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Old 03-15-2015, 03:46 PM   #1
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Deciding on a tow vehicle

Hi everyone,

I will be taking delivery of a new 2015 34 RL Cedar Creek FW in a month. I still need to decide on using either a 3/4 of 1 ton tow vehicle. The FW is 36 ft 8 in long, will have a Hitch weight of 2175 lbs and a total weight of 11450 lbs as received. The total weight capacity of the FW is approximately 16,000 lbs.

I am trying to estimate what truck to buy for a fully loaded FW. If I load the FW to 15,500 lbs, using the rule of 3 with pin weigth as received, would it be fair to say that the pin weighht when loaded to 15,500 lbs would be more or less 2,945 lbs (2,175 lbs / 11,450 lbs) x 15,500 lbs . If this is a fair estimate, I could probably go for a 2015 F250 4x4 diesel with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs and a load capacity is 3,450 lbs.

I want to make sure I am legal for those states where load capacity is strictly enforced. As I will be living year round in the FW and that the truck will be our main vehicle, we definitely prefer not going to a dully.

Thanks for your insight in the matter.

JC
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Old 03-15-2015, 04:08 PM   #2
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If I only knew then what I know now. Back then I would purchase a vehicle to tow what I had and then when upgrading to a larger unit, I had to upgrade my tow vehicle. UGH! Looking back I would have purchased more tow vehicle than I actually needed and then I would have been ready for my next larger rvs.

Good luck with your choice,
Don
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Old 03-15-2015, 04:10 PM   #3
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Might want to consider a F350 diesel 4x4 with towing package. More is better and you are getting close to the limits. Sure won't hurt to have extra. Sooner or later, you WILL need it. IMHO
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Old 03-15-2015, 04:22 PM   #4
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Might want to consider a F350 diesel 4x4 with towing package. More is better and you are getting close to the limits. Sure won't hurt to have extra. Sooner or later, you WILL need it. IMHO
I would go for the 350 also...not much of a difference in price !
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Old 03-15-2015, 04:59 PM   #5
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Tow on average of 24,000 miles a year toy hauler gross weight on trailer 14,000lbs. I travel all through western states encountering mountains in the Sierra, cascades, Rockies and more. There may be faster and more powerful trucks but given my experience over the last nearly 20 years I would highly recommend Dodge Ram 6.7 with the best feature of exhaust brake not to mention longevity pretty much unmatched by the other manufacturers. Cheers
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Old 03-15-2015, 05:02 PM   #6
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I second the 350/3500 SRW route


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Old 03-15-2015, 06:50 PM   #7
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Just out of curiosity, how much should you tow under the TV capacities. Or is it ok to be over, but how much is ok. Or is it ok to be right at the capacity.
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Old 03-15-2015, 07:03 PM   #8
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Get the 350. You won't find an f250 diesel with anywhere near a 3400lb payload. Check the payload stickers as you shop.


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Old 03-15-2015, 07:09 PM   #9
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I will be towing my new CC34RL with a 2008 Ram mega cab 2500,6.7L, 68RFE auto. I figure that I will be pretty close to the GCVW of the truck when towing. I will be scaling the trailer and truck to find the actual weights that I will be towing.

I will not have the washer dryer opition and I will tow with no water in the tanks. If the weigth from the factory is correct 11,400 lbs + and I will carry about 500 lbs of cargo I will be under the max tow weights for this model year as advised by Ram.
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Old 03-15-2015, 07:10 PM   #10
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Go with the 350. It also has the exhaust brake feature.
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Old 03-15-2015, 07:17 PM   #11
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Any of the major brand one ton diesel will do just fine. I tow a little heavier unit and my F350 SRW PSD does the job nicely.
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Old 03-15-2015, 07:26 PM   #12
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Yep. 350 all the way. Forget about the 250. It is just not gonna be hefty enough.
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Old 03-15-2015, 07:30 PM   #13
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Nothing wrong with a 3400 pound payload, but EVERYTHING (except a 150# driver) that goes into the truck eats into that payload. Figure 200# for the hitch, do you have an in-bed tool box? Any tools in it? Carry any firewood? How about wood to put under the tires or stab jacks. You get the point - the 350/3500 is a much better choice.
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Old 03-15-2015, 08:30 PM   #14
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Go with the 350. It also has the exhaust brake feature.
Must not know much about the Ram/Cummins vehicles! Ram was the first one in the market to offer an exhaust brake standard starting in 2007.5 with the introduction of the 6.7L Cummins on all models of the pick up trucks.

It is the most aggressive of the standard exhaust brakes on vehicles equipped from the factory. In 2013.5 when the trucks were introduce with the DEF opition Ram introduced a two stage exhaust brake as standard.
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Old 03-16-2015, 07:30 AM   #15
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Thank you everyone for your input. I will opt for the 350/3500 option. Better safe then sorry...


A number of people on other threads were recommending a dully. As I will be living year round in the FW for a few years, the TV will be my primary vehicle. I would therefore prefer not to with a dully.


I have talked with a number of campers with similar units and towing with SRW with no issues. I know a dully is more stable but what are your opinions?
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Old 03-16-2015, 07:32 AM   #16
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Get the 350. You won't find an f250 diesel with anywhere near a 3400lb payload. Check the payload stickers as you shop.


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You are rigth, it is 3,350 lbs and not 3,400 lbs with the F250 2015 based on their brochure.
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Old 03-16-2015, 07:41 AM   #17
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Must not know much about the Ram/Cummins vehicles! Ram was the first one in the market to offer an exhaust brake standard starting in 2007.5 with the introduction of the 6.7L Cummins on all models of the pick up trucks.

It is the most aggressive of the standard exhaust brakes on vehicles equipped from the factory. In 2013.5 when the trucks were introduce with the DEF opition Ram introduced a two stage exhaust brake as standard.
I see you also have a CC 34RL 2015. What is your opinion about a 2500 pulling your unit?
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Old 03-16-2015, 07:54 AM   #18
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Another point is if you plan on living in this unit full time, you will be carrying more stuff than the average camper. You may fully intend not to when you start, but you will begin to accumulate things as you travel. I think you will find yourself at the top end of your units weight rating. You need a proper truck to handle all that weight.

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Old 03-16-2015, 08:21 AM   #19
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I see you also have a CC 34RL 2015. What is your opinion about a 2500 pulling your unit?
My unit is on order and will be delivered in early April. I will than scale both the truck and CC34RL on a "CAT" certified weight scale. This will establish the actual towing weight of the camper and GCVW of both units.

The truck should be able to handle this load with out any issues but I might upsize the rims and tires to a heavier load rating than the LT265/70R17/E tires; I am using now. Depending on what I find at the scale.

I will let everyone know the actual weights as I tow after I receive the camper.
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Old 03-16-2015, 09:41 AM   #20
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You are rigth, it is 3,350 lbs and not 3,400 lbs with the F250 2015 based on their brochure.

That is for the gas engine, not the diesel.


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