3/4 ton or one ton dually? Diesel for me.

[CCasto]

I would like some opinions on what is the best size truck to pull the Cardinal 3450rl I’m going to use Ford names but doesn’t necessarily mean I will pick a Ford. But f 250 size or F350 size. I want diesel I could say 2500 or 3500 for Chevy. But I thought the 2500 HD would be a little undersized to pull my Cardinal 3450rl but the place I bought it from the owner said he can pull it up the interstate 75 no prob no trouble at all. I just figured a coach this big would need more to keep it stable and if I go across country ? How about some opinions. And Dodge is a contender also

[Mike134]

3/4 ton with a diesel is a mistake, very POOR payload ratings.
go with either 3/4 gas motor or 1 ton diesel.

[CHICKDOE]

3500 with diesel. The real question is single vs dual rear wheels.

[oxcamper]

I went from a GMC K3500 1 ton dually , full 8' bed, crew cab to a 3/4 ton regular bed, extended cab.
while the dually was a HUGE truck to run around in, I never knew I was pulling a load, even with 5 ton of cattle in a goose neck stock trailer.

If I could afford it, I would certainly go back to the 1 ton dually.

[cc102bob]

My opinion is that the physical differences between a single rear wheel 1 ton and a 3/4 ton are minimal. I believe the 3/4 tons are generally kept at a lower rating for legal and insurance reasons. The reasons can include drivers license requirements, etc. You should check with your insurance company and state licensing agency to see if there are significant differences in cost if you pick one over the other.

If there are no cost or regulatory hurdles for you to get the 1 ton vehicle, then I recommend doing that. You will likely have an "official" payload that is greater in case you want to get an even bigger trailer later. If you decide that your 1 ton truck rides too harshly and you really don't need all that payload, it probably wouldn't be too difficult to tweak the suspension a bit to give it a nicer ride and you could always put it back to stock if you needed that payload ability back.

[LLRichman]

Dually all the way. Stopping power, Stability, payload. No question

[ependydad]

You’re easily looking at 3,000 pounds of pin weight once you load it up with your stuff.

See this calculator that I made.. I plugged in the dry numbers from that model:
Estimating Tongue/Pin Weight from Dry Weights - TowingPlanner

Given that, I think you’re definitely in F350 territory.

On top of that, I think with it being over 40’ and a gross weight at 16,000 pounds, I wouldn’t pull it without a dually.

[Kcoulter]

Pricing difference between a similarly equipped F250 & F350 is negligible, and especially with the diesel you'll appreciate the payload.

[asr524]

To add in some real world numbers for you.
For me I have a SRW F350 4door 8ft box and the payload sticker says 3107lbs.
My RV is supposed to have a dry pin weight of 2036 but on the scale it was 2420 as delivered from the dealer with a generator up front.
That leaves me with 800lbs before I exceed the rear axle rating of the truck. The scale ticket did include a full tank of fuel, the wife and myself.

[mikegernes]

I would go for the 1 ton dually. The stability is awesome. And insurance is cheaper on my 2019 1 ton dually than my wife's Kia sportage. I asked the insurance company why. They told me the truck is much safer. You won't regret going with a dually pulling that camper.

[olemax]

Get the Dually, and never look back. I have pulled my same 5er with a Diesel 2500HD and a Diesel 3500HD CC/DRW. The 3500 handles the rig so much more easily on curvy roads and has much better braking for descents.

[raysen]

Ford F450 . All the guessing games are done. I have one and no issues pulling a 16000lb fifth wheel.

[CoMaddMax]

I have a 43' 5er and when I first got it I had a Dodge 2500 short box dual cab. I pulled it all over the country @ 75 on the freeway. The only issue was going up into the mountains out of Denver. IF I kept my speed up I could pull it at 50 mph at the top, if I got trapped behind a slow moving truck i would end up 40 at the top and my temp was just hitting the red zone. I was overloaded for the truck but it had an extra leaf on the back and I added air bags and it pull level. I upgraded to a Chevy 3500 DRW with nothing extra in the suspension and it squats about an 1 1/2". I haven't pulled it west yet but it pulls easier on the flat and when taking off. More stable? I can't really tell a difference between the 2 and I pulled both in 40 mph crosswinds. I never felt unsafe in the Dodge but everyone gave me grief about it...

[Mike Aarestad]

Diesel is certainly the way to go for long term, I believe.
The 3/4 ton only carries about 2,100 payload, the one ton single wheel carries around ,4,200 lbs and the dually version generally is about 5,300.
All the pickup manufacturers are close to these numbers. The gas version of the pickups carry over 1000 lbs more that their diesel counterparts.
Look at the yellow sticker in all the pickup drivers door.
Most 5th wheel campers are no where near 4,200 loaded hitch weight combined with all the rest of the other payload stuff in the pickups so the single wheel works fine. The single wheel is a bit simpler for going thru car washes and general driving.
The stereotype dually that has been deleted roaring from the stop sign belching black smoke sticks in my mind. Of course this is true with any diesel

[Paulwally]

I have a 3850 with propane generator, pulled with gas 250 and beefed up springs before replacement with 350 diesel. Glad I went with 350 diesel. Dually I think would be just a choice of what you like. Best of luck with your choice.

[ThruHiker]

Originally Posted by Mike Aarestad

Diesel is certainly the way to go for long term, I believe.
The 3/4 ton only carries about 2,100 payload, the one ton single wheel carries around ,4,200 lbs and the dually version generally is about 5,300.
All the pickup manufacturers are close to these numbers. The gas version of the pickups carry over 1000 lbs more that their diesel counterparts.
Look at the yellow sticker in all the pickup drivers door.
Most 5th wheel campers are no where near 4,200 loaded hitch weight combined with all the rest of the other payload stuff in the pickups so the single wheel works fine. The single wheel is a bit simpler for going thru car washes and general driving.
The stereotype dually that has been deleted roaring from the stop sign belching black smoke sticks in my mind. Of course this is true with any diesel

We have a 2019 F350 diesel SRW. In the real world, by the time you get done with options like crew cab, 4WD, and a higher trim level, the payload is more in the 3200-3500 range. You're not going to see anywhere near 4000 in an SRW diesel unless it's a stripped 2WD, which doesn't work for most people.

Having said that... with a big Cardinal I'd go F450 diesel dually all the way. The F450 is supposed to have a better turning radius than the F350. Much as I love my F350... well, "Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around... " LOL!

[The Flip Flop Way of Life]

I have a Ram 3500 dually diesel and pull a 17,000 fiver. Can pull a mountain with out loosing speed with no problem. I would say get a dually better have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Just my 2 cents.


Robert (The Flip Flop Way of Life)

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by ThruHiker

We have a 2019 F350 diesel SRW. In the real world, by the time you get done with options like crew cab, 4WD, and a higher trim level, the payload is more in the 3200-3500 range. You're not going to see anywhere near 4000 in an SRW diesel unless it's a stripped 2WD, which doesn't work for most people.

Having said that... with a big Cardinal I'd go F450 diesel dually all the way. The F450 is supposed to have a better turning radius than the F350. Much as I love my F350... well, "Give me 40 acres and I'll turn this rig around... " LOL!

I have a 2018 Ram 3500 Diesel crew cab long bed 4x4 and Im a right around the 4200 payload # Not a lot of Bling But not stripped either, works well!

[FlaNative]

When people talk about 'pulling', they seem to leave out another, just as important point: Stopping. While it may be true that the 1 ton diesels may have better braking power, the rig you're towing really should have disc brakes. We added disc brakes to our 3250RL Cardinal and it makes a huge difference in sopping power. Disc brakes will help reduce the wear on your truck. Get the disc brakes: you'll never regret it!

[hankpac]

Originally Posted by CCasto

I would like some opinions on what is the best size truck to pull the Cardinal 3450rl I’m going to use Ford names but doesn’t necessarily mean I will pick a Ford. But f 250 size or F350 size. I want diesel I could say 2500 or 3500 for Chevy. But I thought the 2500 HD would be a little undersized to pull my Cardinal 3450rl but the place I bought it from the owner said he can pull it up the interstate 75 no prob no trouble at all. I just figured a coach this big would need more to keep it stable and if I go across country ? How about some opinions. And Dodge is a contender also

Simplest formula: you can NEVER have too much truck.
I got the 3500 Ram dually, and even when the 5th wheel toy hauler is full of water and “stuff”, it only squats to level, never more. I added nothing. No springs or airbags, nothing. You will never be sorry you bought the bigger rig.