Ok about to by a 2013 cyclone 3950 but need to figure out what I can use to pull it before I sign the paperwork on it. I currently have a tundra crew ax & that def not gonna cut it so selling it. I really want something that is a single axle if possible (it will be my daily driver when not towing the trailer. The pin weight is 3351 & dry weight is 15380 with a 18000 GVWR. Would love to find something in the 20-30k range so gonna have to be used. I gave searched quit a bit and it looks like some F350 might work but will be real close. Please help me figure this out.

How many people do you travel with? What's their approximate weight? How much stuff do you carry in the truck with you? How much stuff do you carry in the truck bed?Essentially, you need something that has a cargo carrying capacity to carry all that, the weight of the hitch (say 250 pounds) *and* the pin weight (which is going to be in that ballpark, if not a little higher depending on what's in the TH's garage).IMO, those kinds of numbers either need a newer SRW truck, but that'll blow your $30k budget or an older DRW truck.To be honest, I don't drive much now that I work from home- but the dually isn't as much as a hassle as I thought it would be. Wife and I both do school drop-offs in it occasionally and that's about as cramped of a parking lot as it gets!

Man, I don't even know what to tell you. That's a monster! My first thought was a one ton won't even do it for you, but i guess the 6.7 might be rated for that, with the right gears. I'll let those guys address that. Forget the srw; you're way into diesel dually land, and I don't think you'll find what you need in your budget. Sorry, hope somebody proves me wrong. Welcome to the forum! At least you came and asked before signing.

Yeah I thought it would be a problem but after looking closer at the # on the trucks I'm considering I now realize it gonna be hard to find. There will be 4 in the truck with a total of 500lbs. We won't be packing anything crazy just weeken camping stuff and tailgate crap.

..GVW of 18,000# on the 5er means up to 3600# of pin weight...That's a heavy 5er...With your family, full fuel tank, add a 5er hitch and you're pushing the limits of a 1 ton SRW truck, unless someone knows where you can get one that will handle the weight you want to tow for the amount of money you want to put into a TV...I would look at a dually for that amount of weight. My dually is my daily driver, but I have to have it to tow my 5er with. There are those who will not worry about the numbers, but if you load up the truck with family and an 18,000# 5er, you would be better served to look at a dually or purchase a lighter 5er...It's amazing how much the weight add's up when packing up an rv....even for just a weekend, and when you say, "tail gate", as in football games, unless I'm misunderstanding, I would think you would pack even more...it adds up fast..

Would this work?2003 GMC C4500 Top Kick$29,900

Help with a tow vehicle | Good Sam Community

laknox
Nomad
Jul 08, 2013
Thats_Ok wrote:
Would this work?

2003 GMC C4500 Top Kick
$29,900

Did you catch the turn warning flags on each side of the bed? Brilliant idea!

Lyle
gpshemi
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
I run a Cyclone 3612 much like the 3950. I went back and forth between the two. I opted for the 3612 because of weight mostly, but I think you're really looking at a dually and I'm a hard core SRW kinda guy. I guess it depends on how much towing you're doing with it.
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
I'd suggest an F450.

When I had a 39' 5th wheel, my F350 dually was my daily driver. It was a problem every so often due to it being a crew cab and a full 8' bed, but the "dually vs. SRW" factor never made a big difference regarding drivability or manuevering.

I wouldn't let a concern about dually dissuade you from getting the appropriate tow vehicle.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jul 08, 2013
Just don't tell all those California desert rides that they should have something more than their 250/2500 to tow that big TH'er. Chris
chevor
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
Nonsense that tundra can pull the space shuttle. An 18k trailer shouldnt be able to even tell its back there.
Vanished
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
Many new Dodge SRW 3500's break 4000 lbs payload...
But I agree - more comfortable with a DRW in your price range..
ependydad
Explorer
Jul 08, 2013
Mpucillo79 wrote:
Yeah I thought it would be a problem but after looking closer at the # on the trucks I'm considering I now realize it gonna be hard to find. There will be 4 in the truck with a total of 500lbs. We won't be packing anything crazy just weeken camping stuff and tailgate crap.

You'd be amazed. My wife and I aren't thin, but our kids are still very small (9 year old skinny girl and 1 year old skinny boy). Wet and ready to roll for a regular trip, we eat up 1,200 pounds of our payload with limited things in the truck bed.
jerem0621
Explorer II
Jul 05, 2013
Solid F450- F550 range there. My F350 dually only has about 3700 ish lbs of payload.
suse1023
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
i'm in the market for something similar to the top kick in the northeast if anyone knows of one for sale.
headed to northeaste vt to check out this kodiak...
http://burlington.craigslist.org/rvs/3872486396.html
turner66
Explorer
Jul 05, 2013
avvidclif1 wrote:
Another thought is when you go over 26,000 gross you are in commercial drivers license territory.

In Texas, the requirement is a Class A license unless operating commercially, or transporting hazmat, or if the vehicle is designed to transport more than 16 passengers (ie. passenger bus).

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