5-Wheel Truck advice - Page 2

scubieman · 12-10-2010, 10:36 PM

Im a GMC fan. but GMC in my opionion adds on another 5000 for the name

camprat · 12-10-2010, 10:44 PM

There All good truck until there broken, then there junk. Or so it goes. I have a GM HD 2500 for a services truck. Been one of my better truck. Had a dodge frame broke in the hump between the springs ( junk )

f150k · 12-10-2010, 10:53 PM

We have a 2008 F350 SD, it pulls our 8280WS without any trouble. I have not chipped it and it has all the power I need, fuel is around 11 to 13 mpg at 60 and 65. I have not had any problems with the diesel or finding fuel on our trips. Good luck with you choice.

MightyMike · 12-11-2010, 03:36 AM

If ya go with the 6.4, prepare yourself for the shock at the pump. Only getting 10 mpgs with mine around home. The only upside is I still get 8.5-9 while towing a 15,000 pound fiver. Had a 7.3 before, and could get 11 out of that pulling a lighter (13,000 lb.) fiver. Now, they are different trucks-single to a dually, both short beds, S cab to a crew cab, same rear-3:73 and 2wd to 4x4. Overall I love the new one, just think folks should be forwarned about the crappy mileage. And anybody with a 6.4 claims they get more than 14 is full of it as far as I'm concerned.

crocus · 12-11-2010, 08:48 AM

The new motors have to be chipped. My friend, with his new Ford, and us went on a trip to the Black Hills. My old 7.3 was beating him badly on mileage. He was so mad that when we got back, he went straight to the dealer and got it chipped. HUGE difference. He's happy now!

**Herk7769** · 12-11-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubieman

Im a GMC fan. but GMC in my opionion adds on another 5000 for the name

I have found that the MSRP and Invoice prices of both the Silverado and Sierra are identical. When I bought my truck I got the best deal by competing a Chevy Dealer's best quote against a GMC Dealer's best quote.

The GMC dealer went the extra mile by selling to me AT the dealer invoice price less incentives. So the final sale was actually 2500 bucks (the incentive in effect at that time) UNDER dealer invoice.

camprat · 12-11-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocus

The new motors have to be chipped. My friend, with his new Ford, and us went on a trip to the Black Hills. My old 7.3 was beating him badly on mileage. He was so mad that when we got back, he went straight to the dealer and got it chipped. HUGE difference. He's happy now!

Your Right again.

I when with the Edge Evolution. It help a lot with the open road pulling. You can keep your speed up with out down shifting for every hump in the road. It's

monitoring is a big + too. Help keep a eye on the EGT & other thing's to. I only use the tow or lower setting. Don't use the higher setting just to must for the 6L.

dezolen · 12-11-2010, 10:15 AM

Just to open another can of worms consider the new 2011 Ford F250 V8 gas. Specs show lots of tow capacity and mileage is hopefully better than my V10

All depends how much towing you will really do, plans on upgrading in the future, distance of commute when not towing.
If you are using the 3/4 ton as a daily driver and for short drives I would seriously consider the gas powered version.
Love my V10 which is now extinct. From what I have been reading the GM 6 litre is no better on fuel mileage

If I were retired and on the road full time a deisel would make more sense but not now.

EdJunior · 12-11-2010, 10:33 AM

And I'll throw in my .02. Since you mentioned the possibility of towing in the Rockies, the diesel is the right answer for you. And to defend the 6.0L (just a little anyway), they had their share of problems, but if you have a good one, it will last forever. Most of the major problems with them came from people chipping them and making the drivetrain do more than it was supposed to do.

The early 6.4L had its issues also, but I have one, and after replacing my radiator and thermostat, it has run great since. Those early issues have been fixed and the 6.4L is a fine motor with lots of power (and very little diesel "smell"). I get between 16 - 17 mpg empty, but only around 9mpg towing. The mpg numbers are all over the board for this engine.

The AllyMax is a great combo, but if you are looking for used, along with the Dodge Cummins, seem to be way higher priced than the Fords. They must be really proud of their names.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

donn · 12-11-2010, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocus

The new motors have to be chipped. My friend, with his new Ford, and us went on a trip to the Black Hills. My old 7.3 was beating him badly on mileage. He was so mad that when we got back, he went straight to the dealer and got it chipped. HUGE difference. He's happy now!

by chipped I assume an aftermarket tuner? They all can void any warranty, so good luck there. Fords are notorious for poor fuel economy and bad diesels since the old 7.3 went away. Get what you like the best. It is your money afterall.

Sgt. Schultz · 12-11-2010, 11:09 AM

Hello FreeWheeler in case you have not seen the specs on the trucks :
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...FifthWheel.pdf
.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...trp17Aug06.pdf
.
http://www.gmc.com/pdf/Trailering_Guide.pdf
.
Depending on how you plan to load/use the truck it looks like the GMC may not be enough truck the trailer. Mind you if its only a couple times a year towing with a lot of unloaded use that gasser may be the way to go otherwise the diesel you like would be the way to go
sr.

FreeWheeler · 12-11-2010, 11:18 AM

Thank you all for great advice. It sounds like the Chevy 6.0 Gasser might work fine most of the time, but if I do much pullin', the diesel is the answer. I am pretty sure this will be our one and only rig (we spent long enough finding the right Fiver, I can't imagine going thru THAT again) and, hopefully, our one truck. Most initial trips will be east cost but we both want to "go west" and then you have The Rockies and I figured that would change the equation.
We drove in the 2010 F-250 Lariat and sat in an F-150 XL... I thought the seats were OK but my wife didn't like them. We drove the 2008 Chev Gasser and both felt comfortable in the seats. I think that means we are looking at the Chev or GMC lines but it is really hard to find a good deal on a late model with a Tow Package AND a Diesel.
By "chipping" I assume you mean replacing the computer chip. Hope I don't have to go there, but I guess that's an option.
Thank you again for all the input. We are off for a day of truck shopping... only 1 week left on our hold deposit on the Flagstaff.

nemo45 · 12-11-2010, 11:50 AM

You certainly don't need to chip a diesel post 2005 to tow a 9200# fifthwheel. I pulled a fifthwheel with dry weight of 12000# with a 2005 Dodge CTD 3500 SRW with a 3.73 rearend with absolutely no problems. It did absolutely great. A 3/4 ton is all you need. Stay away from the 6.0 liter Ford. The 6.4 is a good engine so far. We decided to go the motor home route, but was very happy with our fifthwheel rig.

crocus · 12-11-2010, 12:16 PM

"You certainly don't need to chip a diesel post 2005 to tow a 9200# fifthwheel."

You certainly do if you want fuel mileage.
The other thing to consider is that this fifth is fairly tall, so wind resistance is right up there with the bigger rigs. I sure notice it on ours whenever we hit those stiff headwinds, as it is about 3 feet taller than our previous fifth.

FreeWheeler · 12-11-2010, 08:09 PM

We checked out a 2007 F-250 Lariat today... man was THAT noisy! Nice truck, but the 6.0 TD with 50k miles was noisy.

Gonna look at a 2003 Sierra 3500 with only 30k miles and lots of creature comfort. Even has the 5th wheel already installed!

So how does the CHIP change the performance characteristics?

**Herk7769** · 12-11-2010, 08:57 PM

Check out this month's Trailer life magazine's 2500 truck shootout.

They tested 3 - 3/4 ton 2011 4x4 crewcab diesels towing identical 8,000 pound Vortex SURVs:

2500HD Silverado crew cab with Duramax 6.6L diesel and Allison Trans
Ford F-250 crewcab with 6.7L V-8 Powerstroke and TorqShift 6 spd auto
RAM 2500 SLT crewcab Cummins 6.7L I-6 Turbodiesel and 68RFE 6 spd

Results were about even for Ford and Chevy (11.5 F - 12 mpg GM)
Ram did not even come close but was 7 grand cheaper (10.5 MPG)

www.trailerlife.com

Itsthetwoofus · 12-11-2010, 09:37 PM

Here's my input on this truck thing for what it's worth.

I've always had Chevrolet Silverado pickup's, always liked them and puled a TT to AZ two years in a row. Mileage was bad but thought that was what I got with a gas engine. I had leased them and always turned them in with no issues. Then When my 2007 was due to be turned in I started shopping because we liked and wanted a 41 foot Cedar Creek 5th wheel and Chevy was a bit slow coming out with the 2011 model so I went and looked at the 2011 Super Duty with the 6.7 Power Stroke Diesel. What a truck it was.
We got one and drove it around home for 4000 miles and then headed for AZ with that 15,500 pound 5th wheel and what a ride it was. I've become a Ford believer now, It is comfortable and pulled that 5th wheel like it wasn't even there. We drove 2,234 and our avg mileage was 9.2 mpg. I'm told that when this diesel gets broke in it'll get better mileage pulling the 5th wheel.
If you are looking for a pickup to pull a TT or a 5th wheel check out the new Ford F250. It's a beast and you'll fine it's nicer then the Chevrolet Silverado.. Sorry GM, Ford has done their homework.

Oh I guess one of my comfort secrets is I also have the Hensley Trailer Saver 5th wheel hitch. Absolutely no jarring, It's like towing on air.
Hensley has great products.

Itsthetwoofus · 12-11-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herk7769

Check out this month's Trailer life magazine's 2500 truck shootout.

They tested 3 - 3/4 ton 2011 4x4 crewcab diesels towing identical 8,000 pound Vortex SURVs:

2500HD Silverado crew cab with Duramax 6.6L diesel and Allison Trans
Ford F-250 crewcab with 6.7L V-8 Powerstroke and TorqShift 6 spd auto
RAM 2500 SLT crewcab Cummins 6.7L I-6 Turbodiesel and 68RFE 6 spd

Results were about even for Ford and Chevy (11.5 F - 12 mpg GM)
Ram did not even come close but was 7 grand cheaper (10.5 MPG)

www.trailerlife.com

They should have pulled some weight with them, My 5th wheel is 15,500 pounds and at 70 and 75 mph up and down the mountains we averaged 9.2 mpg during our 2224 mile trip to AZ from MI this week. Ford has done their homework and have beat the GM as far as comfort and lay-out of the whole truck. Check them out.

M109Rrider · 12-11-2010, 10:36 PM

I think the perfect truck would be the new ford with the 5.9 cummins (no emissions like the 6.7) and the allison tranny. Build that and I'll take 2

M109Rrider · 12-11-2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crocus

"You certainly don't need to chip a diesel post 2005 to tow a 9200# fifthwheel."

You certainly do if you want fuel mileage.
The other thing to consider is that this fifth is fairly tall, so wind resistance is right up there with the bigger rigs. I sure notice it on ours whenever we hit those stiff headwinds, as it is about 3 feet taller than our previous fifth.

I partially agree. Chips are needed to delete emissions. Not everything post 2005 has the power robbing/fuel burning emissions. Dodge went to it in 2007.5 with the 6.7L

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