Columbus 374bhc

[Hitchemup]

Looking at a 2019 374BHC Columbus Compass. The 42’length is not the issue at all. Gross weight is 16300 verified on decals as well. What has anyone been towing fifth wheel of this weight with? Having trouble finding a 1 ton with longbed and higher gear ratio but 3/4 long bedis out there.ram 3500 or f-350 dually?

[B and B]

Ford all the way! Most domestic content of the big three! Also by wide and far best truck. I have F 350 6 3/34 ft bed SRW and Sidewinder hitch, no need for 8 ft bed. Easier parking for me as it is daily driver. I have 16,500 gross behind it right now, tows just fine. Would I do the Canadian Rockies No, need DRW for that, everything else Yes with SRW.

[DieselDrax]

Personally, I’d go with a Ram. If you’re looking at new trucks then the Cummins w/ Aisin transmission is a great combo, it’s also the only combo that will get you the 1,000ft-lb engine option. I also prefer the interior of the Ram over the other trucks.

But ultimately it’s up to you and really comes down to personal preference. You really can’t go wrong with either truck these days.

[tomkatb]

I would go with a 1 ton shortbed. Easier to park than the 8’ bed.

We have the Anderson hitch and it just works. The sidewinders are a neat idea.

The Ram’s have the best power train combo. The wife loves her truck and drives it daily.

All three companies make a good truck. Any diesel will take that fiver anywhere. The comparatively light hitch weight will work without a dually which is hard to drive daily.

If you are towing a lot, then a dually is a consideration.

[Jim34RL]

I am towing a 34RL Cedar Creek (GVW 16,173) with a 2008, 6.7L Cummins and the 68RFE auto. My truck is a Mega Cab with the short bed, but the wheel base is the same as a crew cab long bed truck. That is what counts when towing is the wheel base for a smother ride. My scale weight from a Cat scale is 21,000 LBS truck and trailer with the rear axle weight at 6,100 LBS. My tires are Nitto Dura Grapple with a load rating of 3750 at 80PSI. I am using an 18K Demco AutoGlide hitch and the TrailAir pin box.

My gear set is 3:73 since it is a 2008, 4X4 truck. With the newer trucks in the SRW configuration they only offer a 3:42 gear set for the years between 2013.5 and 2018, for the 2019 trucks they only offer the 3:73 gear set from what I can see. DRW's have different gear sets depending on what you want.

Now will a 2500HD truck with the 3:42 gear set and the 6.7L Cummins and the 68RFE auto, tow the weight you want? Yes! Will a 3500HD truck and the 6.7L Cummins and the 68RFE auto tow that camper? Yes! They are very capable trucks and you will have an excellent towing experience with the Ram trucks.

[Hitchemup]

Are you towing a 5er? I will be going up to state parks and mountainous states. Living in Cheyenne Wyoming and traveling from there. How is quality of towing with that weight? See any struggles or excessive wear and tear on transmission etc?

[Jim34RL]

Originally Posted by Hitchemup

Are you towing a 5er? I will be going up to state parks and mountainous states. Living in Cheyenne Wyoming and traveling from there. How is quality of towing with that weight? See any struggles or excessive wear and tear on transmission etc?

Yes, this is a 5ER. I have towed this combination since I purchased my CedarCreek in 2015. I have been out west going thru the Eisenhower tunnel in Colorado on I70 to Utah and on to Arizona. We have towed back east up and over Black Mountain in NC.

I have aftermarket gauges on my truck so I can watch the boost pressure, EGT'S and transmission temps. I usually pull in 5TH gear when I am in the mountains watching the engine RPM's, EGT'S and boost pressure driving between 60&65 MPH. My transmission temps never exceeded 195F so, the transmission has no issues pulling this load. I do use my exhaust brake 90% of the time when I am driving and 100% when I am towing my trailer. I also use tow/haul mode 100% of the time also.

With my tires and differential gearing (3:73), when I am at 60 MPH my engine RPM' S are around 1900, the boost pressure is under 35PSI, and the EGT'S are under 950F. When I reach a rest stop where I can measure the differential housing temps with an IRF gun, they are under 150F. So, the truck is not under any strain towing my 5ER.

[jonwisconsin]

I used to pull a 34 ft Columbus with a 3500 RAM SRW. If I were to pull the unit you are talking about I would go dually, based on my personal experience.