new bigger 5er, need honest opinion on TV

[Dave_Monica]

I know that diesel 3/4 or 1 ton will pull that camper like it's not there...but I read that the OP tows short distances and intends the truck to be his daily driver. That said, I think the F250 with 6.2 gas would be a reasonable compromise.

Dave

[WEMig]

I have a 2012 F250 6.2L with 3.73 rear end. Tow rating is 11,900 for a 5th wheel with 4X4. I opted to go with the 6.2L based off of cost and frequency of towing. I tow about once a month locally and couldn't justify in my situation the additional cost of diesel. The 6.2L will do the job. I'm towing a Crusader at 11,300 lbs and it does well. Nothing compared to the power of a diesel, but running 65 on the interstate and on moderate hills, I get 9 mpg. Not towing I'm getting 14 mpg. BTW, I am a former diesel owner, 2001 F250 7.3L. I do plan on going back to a diesel once I retire.

[wyo700]

I have a tundra crewmax and my payload is 1375 which I am sure yours is probably the same since you said you have a rock warrior which means you have a 4x4. With a 9222 dry weight with a 5th wheel pin supposed be between 15 and 20% you are already over your gvwr with no one sitting in it. And if you have a crewmax your max tow is 9000 pounds I thinks it's 9300 for the double cab. Any way you look at you are way over and unsafe with your tundra. I have a toy hauler that weighs 6500 loaded and that is a good safe weight for the truck. If I was you I would a get a 3/4 ton, for your safety.

[Campingwith2kids2dogs]

Thanks for all the knowledge & ideas! I went to a couple dealerships today & decided on a 2013 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax diesel. I test drove some & couldn't believe the power. I decided to go with a local dealer, so I have to wait for a silver 1 they are having delivered soon. The family can't wait for camping season to start. Now, about this huge snow storm coming this way...

[wyo700]

That was a good choice going with that truck. I love my tundra has tons of power and I know it will pull my 6500 pound toy hauler great. But for what you got a diesel is the way to go.

[WolfWhistle]

Originally Posted by Campingwith2kids2dogs

We bought a bigger 5th wheel, a 2013 Wildcat 312BH-OK last August & we hauled it last fall with our 2009 5.7 Toyota Tundra (Rock Warrior with Tow Haul package & airbags). It has 9,222 dry weight on the sticker. The Tundra can haul it 45 MPH no problem up the steeper mountains of Western Md and 65 on the interstate were we live, but we can't help but wonder if we should be upgrading the TV as well. It would also be used as an everyday vehicle. We looked at an 2012 F-250 6.2L yesterday for 40K with 5K miles & almost bought it. Sales lady told us it would haul 16K, but later a friend told us 12K. We just need an honest opinion from someone not trying to make a sale out of us. We usually tow within 1hr or 2 of home, but are thinking of heading to Myrtle Beach in the future. Should we go with a Chevy Duramax Diesel, or something else, or keep our Tundra?

Have you weighed it, and not that it matters but would assume the Toy is way, way overloaded, probably both the GVWR and maybe rear GAWR. I say for sure, you need a 250/2500 and IMO a diesel for the weight you are pulling. Today, I just bought a new, left over, 2012 Dodge 2500 with the 6.7L Cummins and the 6 speed auto. It doesn't need DEF (unlike Chev and Ford) and makes a whopping 800 lb/ft of torque and a lazy 1600 RPM. And, it isn't all about torque, the 250/2500s are just incredibly more capable... the suspension... the frame... and the brakes, holy cow, they are massive. My old 2010, fully tow optioned K1500 was no fun pulling 6000 to 6500#. IMO. It makes 348 lb/ft of torque, but at what 4000 RPM. So, if you are willing to pull all day long at 55MPH in 3rd gear, go right ahead.

There is nothing wrong with the Chevy or the Ford diesels, it is a matter of what's the best deal and what's available at the time. I refuse to be brand loyal ever again. I was disappointed in my old Silverado. I would pick the Ford over the Chevy, but the Dodge over them both... I simply feel the Dodge is "it" right now in that world... I have had many, many Chevys over the years, but they have to step up if they will ever get me back. An Eco Ford makes 420 lb/ft of torque and the 5.7L Hemi makes 400 lb/ft. I think the Eco would do the deed, maybe the Hemi, especially if you geared it down, but I think, the Eco costs about the same as the diesel. I will stick my neck out and tell you what I think they can pull, comfortably.... a 150/1500 with all the towing options known to man, can really handle only 5500# (maybe 6000# if you stay out of the hills), a gas 250/2500 can handle up to 8000#, but more than that... either a 250/2500 with a diesel can handle the biggest tag-along, but maybe up to 8500# 5ers; but you will need a 350/3500, for most 5ers; as you approach 16000#, you better step up bigger.

Here's the thing, we want to be frugal, or thrifty... so we buy a truck that can pull a trailer, then when we buy a trailer, we don't consider what a truck will actually do, the salesmen and the brochures are male cattle excrement. The other thing is, if we buy a small enough trailer, it isn't long before we want bigger. At that point the thrifty truck can nowhere do the job. Always buy a size of 2 larger truck than what you need, you will grow into it; then go used as far back into the years as you can afford. I don't like the 6.0L Ford, no where, no how, but other than that one, if you can't afford new, and I don't know if you can or not, find a diesel well cared for and don't be scared it it has 150K miles on it, it is just breaking in. Have fun and God bless! Clint

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by WolfWhistle

. It makes 348 lb/ft of torque, but at what 4000 RPM. So, if you are willing to pull all day long at 55MPH in 3rd gear, go right ahead.


Clint

torque gets it rolling HP keeps it rolling and accelerating, if you have a 300/600 diesel vs a 380/400 gas,the gas will out accell the diesel all day but you will be at 5500rpm doing it, they will both pull the same on the flats, with the right gearing /multiplication, hit the hills and the gas will leave the diesel behind. I might not like that since I have a very powerful diesel with close to 500hp at the wheels (dyno verified) but math is math

[WolfWhistle]

Originally Posted by jevanb

torque gets it rolling HP keeps it rolling and accelerating, if you have a 300/600 diesel vs a 380/400 gas,the gas will out accell the diesel all day but you will be at 5500rpm doing it, they will both pull the same on the flats, with the right gearing /multiplication, hit the hills and the gas will leave the diesel behind. I might not like that since I have a very powerful diesel with close to 500hp at the wheels (dyno verified) but math is math

Torque is what pops the cap off your beer. HP is how fast it came off. It takes both to get the job done. You are exactly right Jevanb... gas engines with high(er) HP are dragsters, not to mention several hundred pounds lighter due to the weight of the heavy components and the engine itself in a similarly equipped truck. It all depends on what you are doing, but our conversation is about towing, not drag racing. Higher torque means drive-ability and not having the transmission constantly hunting for a gear that will work. The diesel will also last much much longer and get better fuel economy... granted you might pay more per gallon. Also, like the example of your vehicle... it is easy and very cost effective to increase both HP (to crazy numbers) and torque of diesels... not so with gas. For instance, if I wanted more torque on my old 5.3L Chevy at 2000 to 3000 it could only be accomplished by spending mega bucks on supercharging and the gain would be small.

[WolfWhistle]

We're still yaking and the OP bought the diesel. Congratulations... many safe miles and happiness.