Hello everyone,
I'm looking for feed back on the RV Dealer Big Daddy,they have a great price and great warranty (life time). This dealer is 9 hrs from us and would like to know how they are.
The unit we like is a Forest River Silver back 37mbh. local dealer has it for 63K Big Daddy is 53K, well worth the drive
Our tow vehicle is a 2013 F250 CCLB, SWD 6.7 with a 5" lift, they would be installing a 5th wheel for us, since i don't have one (any brand better then the next brand)

Thank you

 

I pull a similar silverback 37bh with my F450. A F250 will be way over payload and the 5" lift will make your rv ride nose-high. These trailers are heavier and have more pin weight than the spec sheet says. My weights below are worst case, with 67 gallons of fresh water and about 300# of firewood. Without wood, empty tanks, and no passengers (my truck had my family of 5 and dog for the slip below), you'll be at least 1000# (maybe 2000#) over your GVWR.

 

Assume you also have 35-37" tires?
Your rail height is going to be way too tall to pull a 5er without lifting the trailer. Most stock trucks only have about 6" of rail clearance (no lift and 33" tires). The trailer will have to sit way nose high, and your truck will squat way *** low. If you look at KR's weight ticket, you can see you are already over 1,000lbs over the axle rating of a SRW truck.
That price difference is worth the drive, but I think you'll be bummed if you go all that way and find out you can't clear the rails.
I'd say, go to your local dealer and tell them you are looking at 5ers but aren't sure if your truck will fit. Ask them to back under one that is sitting level on level ground. Measure your rail clearance and the distance from the truck bed floor to the top of the kingpin, and also from the truck rail to the 5er body. (Add in about 2-3" of squat) That'll give you an idea of the necessary hitch adjustability and feasibility of hauling with that much lift.

 

Go to Forest River Forums - Forest River Owners Community.

Down at the bottom is a dealer review section. I'm almost positive I've seen reviews of a Big Daddy's RV.

That lifetime warranty? Highly likely you'll have to go back to the dealership to have things done at a minimum once per year to keep the warranty valid. Roof inspection is the big one. It will probably cost you a few hundred bucks every year in "service" to keep the warranty going. If you miss one service and have a big claim, you're probably out of luck.

 

Yes I'm running 35 tires, i will check out a local dealer, if i get a lot of squat would air bags help?
thanks for the help

 

 

I'll second the other guys' opinions - WAY too much fifth wheel for an F250. If you look at Big Daddy's reviews on Google, they're all over the place - five stars down to one star. The most common complaints seem to be service after the sale.

https://www.google.com/search?q=big+...9f74dea5e0a4,1,,,

Rob

 

In my opinion, you are asking for a lot of trouble, both before you try to hook up (if you can), and especially after you get hooked up. That trailer's GVWR is just north of 16,000 lb and if you load it close to that, your pin weight will be 3200+ lbs. Add in a 5ver hitch that's 175-200 lbs and now you're at 3400 lbs! How much payload capacity do you have on your F250? What's the rear axle rating? You are in over your head with a trailer that large and a truck that size.....you're best bet for that one is a Dually that has the weight ratings to handle that trailer.

 

 

time to start truck shopping again....lol

my lift is done by a block at the rear, normal leaf springs that a 250 comes stock with

 

In addition to what has been said, I would almost bet you will be over the tire ratings at max psi.

those 35's what ply are they and what is the max load on the side wall?

Truly if you are not going to look for a lighter 5th wheel then you would at least need to return to stock height most likely.

 

kevin211, regarding the dealership and the online reviews, you have to remember that most people go online to complain about someplace or someone, not to compliment them. For every complaint, there are probably 7-10 happy customers.

In addition, a travel trailer may be more suited for your situation. They have come a long way in recent years, but I personally will never go back to a travel trailer after towing a 5th wheel.

First world problems can be a bitch, you will figure it out.