Help finding the right "horse"

Old-Biscuit wrote:
12K GVWR 5vr can be easily, safely towed by 250/2500 truck 2002 and newer vintage

Well the post above from Golden _HVAC is correct if you require that you stay within the GVWR of the TV.

That said I agree with Old-Biscuit, and you need to make the decision to tow over GVWR, BUT within GRAWR.

I believe I did well on the purchase of my TV, 2001 Ram 2500 bought in 2011 with 234,000 miles! Yes a good number of miles, but one owner Ram Cummins SLT Larine about the only options not on it were alarm and leather. Tow and Camper package. It only has a 8,800# GVWR, and connected to our 32' 12,360# 5er we are right at 10,000# on the TV, about 19,500# GCVW. We do this without air bags or Timbres, 2,200# pin. We still have about 500# + of unused capacity on the 6,084# GRAWR, that is based on stock tires, if we wanted to push the rating the Camper package tires have a 6,830# capacity for the pair, just call it a safety margin.

This rig tows like a dream, good shocks, strong suspension, put some time and $ into the front end, but tows nice and straight, and handles great.

We are currently at 288,000 miles and still going strong, I was a Ford addict for 42 years, but when it came to buying a diesel the engine was far more important than the wrapper, I had strong faith in the Cummins diesel. we added a small chip for about 50 Hp and 140 ft. lb. and we have no issues with hills towing 11,000#+ of 5er.

On EDIT: Think twice about a SB! That 97 5er is likely a square nose, long beds have zero issues to about 92 degrees of turn, daily drive that High Mileage diesel, you will find towing much easier, and at 13 to 15 mpg in the city, and pushing 20 on the highway, why not.

In 54,000 miles of driving maintenance on the engine has been;
5 oil changes, now at 10,000 miles.
1 oil pressure sending unit
1 New NAPA Starter, replaced once under warranty
1 Fass DDRP-2 lift pump, preventive maintenance better fuel pressure