Ford versus Dodge truck for towing 40 foot 5th wheel

Johnny_H wrote:
I will bet at this point nobody even remembers what the original question was, Do you? emscopter, if you are wanting to go to a 40' you really may want to consider a 1T over your 3/4 and guess what, all of the top 3 will pull it fine in the 1T category in either SRW or DRW and if you are not full timing you may want to consider daily driving of the TV if needed. Ok back to your regular scheduled program of mine is better than your's....Have a great day!

Actually I went back to OP just a post or two above your's. :)

Me Again wrote:
Jim, given that the same AAM axle is used on all SRW and DRW GM and RAM trucks and Ford has a similarly rated axle under both SRW and DRW trucks. The SRW axle rating is a result of the tires installed, not the axle.

BTW the AAM axle is rated at something like 10,500 or 10,700 on RAM and GM tructs, and as high as 11,500 is some configurations.

Your 9750 RAWR is based on the tires installed and recommended inflation, not the axle. If you take the recommended inflation/tire size and put it to the inflation chart times four it will come out close to the 9750 number.

So, yes we are talking about tires!

Chris

Thus the reason I have no clue what I'm talking about, really.....I was looking at manufacturer specs in Ram brochure and going from there and completely ignored the tire faction in it When they stated the RAWR was 9,750# or 7,000#, I just went by that...so with that, you have help prove out that I'm still kind of stupid on this subject. But at least I learned something and need to, as several have suggested, stop posting about weights. This I will do....Really wasn't looking for an argument, but hey, I did learn something and for that, I thank you for helping me to understand a little better....

At the very least, I can stop posting on the weight thing now, and sorta back out of these debates knowing that I've been wrong about a lot of what I based specs on.....sorry Chris

45Ricochet wrote:
LOL
It's official, winter is here :B

Actually, I worked off my 12 hr shifts and am off today...but believe I need to quit...starting to get buddies mad now and didn't aim to do that....

Jim, given that the same AAM axle is used on all SRW and DRW GM and RAM trucks and Ford has a similarly rated axle under both SRW and DRW trucks. The SRW axle rating is a result of the tires installed, not the axle.

BTW the AAM axle is rated at something like 10,500 or 10,700 on RAM and GM tructs, and as high as 11,500 is some configurations.

Your 9750 RAWR is based on the tires installed and recommended inflation, not the axle. If you take the recommended inflation/tire size and put it to the inflation chart times four it will come out close to the 9750 number.

So, yes we are talking about tires!

Chris

I will bet at this point nobody even remembers what the original question was, Do you? emscopter, if you are wanting to go to a 40' you really may want to consider a 1T over your 3/4 and guess what, all of the top 3 will pull it fine in the 1T category in either SRW or DRW and if you are not full timing you may want to consider daily driving of the TV if needed. Ok back to your regular scheduled program of mine is better than your's....Have a great day!

LOL
It's official, winter is here :B

Me Again wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:

Me Again wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
You guys that have a pre '13 model 3500 SRW Dodge truck seems to forget Dodge only rates your SRW at 6200-6500 RAWR with a paltry 10100 GVWR vs fairhaven's F350 SRW with a 11500 GVWR and 7000 RAWR. Apples vs oranges in load carrying capacities.

The comment that the SRW rear axle will some how break or other scare comments is hilarious as usual.
The wheel or tires will go long before you break a rear axle on the Ford or Dodge or GM one ton SRW trucks when severally overloaded. So far no one has reported being over weight.

I did a little math with fairhaven's and jimnlin's numbers

7000-218=6782 Rear weight plus around 4500 on front axle is 11282 and he is under GVWR of 11500. Chris

Ok, I'm confused...which is normal for me, but IF he is putting 6,782# on his rear axle, ie, only 218# from the "weight rating" of the axle be it buffered or not...Isn't that quite a bit of weight on the rear axle? Isn't that getting really close to going OVER the rear axle weight rating? I don't know, but that just doesn't seem wise to me. I know the axle isn't going to break...I know that GVWR is a useless number, as attested to by almost everyone now a day's, BUT, coming within 218# of going over the RAWR, I would think, would be possibly prematurely wearing out bearings, or some of the suspension components, but I'm a numbers fool, can't help it..and I didn't see anywhere we were given the amount of weight put on the front axle, though, it may be less with so much weight in the back....Even I understand why most don't use GVWR, but using over 95% of ones rear axle weight rating, I would think would cause some alarm, whether OP is over his GVWR or not.

and we've (me/I), have gotten off topic, now addressing fairhaven and OP was emscopter and below is his post (start of this thread)...

"I have a 2009 F250 right now and we just purchased a 2012 40 foot Alpine fifth wheel. I am wondering if we should get a dually truck and if we should go with a Ford or Dodge. I have had real good luck with this Ford except we had to replace the transmission due to putting on a tuner which I was told made the transmission go out faster. My truck has 86,000 miles on it. We are looking at getting a fairly new used one. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

So Jim, on the trailer tires we think LT's can be used at their max ratings and ST should have a buffer because of their inflated ratings. Now you are saying that LT on a truck should not be used near there max rating which is based on a 99 or 106 MPH speed rating. I would have not issue using a LT at normal freeway speeds at its max rating. This site is not full of rear tire failure reports on SRW TV! People for years have used GM 2500HD with tires rated to 3042 to haul very large trailers, and they are not all on the side of the road with failed rear tires.

When one tows with a duallie with 45-55 lbs inflation in the rear tires, what are tires rated for at that inflation? Chris

:hWasn't even talking about tires Chris, I was talking about the rear axle weight rating. Just the axle rating. I was going by fairhaven saying he was 218# under his rear axle weight rating. I don't think I said anything about the tires. All I was referring to was if his rear axle rating is 7,000# and he is within 218# of hitting that weight rating...I was saying I think that is REALLY close to exceeding the axles rating...I would be afraid I would wear out bearings or weaken the suspension, and/or rear axle if it is "weight rated" to 7,000# and there is 6,782# of weight on the rear axle.....

I even used my own analogy...My rear axle, and rear axle only is rated at 9,750#, I wouldn't think of putting 9,532# on that rear axle and tow through the mountains that I tow through, knowing I only have 218# of rear axle "weight rating" left...now I know there is a buffer in there, but all I was alluding to, (really not talking about tires), was loading one's rear axle that close to it's manufacturers recommended rating... I know we don't use GVWR, most use RAWR, but I just thought that coming within 218# of one's rear axle weight rating was really cutting it close to overloading one's truck...doesn't leave a lot of "room" for any more weight....That was it...Again, i know that tires figure in on axle carrying capacity...but I was talking about what the RAWR was and how close fairhaven was to going over it....I was more curious than anything else...I wouldn't load my truck that close to it's rear axle weight limit.

NC Hauler wrote:

Me Again wrote:

JIMNLIN wrote:
You guys that have a pre '13 model 3500 SRW Dodge truck seems to forget Dodge only rates your SRW at 6200-6500 RAWR with a paltry 10100 GVWR vs fairhaven's F350 SRW with a 11500 GVWR and 7000 RAWR. Apples vs oranges in load carrying capacities.

The comment that the SRW rear axle will some how break or other scare comments is hilarious as usual.
The wheel or tires will go long before you break a rear axle on the Ford or Dodge or GM one ton SRW trucks when severally overloaded. So far no one has reported being over weight.

I did a little math with fairhaven's and jimnlin's numbers

7000-218=6782 Rear weight plus around 4500 on front axle is 11282 and he is under GVWR of 11500. Chris

Ok, I'm confused...which is normal for me, but IF he is putting 6,782# on his rear axle, ie, only 218# from the "weight rating" of the axle be it buffered or not...Isn't that quite a bit of weight on the rear axle? Isn't that getting really close to going OVER the rear axle weight rating? I don't know, but that just doesn't seem wise to me. I know the axle isn't going to break...I know that GVWR is a useless number, as attested to by almost everyone now a day's, BUT, coming within 218# of going over the RAWR, I would think, would be possibly prematurely wearing out bearings, or some of the suspension components, but I'm a numbers fool, can't help it..and I didn't see anywhere we were given the amount of weight put on the front axle, though, it may be less with so much weight in the back....Even I understand why most don't use GVWR, but using over 95% of ones rear axle weight rating, I would think would cause some alarm, whether OP is over his GVWR or not.

and we've (me/I), have gotten off topic, now addressing fairhaven and OP was emscopter and below is his post (start of this thread)...

"I have a 2009 F250 right now and we just purchased a 2012 40 foot Alpine fifth wheel. I am wondering if we should get a dually truck and if we should go with a Ford or Dodge. I have had real good luck with this Ford except we had to replace the transmission due to putting on a tuner which I was told made the transmission go out faster. My truck has 86,000 miles on it. We are looking at getting a fairly new used one. Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

So Jim, on the trailer tires we think LT's can be used at their max ratings and ST should have a buffer because of their inflated ratings. Now you are saying that LT on a truck should not be used near there max rating which is based on a 99 or 106 MPH speed rating. I would have not issue using a LT at normal freeway speeds at its max rating. This site is not full of rear tire failure reports on SRW TV! People for years have used GM 2500HD with tires rated to 3042 to haul very large trailers, and they are not all on the side of the road with failed rear tires.

If the truck manufacturers thought there was a buffer required they would not set the RAWR to two times the tires!

When one tows with a duallie with 45-55 lbs inflation in the rear tires, what are tires rated for at that inflation? Chris

Bombfixer wrote:
I have a 2014 Ram 3500 dually with the high output Cummins diesel and the heavy duty 6speed Aisan tranny and the factory air bag option. I tow a 40.5 ft Raptor which weighs in at 17k fully loaded. I insured I had the truck to pull my 5er in all conditions with no problem. I am way below any of my weight limits.

Bomber,
I got the same for my TV. I had an '06 Mega Cab SRW but it didn't have enough to pull my new camper.
I may have over-spec'ed my TV but I removed much risk by doing so.

For the OPs answer: I would say get the Dodge dually diesel. Spec the rear axle ratio to what will haul your 5'er staying within weight limits listed by manufacturer. Aisin vs. 68RE transmission is your choice; again stay within the weight limits listed by manufacturer. 4X4 vs. 2X4 is your choice. I opted for 4X4 this time.

Bombfixer wrote:
I have a 2014 Ram 3500 dually with the high output Cummins diesel and the heavy duty 6speed Aisan tranny and the factory air bag option. I tow a 40.5 ft Raptor which weighs in at 17k fully loaded. I insured I had the truck to pull my 5er in all conditions with no problem. I am way below any of my weight limits.

Didn't know one was able to get the factory airbags already...thought that was being delayed until February or March...cool to know there is a 3500 out there with the airbags...You ought to go to the cummins forum and let some of them know about that option is available now..Most that are on that forum haven't been able to order it yet...

..and yeah, you definitely got enough truck:)