New vehicle to tow my 5th Wheel

[powerhaulic]

A 2500 would be fine, but 3500 SRW would be better. You do not need a dually for the weight you're talking about.
I am pulling 15000 with a 2500 and 3000# pin, it does just fine with just a set of air bags.
I get 11+mpg towing, have had several gas rigs, but will never tow without a diesel again.
Good luck in your truck search.

[Greg0]

Diesel. I’ve hauled trailers my entire life, stock, horse, and RVs. When you need that torque it’s there. This is not the item to scrimp on.

[Schreytg]

If you look around any park you’ll see way more Dodges with the Cummins than any other brand. Make your own decision but I pull 10K with an 04’ Dodge 2500 with minimal issues. Oh and it has 300,000 miles on it. Just put the first set of injectors in it.

[The Lieutenant]

Originally Posted by Walholler

I got a great deal on a lease return of a Chevy 2500HD diesel with 8860 miles on the clock. It came with a new truck warranty. It is not the highest grade interior wise, but the mechanics under the hood and body of truck is the same as the more expensive version. The one feature I like the best on this diesel engine truck is the exhaust brake. I tow a 32 ft. 5th wheel and on those long downhill grades with the exhaust brake engaged, I do not have to touch the foot brake. With a diesel truck, you can also install an auxiliary bed mounted fuel tank, legally. I have a total of 96 gals. fuel capacity and use the big truck fuel lanes to refuel. I own a GMC gas version of this truck before, I will never return to gas for towing. The diesel truck has 780 foot pounds of torque compared to 380 for the gas truck. I get better fuel mileage towing, 13 mpg on the diesel, the gas was around 10 mpg if I kept the speed down to 55 mph and the RPM's below 2000. This diesel truck is 4 wheel drive, where as the gas truck was 2 wheel drive.

Yes, you cant beat the exhaust breaking especially when in tow/haul. Coming down a long 6% grade you dont have to touch the brakes which is a super big plus. 13 mpg towing a 40 foot, 15,000 lb trailer ain't too shabby either!

[Telstar]

I have towed ours for years with a F350 long bed. I am now replacing it with a Ram 3500 short bed and installing a Demco auto slide hitch.

[Scafft]

Originally Posted by Springer7133

Hi,
After owning a Class A motorhome for years, we just purchased a 5th wheel. I am now seeking advice for what to buy to pull it. Your input would be greatly appreciated. The 5th wheel is a 2017 Prime Time 338-RSK, 36'8" long and empty weighs 10,800 pounds. I want to if possible buy something used in lieu of new. Any suggestions on what would be best, ie deisel, gas, make model, years, would be a great help. Yhanks in advance.

I agree with most of the people, in that if you can afford it go with the diesel... in some parts of the country (Canada anyway) it actually a requirement. With tha size of trailer your looking at a 1 ton for sure....I have a 27’ with a 2500 series truck, which in Canada is quite close to the max of 29’ fifth wheel.... any bigger, and I would need the 1ton

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Schreytg

If you look around any park you’ll see way more Dodges with the Cummins than any other brand. Make your own decision but I pull 10K with an 04’ Dodge 2500 with minimal issues. Oh and it has 300,000 miles on it. Just put the first set of injectors in it.

Actually, Dodge likes to be called Ram now. Even though they are the least expensive (not cheap) and are a great truck, in few areas of the country are they the most popular. Ram has about 9% of the truck market.

[CaptnJohn]

Lighting546 please show where the Powerstroke is a $19,000 option! In 2016 when I bought my current F350 it was $8440.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Neighbor is pulling a 2007 38' Montana...scaled at around 14,500. He's towed it from the day he bought it with a 2004 Silverado 2500HD diesel, extended cab and single rear wheel. They have 4 coast to coast trips on it and probably 50,000 miles in various trips. He's never had a single issue towing in 10 years now.

[Centexrider]

You could likely get away with a 3/4 ton (2500 or F250), but I agree if you can swing it go 1 ton diesel. You may want to upgrade your rv in the future, and 3/4 ton will limit you. I agree with those who say avoid Ford's 6.0 and 6.4. My son had 6.0 and had enormous problems and I thought I was being smart buying the later model 6.4. I was wrong. One other consideration if you buy a dually: check the manufacturer GVWR. In many states, Texas and Cali included, if the manufacturer GVWR is over 26,001 lbs (most duallys are) and the towed vehicle is over 10,000 lbs you are required to have a class a (can be non-cdl) license.

[Pipcoo15]

It is important to read the towing specs in the owners manual. I have a SRW Ford F-350 diesel with a 8ft bed. I think based on your empty weight a single rear axle would be fine. Keep in mind if you pulled a car around with your class A , assuming you have a spouse, the dually is a beast to drive around shopping ect.
And finally, diesel is the way to go, you will hate yourself , going with gas.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by robbiels7

The truck has a a pay load of 3039 which is over a thousand pounds more than my bosses 14 diesel f250. The truck barley squats. I have not been to the scales yet but it does just fine. I have seen a tone of trucks that are dangerously nose high and I'm am not one of them.

payload does not equate to tow capacity. 10,800 for the 6.0 gas is beyond max unless GM increased the tow rating . my TH weighs 9,200. loaded and my 2500 6.0 pulls it fine but would not want to go higher in weight . tow rating for my 2500 6.0 is 10300. even though my payload is 3206

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by MR.M

payload does not equate to tow capacity. 10,800 for the 6.0 gas is beyond max unless GM increased the tow rating . my TH weighs 9,200. loaded and my 2500 6.0 pulls it fine but would not want to go higher in weight . tow rating for my 2500 6.0 is 10300. even though my payload is 3206

Sounds like you’ve got an older 6.0. The max tow had indeed been increased to 14,800LB with the 6.0 and towing a 5th wheel. 14,500LB conventional towing.

[tomdeoca]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Sounds like you’ve got an older 6.0. The max tow had indeed been increased to 14,800LB with the 6.0 and towing a 5th wheel. 14,500LB conventional towing.

I recently traded in a Ram 3500 srw with 6.4 hemi to a Silverado 3500 lb srw with the duramax to pull an 11000 lb 5th wheel. The torque is amazing but almost equally impressive is that i am getting about 3 mi/gal better while hauling. Love it so far.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Sounds like you’ve got an older 6.0. The max tow had indeed been increased to 14,800LB with the 6.0 and towing a 5th wheel. 14,500LB conventional towing.

yes i do have an older one . did some looking and the towing has increased but the # you post if for the standard cab . the more door the less lowing . but they have bumped the numbers up . i guess the extra 60 hp makes a difference

[GeorgeFries]

My wife and I agreed to keep relatively up to date on our tow vehicle, e.g., within two to three years. Technology has been changing so fast! We’ve had success being at the right place at the right time, (instances include smaller RV sales), to buy used but relatively new trucks—12K to 14K miles. Again, instances include those that fell in love with the idea of RV life, but due reality, health, or otherwise, took the initial loss selling their rig. We love our Prime Time (Forest River) Wildcat. (Be sure to upgrade to the largest wheel and Goodyear Endurance tires that fit…!)

Ram had the auto-air bag system I wanted. Ours is a 2500 Tradesman, 6.4L gas, 4 X 4, with a 4.10 gear ratio. Outfitted for a way too large 40 foot toy hauler, this Ram was ours the second we saw it at Robbins Camper Sales. Alaska and British Columbia taught me early in life “dual rears” were inappropriate. (They ride on top of ice and snow diminishing traction and stability.) Dual rears may offer better stability and weight distribution especially on pavement... as well as added weight and friction (fuel mileage), maintenance and cost. I put the savings into the best 5 tires I believe suit my purpose. Gas verses Diesel? Already, (being a short timer), my wife and I saw $4.00/gallon or 198.3 p/litre for diesel fuel in Ontario; this in addition to DEF that sold for as high as $3.00/gal if it was available. Diesel isn’t always obtainable or pure. Operating costs doing it correctly include regular filter and oil changes over the $200.00 mark. Finally, one reckons with the $10K option of the diesel itself. Might a diesel be worthwhile? Not for me. My long-term spreadsheet for the 6.4L gas puts me ahead fiscally these past 14 months and 38K miles. 65 MPH on the open road, 45 MPH on %4 to %6 grades, I’m good. Ram did something right redesigning this engine as we at times forget we're pulling a 30 foot 5th Wheel! I think of my savings while taking time to enjoy the scenery. Yes, the diesel has the “oomph” passing me by, but I don’t mind.

Ram, Ford, or Chevrolet? Each is good. What’s comfortable? (Sit in the seats for at least a 1/2 hour). Was the truck ordered for towing? MIRORS! Are the mirrors adequate! Do you like the ergonomics? Look for the options you want and the requisites you need for SAFE towing. GVWR refers to the maximum operating weight a truck can possibly carry while driving including the truck itself. If your truck’s GVWR is 10,000 pounds, that’s the most the manufacturer and government have certified the truck to possibly weigh with fuel, passengers, and cargo. Do the numbers yourself… don’t take another’s word for it. A vehicle's GCWR is a specific weight determined by the manufacturer to be the maximum weight of a loaded tow vehicle and its attached loaded trailer. Again, do not guess, do the numbers yourself.

After it’s said and done, hit the nearest weigh station! It will be the most reassuring $11.00 you spend.

[andymil]

The OP might get by with a 250/2500 with a gas engine but if you go with a diesel, get a 350/3500. SWR should be enough.

[timfromma]

A gas engine will tow just fine but the first time you have to pull into a gas pump with your trailer attached, you'll wish you had a diesel so you could use the big truck lanes.

[FreeWheeler]

I am no expert, but I picked up a sweetheart deal on an old lightly used GMC 3500 DRW Diesel, more than I really needed for my 31' Super Lite. I cannot tell you that the DRW gives you more stability because I have nothing to compare it with, but I will say that one of the drawbacks is that a dually can be a b!tc# to park in a city (if ya get my drift). I have done it several big cities, but it always creates anxiety. On the other hand, this truck pulls very well and I am totally in awe of the Allison transmission in trailering mode on a steep downgrade. I had some guys on this forum give me advice and one was that it is better to be over-powered than under-powered, and others praised the Allison transmission (it's like downhill cruise control!). I recommend Diesel and Allison.