3/4 ton payload vs. towing capacity

once you understand weight numbers, then matching your future rv to your dream truck becomes pretty simple. If you buy a truck first then stay within the specs. If you fall in love and buy a huge rv...buy a truck that can tow the weight. Pretty simple, but when you do it out of order then the threads go on for days, fights start and threads get closed. Im probably oversimplifying this but personally I feel we all need to educate ourselves before buying rather than learning on the internet from opinions. The manufacturers do a good job of publishing facts about how much they feel their trucks can handle.

agesilaus wrote:
As you pointed out, there is little price difference between a 3/4 and a 1 ton p/u. They don't drive any different. I see no sensible reason to get a 3/4 ton truck. If you plan to drive out west you will soon know why people get a diesel when you are going up a 12 percent grade. The diesel will pull the 5ver up with no trouble, the gasser will bog down and you'll be going up at 35 or 40 mph if you are lucky. Gassers also get awful fuel mileage especially when towing.

X1, another vote for 1 ton /3500 and diesel. In all the mountains in calif. pulling a 35' 5th wheel, I get 14mpg:) I am also partial to the manual 6 speed and the exhaust brake system. I would also suggest you look into installing a replacement fuel tank that is larger than the original. I had a 60 gal. auxiliary tank installed in th exact same location as the original by Transfer Flow in Chico ca. but there are other mfg. as well. It is nice to not have to worry about finding a diesel fuel station and being able to look for the best priced fuel:)

Keep it simple....especially for a 5th wheel and for the next one you are going to buy......go with a 350/3500 (any of the big 3).

As you pointed out, there is little price difference between a 3/4 and a 1 ton p/u. They don't drive any different. I see no sensible reason to get a 3/4 ton truck. If you plan to drive out west you will soon know why people get a diesel when you are going up a 12 percent grade. The diesel will pull the 5ver up with no trouble, the gasser will bog down and you'll be going up at 35 or 40 mph if you are lucky. Gassers also get awful fuel mileage especially when towing.

payload on any truck of the same trim package stays the same. Difference is the diesel engines can weigh 500 to 1K more than a gas truck. Any of the 3/4 tons are going to have kind of anemic payloads. You are just better off going to a 1 ton single rear wheel for the little bit of difference in cash. The other option is to just say to heck with the rating and mod the truck to make it work but that will get the weight police all up in arms

Chris