Hello from a first time RV newbie (Updated 1/21/09)

Well this is my first post and I'm sure it want be my last. I've enjoyed reading the info here and there is lot more to learn. I'm about to fulfill a dream to take a year long cross country trip in 2009. I hope to leave in February. This is what my late wife and I had planned to do after I retired almost 6 years ago. Unfortunately, 5 months after retirement, she was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 35 months later. I just got engaged on Christmas morning and my fiancée, Amy, is looking forward to traveling with me.

I look forward to leaning a lot here and hopefully meet some of you along the way.
1/9/09
**Hey RVers,
I tossed and turned about all this. All the input was very valuable, thanks. After talking to the CHP I learned if I were stopped by them, I could be dead-lined for towing with an under-weighted truck. So next week I will receive my new Ram 3500 dually by even trade with my Ram 2500 and Toyota Tacoma. I weighed my 2500 today and it was clear that the RV would be overweight for it. Better to be safe than sorry. Thank God for an even trade! I did tow my RV 50 miles a few days ago with my 2500 and it did great. Really all I needed was airbags. But that wouldn't matter because of the 2500 weight classification. CHP doesn't care what modifications are made.
**1/12/09
I picked up my new 08 Ram 3500 dually today. I hope to put on the scales on Thursday after I get the 5th wheel installed on Wednesday. The 3500 has some nicer options that my 08 2500 didn't. Below is the Certification Label information. Now I have to put some miles on it to break-in the engine before towing.
TV -
GVWR: 12,200 lbs.
GAWR-Front: 5,200 lbs. (same as the 2500)
GAWR-Rear: 9,350 lbs.
**1/16/09
I weighed my truck yesterday with full fuel tank and other items and here is the info. Next week I plan to fill up all the RV tanks to simulate my anticipated load and weigh the TV and RV. Also I will be installing the new airbags.
TV - Difference (GAWR/GVWR)
Front: 4,680 lbs. 520 lbs.
Rear: 3,460 lbs. 5,890 lbs.
Total: 8,140 lbs. 4,060 lbs.
**1/21/09
See comment on page 3.

Welcome aboard, I'm going to be watching your posts closely to see how long it will take you to upgrade to a F450/F550 because that's a lot of trailer you have there ( www.alstrailers.com/inventory/31186/New-...nd-Cyclone-4012.aspx ) for a 3/4T.

The Heartland Owners Forum ( www.heartlandowners.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=122 ) would be a good place for you to browse around. We have an Everest and belong to the Everest Owners Club and their forum has always been very helpful to us.

FastEagle

Thanks FastEagle. I know it's borderline and that why I have already installed a few upgrades. Last week I installed the K&N cool air intake system and Triple Dog E3 Diesel downloader. I just received info for the intercooler tube upgrade from aFe. I may also have to install an air lift suspension kit but I'll have to wait and see when I hook it up the first time. Hopefully I'll pick it up this week. With these 2 upgrades the horse power should be about 420 and torque should be about 790 foot pounds.

www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod=63-1557
www.bullydog.com/product/index/product_detail/147

Note: Last year this truck towed about 10K pounds through the Tehachapi mountains on HWY 58 and the response from the truck was like, "Can't you give me something heavier?"

Welcome......
There's alot of info, advice, and fun here.....Great folks who will give you their 2 cents....weither you need it or not.. lol....but a great bunch.....Enjoy your new adventure....and keep us posted on your travels......

Been in your shoes. Same thing happen to me. Enjoy your year on the road. take your time. We set up for a week in each new location. Golf at least once in each state and do a lot of sight seeing. Keep posting your trip it will help lots of folks.

Hello and welcome aboard you two, we have been doing this travel thing for about 35 yrs. altogether. We really enjoy the travels and the just getting away from everything. We have a stick house in Mo. but not there very much. We think we are going to sell this spring. Looking forward to meeting you sometime down the road.