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Author Topic: New tow vehicle  (Read 3475 times)

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porthole

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #15 on: April 18, 2018, 09:49:46 AM »

Nice truck and great interior.  I'm a BIG fan of the brown'ish interiors they're using in most of the vehicles today.  My wife doesn't care for it as much.

I do have an observation/question.

I'm two years from retiring and I plan on getting a "used" truck and need to be able to pull a fifth wheel toy hauler.

I've been to RV shows and the general consensus is that a 2500HD will haul/pull a dual axle without much issue.  And a 3500HD will take just about any triple axle made.  Is this a good assumption?  I know that when it's time to buy a toy hauler, it's going to be sized correctly to what I have for a truck, but just wondering about 2500HD versus 3500HD.

Again very nice new wheels!


First off - do not believe any sales person or RV rep at a show when they say your XYZ truck can pull XYZ trailer. They do not get paid to help you make informed decisions.


2500-3500 or 250-350, the ride is not going to really change that much, it will be the 'legal capacity'.

All three have proven engines and transmissions now, not a bad choice among them.

The big difference between the 3 is the suspension. I like the Ram's with the air ride, but that is about it.

You start talking about triple axle toy haulers, I would recommend nothing lower then a 35? DRW. There is a lot to be said for not having the tail wag the dog.

I started out with a 2500HD with changes necessary to pull our 2 axle toy hauler and within 1 year I ordered the DRW. Just because a single rear wheel will pull a 20K pound trailer doesn't mean it will be a comfortable ride.

And one thing I found out about toy haulers, it is real easy to overload the factory ratings when you start using them a lot.

Even two axle trailers can be heavy, We have a new rig on order, 2 axles, with a 22,000 pound GVRW. I would not think of towing it with anything less then a 35? or 45?

Best advise - buy the truck you want then match the trailer to the truck.

Or, buy the trailer you want then match the truck to the trailer.

Even though my current 2011 is matched capacity wise to the new trailer, I'm still planning on upgrading within the year.
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MV 2013

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You can't control the weather, only how you deal with it

Dan_Lockwood

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #16 on: April 18, 2018, 02:55:56 PM »

Thanks for the great advice.  Sorry to hijack the thread.

There's also a LOT of difference between pulling a long trailer and a fifth wheel.  Although the stopping may not be up to par, I hear you can "pull" a nice size toy hauler with a heavy half ton.  I would not do that though.

For the amount of time I'll actually be hauling a fifth wheel toy hauler, I'm torn between gas and diesel.  New for around $9k to $10k upcharge, I'm just not truly sold on going the extra for diesel.  And the price difference in our area for fuel versus gas, I think you would REALLY want to have a diesel to spend the extra money.

I know that will open up a big discussion right there...

Sell me on a diesel guys.
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Dan

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bad00serg

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #17 on: April 18, 2018, 04:26:11 PM »

I would (did) go diesel.  You will recoup the $10K difference on resale value, and the MPG difference more than makes up for the additional cost of diesel at the pump.  All that, and you don't have to listen to a screaming, shifting gasser at each hill you encounter!
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porthole

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #18 on: April 18, 2018, 05:05:20 PM »

Sell me on a diesel guys.



Can't do it, you have to want it.

On the average extra cost for a diesel of $10,000, you need to travel over 75,000 miles towing, on average to recoup the expense.

I have two camping buddies pulling 5th wheels with gassers, neither one have any complaints. But they don't mind the loss of power for the few trips they do a year.
Diesels also cost probably double in the basic maintenance costs, filters and fluids.

Resale is something to consider through. I would guess well over 50% of the people that buy diesels don't need them, cool factor.

How much will you tow? I figure we do a pretty good job of traveling while still working. I average 5000-6000 miles a year pulling the RV.

But, if you are thinking 2 axle toy hauler you may as well go diesel, and dual rear wheel.


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You can't control the weather, only how you deal with it

porthole

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #19 on: April 18, 2018, 05:05:40 PM »

.
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MV 2013

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You can't control the weather, only how you deal with it

porthole

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Re: New tow vehicle
« Reply #20 on: April 18, 2018, 05:12:57 PM »

That all said, I started with a short bed GMC 2500HD Duramax. Good combo, but my trailer was too much for it.

Currently have a F-350 DRW, and although it is capable, I am ready for the next step. Driving through the roads of NE PA has me wanting lower gears and bigger brakes.
The trailer we have ordered will still be within the scope of my F-350, but I am ready for a F-450 now.

And before I actually order a truck next year I will seriously consider either a medium duty truck (MDT) like the Freightliner M2 series or go straight to a heavy duty truck HDT like the Volvo 700-800 series.

HDT's with under 500,000 miles are very affordable, put 10-40 K into it depending on what you want body style and or axle relocations and you are still under the price of a new pickup with million mile plus capability and towing ability that you will never out grow.
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MV 2013

1982 LowRider * 1974 XLCH * 1972 Adnoh
You can't control the weather, only how you deal with it
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