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Old 12-14-2013, 04:53 PM   #1
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New Sunline owner

I recently purchased a 1998 Sunline Solaris T-2570 in good condition and started reading this forum hoping to prepare for next year. I'm starting to think it might be a little too much trailer for my truck based on some of what I read on here and I was also hoping for recommendations on a weight distribution hitch with sway controls. I have a 2004 Silverado 1500 Z71 with the 5.3l engine which according to the owners manual maxes out at 7800 pounds. Dry weight on the trailer is 4355 and GVWR is 7000. The tow hitch receiver is a v5 talon rated at 600 lbs tongue and 5000 trailer without weight distribution, 1500 and 12,000 lbs with. I'm hoping to use this trailer for short trips a few times a year to NH or Maine and probably wouldn't be going more than a couple hundred miles away. Any feedback on either topic is appreciated.

Thanks
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Old 12-14-2013, 08:04 PM   #2
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Hi southshore, Welcome to the forum.

Congrats on the "new" Sunline. Just my opinion but I think with a good weight distribution hitch and if you don't "fill up" the trailer to max then you should be pretty good. A trip to a scale may help stay a bit under that 7,000# GVWR.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:24 PM   #3
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Welcome to forum, friendly people here willing to help

I have a T2553 which is 15 lb. dry weight ligther. I'm running about 750 tongue weight but I have a front kitchen whitch tends to have a heaver tounge weight. I towed with a Dodge ram. I have a 5.9L and 3.55 rear gear. It pulled good execpt hill would bog it some. Tow with out water, saves weight, fill up when you get there. Definitely use good LT tires and run high pressure.. It wouldn't hurt to get a tongue weight scale. You can us household scale and beam method but that's a hassle. That way you know how to load. then go to scales. Propane and battery add to tongue weight also. I load heavy but am still way under max for trailer or truck.
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Old 12-15-2013, 05:36 AM   #4
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Thanks guys. Appreciate the feedback and feel a little better about it now. Is it best to go to a dealer for the weight distribution/sway control or in your opinions better to buy online? I grew up with my family owning RV's but am new to the travel trailer business. The trailer seemed like a good buy and it is definitely in good shape so I jumped on it without having time to fully research everything.
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Old 12-15-2013, 06:45 AM   #5
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I find better prices on the internet. Plus some dealers tend to over sell you what you need. Do lots of research and look on at www.etrailer.com. Lots of videos on setting up load leveling hitches. I haven't had a dealer set up one correctly yet. Problem trailer isn't loaded when they set it up. Personally I like the dual cam setups. Follow setup instructions, that gets you close. Load trailer,like for going camping and take it and tools to a CAT scale (truck stops have them) get your weights. Go back to parking area tweak your hitch then go back through scales till you get the distribution weights you like. Took me 5 times through to get what I wanted. There are instructions here and on the web on how to weigh at CAT scales.
JohnB will be along shortly or email him. He's an expert on hitches
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Old 12-15-2013, 06:11 PM   #6
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Welcome to the SOC, Southshore! There is a lot of knowledge you can tap into on this site and friendly folk too.

Just echoing a lot of what Jim wrote. Definitely recommend the weight distribution and sway control; we also have the Reese Dual Cam (bought it on-line, much better pricing) and it's great! Unfortunately, like Jim said, the reputable RV dealer we went to installed it incorrectly in several ways. We ended up having to re-install it ourselves - and thanked God for JohnB who walked us through that process, step-by-step, through a series of pixs and emails. While we weren't thrilled about the mis-installation, it turned out to be a great learning experience for us and we now know a lot more about how the hitch works. Since then, we have learned that it's better to have a hitch installed at places where they make/sell utility trailers as they tend to know more about hitches than RV dealers. But you can install the hitch yourself if you are deliberate about following the instructions, making the measurements, and tweaking where necessary. Let us know what you decide.
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Old 12-15-2013, 10:22 PM   #7
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Here's a thread about JohnB setting up a dual cam setup.
http://www.sunlineclub.com/forums/f7...tup-10246.html
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Old 12-15-2013, 10:43 PM   #8
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Here's an example of CAT scale weights to give you an idea. You notice my Gross TT weight is well below 7000 lbs. Combined weight of Loaded truck (plenty of fire wood) and loaded TT is 12240. Since the dry weight of your TT is only 15 lbs. more than mine I think it's doable.
Tongue weight 700 lb

Loaded truck
Steer Axle 3460
Drive Axle 2680

Weights with 4 links tight.
Steer Axle 3700
Drive Axle 2840
Trailer Axle 5700

Weights with 5 links tight.
Steer Axle 3580
Drive Axle 3040
Trailer Axle 5640

Weights with 6 links tight.
Steer Axle 3440
Drive Axle 3240
Trailer Axle 5560
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Old 12-17-2013, 05:57 PM   #9
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Southshore,

I guess you know you came to the right place for answers.

Welcome to SOC.
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Old 12-18-2013, 05:10 PM   #10
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Thanks for all the feedback everybody. I'll save some of my other questions until after I get the WD hitch purchased and set up.
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Old 12-18-2013, 06:01 PM   #11
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Welcome and feed all the questions you want. Also we love pictures. Enjoy.
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Old 12-18-2013, 08:55 PM   #12
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Welcome! Agreed with Gene. A good hitch and keep an eye on how much you load it. If it drops the back of the truck down too much a set of helper air bags in the rear leaf springs and your all set to go. I knew a guy who towed a 28' camper with the air bags and a good hitch on a 1500 no problem at all.
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Old 12-23-2013, 06:13 PM   #13
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Welcome, Southshore,
Your truck should be fine. I've been towing a Solaris T2653 with a Chevy Tahoe 5.3 for the last seven years. Trips include from Florida to Utah, New England, etc.
In the high passes out west I was wishing I had more truck, or less trailer, but otherwise it's been fine. We use an Equalizer 4 way load distributing anti-sway bar setup. Bilstien HD shocks. It rides very well.
All the best,
Tom
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