Community Forums

Jasonw76 · 01-27-2022, 04:14 PM

Howdy, getting ready to upgrade tow pigs and i'm racking my brain lol.
Please keep in mind my current set up is a clapped out 300k mile 06 F350 6.0 EC LB SRW with bags (that i only put air in when we're toyless)..... We pull a Stryker 3116 TT that's typically between 12 and 14k when heading out with the toys, gear, water, supplies and fuel, and the old powerstroke does a fine job and has for the past 3 years. We put 1800 miles on during a 2+ week trip to NC and back to NY this past July. We don't plan on changing campers any time soon because the Stryker is perfect for us now. We both work full time and have 13ish years before retirement so we are weekend warriors, only getting out a couple times a month between April and October.
Now that you have some backstory i'm curious as to your opinions on the title matter.... and no, i'm absolutely not getting a dually.... I also know no one ever knows their camper is behind them and their diesel lol.... I'm very interested in going back to a gasser, had an 06 V10 F250 before this that i loved. The gas 3/4 tons are much more plentiful than 1 tons and i don't feel i need the extra payload at this stage of our camping lives.
I'm really curious as to how the coil sprung rams handle towing if anyone knows....
TIA

jondrew55 · 01-27-2022, 04:47 PM

Love my Ram 2500 diesel but if I had your setup I’d be looking at a 3500. Just my 2 cents since I like to have a cushy safety margin. I’m told the price difference going from a 2500 or a 3500 isn’t that much, but did not confirm that.

TXiceman · 01-27-2022, 05:02 PM

Definitely look for a SRW 1 ton, either gas or diesel.

Ken

**Camp CA** · 01-27-2022, 05:14 PM

The Stryker ST-3116 (Toy Hauler) has a GVWR of 12,800 lbs so watch your loaded weight. Although I towed for many years with a F250 diesel SRW short bed towing a 14,000 lb fifth wheel trailer I would have preferred a F350 diesel DRW long bed for the added stability, but I had the truck before the trailer. Now I tow a 16,600 lb GVWR fifth wheel trailer with an F350 diesel DRW long bed.

tuffr2 · 01-27-2022, 05:15 PM

I have a 2017 gas F-250 2WD with a locking rear diff. My truck has a payload of 3,497lbs.

If your last truck is a 2006 the newer trucks all have better frames better engines and more capability.

Ford now has a gas 7.3 V8 that replaces the old V10. Ram has a 6.4 and Chevy has a 6.6 gas engine.

Jasonw76 · 01-27-2022, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Definitely look for a SRW 1 ton, either gas or diesel.

Ken

Why?.... strictly looking at the numbers the Ram 2500 claims a 17k+ towing capacity which is plenty for our unit, after all my current F350 is only rated at 12.5k..... and i just don't need the 1100ish lbs of extra payload that going to a 3500 gains me.

One thing i'm not certain on is the tow ratings for the Rams, they only list the one, where Ford and GM list seperate ratings for bumper pulls and 5ers, and my local Ram dealer was clueless when i asked him weather the rating is for bumper or 5th wheel lol

Jasonw76 · 01-27-2022, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jondrew55

Love my Ram 2500 diesel but if I had your setup I’d be looking at a 3500. Just my 2 cents since I like to have a cushy safety margin. I’m told the price difference going from a 2500 or a 3500 isn’t that much, but did not confirm that.

The price isn't much different.... availability is the issue, and according to the numbers my margin would grow a fair bit going from my current F350 to a 2500 Ram.....

Jasonw76 · 01-27-2022, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camp CA

The Stryker ST-3116 (Toy Hauler) has a GVWR of 12,800 lbs so watch your loaded weight. Although I towed for many years with a F250 diesel SRW short bed towing a 14,000 lb fifth wheel trailer I would have preferred a F350 diesel DRW long bed for the added stability, but I had the truck before the trailer. Now I tow a 16,600 lb GVWR fifth wheel trailer with an F350 diesel DRW long bed.

Yeah i don't have any issues with stabilty currently, we run 75mph down the interstate regularly...and our Stryker weighs 10.2k before we even think about loading it lol, our Can-Am adds 1500lbs by itself, then add in the dirt bike, 100+g of water, 30+g of fuel, all our gear, food and refreshments and our GCW is a hair under 22k.

xc-mark · 01-27-2022, 05:52 PM

If you ever had any thoughts on getting a 5th wheel that is over 13,000lbs you would want a one ton , if you where thing about one over 15,000 lbs you want a duel wheel truck. Gas or diesel is your choice , for me at 17,000lbs diesel and duelare a must.

Jasonw76 · 01-27-2022, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xc-mark

If you ever had any thoughts on getting a 5th wheel that is over 13,000lbs you would want a one ton , if you where thing about one over 15,000 lbs you want a duel wheel truck. Gas or diesel is your choice , for me at 17,000lbs diesel and duelare a must.

Not changing campers in the next 6-8 years, at least, this Stryker is perfect for us.

corn18 · 01-27-2022, 06:20 PM

Why bother with a 3/4 ton? I just built an F-250 and F-350 XLT 4x4 CC LB with the 7.3L engine and every option that I would want for a tow beast and the F-250 was $63,945 and the F-350 was $64,400. That extra $455 gets you 1,600 lbs more payload. No brainer.

Just looked at Ram 2500 vs 3500. $1595 gets you 1400 lbs of GVWR. Exact same configuration.

NevadaNick · 01-27-2022, 08:11 PM

Having had a 6.0 Ford before and now a Ram 6.4 8spd with a few trucks in between that time i will say the gas Ram will pull very much like your 6.0. I did not pull a 5th wheel, only bumper pull trailers.

jondrew55 · 01-27-2022, 09:34 PM

That’s what I thought. I absolutely did not need the extra capacity and I found my 2500 on the lot back in July. It sounds crazy but I think I could sell it 7 months later for more than I bought it for.

Quote:

Originally Posted by corn18

Why bother with a 3/4 ton? I just built an F-250 and F-350 XLT 4x4 CC LB with the 7.3L engine and every option that I would want for a tow beast and the F-250 was $63,945 and the F-350 was $64,400. That extra $455 gets you 1,600 lbs more payload. No brainer.

Just looked at Ram 2500 vs 3500. $1595 gets you 1400 lbs of GVWR. Exact same configuration.

Jasonw76 · 01-28-2022, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

Having had a 6.0 Ford before and now a Ram 6.4 8spd with a few trucks in between that time i will say the gas Ram will pull very much like your 6.0. I did not pull a 5th wheel, only bumper pull trailers.

Actual first hand input.... Thank you!
The fact that I'm in a 17 year old truck now is apparently hard for many people to grasp lol, my gut feeling is any of the big 3 new gassers will be at least as good as my old Pooper Duty lol (she's actually been a good tow rig the last 3 seasons with this heavy ass Stryker).....
GM doesn't appear to offer lower factory gears but Rams have a 4.1 option and Ford has a 4.3 option those are definitely on my must have list.