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I might have missed it but if you haven't weighed your truck's front and rear axles yet, might not hurt to find out where you're at weight-wise...just to see how much payload you actually have.
Well, I'm picking up a gently used Demco 18K Autoslider today. Going to make sure I can clear backing up my driveway with the drop frame of the Solitude. If I can clear the transition between the street and the drive, we'll just leave it in the driveway and finalize the loan. I feel the Demco is mandatory with the wide body of the Solitude and my "Short bed". My brother in law pulled it with a Reese fixed hitch in his 3500 short bed, but he also drove truck for 35+ years so had a bit more experience than I. There was a dent on each side of the cab of his truck, so he was very close to needing a new window at least twice
Well, I'm picking up a gently used Demco 18K Autoslider today. Going to make sure I can clear backing up my driveway with the drop frame of the Solitude. If I can clear the transition between the street and the drive, we'll just leave it in the driveway and finalize the loan. I feel the Demco is mandatory with the wide body of the Solitude and my "Short bed". My brother in law pulled it with a Reese fixed hitch in his 3500 short bed, but he also drove truck for 35+ years so had a bit more experience than I. There was a dent on each side of the cab of his truck, so he was very close to needing a new window at least twice
The autoslide hitch ought to work OK. The nose on our Solitude is tapered more then the Fuzion toyhauler we had before. We towed it with son in laws F250 shortbed and it hit the cab corner making a turn uphill. The newer campers are less likely to hit then campers of a few years back. I still avoid making tight turns or jacking the trailer if possible to put less stress on the trailer suspension and also avoiding hitting the cab. Hope it works out OK for you!
I pull my Solitude 372WB just fine. Did with my 2013 F350 diesel up to Este Park with no issues at all. My 2021 is great upgrade. Added airbags to both trucks for a little help....
I had a Jayco Designer prior to my Solitude.... quality on the Grand Design product is far superior in my opinion....
Installed a gently used Demco Hijacker 18k autoslide.. then hooked up to the Solitude. Was able to make some sharp turns in the lot testing. Then pulled it home to test the driveway. The rear receiver on the Solitude has two chain loops that angle down. Those rubbed just as the trailer tires were on the sidewalk. a 2x6 under each side was enough to clear. I had the Demco in the middle position and have about 9" of bed clearance... I think I could raise the pinbox or lower the Demco and clear everything.
So I'll be pulling the trigger on the Solitude. The 7.3 Godzilla with the 4.30 gears handled the load just fine at 55 and stop and goes. I have no doubt that 65 freeway speeds will be great as well.
Pretty much the same as what we have and no issues and within factory tow rating. See sig.
Looks like our trailer specs are very similar - your GVWR is 16995, mine is 16800, we're both wide-bodies. Your truck is a long box, mine is short box, so that covers the slightly heavier GVWR of your trailer. Glad to hear you're towing with no issues, thanks for sharing your experience!
Looks like our trailer specs are very similar - your GVWR is 16995, mine is 16800, we're both wide-bodies. Your truck is a long box, mine is short box, so that covers the slightly heavier GVWR of your trailer. Glad to hear you're towing with no issues, thanks for sharing your experience!
We haven't towed a ton yet. I'll check back in a couple months....
I had to pass on the Solitude. Even with the Demco HiJacker autoslide hitch, I couldn't get to 70 degrees turn, and with a trailer that big, and a lot of state parks planned, I knew it was trouble. The wide body and relatively flat nose of the Solitude is not a good fit with a Short Bed... regardless of the slider. Too Close
Good call, That is close and sooner or later the "oh sheet" moment would happen.
Absolutely, especially at a campground with rough terrain. One little wiggle of that trailer during that test and I'd have needed to schedule a new window install.
Wow, did you confirm that the autoslider was actually slid back? One would think the extra 14" of aft travel by the slider should be plenty to provide clearance. Have never seen a report that an autoslider did not give enough clearance on these trucks.
Wow, did you confirm that the autoslider was actually slid back? One would think the extra 14" of aft travel by the slider should be plenty to provide clearance. Have never seen a report that an autoslider did not give enough clearance on these trucks.
Yep, at that turn, I still think it was at most 65 degrees, the Demco was back about 10 ".. Again this is a 102" wide trailer and the nose is not rounded as much as most trailers built now-a-days.
Yep, at that turn, I still think it was at most 65 degrees, the Demco was back about 10 ".. Again this is a 102" wide trailer and the nose is not rounded as much as most trailers built now-a-days.
