Anyone pull their rig with a gas engine?

[vetplus40]

I am in the process of truck shopping, but I really do not want a diesel. This will be a used truck that will also serve as my daily driver.
The rig is approx. 30 feet in length. The dry weight is almost 10k, and the GVWR is just under 14K. The hitch is rated for 15k as well. I only anticipate moving this rig a few times a year and never for distances that would exceed 500 miles in any one trip. This rig is what I live in while working on the road. Any suggestions and shopping advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Rhagfo]

Yes, but you won't like it get a post 2013 Ram 3500 CTD SRW with 3.42's and 68REF trans. I will pull anywhere you want and get good mileage empty.


Yep diesel, great mileage empth and will move you fine.

[vetplus40]

Thanks, but a truck that new is out of my budget. I bought a new Tacoma Sport 4x4 last year before I decided to get the 5th wheel and I don't want to trade it in for another truck.

[Redapple]

You need at least a 3/4 ton to tow that kind of weight. As previously stated, you won't be happy towing those kinds of weights with a gas truck. Look at a used 1 ton diesel. That kind of weight is way out of the Tacoma's league.

Good luck!

[Spdracr39]

I pull my 38' with GVRW 13k with a 3/4 ton gasser and it does fine. Pulls good. I don't do a lot of mountains though and they would make the truck work pretty hard but it will do it. I would not pull anything heavier. Having said that if you use it the way you describe it would work.

[consolenut]

I used a C4500 Topkick daily driver. 8.1L gas engine 6 speed allison and its my Teton hauler. 7-7.5 hauling 9-10 empty. I dont mind buying gas and i have a safe tow rig at 35k combined. Can get em cheap now days. No wider or longer then a dually just taller.

[IC2]

I pulled our last 5er, a 12K dry weight 35 footer with a Ford F350, V10 and a lot of miles. It did OK but not great with 4.10 differential gears until it hit the mountains of New England. At that point, it felt like you were rowing it up those hills with the shift lever - 6 to 8 mpg. We made the same trips with the current diesel - better mpg(11-13) and instead of the transmission shifting to second, it might have gone to 4th (6 speed tranny). Will a Toyota Tacoma do a credible job - NO! You need at a very minimum, a 3/4 ton with a 1 ton better.

That Toyota Tacoma is a "1/2 ton" truck and will not handle the trailer. See this: https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/featur...7594/7544/7582. This says 6400 pounds capacity with a tongue load (TT) load of 640 pounds and a payload of ~1175 pounds. A 15K 5th whee will have a pin weight of 2800-3000 pounds. I can get into brakes, cooling, tires and even Hp and toeque - but you can see where I'm going.

[WYO George]

I row a variety of trailer for work and recreation ranging from insignificant up to almost 14k and do it with a F-350 and 6.2 gas engine and it does just fine. Mileage goes down considerably when towing heavy, but it’s still cheaper than a diesel and I’ve yet to have issues making it over a mountain pass here in Wyoming.

Sure a diesel would pull stronger, my last truck was a diesel. The trade off for me is less maintenance, less fuss when it’s -20 degrees and lower overall operating costs. The downside is reduced range and taking a couple minutes longer to get where I’m going. It’s a fair trade in my books.

[WYO George]

I missed the post about using a Tacoma to pull that 5th wheel.


No

[Captn John]

If your GVWR was 10K a gasser would be fine and you get to stop at every gas station. 14K should be a diesel and you get to fuel in the truck lanes when towing. Nice, easy in/out, and safe.

[mobilemike]

Originally Posted by vetplus40

Thanks, but a truck that new is out of my budget. I bought a new Tacoma Sport 4x4 last year before I decided to get the 5th wheel and I don't want to trade it in for another truck.

A tacoma is a great truck for pulling......................A 18ft runabout open bow boat.

[BirchyBoy]

As long as you’re not exceeding the capacities of a gasser, that’s what I’d do. I pulled a 10k travel trailer with an ‘05 F350 CCLB V-10 and it was good. I wouldn’t go diesel nor would I buy a gasser that didn’t meet the weight requirements.

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by WYO George

I missed the post about using a Tacoma to pull that 5th wheel.


No

He doesn't want to use the Tacoma. He wants to buy another truck just to pull the trailer with.
Lynn

[WYO George]

Originally Posted by LETMGROW

He doesn't want to use the Tacoma. He wants to buy another truck just to pull the trailer with.
Lynn

Then why did he specifically say “...I don’t want to trade it for another truck”?