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Old 07-06-2015, 10:22 PM   #1
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Time for a new (used) TV: GM vs Toyota

Just a bit of background:

This spring we upgraded our trailer from a 16' Scotty to a 29' Shasta. My tow vehicle is a 2003 Toyota Sequoia 4.7L. Never had a towing issue with the Scotty paired with the Sequoia. However, the Shasta and Sequoia don't seem to get along too well! In a separate thread, I inquired as to getting a handle on the squirliness the Sequoia experiences when getting passed by a semi, box truck, or a plastic bag. After many suggestions that I've tried, I've come to the conclusion that the Sequoia's wheel base is just too short (118.2") for the 29' Shasta.

We got pre-approval from our credit union for a loan today and we're keeping it at $17K to borrow for an upgraded tow vehicle. I'm going back to a pick-up, and it'll be a crew cab, since we have two grandsons still in car seats that will camp with us from time to time. Per our credit union, they'll only go back as far as a 2005 and as high as 125K miles. I love my Sequoia dearly, but if I'm spending this kind of $$, one of the trucks I"m going to look at is a 2007+ Tundra Crewmax. With the upgraded 5.7L and tow capacity, I'd much rather overkill it than be marginal with a pre-2007 Tundra. We camp rather light, and "if" we have any water onboard the Shasta, as well as other "stuff", we'd be looking at a trailer weight in the 5200lbs range TOPS. I've recently weighed the tongue and it checks in at about 640lbs.

My other choice would be a Silverado/Sierra of the same 2007+ era, crewcab with a 5.3L. Tow capacities of the GM vs Tundra are around 7500 vs 10,000 from what I can tell, and payload is in the 1600 lbs range for either.

So, based on these TWO choices only, any opinions on what's my best bet? Is one a no brainer compared to the other? Opinions always appreciated!
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Old 07-06-2015, 10:31 PM   #2
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Which ever has the most payload.
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Old 07-07-2015, 06:25 PM   #3
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Im happy with my toyota! I think the crew max has alittle less carry on weight than my DBL cab. Do some research.............
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Old 07-07-2015, 09:03 PM   #4
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I like my 07' Tundy and 31' 7.5k+ TT. It towed great stock, but even better with a few mods. Like rear sway bars ($125 or so) and high performance front rotors and pads. otherwise its a beast. I have around 95k miles lots of it towing without problems.
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Old 07-07-2015, 10:00 PM   #5
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Cargo cap for crewmax is around 1300. But if your tongue weight is let's say 700, you should be just fine unless the grandsons are built like wwf wrestlers!

I have done some upgrades to Clifford- Trd exhaust, afe intake and sumo springs to help with my high tongue weight. I am also using Anderson hitch and very happy with it now I have finally got it dialed in to my setup.
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Old 07-07-2015, 10:16 PM   #6
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My 2 cents:

If you go with a Silverado, make VERY sure you know how it's optioned. My 2009 Silverado owners manual list 99 (that's NINETY-NINE!!!!) permutations of engine, cab, rear axle, tow package, 2WD/4WD, etc. The tow capacity ranges from about 4000 lbs up to 11,000 lbs. (Mine's good to 7500 lbs, for example.) So you HAVE to know what the specific vehicle you're looking at is rated to tow. (This is another reason that any salesman that tells you "Oh, a 1/2 ton can pull this," is full of BS! All 1/2 tons are NOT created equal.) The other brands have similar issues.

Also, I highly suspect that you're going to end up packing more stuff in the Shasta than you did in the Scotty. So your weight may end up being a bit more than you're estimating.
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Old 07-08-2015, 12:11 AM   #7
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I am on my 3rd tundra now for a daily driver, I put 250K on the 2007 as well as the 2011. My 2015 has 29K on it now. (I drive about 85K/year for work)
Tundras are very hard to beat for reliability. I NEVER got that may miles out of GM or Ford trucks when I had those. The 2011 was without a doubt the BEST vehicle I have ever had and I had all of them.
My only complaints for towing would be the rear springs are VERY soft and the P rated tires instead of LT tires. The bumpers are very thin and if you bump them with the tongue of the trailer you WILL dent them.
With that being said I tow my fifth wheel with a Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel because it is too heavy for anyone's half ton truck. The dodge typically only sees ~5k/year
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Old 07-08-2015, 12:37 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Jeff in NC View Post
With that being said I tow my fifth wheel with a Dodge Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel because it is too heavy for anyone's half ton truck. The dodge typically only sees ~5k/year
Jeff - Perfect segway! On another forum where I posted this, I had a responder contact me offline regarding an '06 Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel and 56k miles they're selling for just under $23k. I know squat about diesel engines, but was intrigued with his ad. I'd never have to worry about any towing concerns for sure! Anything you can share in regards to yours for a novice like me?
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Old 07-08-2015, 10:58 AM   #9
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Jeff - Perfect segway! On another forum where I posted this, I had a responder contact me offline regarding an '06 Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel and 56k miles they're selling for just under $23k. I know squat about diesel engines, but was intrigued with his ad. I'd never have to worry about any towing concerns for sure! Anything you can share in regards to yours for a novice like me?
I have an 07 2500 Diesel that I towed my 37ft Heartland Big Horn, 14,100 on the scales, no issues. Yea Yea, way over however the truck didn't care, pulled at around 63 to 65 MPH on average with cruise set and AC on. Not saying or recommending anyone tow that heavy, just pointing out the Cummins diesel 5.9 (same as 06 above) knows no bounds. Weak points, if not properly maintained are transmission, fuel systems.
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Old 07-08-2015, 11:11 AM   #10
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Either are fine for your setup. If you went with the GM, I'd try to do the newer body style 07.5+ and make sure it has the factory tow package. If you can swing it, in 2009+ GM put in the 6 speed auto in the 1500s so more power, better ratios, and milage.

Good luck.
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Old 07-08-2015, 11:15 AM   #11
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We are towing a 829fkss Flagstaff with our 2014 F150 Crewcab with ecoboost and max tow. It tows great. I switched to Ford trucks in 1994 and from my experience with them, I would not even consider another truck. I also keep our trailers in the range where they be 1/2 ton towable. If we did go larger, I would begrudgingly consider the Dodge/Cummins combination.
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Old 07-08-2015, 12:08 PM   #12
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Due to the $ issue i would stay with the lightest trailer possible. No fun going camping if your always worried about truck and trailer while driving.
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Old 07-08-2015, 12:56 PM   #13
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We are towing a 829fkss Flagstaff with our 2014 F150 Crewcab with ecoboost and max tow. It tows great. I switched to Ford trucks in 1994 and from my experience with them, I would not even consider another truck. I also keep our trailers in the range where they be 1/2 ton towable. If we did go larger, I would begrudgingly consider the Dodge/Cummins combination.
I''m hoping with the newer Aisen trans, the Rams can keep trucking with the Cummins. The Duramax/Allison combo is hard to beat. Ram's achilles has been their trans. The 68RFE did ok, I had that in my 2010 but still had weaker OD ratios. From the factory, the Allison can handle 1000ft/lbs of torque. The 68RFE was good for 650-800 depending on year. Not sure about the newer Aisen (older one was 750 lb/ft and the 2013+ is suppose to be 850-950) but time will tell. Interesting how Ram went to a Japanese company for a tranny.
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Old 07-08-2015, 04:33 PM   #14
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If you can swing it, in 2009+ GM put in the 6 speed auto in the 1500s so more power, better ratios, and milage.
You might mean 2010+. My 2009 has a 4-speed.

Actually, I think both must have been available then, as my owners manual discusses both.
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Old 07-08-2015, 11:26 PM   #15
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You might mean 2010+. My 2009 has a 4-speed.

Actually, I think both must have been available then, as my owners manual discusses both.
I actually test drove a 2009 Sierra 2500 tonight that had the 6.0L and 6 speed transmission. Gotta say that I think going 3/4 ton is the way to go. Going to take another look tomorrow. Just hard to beat the payload. When my tongue weights on my Shasta is 650 lbs and the WDH weighs about 90 lbs, I've basically lost half my payload right there with most 1/2 tons.
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Old 07-09-2015, 07:41 AM   #16
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I actually test drove a 2009 Sierra 2500 tonight that had the 6.0L and 6 speed transmission. Gotta say that I think going 3/4 ton is the way to go. Going to take another look tomorrow. Just hard to beat the payload. When my tongue weights on my Shasta is 650 lbs and the WDH weighs about 90 lbs, I've basically lost half my payload right there with most 1/2 tons.
Always better to have to much then not enough. That 6.0 /6 speed combo is a nice setup.
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Old 07-09-2015, 04:31 PM   #17
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Always better to have to much then not enough.
I don't think I've ever seen a posting here about someone complaining that his truck is TOO big!
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Old 07-09-2015, 05:01 PM   #18
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I`ve noticed that in my area dodge is the cheapest. Also The bodies rot out rather quick compared to others.
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Old 07-09-2015, 06:56 PM   #19
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Jeff - Perfect segway! On another forum where I posted this, I had a responder contact me offline regarding an '06 Ram 2500 with a Cummins diesel and 56k miles they're selling for just under $23k. I know squat about diesel engines, but was intrigued with his ad. I'd never have to worry about any towing concerns for sure! Anything you can share in regards to yours for a novice like me?
I wish I could have found an '06 with only 56K for $ when I was truck shopping. Is it a 4wd 4dr for that price?
The 5.9 Cummins engine is FANTASTIC. I tows like a tractor.
The weakest link in that combo is the 48RE transmission. I purchased mine knowing that. When I was truck shopping I was specifically looking for a Duramax/Allison or 8.1gas/Allison truck figuring that was the better all around combo but found a GREAT deal on the Dodge. I specifically passed over 6.0 Fords because of the many issues with those.
The big plus for the Allison is smart enough to keep you from destroying it. It will reduce power when it senses slipping. The down side to an Allison is building an Allison = BIG $$$$
I have come to learn that the 48RE can be built to hand much greater loads for less $$$ than the Allison or the new 68RE found in Dodges. In fact there are kits for putting the 4 speed 48RE in Ram trucks that originally had the 6 speed 68RE. The reason is because it can be built to handle more power than anyone has figured out how to build a 68RE to hold.
(In fact I was talking with a fella in Virginia that drag races his Duramax equipped GM truck with a Dodge 48RE Transmission behind it over with over 1200HP---THAT BLEW MY MIND. )
I have had my transmission built (billet flex plate, billet input shaft, & kevlar fictions, and a few other things) to tow heavy do not expect to have a problem with it again.

Having towed with gas trucks for years I do not have any regrets on going diesel except that I did not do it sooner. Diesels do have lots more of expensive parts to replace when they break. Those stories we why I waited so long.

If you go BIG on the truck now you will have room to "GROW" campers later on. Campers are like boats...you get "2 foot-itus" after a few years and want to go bigger
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Old 07-10-2015, 09:44 PM   #20
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Deal is done! We're now the owners of a 2009 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD. 6.0L V8 with the 6 speed transmission. It's got the 3.73 gear, so my tow capacity drops down to 9900 lbs, but still that's twice as much as I'll need for the Shasta. Payload is in the 3K lbs range, so no worries there either. Going to put my Blue Ox on in the morning and take it for a little interstate spin to see how it does with semis compared to the Sequoia. If this doesn't fix things, I'm selling both and buying a tent!

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