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Old 02-10-2017, 08:05 PM   #1
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What are you towing with

We just ordered a RockWood 2609 WS. I know it is to much trailer for my older Ford 150 and we are lucky to have nice campgrounds within 30 miles of us. A new truck will be in our future. We are not retired so will be doing long weekend and that occasional week or two vacation. Trailer will probably end up around 8200 pounds when loaded. Sounds like the Eco boost could maybe handle that kind of weight, just not that fimilar with it yet, just starting to do research. I know a 250 6.4 would pull it like a dream. But not super long trips but maybe once or twice a year, it seems like maintainance would be a lot more costly on the diesel.
Looking for real life experance and honest opinions from folks that have been there and done that.

Thank you!!
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Old 02-10-2017, 08:38 PM   #2
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All of the weight police people and die hard truck guys must go out on Friday nights. Cant believe there are not 10 pages of comments already, sense that questions involves both weight and trucks.

For ever person I have heard say good thinks about the eco diesel I have heard one say bad things. I had a 2014 5.7 L Ram 1500 that handled a 7k tt and a 8k 5th wheel just fine.

Just upgraded to a gas 6.4 ram 2500 to pull a new 11k 5th wheel.

If you are buying campers and hauling them a little maintenance on a truck should be the least of your worries.
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Old 02-10-2017, 10:58 PM   #3
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I have a 03 Cummins six speed love it I've towed a couple different travel trailers with it. Right now I have a evo 2550 probably around 7k lbs. my father in law has a eco boost and always goes with us towing around 5500 lbs. He has no problems towing that just fine. However down steep hills I think he feels he gets pushed a little.
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Old 02-11-2017, 07:15 AM   #4
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I had a 2013 F150 Ecoboost that I used to tow a similar trailer from SC to WA. Even over the steepest grades in the Rockies and Cascades the truck had power to spare. I could set the cruiser at 65 and it would hold it without fail. Awesome truck! In fact the Ecoboost is what kind of sold me on the 6.7. I got used to having turbos and wanted more, plus I wanted to move up to a 5th wheel.
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Old 02-11-2017, 07:50 AM   #5
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I tow with a 3/4 ton 2015 Chevy 6.0 4:10 gear and pulling my 9000# tt. No issues and I do take on long trips during the year and short trips. For me this truck works great. Later RJD
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Old 02-11-2017, 12:04 PM   #6
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If it's rated to tow the weight of your trailer, pick what you like. I got a 2004 GMC 2500HD Duramax crewcab long bed 4x4 to pull my Heritage Glen 29BH and couldn't be happier. It has tons of power to pull the hills and rides great. I live on Colorado and travel to the Seattle area about once a year so there are plenty of hills in between.
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Old 02-11-2017, 01:52 PM   #7
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Got a new 28ft. fifth-wheel two years to use with my F150, which was equipped with the Eco-Boost, HD Towing, and HD payload packages. It did great...BUT a few issues over the miles of traveling: 1) the EcoBoost did great on the level, and even on most climbs - although the transmission would heat up to 230-240 degrees too often (BTW -I had maintained the trans and changed the fluid more often than suggested). This led to trans starting to slip when taking off from start. Trans shop and Ford said it was early indicator that trans was going to go out, ($5,000 to replace!) 2) when descending grades and when dealing with winds, I felt the "tail wagging the dog" and did not like the lack of control. We replaced the truck with a F250 diesel and now have more control and the engine brake when descending grades is terrific. No more sense of being pushed or controlled by the trailer. Also, net fuel cost is actually better than the EcoBoost.
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Old 02-11-2017, 02:51 PM   #8
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I pulled 7000 up/down the mountains of NC with a 2.7 EB. Great truck but was not meant for that. At some point everyone wants bigger/heavier so may as well go 350 when upgrading TV. Few reasons a 250 makes sense.
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Old 02-11-2017, 02:57 PM   #9
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New to me 04 Silverado 2500 diesel. Befor was a 6.0 gas 2011 Silverado 2500. Both do fine pulling our Flagstaff 5er. The diesel does the job with much less effort though.
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Old 02-11-2017, 03:00 PM   #10
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We have a 32' 5th that has a loaded weight of 9200#. Our 2015 F150, 3.5L Ecoboost tows this rig without any problems. Rated tow weight 11,900# and 5th wheel tow weight is 10,500# for our F150. Gets great mileage when not towing (27-29) and about 11-12 towing on flats and 9-10 in mountainous terrain.
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Old 02-11-2017, 03:05 PM   #11
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I towed our 2702WS which loaded is about 7500lbs with a Suburban for 9 months. Flat was fine, grades not so much. Tranny heated up (even with a cooler) and speed was 45-50mph. Stuck with this until we took a trip to Yellowstone. Had to do a trade-in while on the trip, just couldn't handle the wind and grades. I don't think I would have bought a diesel, but I was frustrated and wanted the biggest, baddest truck they had for towing. Now I won't ever go back. Now the vacation starts when we leave the house, not a stressed out drive to a campsite then the vacation starts. Exhaust brake is fantastic, up hill power is fantastic, wind is much less an issue.
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Old 02-11-2017, 03:51 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmdomokos View Post
I towed our 2702WS which loaded is about 7500lbs with a Suburban for 9 months. Flat was fine, grades not so much. Tranny heated up (even with a cooler) and speed was 45-50mph. Stuck with this until we took a trip to Yellowstone. Had to do a trade-in while on the trip, just couldn't handle the wind and grades. I don't think I would have bought a diesel, but I was frustrated and wanted the biggest, baddest truck they had for towing. Now I won't ever go back. Now the vacation starts when we leave the house, not a stressed out drive to a campsite then the vacation starts. Exhaust brake is fantastic, up hill power is fantastic, wind is much less an issue.
Size matters ~~ always better to have too much than just enough truck to tow with. Too little truck really sux.
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Old 02-11-2017, 04:47 PM   #13
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2015.5 2500HD crew cab 4x4.

Pulled my trailer to Florida last month, had to be close to 9,000 pounds. Up Monteagle, the entire trip was effortless.
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Old 02-11-2017, 06:04 PM   #14
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I pull a 9000 lb. Wildcat fifth wheel with a 2016 GMC HD with diesel. As a daily driver it is a very efficient truck as I can get up to 28 mpg out on rural roads, I get as low as 13 short trips around town. Pulling the fiver is easy and makes the whole trip more pleasant. I believe in overkill for a tow vehicle, mostly because I never know what I might want to tow next.
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Old 02-11-2017, 06:43 PM   #15
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Go with a diesel, I prefer Ford 6.7. However without starting a big debate you simply cannot go wrong with at least a 2500 series diesel. Pulls great, tons of power, handles any mountain you can throw in front of it. You will have a huge smile on your face every time you hook up. Makes the trip much more enjoyable, they just cannot be beat. They are all beast. Just my opinion.
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Old 02-11-2017, 08:22 PM   #16
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F150

We have a 28ft grey wolf and tow with a 2014 f150 ecoboost and it's great for towing. We just traded it on a f150 2016 Eco boost so I'm sure it will be just as good.
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Old 02-11-2017, 08:54 PM   #17
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We tow a 26RR with an 08 Escalade ESV. Got the WD hitch dialed in and it tows great (loaded weight is about 7k). We will be upgrading to a 17 Denali dually in the next couple of months.
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Old 02-11-2017, 08:59 PM   #18
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I had an 06 Ford F250 gasser with a 5.4 Triton engine and a 4 speed transmission. I got an 08 Chevy 2500HD with a 6.6 Duramax and 6 speed Allison transmission. and there is no comparison.

For me, the fact that I found an older truck with low miles, 35000, was the deal maker. A truck in good condition that did not break the bank in the process. And it pulls our camper like a dream.
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Old 02-11-2017, 09:40 PM   #19
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I had an 06 Ford F250 gasser with a 5.4 Triton engine and a 4 speed transmission. I got an 08 Chevy 2500HD with a 6.6 Duramax and 6 speed Allison transmission. and there is no comparison.

For me, the fact that I found an older truck with low miles, 35000, was the deal maker. A truck in good condition that did not break the bank in the process. And it pulls our camper like a dream.
WoW~~~~~~ an '08 with only 35K miles. My '16 F350 is just 7 months old and looking at 20K. I'll have near 35K before it is 1 year old.
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Old 02-11-2017, 10:08 PM   #20
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I towed my Cedar Creek with a 2013 GMC 2500 with the 6.0. But upgraded to a 2015 RAM 3500 Diesel DRW, there is no comparison, but you can tow your TT locally with what you have just be careful
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