Question for 371REBH Owners

[RAClark]

Hello All,

I'm brand new here and my wife and I have decided to full-time in a 371REBH.

My main question is what tow vehicle are you using to haul this 5th wheel? How does your vehicle do with it? Any concerns or issues?

I know it's a good size and the newer model trucks (across all brands) can handle it easily but I have an older truck that also doubles for work (I'm a farrier) and I would like to keep it a few more years to max out my work investment.

Any help you could provide would be most helpful and I appreciate your time. Looking forward to this interesting forum.

- Ralph

[kandl]

Ralph, spill the beans already... what's that old work truck all about? Ford, Dodge, GM? Half-ton, three-quarter-ton etc?

[Mikele]

I tow with a MDT. International 4700. Way more truck than required but that's the way I like it. Delivery driver that deliverd it to us had a duramax 2500 sw. Said it done fine.

[RAClark]

I have a 2007 Ford F-250 that I use for work hauling a shoeing trailer. I'd like to keep it a few more years (for the business aspect) before having to upgrade. The trailer salesman said any 3/4 ton built in the last 5 years will tow the 371REBH, but of course I took that with a grain of salt. I can't afford new and there is quite a price difference between a 2007 and something used 5 years or newer.

Looking at the specs for the 2007 I think I am short so that's why I was wondering what everyone who has this trailer actually tows it with? A sort of real world survey, if you will...

Thanks for the replies - I really appreciate it! - R

[smittyams]

Depending on cab and engine, I think you might be fine with the over all weight, its the payload that might be the issue with your set up. You don't want to be towing over the rear axle weight. That's the only thing I would have to say about that. If your good on weights, then tow away and enjoy!

[Jz5g52]

I have a 371REBH tow its with a 2500 GMC Diesel, no problem at all towing and get between 10.5 and 11.5 towing at 65-67 mph. what I like is I can even use the cruise control and it doesn't even down shift my gas 2500 always downshifted even towing my cycle trailer

[denali15]

I tow mine with a 2015 3/4 GMC diesel. Pulls great but I am maxed out on my GCWR (24,500).

As stated previously I get about 10.5-11 MPG towing 65-70 MPH.

One thing about the newer trucks is the exhaust brake and updated frames and heavy duty brakes.... 2011+.

I scaled in at 24,540 gross coming back from Myrtle Beach this summer.... She is a heavy one!

[kandl]

Originally Posted by RAClark

I have a 2007 Ford F-250 that I use for work hauling a shoeing trailer.

Oil burner or gas? Regular cab? Axle ratio?

That's a honk'n big fiver and and I'm thinking that, ya... you might be short.

[kinger911]

2013 3500hd, 4.10 gears, single rear wheel. 6.0 gas engine. 371 rebh. Not going to win any races but gets the job done. Figure on 6 to 7 mpg at 65 to 70 mph. Illinois/wisconsin. Have tried E85 and no real difference in mileage.

[AquaMan]

Had a 6.0 2500 and couldn't imagine pulling a fiver that size with the 6.0. Most I pulled was 7500 and it raced the entire time. The high rpms were unnerving.


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[kinger911]

Ya it does Rev quite a bit until you get to cruising speed. If you have enough self control (which I do not) to stay at 60 to 65 mph it is totally fine. I have a good friend that is a very good gm mechanic and he says they are designed for high rpms and says to just let it do its thing. I will say though the next truck will most likely be a diesel.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by kinger911

Ya it does Rev quite a bit until you get to cruising speed. If you have enough self control (which I do not) to stay at 60 to 65 mph it is totally fine. I have a good friend that is a very good gm mechanic and he says they are designed for high rpms and says to just let it do its thing. I will say though the next truck will most likely be a diesel.

I agree, they will handle the rpms, but having known what a diesel was like and then pulling with a gasser again, made me uneasy and it was less than 6 months before I traded back up to diesel.


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[kinger911]

I have always had diesels before this truck and I agree the gasser is not ideal for sure. We mainly go within a 1 1/2 hour radius of home do not a huge issue. We do take it 7 hours each way to northern wi in the summer. I have been thinking about trading to a diesel but for now it's still under warranty and I'm to cheap to spend the extra 10,000 for one. Lol

[Leathernek]

My 2015 F350 Diesel SRW handles better than I could have expected. I'm not sure but I think a DRW would feel a bit more stable in crosswinds. But nothing, I'm concerned with so far. I tow at the posted limit +/-2MPH and average 16-17 MPG.

Edit...the MPG is NOT mountain towing...then it drops to 10-11. But the beast towing will scoot up the Appalachians like they are flat.

[kinger911]

Wow! I also have a extended cab 2016 f550 4x4 diesel. Has never pulled a trailer just had utility box on it and weighs 13,500. I can only get 11.2 out of it at the very best.

[chop249]

16-17 HA I get 15-17 with truck only. No way you're getting that towing a 371.... I get 8-10 pulling a 381 at 13,100 dry.

[Leathernek]

Chop, it's true. Granted 17 is hard to achieve...16 is a fair average. But I don't use cruise control and I nurse the throttle...to maintained at least the speed going up and let her coast down every chance...again maintaining at least the speed limit. Most places we've gone are within three hours of home and relatively flat highways/interstate (no stop lights). If I abandoned my effort to manage the MPG, it'll drops down to 11-13 even lower I'm sure. Only time I got as low as 10 was when we went to to Gatlinburg.

[kinger911]

Is it a 4x4 and is it all stock? Are you checking at pump or going by what the dash says for mileage? Just curious. I have had several duramaxs and the best I have ever got on average was 14 or less not pulling anything. Usually went down to 8.5 to 9.5 towing.

[Leathernek]

Kinger, Its stock 4x4 and using what the dash says. I'm headed to TX next week, w/o towing anything...I'll report back the dash vs. pump calculations. I'm expecting 19-20 MPG. Six years ago using a 2005 F150, I towed a car trailer with chevy cavalier only got 8 MPG.

[kinger911]

That would be great. Thanks. Might have to consider a ford next time. Never thought I would say that! Lol