Need a truck for a 5th wheel - Page 2

JohnD10 · 03-22-2019, 11:48 PM

I have a 2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L gasser with the 4.10 rear end (had 72 miles on it the day I purchased it) that I bought to be overkill for my previous TT, and after some major axle problems on the TT during a 2500 mile trip and 1000 miles from home, I traded it in on a 2015 33-foot 5'ver that I chose specifically because it was well within the towing specs of this truck.

And this truck is a trailer hauling beast!

I've towed my 9500 pound (loaded) 5'ver all over the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona.

While 9500 pounds is well under the max tow rating, I feel that it is all I would ever want to tow with it...in other words, 9500 pounds is the sweet spot!

I often wish I had gotten a diesel for the engine brake, but I lived in Colorado for 26 years and know how to drive in those mountains...up and down!

I have no regrets buying the gas engine...glad I did, actually!

As for 4WD...get it as you will need it!

Matter of fact, I just used the 4WD this morning when I put my 5'ver back in storage after a night of boondocking in the desert...

Since I live in the Arizona desert I don't like the trailer tires sitting on the sand, so when I backed up onto the Lynx Leveler blocks, in 2WD the tires spun in the sand (that 4.10 rear end has some juice

)...turned the knob to 4WD and backed it right up on those blocks!

My advice is if you really want a 3/4 ton truck...keep your 5'ver under 10,000 pounds loaded and you'll be a happy camper with no worries of ever having to get another truck in the near future!

Jakieboy · 03-23-2019, 12:09 AM

Agree that all of the Big 3 manufacturers have very capable trucks to meet your needs. Our 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel has given us extraordinary service for more than 100K miles. It also serves as my daily driver when not towing, and is far more comfortable than any of the 1 Ton Models we tried. We often serve as chauffeurs for members of our camping group who have 1-tons and can't stand their "bucking bronco" ride when not towing!!

SimchaSabre · 03-23-2019, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

Agree that all of the Big 3 manufacturers have very capable trucks to meet your needs. Our 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD Diesel has given us extraordinary service for more than 100K miles. It also serves as my daily driver when not towing, and is far more comfortable than any of the 1 Ton Models we tried. We often serve as chauffeurs for members of our camping group who have 1-tons and can't stand their "bucking bronco" ride when not towing!!

I opt for 4X2 Ram Hemi w/ 4:10 rear end. The 4:10 adds quite a bit to tow rating. IMHO the 4X4 adds intial cost and higher maintenance cost and payload weight with not much towing advantage the 4X2 also lowered the step hieght by about 4 in in our 2012 Model The 5.7l hemi tows our 10,000 UVW/11,200 loaded Sabre very nicely although, we could have used a little more power going over the Rockies. We average 11-12 mpg towing.

timfromma · 03-23-2019, 04:43 AM

My own personal rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 1000lbs of payload capacity left over after the trailer is connected to account for passengers and other cargo. Assuming the the 8000lbs is fully loaded and not the dry weight, the pin weight is approximately 1600lbs + 100lbs hitch weight. I'd be looking for a truck with 2700lbs of payload at a minimum.

Grumpy64 · 03-23-2019, 05:38 AM

I have a 2018 Ford Diesel F350 CC DRW LWB. It will handle by current fifth wheel and any I may buy in the future. I believe that having more than necessary with a tow vehicle is a good thing. There are many good reasons for SRW and for DRW. There are many good reasons for gas and for diesel. YOU need to evaluate your abilities and current/projected needs and your preference for a safety buffer and act accordingly. Everyone has good ideas and good opinions!

B and B · 03-23-2019, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

If that 8,000 is dry weight you need a 1 ton. A gasser will suffer in mileage (and power) when towing up a grade. You lose the engine brake with a gasser. Pin weight on even that light a 5er with hitch installed will be around 1800#. Not sure why anyone buys a 3/4 ton, especially a gasser.

I was at a Trailer Show last dominated by Forest River products. Touting that you can tow a 11,000 gvwr with a F 150! I see no need for anything else if the dealer says so.

B and B · 03-23-2019, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timfromma

My own personal rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 1000lbs of payload capacity left over after the trailer is connected to account for passengers and other cargo. Assuming the the 8000lbs is fully loaded and not the dry weight, the pin weight is approximately 1600lbs + 100lbs hitch weight. I'd be looking for a truck with 2700lbs of payload at a minimum.

Agree with your calculation to have some CCC for stuff. A Gas 250 or 2500 likely will work but no way a Diesel will have the payload.

ijon · 03-23-2019, 07:37 AM

When you are in the mountains if you enjoy the sound of a screaming engine ,get a gas.

itat · 03-23-2019, 08:42 AM

Kermitvb, at 8K# whether that’s UVW or GVWR a 3/4 ton gasser will be fine.

If you think a larger 5er that’s well over 10K# might be in your future, consider a diesel but only if that might happen in under 5 years. If you’ll be good with 8K# for 5 years, get your used 3/4 ton gasser now and spend the big bucks on the diesel when you really need it.

If you can’t find any decent used gas 3/4 ton pickups in your area and you have to go with a diesel, then go to a 1 ton. For the relatively small difference in cost (3/4 ton vs 1 ton), personally, I wouldn’t buy a 3/4 ton diesel - I’d go straight to a 1 ton.

TheWolfPaq82 · 03-23-2019, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ependydad

What size fifth wheels are you considering?

X10 Kind of the biggest factor in what you decide to buy.

itat · 03-23-2019, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ijon

When you are in the mountains if you enjoy the sound of a screaming engine ,get a gas.

You’re right but I have many fond memories of riding my 1100cc GoldWing cruising along at 4500 rpm. The gas engines can handle it and I don’t mind listening to the engine. There is definitely a point where you need to go with a diesel though.

timfromma · 03-23-2019, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B and B

Agree with your calculation to have some CCC for stuff. A Gas 250 or 2500 likely will work but no way a Diesel will have the payload.

My diesel 2500 could do it but barely.

kermitvb · 03-24-2019, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnD10

I have a 2015 Chevy 2500HD 6.0L gasser with the 4.10 rear end (had 72 miles on it the day I purchased it) that I bought to be overkill for my previous TT, and after some major axle problems on the TT during a 2500 mile trip and 1000 miles from home, I traded it in on a 2015 33-foot 5'ver that I chose specifically because it was well within the towing specs of this truck.

And this truck is a trailer hauling beast!

I've towed my 9500 pound (loaded) 5'ver all over the mountains of Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona.

While 9500 pounds is well under the max tow rating, I feel that it is all I would ever want to tow with it...in other words, 9500 pounds is the sweet spot!

I often wish I had gotten a diesel for the engine brake, but I lived in Colorado for 26 years and know how to drive in those mountains...up and down!

I have no regrets buying the gas engine...glad I did, actually!

As for 4WD...get it as you will need it!

Matter of fact, I just used the 4WD this morning when I put my 5'ver back in storage after a night of boondocking in the desert...

Since I live in the Arizona desert I don't like the trailer tires sitting on the sand, so when I backed up onto the Lynx Leveler blocks, in 2WD the tires spun in the sand (that 4.10 rear end has some juice

)...turned the knob to 4WD and backed it right up on those blocks!

My advice is if you really want a 3/4 ton truck...keep your 5'ver under 10,000 pounds loaded and you'll be a happy camper with no worries of ever having to get another truck in the near future!

This is great info. It seems the trade off is I can find a diesel I can afford, but it will have a boat-load of miles...but I understand diesels will run longer than gas engines if you take care of them. Then, there is the maintenance factor. I can get a lower mileage gas but it won't have the guts of a diesel, and you do get lower mileage when towing. So many decisions, but hey, that's part of the fun...I guess. Thanks for the inputs. I do appreciate it.

kermitvb · 03-24-2019, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itat

You’re right but I have many fond memories of riding my 1100cc GoldWing cruising along at 4500 rpm. The gas engines can handle it and I don’t mind listening to the engine. There is definitely a point where you need to go with a diesel though.

My 6.2 gas Escalade would scream going up hills even with my small-ish TT. 6.5 mpg was the norm, unless it was South Dakota and I had a 30 mph wind behind me.

Jakieboy · 03-25-2019, 12:17 AM

After 30+ years of RV-ing, we decided to trade our Ford Van for a truck that would meet our immediate and future towing needs, and settled on a Silverado 2500 HD Diesel. No regrets. Mileage while towing improved by 100% from 6.5 mpg to 13.3 mpg.

We will never go back to a gasser tow vehicle.

itat · 03-25-2019, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitvb

My 6.2 gas Escalade would scream going up hills even with my small-ish TT. 6.5 mpg was the norm, unless it was South Dakota and I had a 30 mph wind behind me.

What rpm was it running? My 6.2L might run at just over 4000 rpm going up a good hill but it has a redline north of 6000 rpm. I suspect the problem might be that you bought a Cadillac for a tow vehicle and expected it to be just as quiet when towing as it is cruising without a trailer.

ppine · 03-25-2019, 11:24 AM

Any of the big three will work. I like the one ton SRW with a decent wheelbase length. I like an 8 foot bed. Crew cabs have beds that keep getting shorter.

I believe in diesel technology. It has actually saved me a lot of money. I have a Ford 7.3 that is going up in value after owning it for 17 years. Diesels hold their value and they last. It more than makes up for the higher initial cost.

kermitvb · 03-25-2019, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

After 30+ years of RV-ing, we decided to trade our Ford Van for a truck that would meet our immediate and future towing needs, and settled on a Silverado 2500 HD Diesel. No regrets. Mileage while towing improved by 100% from 6.5 mpg to 13.3 mpg.

We will never go back to a gasser tow vehicle.

That's what I was hoping to see. I was getting 6.5 mpg with the Escalade so I was hoping that if I opted for a diesel the towing mpg would make it worth while. There isn't so much difference, or so I hear, in the city, but I'm getting it to tow a 5th wheel. What rear end did you get? I've driven a very nice RAM Laramie 2500 with a 3.42 ratio and I am uncertain it will be okay. Thoughts?

Jakieboy · 03-26-2019, 07:47 PM

Kermitvb...All of the Chevy 2500 HD Diesels the year we bought 2008 come with a 3.73 rear end ratio. With the diesel and the magnificent Allison 6-speed transmission, it doesn't much matter what rear ratio you have. We get around 19-20 mpg when not towing.

kermitvb · 03-27-2019, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

Kermitvb...All of the Chevy 2500 HD Diesels the year we bought 2008 come with a 3.73 rear end ratio. With the diesel and the magnificent Allison 6-speed transmission, it doesn't much matter what rear ratio you have. We get around 19-20 mpg when not towing.

Thanks. This is the type of comment that I was hoping for. It is helping me make a decision. I'm hoping to have a new-to-me diesel within a week.

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