Choosing a tow vehicle (diesel) for 5th wheel

[cuemaker]

I am looking at a 5th wheel 39' (Alpine 3700RE).. Tow with 'ford, chevy, gmc, dodge??? dually? 4wheel dr? For sure diesel right? Do I really need a dually.. 12000 lb + 3000 carry cap. Hitch weight 2380... Your thoughts please....

[tuffr2]

I have a 37' foot 5er, I bought it 1st and had it delievered to the RV Park. Then had other people look at the new 5er. 5 of 5 people told me a dually would be needed to tow this 5th wheel.

I wanted a SRW. But bought a dually from the advice from other big 5th wheel owners that were snow birders.

So I do not know how a SRW would do. But I will tell you the dually makes towing this 5er very easy and pleasant to tow.

[gundog]

Chevy/GMC, Ford and Dodge all make excellent trucks. For the size of 5th wheel you are looking at your best bet is a DRW. In wind you will be glad you have a DRW let a lone if a rear tire blows. I wouldn't be without 4x4 and others will disagree but I have been off pavement camping after rain storms and would still be there if I hadn't had it. The choice is yours and only you can make the call.

[tuffr2]

Look at the new wizz bang steroid injected Ram 3500 DRW. Those are really nice trucks.

A Ford 350 DRW lariat trim is also a really nice truck.

It was diffucult for me to find a DRW Chevy in my area. But I have read these too are very nice trucks.

Probably can not go wrong with any newer DRW truck.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by cuemaker

I am looking at a 5th wheel 39' (Alpine 3700RE)..

GVWR is 15,500, so count on it grossing at least 15,000 when wet and loaded for the road.

Dry hitch weight is 19% of dry trailer weight, so count on it having 19 or 20 percent hitch weight when wet and loaded for the road.

Tow with 'ford, chevy, gmc, dodge???

Brand is not as important as specs. Be certain your tow vehicle has enough GVWR to handle 3000 pounds of hitch weight without exceeding the GVWR of the tow vehicle. Be certain your tow vehicle has enough GCWR to tow a 15k trailer without exceeding the GCWR of the tow vehicle.

Count on a wet and loaded truck weight of at least 8,500 pounds, and probably 9,000 or more. Using 9,000 as the estimated wet and loaded truck weight, that's minimum GVWR of 12,000 and minimum GCWR of 24,000. 2011-up Ford DRW diesel has more GVWR and GCWR than that.

dually?

Definitely. I don't know of any pickups with single rear wheels that can handle 3,000 pounds of hitch weight, plus the normal load of people, pets, tools, options, etc., without being overloaded.

4wheel dr?

Not necessary if you know how to drive. I've been driving and towing for over 60 years, with 26 years of that time living in snow country, and I've never had a 4x4. (I'll be 75 in November, and I had an unrestricted driver's license at age 14 (farm kid in Texas with local Judge's endorsement)).

However, without 4x4 you do need the electronic locking rear axle. That thing is amazing in my F-150 4x2. Much, much better than the limited slip in my '99 Ford diesel.

For sure diesel right?

Right.

Do I really need a dually.. ....

Yes, you really need a dually, and not just any dually but a late-model diesel that has over 12,000 GVWR and 24,000 GCWR.

New Ford F-350 DRW diesel has 14,000 GVWR and 30,000 GCWR. I don't keep up with GM and Ram, but I suspect they have similar specs for their new dually diesels.

[TXiceman]

Like Smokey said...late model diesel dually and no less. You will have the SRW crowd show up and tell you that they do just fine with their (overloaded) 3/4 ton truck propped up air bags crutches. Don't believe a word unless they can show you the weight tickets.

Ken

[browne07]

I agree with gundog. I got a bigger trailer and was glad I had the ton truck but will look for a dually now even though I seem to do OK. Better to have a little more truck.

[JIMNLIN]

Originally Posted by cuemaker

I am looking at a 5th wheel 39' (Alpine 3700RE).. Tow with 'ford, chevy, gmc, dodge??? dually? 4wheel dr? For sure diesel right? Do I really need a dually.. 12000 lb + 3000 carry cap. Hitch weight 2380... Your thoughts please....

No, you don't necessarily need a DRW with this size trailer. You can choose from a few of the one ton SRW trucks with the proper load carrying packages.

The 3700 RE shows a 12630 lb shipping weight which is accurate for that particular packaged trailer. Looks like the trailer has a 15500 GVWR and a 2870 CCC. A 20 percent pin weight is 3100 lbs max.

There are '13 and '14 model one ton SRW trucks that can handle a 3100 lb pin weight plus other gear/folks in the truck if you choose your truck package carefully.

The '13 3500 SRW Ram with a Laramie package has up to a 12400 GVWR and a 7000 RAWR with payloads up to 4500-4600 lb range. All depending on truck package.

The 3500 SRW GM LTZ has GVWRs up to 11600 lbs with 7050 RAWRs and payloads up to 45xx lbs again depending on truck selection.

The F350 SRW Ford has GVWRs up to 11500 with 7000 RAWR and payloads up to 4400 lbs depending on cab selection.

IMO if you want a crew cab and/or a 4x4 and will carry lots of heavy folks/gear/necessary junk /aux fuel tank/etc in the truck you need a DRW.

Do your home work and I would check with other RV website forums for even more input from folks that have the same trailer.

[caissiel]

Originally Posted by JIMNLIN

No, you don't necessarily need a DRW with this size trailer. You can choose from a few of the one ton SRW trucks with the proper load carrying packages.

The 3700 RE shows a 12630 lb shipping weight which is accurate for that particular packaged trailer. Looks like the trailer has a 15500 GVWR and a 2870 CCC. A 20 percent pin weight is 3100 lbs max.

There are '13 and '14 model one ton SRW trucks that can handle a 3100 lb pin weight plus other gear/folks in the truck if you choose your truck package carefully.

The '13 3500 SRW Ram with a Laramie package has up to a 12400 GVWR and a 7000 RAWR with payloads up to 4500-4600 lb range. All depending on truck package.

The 3500 SRW GM LTZ has GVWRs up to 11600 lbs with 7050 RAWRs and payloads up to 45xx lbs again depending on truck selection.

The F350 SRW Ford has GVWRs up to 11500 with 7000 RAWR and payloads up to 4400 lbs depending on cab selection.

IMO if you want a crew cab and/or a 4x4 and will carry lots of heavy folks/gear/necessary junk /aux fuel tank/etc in the truck you need a DRW.

Do your home work and I would check with other RV website forums for even more input from folks that have the same trailer.

I agree that anything at or under 15500 lbs 5th wheel can be towed with SRWs. But watch for tire capacity. You need 18 in wheels for more then 6200 lbs RAWR.

My son's Ram 3500 4 x 4 SRW only has 17 in wheels with 3100 lbs tires. I also see many Ram tons with 17 in wheels.

16 in wheels can also have different capacities but limited by smaller brakes, if disks brakes. Tire capacities are available though.

Axle capacities, usually are never a problem

[TXiceman]

Listen to Smokey, you will be much happier on the road with a DRW.

Ken

[wandering1]

Look at the truck tow specs from the manufacturer to see which truck will handle your trailer. You are legally responsible for having an adequate tow vehicle to handle the trailer. Get the facts, not personal opinions.

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by wandering1

Look at the truck tow specs from the manufacturer to see which truck will handle your trailer.

True for the truck tow specs of GVWR and GCWR. But the so-called "tow rating" is a misleading number that you cannot rely on as being anywhere close to accurate. To calculate the tow rating, manufacturers subtract the shipping weight of the truck from the GCWR of the truck, then add a skinny driver. But nobody tows a trailer with nothing in the truck but a skinny driver. So use the GVWR of the truck, minus the actual weight of the wet and loaded truck ready to tow, to determine max hitch weight you can haul without being overloaded. Use the GCWR of the truck, minus the actual weight of the wet and loaded truck ready to tow, to determine the max GVWR of any trailer you want to tow without being overloaded.

[fvstringpicker]

I've had a pallet and a half of sod estimated between 3,000-3,500 lbs in my 2500 GMC SRW . Could be more or could be less. Any more in the bed would get really uncomfortable for me.

[cuemaker]

My original post was mainly for the reason that I can get this Keystone with a (dually lariat f350 diesel 6.7 crew cab 2011) if I want. Someone with a ford 250 srw said that the dually was too rough on the road for him???? I believe that with all your posts I will get the package ... If I find the package too rough on DW I'll downsize to a smaller 5er and truck... Thanks a lot for all your inputs...