Recommend truck to tow 5th Wheel?
 

We plan to full-time in a 5th Wheel, probably a 30' Arctic Fox with a GVWR of 13,000 lbs. Can you folks recommend some good trucks (make, model, and years) that we should be looking for? I apologize if this question has been asked before. Thanks.

Harry

What are you looking for besides a good puller? Do you want crew cab? Regular cab? Single wheel or dually? Auto or manual? 2wd or 4wd? Do you prefer Dodge, Ford, or Chevy? Each truck has its own flaws and good points. What have you heard about diesel trucks? Have you owned one before? :c:

Go with a dually and make it a diesel:jump:

I definitely want a diesel! I probably should get a dually. I was hoping to get some advice about that given the specs I gave. (30' 5th Wheel with GVWR 13,000.) I'd need a long bed for the 5th Wheel, unless I wanted to get something like a Pull-Rite slide. I want a 4 door. (Actually, my wife wants a 4 door!)

I've been told by a few people that I should look for a Dodge Ram 3500 2003-2004.5 SRW or dually long bed with a Cummins engine. One of the things I want to know is if I should confine myself to looking for a Cummins or if I can broaden my search to a PowerStroke or a Duramax.

Thanks.

Harry

harry a 3/4 ton will pull your 30 ft no problem at all. I like the dually when I get in the corners I dont get the side to side motion and it just feels safer.I pull a 34 ft with my 2003 duramax.And yes you should look and drive them all. they all have had their problems,hope this helps and good luck. George:c:

what's the budget for the truck?

I can't afford a new one. If possible I'd like to keep it below $25k. Have I priced myself out of the market?

No, you can do very well for that.

I'd be looking for a lower mile 06 - 07 duramax dually (pre DPF) Or 06 - 07 dodge cummins last of the 5.9's.

Stay away from the fords. Those two trucks i listed are going to give you a lot of bang for the buck.

I owning a ford would still say for somebody thats driving all e country should get a cummins. and LORD just fyi only early 07 is 5.9L. Bakc to op, The reason i say cummins is because the truck will need the least ammount of maintenece and be the best bang for $25k. Shoot you can find nice 08/09 dodge dually's for $25k.

yeah, avoid the 6.0, but you can easily get a 6.0 for that amount of $. Get a Duramax 06-07.5 and you can't go wrong. The pre-07.5 Cummins is a beast too. don't get the after 07.5 Cummins unless you want 10 MPG.

Is this english? :humm: Jk.

With your budget you are good. I would go with the Chevy. Duramax is a good engine, Crew cab is very roomy, and nothing can beat an allison trans stock vs stock. The Cummins is the best but the auto behind it is not the greatest. I would only recommend the Cummins if you can get one with a Manual trans.

Thanks everyone!

the 07.5 up cummins with deletes do pretty good:hellox:

There is always 6 different answers when these questions are asked. :argh: I just went from SRW to DRW and only pull around 8.5k pounds. I will NEVER tow with a SRW again. The difference is night and day.

Do you want an auto or a manual? Auto= duramax Manual=cummins. go drive all of them though and see what you like

I like the Ford guys suggestion :w2:

i want a diesel! a dually. I was hoping to get some advice :tu:

for towing what you are going to tow you are right on target, dually and diesel and you are way ahead of the game. From there it's just preference and opinion, and on here you will get many. Best of luck.

The duramax would probably be my choice too, if it had a SFA. Not a fan of the independent suspension, especially when towing heavy. But you can't beat the reliability of the LBZ motors. The allison is a great trans, if you leave the motor stock power wise.

The cummins will more than likely be the least problematic engine, but there's not much else about the truck I care for, and I definitely wouldn't buy an auto, especially if you're towing heavy a lot.

The Ford's will probably need some preventative maintenance above what the others would need right up front, but once that is done you've got the best auto transmission of the 3 and the most refined interiors.

Of course these are all just opinions... :c: