Tow Vehicle Preferences
We are carefully planning our investments for a fifth wheel and tow vehicle. We have had some experience with Ram 3500 dually, diesel and have read good reports on their performance. We see a lot of ...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
How large of a fifth wheel are you looking for? 30' or 35 or the maximum length - between 40 and 42 feet?
Then check the pin weight. If it is over 3,000 pounds, then the dual rear wheel truck is required.
I am pretty sure that you made a mistake about the 4.73:1 rear axle ratio, they don't make that. My F-350 had a 3.73 and I think that is the ideal rear axle ratio. Some of the lightweight F-150's come with 3.31 and even lower number rear axle ratios, for improved MPG. However a 4.10:1 will offer higher engine RPM at any given road speed, so it is better for a extreme heavy load. Yet a diesel engine likes to run at lower RPM's so the 3.73 is ideal for any of the diesel trucks. Especially the Dodge, it's inline 6 cylinder engine has the lowest engine RPM governor, so it can turn the slowest RPM of all the diesels.
My motorhome has a 5.12:1 rear axle ratio. It is much heavier than a pickup, and does require the engine to turn 3,000 RPM at 55 MPH in drive to climb mountains at a reasonable speed. While in overdrive, it turns about 2,400 RPM at 55, same as my older F-350 with a 3.73:1 rear axle.
The dually Ram can tow about 20,000 pounds max, so can the F-450 pickup.
Anything less can be handled by most dually pickups, or even some of the single rear wheel trucks.
Fred.
How large of a fifth wheel are you looking for? 30' or 35 or the maximum length - between 40 and 42 feet?
Then check the pin weight. If it is over 3,000 pounds, then the dual rear wheel truck is required.
I am pretty sure that you made a mistake about the 4.73:1 rear axle ratio, they don't make that. My F-350 had a 3.73 and I think that is the ideal rear axle ratio. Some of the lightweight F-150's come with 3.31 and even lower number rear axle ratios, for improved MPG. However a 4.10:1 will offer higher engine RPM at any given road speed, so it is better for a extreme heavy load. Yet a diesel engine likes to run at lower RPM's so the 3.73 is ideal for any of the diesel trucks. Especially the Dodge, it's inline 6 cylinder engine has the lowest engine RPM governor, so it can turn the slowest RPM of all the diesels.
My motorhome has a 5.12:1 rear axle ratio. It is much heavier than a pickup, and does require the engine to turn 3,000 RPM at 55 MPH in drive to climb mountains at a reasonable speed. While in overdrive, it turns about 2,400 RPM at 55, same as my older F-350 with a 3.73:1 rear axle.
The dually Ram can tow about 20,000 pounds max, so can the F-450 pickup.
Anything less can be handled by most dually pickups, or even some of the single rear wheel trucks.
Fred.
