towing with a 1/2 or 3/4 ton gas

[cherv]

currently have a class c. considering a 2023 28ft 5th wheel base weight of 7900 lbs with a total gross weight of 10,ooo lbs. bed weight of 1200 to 1400 lbs. your comments and advice. prefer gas over diesel. but keeping an open mind

[Reprobate]

That weight, 3/4 ton. You will be happier.....

[RoadrunnerII]

People pull 5ths with half ton trucks! Is it safe? Whole different question.
Base model with heavy haul addon LT rated tires... The list goes on and on to get it safer. Look at brake sizes on 1/2ton VS SD trucks
That 5th definitely 3/4ton. If you have any inclining you might go bigger just get a 1 ton.

Gas VS diesel

Biggest think for us was being able to add an aux fuel tank with the diesel.
Here's the simple math
300 miles 30 gallons of fuel. 10 mpg hauling.. Maybe see below
Stop every couple hours for a break
You are going to average 50-55 miles per hour
300 miles road time 6 hours
Now get in the hills or mountains or a head wind with a gas
You will not get 300 miles on your 30 gallons
Now you gotta fillup
Most standard gas stations are not designed to fuel a truck pulling a 5th wheel. Don't forget the tail swing on the trailer
So then you are hitting truck stops and paying a premium on your fuel.
Extra time on the road fueling up

So decision is how far you travelling in a day
250 miles and under its an easy decision GAS

You planning on 10-12 hour drive days? Diesel with an aux tank in the box.
We snowbird... First two days are 500+ travel days to get where its warm. Then 2 more travel days after a rest for a couple days and do the last 400-500 miles split up.
250 mile days are much easier to take. As we get older sitting in a truck hauling your rig gets to making you ache!

Just our experience
Others will see it differently.

RoadrunnerII

[xc-mark]

Originally Posted by cherv

currently have a class c. considering a 2023 28ft 5th wheel base weight of 7900 lbs with a total gross weight of 10,ooo lbs. bed weight of 1200 to 1400 lbs. your comments and advice. prefer gas over diesel. but keeping an open mind

1400lbs in a 150 is going to CRUSH the rear springs! your 100% at a point where a 3/4 ton truck is the best / safest choice. If you ever had sway with a 150 you may have a story to tell others that you would have rather not lived in person.

[cherv]

we dw 71 me 81 so 250/300 is enough. dw drives our current coach to relieve. we are both physically fit. gas and 3/4 ton is my choice. thanks

[DR60]

The newer multi speed transmissions are making the difference between diesel and gas much closer together. And just my own opinion, anything over 6000 lbs puts you into 3/4-ton territory.
I'm pulling about the same weight with a 2500 ram. DR

[MtCamper]

I've towed with all combos. If you are buying new, I'd seriously recommend considering a one ton. Only a few bucks more and you're done buying trucks. If you are looking at the used market, buy the nicest 3/4 or one ton you can find. Gassers will tow just fine in most situations and will cost less and be lower maintenance costs. But if you buy diesel, you probably will enjoy your travels more and will get your additional investment back when you sell. The newer diesels are flat out incredible when it comes to towing.

[1320Fastback]

We just rented a Tundra to pull our 26' bumper pull toy hauler and while it was stable the lack of power and never ending shifting even in Tow/Haul was a bit of an annoyance. The 8.4 mpg at 55-62mph over 630 miles wasn't all that great either.

[oscarvan]

In stead of getting "expert opinions" on a forum you should do your homework.

Use owners manual and door frame placard to establish:

GVWR truck
GVWR trailer
GCVWR
Axle weights
Tire weights
Tow Rating
Hitch rating

Find the most restrictive number and decide how close you want to be to it.

The above is not an opinion, it's how it's done. Science and all that. My OPINION (based on experience) is that you do not want to pull 10K with a half ton truck. You will be close to 100% on some of the numbers, 80% is better.

[JIMNLIN]

A 10000 lb 5th wheel trailer may have a 20% at 2000 lb hitch weight or 2500 lbs at 25 %...now add 200 lbs for the hitch and mounting brkts...now add another 100 lbs for necessary junk in the bed.

A 5er that size is in a 3/4 ton HD truck size. A one ton isn't necessary ...unless you just gotta' have one.

A Ram/GM twins/Ford biggest gas engine will work fine for that size trailer.

[Dieselguy4]

Originally Posted by oscarvan

In stead of getting "expert opinions" on a forum you should do your homework.

Use owners manual and door frame placard to establish:

GVWR truck
GVWR trailer
GCVWR
Axle weights
Tire weights
Tow Rating
Hitch rating

Find the most restrictive number and decide how close you want to be to it.

The above is not an opinion, it's how it's done. Science and all that. My OPINION (based on experience) is that you do not want to pull 10K with a half ton truck. You will be close to 100% on some of the numbers, 80% is better.

Great info. Look at Load capacity and a 3/4 ton will be maxed out in a diesel and just under in a gas. Skip the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton and get a 1 ton. Rear axle gawr is the weak point on a 1/2 and 3/4 ton truck. You don't need to be maxed out on rear axle weight.
As far a gas vs diesel. The diesel truck will be a comfortable tow. It will maintain speed easy on any terrain and get better fuel mileage. I can maintain 70 MPH with my F350 and my 41 ft fifth wheel with the cruise control on. My friend had a 2500 chevy with a 6.0 and a 10000 lb fifth wheel. Within 6 months of buying that truck he traded for a Duramax. He could not maintain speed on most grades. Gas trucks have gotten better but the diesel will always out perform a gas when towing. Fueling is another issue. I fuel at truck stops. Easy in and out. I enjoy the trip.

[Rhagfo]

While the 8 and 10 speed transmissions help gas, they also are offered with diesel which keeps the difference about equal.
Just towed a small excavator with a F350 v-10, likely less than 10,000#. This was a manual 6 speed, down to 2 ne in hills and turns. Our old 2001 Ram CTD, 5 speed manual, 3.55’s would climb hills with turns easily in 3rd.

[Rhagfo]

So I might add, that skip the 1/2 ton, will not be fun even with a max payload package. Then skip the 3/4 ton and go straight to a one ton SRW, even with the better payload that you get with gas, a one ton will not cost that much more.

[Fiesta48]

We've been pulling a 7500 lbs 5th wheel, 8500 lbs loaded with a Ram 1500 for 5 years, maxed out to 10,400. No problem. Pin weight is just under spec, I added rear air bags.
Check specs not opinions.
400 hp work truck gets 12 mpg pulling.