Would like honest suggestions about tow vehicle issues

[timswi]

Did you say you have a 30' 5th wheel RV trailer that has a dry weight of 5,200. lbs.? Have you weighed your trailer? Manufacturer's weights are usually way under the actual weight and do not include any options. I would suspect that it's closer to 7.200 dry, and 8,500 - 9,500 loaded. That's clearly out of 1/2 ton territory.

Not out of a 1/2 ton range..My 32' BP goes 7800# dry and my Denali 1500 pulls it like it's nothing...A FW might put more bed weight on but I believe the FW's are balanced for that. Could be wrong.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I pull nearly a 10,000f boat with my 1/2 ton well over 150 miles each weekend from April till Late October with no hesitation. I have a F350 diesel but for 10,000# a new properly equipped 1/2 ton is fine.

Chris

 

[351boss]

would buy a 2500 Ram, will pull and haul anything, also gets great milage also. Just make sure you get the cummings.

 

[handirifle]

Did you say you have a 30' 5th wheel RV trailer that has a dry weight of 5,200. lbs.? Have you weighed your trailer? Manufacturer's weights are usually way under the actual weight and do not include any options. I would suspect that it's closer to 7.200 dry, and 8,500 - 9,500 loaded. That's clearly out of 1/2 ton territory.

The PO did and it was closer to 5500#, nowhere near 7000. It has one slide out that only goes out about 12" and is made of very lightweight materials. With our stuff in it, and propane, and both waste tanks were full, so wet weight was prob in the 7K range, and the truck wasn't cutting it.

As for another gasser, NO! Period, end of discussion. If I'm going to get 13-15mpg, like I do now, I'm going diesel. I WILL have the power when I need it.

 

[sd455dan]

think you mean Cummins ....

I think the 03 2500 and 3500 Cummins equipped Dodges are my favorite because they arguably get close to the best mileage of the common rails- they have good power 305 HP and 555 ft lbs. torque @ 1400 RPM for the HO - that's a great rpm to get things moving and keep them moving with out revving the stuffing out of the engine
Also the least emissions control equipment : NO catalytic converter
NO DPF
NO EGR
NO Diesel emissions fluid
of any 2003 or newer diesel truck if you could stand to drive a Manual trans the NV5600 6 speed works good and is more reliable than the (stock auto trans) I hear that the prices have gone way up but I got mine for $16,800 100Kmiles 4x4 Laramie QC 3500 SRW my nephews girlfriend picked up her 2004 2500 QC auto SRW for $19000 with under 100k miles from a dealer and no expensive troubles on either truck... I think the FORD guys that recommend the 7.3 are right about them being the most reliable Ford, but how does the power and mileage stack up to the same vintage Cummins??

 

[Little]

Oh,I stand corrected if this is so.My apologes.I havent kept up to date with Cummins.
I can understand your sensitivity to the question as a Dodge guy.
None the less,the order of trucks is FORD,GM ,Dodge and then all those other brands.
Keep trucking.

 

[PoorMansCat]

Ever look at the Ford ecoboost? we tow a 6000 lb travel trailer and load the truck with motorcycles( 800 lbs) and it doesn't feel much different that when empty!! As a professional Heavy DUty Diesel Mechanic, I have no use for a Deisel pick-up AT HOME. If you plan to Haul ,and tow heavy loads 80% of the time , then get a diesel, otherwise your wasting you money. just my 2 cents

MAC

Agreed! I work on large heavy duty natural gas and diesel engines every day as well. There is a common misconception being driven by pickup truck manufacturers that you GOTTA have a diesel if you own a trailer hitch. For the most part, consumers have bought in, most dealerships have lots full of diesels and a few gas powered stripped down fleet trucks. For most people,if they would honestly sit down and work out the math on a gasoline powered truck vs diesel, they would find there is no logic behind buying a new diesel. Between initial costs, fuel costs, maintenance costs, they saving curve on a diesel will never pay off in most applications.
All that being said, I do own an 06 Dodge with a diesel. It is used solely for towing my large 5er and for moving tractors/hay. If I need to go somewhere, we fire up the wifes Mazda. I will be purchasing a new truck next year, but it will be gasoline powered!.

 

[Little]

To Poormanscat.
Prudent and well said.For the most part the extra cost to purchase ANY diesel powered truck and the extra cost of maitenance at service time may just not be worth it.Gas powered trucks have lots of pull and toughness to do the job with less service costs.

 

[Madmac74]

Also the price if Diesel is considerably higher than Gasoline..

 

[DeereMann]

Agree with PoorMansCat. I wonder if the downsized light duty diesels will even the playing field? Depends on what they charge for them, and what the mileage is, I suppose?

Very few of us need those 7 liter monsters with 800 ft-lbs of torque in a pickup truck! The Cummins was originally built for farm tractors! (Joint venture with J.I. Case back in 1989) :shocked: