Looking for personal experiences and input. Just purchased our new(used) 37' Crossroads fifth wheel. 14,000 dry weight + our personal gear. Now will need to purchase the right truck capable and safe enough to tow it. Have reluctantly considered hiring out the long tow, but do not want to forgo the full rv experience. We are full timers and will not be towing it but maybe twice a year. The first tow will be the long one; 3k miles - (southeast coast to northwest coast). from there any tows would be less than 500 miles each, once maybe twice a year. Till we retire many years from now when we would love to travel frequently and would buy something a lil smaller and easier to maneuver. So so many specs and info to consider...;> Manufacturer > 1 ton single axle trucks vs/ dually, > diesel vs/ gas. i.e. fuel price, power, I realize a diesel would be more durable, likely more power and torque and have a longer life....for a price. Was told a 3/4 ton long bed would handle the job ?? not so sure I would be comfortable or feel entirely safe towing with that option. I want to consider that this truck will serve as a partial (50-75%) daily driver. So I will want to weigh fuel price, towing ability, power and safety, etc......gets my head spinning.What else should I be considering and I will appreciate your input and personal experiences.Thanks

goofasap wrote:Looking for personal experiences and input. Just purchased our new(used) 37' Crossroads fifth wheel. 14,000 dry weight + our personal gear. Now will need to purchase the right truck capable and safe enough to tow it. Have reluctantly considered hiring out the long tow, but do not want to forgo the full rv experience. We are full timers and will not be towing it but maybe twice a year. The first tow will be the long one; 3k miles - (southeast coast to northwest coast). from there any tows would be less than 500 miles each, once maybe twice a year. Till we retire many years from now when we would love to travel frequently and would buy something a lil smaller and easier to maneuver. So so many specs and info to consider...;> Manufacturer > 1 ton single axle trucks vs/ dually, > diesel vs/ gas. i.e. fuel price, power, I realize a diesel would be more durable, likely more power and torque and have a longer life....for a price. Was told a 3/4 ton long bed would handle the job ?? not so sure I would be comfortable or feel entirely safe towing with that option. I want to consider that this truck will serve as a partial (50-75%) daily driver. So I will want to weigh fuel price, towing ability, power and safety, etc......gets my head spinning.What else should I be considering and I will appreciate your input and personal experiences.Thanks1 ton, for sure; even for short trips. Dually would be better but a newer (13,14,15) SRW might also be able to handle the payload. You'll just have to work the numbers. No way a 3/4 ton be able to handle that rig. You're looking at probably 2500-2800 lbs DRY pin weight. Translate that ratio to the GVW to see what the potential pin wt would be when loaded.Lyle

I would alsonot recommend the 3/4 ton. Ive pulled similar unit with 1 ton duallySRW. It worked fine. However bought a F350 DRW a few weeks ago. First drove truck from Texas Panhandle to Memphis Tenn. Had no problems parking truck in any kind of parking lot. Installed B&W Companion hitch at Amarillo and pulled Cameo 125 miles. It was very stable. DRW is a good choice.

That size is to me definitely in diesel dualie territory. You're probably looking at ~17k GVWR which is up to ~3400lb hitch weight.That's a lot of truck to only really need once or twice a year.Hard choices.

avvidclif1 wrote:That size is to me definitely in diesel dualie territory. You're probably looking at ~17k GVWR which is up to ~3400lb hitch weight.That's a lot of truck to only really need once or twice a year.Hard choices.Assume the trlr is two axles - which means heavy pin weight, as above.Also - as above - a lot of money for something used twice a year - whether you buy new or used. New = major "ouch".Really not a practical "daily driver" if you *only* plan to use it twice a year for it's intended (towing) purpose.Who will drive the "daily driver"? Lots of gals aren't overly thrilled about diving pickups - especially duallys.However, some love it.But, if you gotta have a TV - (IMO) a used 1T pickup. NO 3/4 ton.Dually would be best, but SRW would be OK due to the limited towing (plus you won't be driving over curbs as a daily driver, LOL!)Having it moved by one of the many services would be a good alternative, and may be cheaper in the long run.Use something more practical as your daily driver.Good luck with your decision, and BTW - spending some time on Escapees MDT and HDT forums might be beneficial.Lots of long & heavy trailers - and experience towing/moving same.~

capable truck to tow new 5th wheel | Good Sam Community

ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
avvidclif1 wrote:
That size is to me definitely in diesel dualie territory. You're probably looking at ~17k GVWR which is up to ~3400lb hitch weight.

That's a lot of truck to only really need once or twice a year.

Hard choices.

Assume the trlr is two axles - which means heavy pin weight, as above.

Also - as above - a lot of money for something used twice a year - whether you buy new or used.
New = major "ouch".
Really not a practical "daily driver" if you *only* plan to use it twice a year for it's intended (towing) purpose.

Who will drive the "daily driver"? Lots of gals aren't overly thrilled about diving pickups - especially duallys.
However, some love it.

But, if you gotta have a TV - (IMO) a used 1T pickup. NO 3/4 ton.
Dually would be best, but SRW would be OK due to the limited towing (plus you won't be driving over curbs as a daily driver, LOL!)

Having it moved by one of the many services would be a good alternative, and may be cheaper in the long run.
Use something more practical as your daily driver.

Good luck with your decision, and BTW - spending some time on Escapees MDT and HDT forums might be beneficial.
Lots of long & heavy trailers - and experience towing/moving same.

~
avvidclif1
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
That size is to me definitely in diesel dualie territory. You're probably looking at ~17k GVWR which is up to ~3400lb hitch weight.

That's a lot of truck to only really need once or twice a year.

Hard choices.
kennethwooster
Explorer
Mar 28, 2014
I would alsonot recommend the 3/4 ton. Ive pulled similar unit with 1 ton duallySRW. It worked fine. However bought a F350 DRW a few weeks ago. First drove truck from Texas Panhandle to Memphis Tenn. Had no problems parking truck in any kind of parking lot. Installed B&W Companion hitch at Amarillo and pulled Cameo 125 miles. It was very stable. DRW is a good choice.
laknox
Nomad
Mar 28, 2014
goofasap wrote:
Looking for personal experiences and input. Just purchased our new(used) 37' Crossroads fifth wheel. 14,000 dry weight + our personal gear. Now will need to purchase the right truck capable and safe enough to tow it. Have reluctantly considered hiring out the long tow, but do not want to forgo the full rv experience.

We are full timers and will not be towing it but maybe twice a year. The first tow will be the long one; 3k miles - (southeast coast to northwest coast). from there any tows would be less than 500 miles each, once maybe twice a year. Till we retire many years from now when we would love to travel frequently and would buy something a lil smaller and easier to maneuver.

So so many specs and info to consider...;
> Manufacturer
> 1 ton single axle trucks vs/ dually,
> diesel vs/ gas. i.e. fuel price, power, I realize a diesel would be more durable, likely more power and torque and have a longer life....for a price.
Was told a 3/4 ton long bed would handle the job ?? not so sure I would be comfortable or feel entirely safe towing with that option.

I want to consider that this truck will serve as a partial (50-75%) daily driver. So I will want to weigh fuel price, towing ability, power and safety, etc......gets my head spinning.
What else should I be considering and I will appreciate your input and personal experiences.
Thanks

1 ton, for sure; even for short trips. Dually would be better but a newer (13,14,15) SRW might also be able to handle the payload. You'll just have to work the numbers. No way a 3/4 ton be able to handle that rig. You're looking at probably 2500-2800 lbs DRY pin weight. Translate that ratio to the GVW to see what the potential pin wt would be when loaded.

Lyle
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2014
diesel in heading in TV

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