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Old 12-07-2022, 09:20 PM   #1
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need a new truck

Hi---we've been towing a 30' toy hauler with a F 250 gasser. Wife wants to buy a5th wheel---Riverstone 42FSKG---this has 5,000LB hitch weight and the GVWR is 21'000 LBS. This is a tri-axle toy hauler. Question is--what size truck would you get AND what brand of hitch. All help will be most appreciated.
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Old 12-07-2022, 10:04 PM   #2
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You're looking at a 350/3500 diesel
dually at a bare minimum.
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Old 12-07-2022, 10:30 PM   #3
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I'm thinking Kenworth or maybe Peterbuilt.
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Old 12-07-2022, 10:31 PM   #4
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Possibly even F-450. Not sure what the Chevy/Dodge equivalent would be (4500??). You need some big truck though. Start looking on the websites (Chevy/Ford/Dodge) and find the ones with the GVWR for the trailer you are looking at. When you find something you like, go to the dealer and get the numbers for that specific truck (usually a yellow sticker in the driver's door column). But yeah, it's going to be a minimum F-350/3500. Good luck, and ask more specific questions as you get them.
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Old 12-08-2022, 05:51 AM   #5
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My F-350 has a payload of 7850 lbs and can pull up to 34700 lbs of 5th wheel. While the F-450 can pull more the payload is only 6210 lbs. I guess it is because of the beefier frame on the F-450.
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Old 12-08-2022, 07:49 AM   #6
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My nephew has a giant toy hauler with similar specs. After a few years he has decided that his F350 dually with airbags is just not enough truck. Problems with drivetrain and suspension.
He was looking at F550, a hauler (looks a mini semi), or a used semi (usually cheaper than a pickup).
He has decided to sell the RV instead and get something smaller.
I do see more and more of these giant RVs being pulled by haulers though. Very nice if you can afford it and want to deal with all that.
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Old 12-08-2022, 08:55 AM   #7
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I agree, if you plan on traveling a lot of miles then go bigger than a 350.
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Old 12-08-2022, 09:25 AM   #8
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I agree, if you plan on traveling a lot of miles then go bigger than a 350.
I hear people say this a lot. My F-350 has 475 hp and 1050 lbs of torque. I have pulled my 16500 lb 5ver over many passes out west and it never broke a sweat.
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Old 12-08-2022, 09:51 AM   #9
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I don't know if this is still true, or if it applies to Ford or Ram. Here is a video I found from a YouTuber who deals with big 5th wheels and Big trucks. He went to buy a Chevy 5500 and the dealer told him no, you need a 3500HD. Short: the 5500 has a higher payload, but a lower GCVWR. Basically its designed with large payloads... like dump trucks in mind. Not towing 20K 5th wheels.

This is part one. Kind of interesting that a dealer actually asked the right questions.



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Old 12-08-2022, 11:19 AM   #10
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F450 or RAM 4500 - Definitely a diesel

1 ton truck be too small for it
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Old 12-08-2022, 04:17 PM   #11
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I have a 2006 Dodge 3500 diesel srw with crew cab and 8' bed. I haul a 37' 5th wheel with gvwr around 15K. It has no problems up and down mountains, but does squat the rear end a little bit. It handles my 5ver like a dream, but I wouldn't go bigger. The one you are talking about is much bigger.
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Old 12-08-2022, 08:39 PM   #12
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I haul 13,500 of fifth wheel with a 2012 F-350 SRW with no squat and plenty of go. Both the F-350 DRW and F-450 are rated to pull over 30,000 lbs. of fifth wheel/gooseneck trailer. With the F-350 you can get either a 3.55 or 4.10 rear end. With the F-450 the only choice is a 4.30 rear end to give it more tow rating, but as pointed out, less pin weight capacity. The F-450 does have a little better turning radius and uses 19.5" tires. With the 10 speed transmission, rear end ratios matter less--just let the tranny find its happy gear.
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Old 12-12-2022, 07:13 PM   #13
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I haul 13,500 of fifth wheel with a 2012 F-350 SRW with no squat and plenty of go. Both the F-350 DRW and F-450 are rated to pull over 30,000 lbs. of fifth wheel/gooseneck trailer. With the F-350 you can get either a 3.55 or 4.10 rear end. With the F-450 the only choice is a 4.30 rear end to give it more tow rating, but as pointed out, less pin weight capacity. The F-450 does have a little better turning radius and uses 19.5" tires. With the 10 speed transmission, rear end ratios matter less--just let the tranny find its happy gear.
Good point about the turning radius.

Looks like it’s not just a clear case of bigger is the clear choice, given a few of the experiences people have shared. Surprising about the reduced pin weight on the 450s
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Old 12-12-2022, 07:21 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by tmj View Post
Hi---we've been towing a 30' toy hauler with a F 250 gasser. Wife wants to buy a5th wheel---Riverstone 42FSKG---this has 5,000LB hitch weight and the GVWR is 21'000 LBS. This is a tri-axle toy hauler. Question is--what size truck would you get AND what brand of hitch. All help will be most appreciated.
1 ton dually dually diesel (Ram 3500 for example). BW Companion hitch.
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Old 12-12-2022, 07:35 PM   #15
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You're looking at a 350/3500 diesel
dually at a bare minimum.
Yup.
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Old 12-12-2022, 08:14 PM   #16
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Does the cost of insurance and license plates go up much after a 3500/350? I heard it goes into Commerical plates pricing statis.
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Old 12-12-2022, 08:20 PM   #17
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I’ve got a Riverstone 2019 FKTH- same weights that you’ll be encountering. I was using an F-450, but decided to go bigger as I moved between Texas and Western New York each year. The 450 was great-but I wanted more confidence and more brakes. I was ready to buy during the great diesel truck shortage spring of 2021.
Ended up with a great truck for the Riverstone: an International CV-515 Western Hauler. It’s the equivalent of the Chevy 5500/6500. It has hydraulic brakes and air suspension. It won’t win any races, but the International version of the Duramax and the Allison transmission will pull straight up the mountain without building any heat in engine or gearbox. It’s a medium duty diesel.

As for hitch, I’ve been using an Anderson Ultimate Towing Solution mounted to the gooseneck ball on the truck. (Just like with the 450). I know some don’t like the Anderson, but it makes hitching and in hitching very easy. I can see to confirm that it’s locked from the driver’s seat, and when I want a clear bed, it’s an easy one man job to install and remove.

I’m about to quit traveling. Truck will be up for sale soon if you’d like to talk.
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Old 12-12-2022, 08:39 PM   #18
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1/2 Ton w/ tow package.

Nah, save some gas. 1/2 ton w/ tow package
Quote:
Originally Posted by tmj View Post
Hi---we've been towing a 30' toy hauler with a F 250 gasser. Wife wants to buy a5th wheel---Riverstone 42FSKG---this has 5,000LB hitch weight and the GVWR is 21'000 LBS. This is a tri-axle toy hauler. Question is--what size truck would you get AND what brand of hitch. All help will be most appreciated.
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Old 12-12-2022, 10:27 PM   #19
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I wonder how large the truck can be before it's hard to find decent insurance. At some point don't most insurance companies assume it's going to be used for commercial service?
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Old 12-13-2022, 07:23 AM   #20
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We had a Ford F250 gasser. We tow a ForrestRiver fifth wheel super light 24 ft. One of the smallest one FR makes. It works until it doesn’t. We broke down 3 times, towed x2. We went through hell trying to get from New England to Tn. We had to end up buying a diesel where we broke down. I promise you will regret it. Our gasser was babied and only had 56000 miles.
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