New Solitude owner

[BWSTGDS]

Hi all,

I've already learned so much lurking on this site when researching my next RV purchase. Hope to continue learning and contributing here.

Picked up a 2019 Solitude 377MBS from a private seller in western Washington. My family of 5 is grown up now, and so wanted the comfortable seating and sleeping space this unit provides.



Over on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums, I spend time collaborating with folks using the venerable 7.3 powerstroke diesel tow platform. On the first tow home from the seller, I was pleasantly surprised at the suspension and performance the old girl delivered. It's a 2001 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4.



Looking forward to talking with y'all.

Jeff (BWSTGDS)

 

[Second Chance]

Congratulations on the Solitude. You are almost certainly over payload rating on the truck.

Rob

 

[Hoopy Frood]

You'll be even happier with the new truck you get to pull that trailer. Last year I went from 2001 Dodge Cummins dually to a 2018 Ram Cummins dually, and the improvements were remarkable.

 

[BWSTGDS]

Thank you for the welcome. Taking the necessary time to explore the trailer and get familiar with each system and make a punch list of maintenance/repairs.

No new truck for me - this F350 works well. I used to haul much more than this in the bed with large slide-in campers (again, with the appropriate modifications). I have made the necessary upgrades on this rig to allow it to haul this load safely and comfortably.

On the short list of trailers was this Grand Design unit, alongside a Montana High Country and Coachmen Brookstone version of this floorplan. I could not afford the Montana's in my neck of the woods. GD was more reasonable, and the options already in place on this one were significant.

Very soon here, I will pull it up to a CAT scale in Arlington, WA, and see what my numbers are, with and without the 5th wheel on.

 

[Soundsailor]

Welcome to the forum, hope you have a great time in your new coach.

 

[Bungy]

Thank you for the welcome. Taking the necessary time to explore the trailer and get familiar with each system and make a punch list of maintenance/repairs.

No new truck for me - this F350 works well. I used to haul much more than this in the bed with large slide-in campers (again, with the appropriate modifications). I have made the necessary upgrades on this rig to allow it to haul this load safely and comfortably.

On the short list of trailers was this Grand Design unit, alongside a Montana High Country and Coachmen Brookstone version of this floorplan. I could not afford the Montana's in my neck of the woods. GD was more reasonable, and the options already in place on this one were significant.

Very soon here, I will pull it up to a CAT scale in Arlington, WA, and see what my numbers are, with and without the 5th wheel on.

Welcome to the site, ignore the comments from the weight police - you have plenty of truck.

 

[huntindog]

Thank you for the welcome. Taking the necessary time to explore the trailer and get familiar with each system and make a punch list of maintenance/repairs.

No new truck for me - this F350 works well. I used to haul much more than this in the bed with large slide-in campers (again, with the appropriate modifications). I have made the necessary upgrades on this rig to allow it to haul this load safely and comfortably.

On the short list of trailers was this Grand Design unit, alongside a Montana High Country and Coachmen Brookstone version of this floorplan. I could not afford the Montana's in my neck of the woods. GD was more reasonable, and the options already in place on this one were significant.

Very soon here, I will pull it up to a CAT scale in Arlington, WA, and see what my numbers are, with and without the 5th wheel on.

I got my first dually in 2001. I went with GM as they had the best towing capability back then. It could have towed that Solitude within specs,,,,,If it was empty. You are now soon to be a member of the dually club.

 

[BWSTGDS]

You have a beautiful rig sir, both truck and trailer.

I'm partial to the single rear wheel truck for occasional-use towing. If I was to full time it, I might make the move to a dually. If this trip to the CAT scale with a loaded trailer/full water tank shows I'm above the weight rating of the current 33" tires (7500lbs combined) on the rear axle, I will plan to install medium duty 19.5" wheels and H rated tires. Did that on the last 2000 F350 when carrying a Host Everett slide in camper with good results.




A thread on The Diesel Stop where I did that research and received feedback below. I hear you all on the caution with this much weight and a SRW truck - it is important to me to understand what each component of these trucks is capable of and ensure they are able to handle the load, start and stop in control.

https://www.thedieselstop.com/threads/what-is-the-rear-axle-capacity-really-for-f350-srw.304311/

 

[Spartacus]

Congrats! Welcome to the forum.

 

[roegs01]

When you go to the scale, weigh it as you would travel with it. For many of us that means empty water tank. We happen to travel with 10 gallons in the black water tank but that’s it. If we traveled with freshwater it actually reduces our pin weight. I read the dieselstop thread and there’s some good advice about how the trucks are engineered. I personally go with the number that Ford’s engineers and lawyers put on the door sticker. Everybody gets to make their own choice….

 

[BWSTGDS]

When you go to the scale, weigh it as you would travel with it. For many of us that means empty water tank. We happen to travel with 10 gallons in the black water tank but that’s it. If we traveled with freshwater it actually reduces our pin weight.

You are absolutely correct - thank you for pointing that out. My fresh water tank is behind the trailer axles as well. I will load the trailer with camping gear instead and take it to the scale.

 

[traveldawg]

Hi all,

I've already learned so much lurking on this site when researching my next RV purchase. Hope to continue learning and contributing here.

Picked up a 2019 Solitude 377MBS from a private seller in western Washington. My family of 5 is grown up now, and so wanted the comfortable seating and sleeping space this unit provides.

View attachment 49120

Over on the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums, I spend time collaborating with folks using the venerable 7.3 powerstroke diesel tow platform. On the first tow home from the seller, I was pleasantly surprised at the suspension and performance the old girl delivered. It's a 2001 F350 crew cab long bed 4x4.

View attachment 49121

Looking forward to talking with y'all.

Jeff (BWSTGDS)

Welcome to the forum. I've been watching your thread over on ford-truck forums. Lots of good stuff there but, being a bit biased, I think you will find a TON of ideas and good input here. Not that you should stop using the ford-trucks thread you have going. Just nothing but GD owners here (well, at least 99.9%).

 

[BWSTGDS]

Thank you, Larry. I'm still trying to get my head around all the sub-forum information contained here. It's fantastic! And the Grand Design focus is a bonus.

FTE's 99-03 7.3 powerstroke forum has been my backstop for many years, helping me maintain my old diesel, and allowing me to contribute where I can, helping others that are looking for support. Though much smaller, the 5th wheel towing sub-forum there is convenient for me to learn from and contribute, since I'm already a supporting member and know many of the folks.

I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge captured here, and folks ready to add their experiences for the benefit of this community.

With the 2001 F350 and with this GD fiver, I have created individual maintenance/upgrade threads in the appropriate sub-forums at FTE, capturing every mod and repair in one place for each rig. Here on this forum, I'm not seeing threads like that, as this forum appears to have a more topic-based organization.

I would love to have my RV maintenance thread here, except for that limitation. Appreciate guidance on this if anyone knows how a rig-based thread covering many topics could be done here, and what sub-forum it should live in.

My truck maintenance/upgrade thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1623336-bwsts-f350-maintenance-upgrade-thread.html

My 5th wheel maintenance/upgrade thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1743506-bwsts-5th-wheel-maintenance-upgrade-thread.html

Happy to learn and post by topic though if that's preferred.

 

[traveldawg]

Thank you, Larry. I'm still trying to get my head around all the sub-forum information contained here. It's fantastic! And the Grand Design focus is a bonus.

FTE's 99-03 7.3 powerstroke forum has been my backstop for many years, helping me maintain my old diesel, and allowing me to contribute where I can, helping others that are looking for support. Though much smaller, the 5th wheel towing sub-forum there is convenient for me to learn from and contribute, since I'm already a supporting member and know many of the folks.

I'm overwhelmed with the knowledge captured here, and folks ready to add their experiences for the benefit of this community.

With the 2001 F350 and with this GD fiver, I have created individual maintenance/upgrade threads in the appropriate sub-forums at FTE, capturing every mod and repair in one place for each rig. Here on this forum, I'm not seeing threads like that, as this forum appears to have a more topic-based organization.

I would love to have my RV maintenance thread here, except for that limitation. Appreciate guidance on this if anyone knows how a rig-based thread covering many topics could be done here, and what sub-forum it should live in.

My truck maintenance/upgrade thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1623336-bwsts-f350-maintenance-upgrade-thread.html

My 5th wheel maintenance/upgrade thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1743506-bwsts-5th-wheel-maintenance-upgrade-thread.html

Happy to learn and post by topic though if that's preferred.

Do a search here on "kalakamods" without the quotes. You will find almost all my mod threads on this forum. If you look at this thread in particular, you will find my mod list and links to many of the things I've done. It is how I keep up with what I've done and shared with everyone. I put the keyword "kalakamods" in my posts so I can find them; you'll probably see it in small, gray print on most of the threads/posts.

Enjoy the forum.