rambilt]

Go on the rv forums so you can get blasted by the "weight police"...
You are on the high end of your truck's capabilities. Doable but may not be very comfortable especially in high wind situations or climbing steep grades.
Just remember any suspension mods do nothing to increase your legal and safe payload and axle ratings.
Flat land towing at 60 mph in low winds, after you've gotten the loaded rig weighed at a CAT scale and are within all limits, then ok. Guessing at your weights and/or going 70-80 on P tires? Not so much...
I towed for years but always with a 3500 SRW. Trucks are more capable now but there are certain laws of physics that just don't change.

I'm planning to travel safely either with my current small trailer or the would be new bigger trailer. I really would love to have my dually back for this planned trip but traded it in for this smaller and more manageable truck. thanks for the advice.


v/r

Rick

 

[Loudram]

I need a better hitch receiver installed at the back of the trailer so I can travel with my two e-bikes mounted at the back of the trailer on a bike rack.

I don't know of a specific brand to recommend but I'm sure you know that you need that welded to the frame and not just attached to the bumper unless it's specifically rated to hold the weight. Some travel trailers come with a receiver already factory installed.

You don't want to be this guy...

 

[nc_beagle]

E V E R Y single thing other than a 150# driver and a tank of gas has to be deducted from your truck's yellow sticker payload. The weights of the hitch, passengers, anything brought into the cab or bed, anything hung off the ft bumper, heavier than stock wheels or tires, suspension mods and 12-13% of your actual loaded trailer weight... Have you done those calculations?

Ways to score points (not): Wifey and everyone steps on a scale. All other items are either weighed on a scale or you just go to the nearby CAT scale as if you are fully loaded up and leaving on your trip. Pro tip - dont fill the fresh water tank more than just enough to flush the toilet a couple times... like maybe 5 gallons max. Water is 8# a gallon. Same with carrying propane. Buy that near your destination. Consider buying a lithium battery and dumping the factory lead acid.
Oh those solar panels you want to add to the roof? More weight...Same with all the camping crap.

My kids would load up the storage compartments with every precious rock, pine cone, stick etc so on the way back we were probably as heavy or heavier than going out.

Or just get a gasser 2500 and "forget about all the aforementioned stuff"...

This has been debated here (I think) and definitely on the Lance message board I'm on, but I'm pretty sure that there is no allowance for a driver in the payload. It does assume a full tank of fuel, though. So, the full weight of the driver is deducted from the payload.

 

[Loudram]

This has been debated here (I think) and definitely on the Lance message board I'm on, but I'm pretty sure that there is no allowance for a driver in the payload. It does assume a full tank of fuel, though. So, the full weight of the driver is deducted from the payload.

The payload amount is the gross weight minus the curb weight with all fluids full including gas. The 150lb driver is included in the tow rating figures not the payload figures.

 

[Willwork4truck]

Just makes it worse then...