2012 3500 Gear Ratio
 

I'm looking at purchasing a '12 Dodge 3500 Cummins. I will be towing a 5th wheel Toy Hauler, possibly up to 18000lbs. Couple of questions. I'd like to avoid a dually if possible, also, should I go with 4.10's or 3.73? I want the best mileage I can get, but I want to get up the hills too. I'm not worried about climbing the hills slowly, I just don't want to break anything in the process. I will be doing the DPF and EGR deletes immediately. I live in Florida, and as far as I know, there isn't any emissions testing. I'd really like to get a 2500 but I think the trailer weight would be a little dangerous on a 3/4 ton. Thoughts on the single rear wheel versus the dually? How about rear end gearing? I plan on this truck being the last one I buy - lasting me throughout my retirement. I'm going Cummins without a doubt. I haven't owned a diesel truck before, but I do have some experience with diesels in marine applications. The wife and I plan on spending our retirement towing the 5th wheel around the US & Canada for a good part of each year. We really don't need the truck for a few years yet, but I don't want to deal with the urea injection coming next year, although I suppose it could be removed also. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Tim

3/4 or one ton
 

First 5vers have high to very high pin or hitch weights. Second one should NEVER use the empty or ''dry'' weight in any consideration of towing. Third NEVER believe it when the salesman says '' yah that truck is plenty capable of pulling that trailer''. Do your own calculations based on what the MAX weight listed for that trailer, usually found inside one of the cabinets. Then find the maximum weight the truck axle can carry found inside the driver's door jam and I think you'll immediately find a single rear wheel truck axle and tires will have a capacity of about 6-7k lbs which means a 18,000 5ver with a 20% pin weight will add 3600 lbs putting the axle over weight or so close as to give no margine for safety IMO. The truck will pull it, probably without any excessive stress, but braking and handling safety require a dually IMO for that sized 5ver. As an example my dually has about 3600 lbs on the axle with a full load of fuel but empty and is rated for 9350 lbs so an additional 3600-4000 lbs is still well within specs but a single rear wheel axle won't even be close to that. Probably not what you wanted to hear but I believe in towing safely.

Where did the 20% pin weight come from? Strange because my 36' toy hauler has a higher pin weight than the next step up 40' and a lot heavier than mine. According to the specs.

Now I wouldn't pull a 18k camper with a single wheel. With the dually you will have better stability and handling with the 5ver. If your planning on a lot of camping and road use get the dually. Plan on running hilly country get 4:10 gears. I have an 01 dually 3:55 gears. My inlaw has 03 dually 4:10 I can pull my camper and get the same milage with either truck.Both are 2wd trucks. But his will pull a hill better than mine. I have yet to try out my 06 with 3:73. I also don't pull much in the mountains or big hills. Plus the dual lies look better. Lol

pin weight
 

First I am not any kind of expert but have pulled two different toy haulers and known many that also have 5vers. All trailers either bumper pull, fifth wheel or gooseneck are designed and balanced different. While one might have a pin weight 17% of total the next may be 25% and that doesn't take into play how we load them, which is amazingly varied. Consider not all have the same size fresh water,grey water or black water tanks nor are they located in the same place. And with toy haulers there is the size and location of the fueling station. Also think about the placement or location of the axles, which greatly affects the pin weight for a 5ver, gooseneck or bumper pull. Then there are toy haulers that tend to be front heavy varying by what we load and where we tie it down. That may help explain the difference in pin weights for similarly sized trailers.

I'm figuring I'll probably need the dually for safety's sake. I'm figuring 18k would be the most weight I'll ever tow, probably would be a couple thousand less, but better to err on the side of caution. I wish I could go with a single, for ease of getting in my garage, less money on tires, less money on fuel etc. I know a 3/4 ton is out of the question. I'm hoping for some more input on the rear end. ie: how well will she hill climb with the 3.73? I'll most likely end up with the dually with 4.10's, but I figure it's worth asking these questions before I buy. It won't kill me to go up hills slowly, but if it's only a small difference in fuel economy, I'd go with the 4.10's. I'm towing a small toy hauler with my 1/2 ton with 3.55's now, she does well, but I live in Florida where it's flat. It downshifts on the overpasses, but keeps up its speed. I'm sure I have plenty to learn about towing a fifth wheel! I rather have more truck than I need than less. Thanks for the replys.

Fuel economy is going to depend on your right foot. You will notice better fuel in town with 4.10 than 3.73 again depending on your foot. You will notice better fuel unloaded with 3.73 on the highway. Loaded I would say your going to be about even. I have an 01 dually 3.55 auto I get 20mpg on the highway at 70mph loaded 15k toy hauler I get around 11. My in-laws 03 dually 4.10 auto gets 16-17mpg highway at 70mph loaded with same toy hauler 12mpg. I have pulled with both trucks I run around 70mph when traffic allows me with the toy hauler. My 01 seems alot happier at 70-75. The 03 seems happy all around. If I had to choose I'd get 4.10. Now I have an 06 dually mega with 3.73 I have yet to pull with it but I will have this input in April when I get back home.

In my opinion i like the 5ver better than the bumper pull. Don't know why but i do.

I vote for the dually. The 3.73 gears in my 07 pulled fine with 20k. I had the G56 6spd though. I drove a 2010 auto 6spd and hated it. Just my .02.

Yeah I have driven an 07 with the 6.7 and 6sp auto and didn't like the 6sp auto at all. Just didn't seem to have the pull

Unless your current truck is dying why not think of a diesel pusher RV and toad your truck/car or heck, get a small cargo trailer for MC's. Prolly cost the same, last longer and you'd have zero issues going up and down hills and freeways?
Ch

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