Almost an Owner

[NC-Canuck]

Hello all. Looking forward to being a part of this forum. Have always found the advice and knowledge on RV forums to be very helpful.

Looking to buy a 2018 HC 385BR from the original owner. Upgrading from a Forest River Windjammer Travel Trailer we have had for 6 years. Have a 2013 F350 SRW with the 6.2 L V8 and 4.3 axle - showing 15,000 lb towing capacity.

The seller is asking $49.9k for the unit. His best price is $47,500 and will include a Reese 18k Elite hitch (usually about $1k) and 3 years left on a GoodSam extended warranty on all mechanicals. Dry Weight is 12,810. The unit has all the options available and he will throw in whatever camping equipment i want.

2 questions:
1. I have searched all the RV sites to compare prices and most seemed higher and a few slightly lower. So price seems reasonable to me. Does it to you?
2. Based on my research the F350 should be able to tow it - but i see a lot of you towing this RV have DRW. Am i fooling myself that my old reliable F350 can do the job?

[Montana Man]

Welcome to the forum. I have no advice on the price. On the truck, check the door jamb sticker and look for the gvwr. You'll have about 3500 pin weight. Add that to the truck's weight plus people and misc. and see if you exceed the gvwr. I suspect you will. Then towing that trailer with a gasser will have you shopping for a diesel shortly. JMHO

[DadsHemi]

Only leaves your 2,190 lbs to play with, also I’m seeing your truck has a 11,000 GVRW. Cargo capacity looks to be from 2500 to 3000lbs, that means all in.

The GVWR of that 5th is probably 16,000lbs, on an average the pin weight would be approximately 20% of the 5th weight pending on how you load it, mine runs 25 to 26% but I’m still under the pin weight limit.

IMO if all your going to do is weekend/local type camping you would be fine, long term traveling I would not recommend as your truck would get over weight and the fuel mpg would not be good.

[rames14]

It looks as if you have dialed in on sources for pricing. You may want to see your personal banker and see what resources they have. You also may want to see what a new one would cost - best price from a dealer you trust. As for the truck, if you tow very far, you will want a diesel. If you are just towing it somewhere to let it sit, you will be fine. If you have visions of trips to the west, you will not be happy with a gasser. Go to a campground and look at larger campers and see what they are using. I would say 99% of MOC owners are towing diesel.

[69Roadrunner]

Before you purchase, make sure the gear boxes on the slides haven’t leaked grease onto the roof of the slides. This will destroy the roof material. You can see from inside the camper standing on a stepladder. The slides will have to be extended about halfway; just look over the fascia trim. The bedroom is harder to see, may have to use a mirror. The previous owner may have installed dip pans, which is Keystone’s solution for the problem.