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Old 01-17-2018, 03:08 PM   #1
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Which truck to buy?

Just purchased a 2009 Keystone Cougar 318SAB and plan on buying a 2008 - 2014, 4x4, 4 door, short bed, pick-up truck but would a 3/4 ton diesel handle the trailer or should I consider a ton truck? Shipping weight 9,132 lbs, carrying capacity 2,528 lbs, which makes the total weight 11,660 lbs.
Any truck problems (transmissions, engines, etc.) with manufactures? (Chevy/Ford/Dodge)
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Old 01-17-2018, 03:33 PM   #2
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The limiting factor is almost always 'Payload' in the truck. You'll have to get a real weight for your hitch pin weight. Should be about 15-20% of GVW. Others may have better numbers, but I would look for payload at least 2,500#.
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Old 01-17-2018, 03:37 PM   #3
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I've pulled comparable 5th wheels thousands of miles with 2004 and 2012 Dodge RAM 2500 Cummins. No issues whatsoever. Pulled up some of the toughest grades in the country without a burp.
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Old 01-17-2018, 03:50 PM   #4
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If the empty weight of the Keystone 32 foot('ish) trailer is ~9,100 lbs., a 1/2 ton crew cab truck will not be big enough! The 2011 Silverado 4x4 crew cab I owned for my 30 foot travel trailer (which had an empty weight of 5,600 lbs.) was the first year GM/Chevy increased the max towing capacity to 11,000 lbs. Prior to 2011 Silverados had towing capacities of 8000 - 9000 lbs. Even though my Silverado has adequate towing capacity for my T-T, on a hot, 105 F day on the hills of I-10 in the Texas Hill Country driving into a 15 mph wind I had to slow my travel speed to 50-55 mph to not overheat the transmission and engine.


For a 9,100 lbs. empty weight T-T I'd recommend you pursue a 3/4 ton truck. A good "rule of thumb" for matching a T-T to a truck is the loaded weight of the T-T should be 90% or less of the max towing capacity of the truck.
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Old 01-17-2018, 05:38 PM   #5
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I'd probably go 1 ton. Not because you will die if you tow with a 2500 but because there may be a chance you could go to a larger 5th in the future and you may need the extra payload capacities if you want to go by the book.
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Old 01-17-2018, 06:34 PM   #6
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That 3/4T truck is probably going to have a payload capacity in the 2100-2200 lbs, depending on how it's equipped. You are already starting out with approx 2300 lbs of pin weight, and you haven't added in the 175 lbs or so for the 5ver hitch....which will put you in the 2500 lbs of weight pressing down on the available 2100 to 2200 lbs of payload capacity. So the short answer is, you are going to be overloaded. How overloaded is going to dependant on how much additional weight you will be carrying.....passengers (how many and what weights), extra cargo like tools, firewood, BBQ grills, extra fuel, and the list goes on. The bottom line is you need to be in the 1T truck range, not 3/4T
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Old 01-17-2018, 06:42 PM   #7
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The one ton will be the same price. Only reason not to go that route is if you live in a state with high taxes on trucks over 10,000 lb GVWR and you should still consider it. Just more margin.
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Old 01-17-2018, 06:47 PM   #8
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That 3/4T truck is probably going to have a payload capacity in the 2100-2200 lbs, depending on how it's equipped. You are already starting out with approx 2300 lbs of pin weight, and you haven't added in the 175 lbs or so for the 5ver hitch....which will put you in the 2500 lbs of weight pressing down on the available 2100 to 2200 lbs of payload capacity. So the short answer is, you are going to be overloaded. How overloaded is going to dependant on how much additional weight you will be carrying.....passengers (how many and what weights), extra cargo like tools, firewood, BBQ grills, extra fuel, and the list goes on. The bottom line is you need to be in the 1T truck range, not 3/4T
X2, I have RAM 3500 CCLB, with the cummins/Aisin, I have a 4450 CCC.
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Old 01-17-2018, 07:23 PM   #9
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I would go with a SRW 3500/350. It will be the same size as the 2500/250 but will have 1,200 1,500lbs. more weight carring capacity.

Once you drop that heavy trailer onto the hitch, weight carrying capacity become very important.
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Old 01-17-2018, 07:41 PM   #10
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Any of the 3/4 ton brands will have no problems towing the trailer you mention.
My older 2500 Dodge/Cummins NV5600 tranny 3.73 gears pulls a 11200-11400 lb 5th wheel rv trailer with ease and well under axle/tire load numbers.

Some one ton SRW trucks don't have much more load carrying capacity than some 250/2500 trucks depending on selections.

Having worked these trucks on the road one brand isn't any better or worse than the others. Just choose the white one in the floorplan you like.

Just be aware a truck like the Ram 3500 SRW can have a 12300 lb GVWR and a 7000 RAWR. These trucks can have a high gvwr based payload (4k+) which can overload the trucks 7000 rawr. The truck can weigh 3500 lbs on the rear axle ...now add a 4000 lb payload in the bed = 7500 lbs for a overload rear springs or wheels or tires.
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Old 01-18-2018, 05:40 AM   #11
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Any of the 3/4 ton brands will have no problems towing the trailer you mention.
My older 2500 Dodge/Cummins NV5600 tranny 3.73 gears pulls a 11200-11400 lb 5th wheel rv trailer with ease and well under axle/tire load numbers.

Some one ton SRW trucks don't have much more load carrying capacity than some 250/2500 trucks depending on selections.

Having worked these trucks on the road one brand isn't any better or worse than the others. Just choose the white one in the floorplan you like.

Just be aware a truck like the Ram 3500 SRW can have a 12300 lb GVWR and a 7000 RAWR. These trucks can have a high gvwr based payload (4k+) which can overload the trucks 7000 rawr. The truck can weigh 3500 lbs on the rear axle ...now add a 4000 lb payload in the bed = 7500 lbs for a overload rear springs or wheels or tires.
Towing a trailer that has 2300 lbs of pin weight plus another 175 lbs or so of 5ver hitch with a truck that has maybe 2200 lbs of payload is OVERLOADED.....you can't manipulate the number...even though you are trying to. In my opinion, it's not only bad advice to say that it can, it's irresponsible on your part. Why would we want anyone to try and use a tow vehicle that isn't big enough for the job at hand?
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Old 01-18-2018, 06:18 AM   #12
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3/4 ton diesel crew cabs will be very close if not over on GVWR. If you're buying a truck anyway why even bother? Why start with a maxed out truck?

Go find a nice short bed SRW one ton and stop trying to justify starting with the wrong truck. Sheesh.

Heck, some SRW one tons will be close with this trailer depending on whatever else you load in the truck. (I looked at a 2017 F350 Lariat with 3152 payload according to the loading sticker in the door)
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Old 01-18-2018, 11:48 AM   #13
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My 2011 F-250 4x4 CCSB 6.2L is 3250 payload. SRW F-350 is 740 more.

Dually gets the most workable loading capacity (6140) and if I was going 5er it would be my choice.

Definitely diesel for the heavy loads too, although the 6.2 with 4.30 gearing is pretty nice.

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Old 01-18-2018, 02:16 PM   #14
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My 2011 F-250 4x4 CCSB 6.2L is 3250 payload. SRW F-350 is 740 more.

Dually gets the most workable loading capacity (6140) and if I was going 5er it would be my choice.

Definitely diesel for the heavy loads too, although the 6.2 with 4.30 gearing is pretty nice.

Griz
Griz.....I'm with ya on the payload numbers for a gas engine. The diesel adds a lot of weight to the truck, as you know, thus decreasing the payload capacity. The O.P. was talking diesel, so I tried to provide the most likely numbers he is going to encounter with that truck....as far as payload numbers.
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