Community Forums

Icamp2TT · 03-01-2017, 05:33 PM

Slow and steady up the hill and slow and steady on the down grade. I'm here to enjoy the view on both sides.

gtsum2 · 03-01-2017, 05:35 PM

I personally wouldn't tow a 12k fiver with any gas rig. Diesels just do it better (twice the torque, better mpg, better resale, and the exhaust brake makes a huge difference on the downhills) and there really is no debate on the above.

Downsides of course are upfront cost and maintenance costs are higher. I suppose you could add an external fuel tank to a gas truck, otherwise you will be filing up every 200 miles as the fuel capacity is normally lower.

sam-3 · 03-01-2017, 05:40 PM

When you buy a brand new tow vehicle have a private place rust proof it every year. We use crown Rustproofing as it is close to our home. Then every year we put our F250 in the body shop for and dings or signs of rust. The truck is a 1997 F250 4x4 8ft. bed. The truck is 20yrs old and we get asked if we want to sell it. We live in the snowy North. Take care of your vehicle and it will take care of you. I priced a new truck with the same features as we have now and it is around $55,000. Going to drive our truck until I get the last few dollars from the junk yard.

Icamp2TT · 03-01-2017, 05:58 PM

I guess diesel and big brakes and engine or Trans brake and air ride may be the way to go. But if I were to go that route I would bypass the pickup and opt for a semi. And we decided to purchase a DRV or New HORIZON a small semi would be awesome.

NavyDiver198 · 03-02-2017, 02:29 PM

I am pulling a 2015 Cougar X-Lite 29RLI @ 34.5' with a 2015 F-250 Gas truck in Ontario Canada. So far we have not had any issues pulling the trailer at all.

southernlady · 03-02-2017, 04:42 PM

We never had trouble pulling a 22 ft travel trailer with our 2013 F150 Ecoboost. But hubby hated heading downhill with it. It gave him white knuckle syndrome. He adores the engine braking in a diesel.

cj74 · 03-02-2017, 05:13 PM

Pulling a Cougar 320 SRX toy hauler 5er just a tad over 35 foot with a 03 Silverado 2500HD 8.1L Allison trans w/3.73's ... she's a thirty girl but this truck pulls it no issues up or down ... tow/haul on of course

**NLOVNIT** · 03-02-2017, 05:44 PM

Our previouse set up was 33ft Cougar (not a lite) with a 2500HD Chevy 4x4. Loaded it was around 9,600lbs. It was a great combo. I kind of miss it. I LOVED driving that truck & there was more living space & counter space in that 5-r than we have in our coach.

Lori-

bruxus47 · 12-30-2019, 06:10 PM

Thks 4 your comments , as we are transitioning from 40 ft coach & road to 30ft fiver. The gas / diesel thing. 250 / 350 thing.

Cumminsfan · 12-30-2019, 06:13 PM

30' 5er in Canada. 350/3500 diesel of choice. No brainer.

sellis1053 · 12-31-2019, 06:10 AM

We tow our 303 with Ram 2500, 6.4l hemi. There are times I have considered a diesel, but can't justify the cost or increased fuel prices.

Rhagfo · 12-31-2019, 07:02 AM

I see many stating length of their gas towed trailers making the feat seem bigger, most are 12,000# or less. Which just goes to the noted break point for gas to diesel is 10,000# to 12,000#.
Once you approach that break point it is time to think about making the step up to a diesel. Not all payback is in dollars, the comfort of the tow has a lot to do with it.
We travel a lot of secondary roads that don't always have passing lanes on hills, so maintaining speed is a courtesy to the drivers behind us.

kdauto · 12-31-2019, 10:43 AM

I realize this is an old thread but since it's been revived quite a bit recently I'll add my 2 cents.

I pull a 13 000lb 5th wheel with my 6.0 gas powered truck. I won't win any races going up 7%+ grades but it gets the job done. Have done several cross-country trips, lots of mountain ranges and I keep up with all the big rigs unless they're empty. Steepest hill that was officially measured was 22% and it was a standing start deal. I didn't chance it and went up in 4 lo, it was loose gravel and 2 curves so why chance it?

When you get to 6 speed transmissions and 300+ HP you can pull quite a bit. My truck has the 3.73 gears and would benefit from 4.10 gearing but I'm not spending time and $$ to change it even though I can do it myself.

I feel 13 000 lbs is the upper limit of what I'm confortable weight-wise on my rig. I'm researching the next truck for the "retirement RV". I'm gonna wait and see how the new gassers hold up and maybe GM will slap a 10 speed on their 6.6 gasser.

More importantly than raw power chassis, suspension and braking are important to me. I've seen plenty of 3/4 ton diesel rigs overmatched in all those departments, not a fun ride. I'd rather be slow and safe than fast and unstable.

FYI diesel trucks did not fit my current needs. My gas truck sits here a LOT of the time. It is reliable and cheap to run, also plenty of power for my current needs.

Fiesta48 · 12-31-2019, 08:04 PM

2017 Ram 1500 5.7L 392 hp 3.92 gears. 8k lbs loaded Grand Design 150 series.
High 12s mpg towing, mid 10s headwinds and/or hills.
Sister in law's combo, loves both. Very few problems out of both.