Gas engine

I only tow 9300 lbs with my 6.4 4.10 gaser. As far as noise goes, I don't mind it. It's only wound out in the steepest sections of a pass. I lock out 6th or 5th when needed. In 5th it's not the slightest bit noisy.
Would I tow 12,000-14,000? Heck no, unless it was mostly on flats or some rolling hills. MPG's would really suck at that point.
JMO but anything over 10,000-11,000 is diesel territory if you're in any kind of hills or mtns a lot.

I was in the same boat as you. Just bought a 5th wheel that is 14k gross. I wanted a gas for up front cost, maintenance, and the fact that I know zero about diesel.

The 5th wheel we were looking at was 10k gross and I would have done gas for that. Our previous travel trailer was 7200 gross and I always felt the truck could use a little more power on hills and accelerating at times. It was a 5.3.

We decided that since we save money going with a used trailer to get the diesel. I am glad I did, no stress when pulling. I had a friend pull his 5th wheel that is the same size with a gas and was surprised at how good it did. I think if your doing short trips and not a lot of hills a gas would do it, but you might always wish for more.

"What is your combined weight?"

I've never had a convenient place to weigh, when fully loaded, so really only a guess, but I'd say 18.5-19K.

BTW: I can remember seeing the display on that 15 CTD of yours showing 6 mpg, on a pic you posted, and that was not towing anything!:)

Jerry

Ralph Cramden wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
Any of the later model big 3 gassers will tow that FW with 4.10/4.30 gears. They are rated for a 15K loaded FW weight. Yes, any of the big 3 diesels will do it better. If you stay in your flat country, the gasser will work fine. It will take patience and high RPM in the steep hills/mountains, if you head there, but you will get to the top.

Jerry

Maybe it can do it but who wants to listen to the engine screaming at you. Also 6mpg maybe mountain towing would get costly.

Lots of people. Maybe the guy who works every day and has 3 or 4 kids, whose only camping amounts to some select weekends and a week long vacation once or twice a year. He probably does not want to fork down $9K+ on the vehicle and another $0.80 per gallon on fuel for the privilege of a few more mpg. The mountain gas mileage is more like 8-9 mpg and not 6 mpg btw. I know of no one who tows uphill 100% of the time, even in the west, except people who had to walk to school every day with no shoes, uphill both ways.

I would love to fill up side by side with a gasser pulling 14k and compare fuel tickets with me towing 23k.

MFL wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
Any of the later model big 3 gassers will tow that FW with 4.10/4.30 gears. They are rated for a 15K loaded FW weight. Yes, any of the big 3 diesels will do it better. If you stay in your flat country, the gasser will work fine. It will take patience and high RPM in the steep hills/mountains, if you head there, but you will get to the top.

Jerry

Maybe it can do it but who wants to listen to the engine screaming at you. Also 6mpg maybe mountain towing would get costly.

My 6.2 Ford sounds great, makes good power/pulls strong at 3-4K rpm, when needed. Worst mileage towing, 7 and change, extreme conditions, normally 8-10. You need to take a test drive, with a 6.2 gas. They are very smooth running, and handle higher rpm much better than previous V8s.

I'd like to meet up sometime, for some canyon riding on our bikes, with some 7-10 percent climbs. Mine sounds great at 10K rpm, redline 11.5K, electronic limiter at 12.2K. I'd love to switch, ride yours, you on mine. While completely different styles, I think you'd love the sound/performance. I'd enjoy riding yours too! :)

Jerry

Sounds like a good time!!!

What is your combined weight?

My 5th Wheel is 8,500 empty and just under 10,000 loaded up. I pull it with a 1 Ton Ram with the 6.4 Hemi. It does fine and although I don't lose any speed, the engine will scream a little going up steep inclines. With that being said, I don't think I would want to tow anything much heavier with my truck. In the end, you have to justify things financially. It's easy for all of us to tell you what to do with your money. My advice is this. If you're using your camper as a way to travel the country and you're going to be putting on 10,000 miles a year....Get a Diesel. If you're a Weekend Warrior and traveling distances of less than 1,000 each trip....Go with the Gas truck. Don't go broke to have some fun.

Ford is coming out with a 'huge' V8 gas in 2020

I had a F350 with a V10 and it towed just fine with an 11K fiver. Not great on mileage but my diesel is not that great on mileage either.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
Any of the later model big 3 gassers will tow that FW with 4.10/4.30 gears. They are rated for a 15K loaded FW weight. Yes, any of the big 3 diesels will do it better. If you stay in your flat country, the gasser will work fine. It will take patience and high RPM in the steep hills/mountains, if you head there, but you will get to the top.

Jerry

Maybe it can do it but who wants to listen to the engine screaming at you. Also 6mpg maybe mountain towing would get costly.

My 6.2 Ford sounds great, makes good power/pulls strong at 3-4K rpm, when needed. Worst mileage towing, 7 and change, extreme conditions, normally 8-10. You need to take a test drive, with a 6.2 gas. They are very smooth running, and handle higher rpm much better than previous V8s.

I'd like to meet up sometime, for some canyon riding on our bikes, with some 7-10 percent climbs. Mine sounds great at 10K rpm, redline 11.5K, electronic limiter at 12.2K. I'd love to switch, ride yours, you on mine. While completely different styles, I think you'd love the sound/performance. I'd enjoy riding yours too! :)

Jerry

Cummins12V98 wrote:

MFL wrote:
Any of the later model big 3 gassers will tow that FW with 4.10/4.30 gears. They are rated for a 15K loaded FW weight. Yes, any of the big 3 diesels will do it better. If you stay in your flat country, the gasser will work fine. It will take patience and high RPM in the steep hills/mountains, if you head there, but you will get to the top.

Jerry

Maybe it can do it but who wants to listen to the engine screaming at you. Also 6mpg maybe mountain towing would get costly.

Yes it can do it, and yes the engine will scream at you while doing it as you watch the fuel gauge plummet from F to E.

Previous TV was a 2017 2500 Ram 6.4 Hemi. New TV is 2018 3500 Ram CTD. Just went 215 miles to Hilton Head on 3/4 tank of fuel - first tow with it and oh how sweet it is...