Type of truck
I know I've seen several topics on this but we are still confused:? We are just about to buy our first Fifth wheel but first we need to get a truck. We started out only looking for F350 because we tho...
Forum Discussion
retispcsi wrote:
You really have to figure out what fiver you want. There are so many variables with regard to weight. One fiver may have a 2k pin weight and another about the same length might have a 3k pin weight. One may have 12k dry weight and the same length might be 16k dry. Remember the advertised weight is unloaded you will weight more once everything gets in the rig. One word of caution you will find dealers lots filled with 3/4 ton trucks and a sales person will tell you that that truck can tow anything. There is a big difference between being able to tow and being able to stop and control. Figure out your trailer needs then go truck shopping. Don't make an expensive mistake and buy the wrong truck only to find out later you need something else. You can never have to much truck. Good luck
. . . .
I agree. It is very important to figure out the size and weight of the 5th wheel you want. The big decision you must first make is do you want or need a diesel? I think that in most cases you will need or want a 3/4 or one ton diesel (unless the 5th wheel is smaller than average and maybe a gas engine will work). We had a 3/4 ton gas truck, and it did not pull our 30 foot travel trailer very well.
As to single wheel diesel vs double rear wheel diesel, we have a single rear wheel ford diesel. It tows our 15,000 pound Cedar Creek with out a problem.
Do NOT BELIEVE what the sales people tell you about weights. We were told our Cedar Creek would weigh about 11,000 pounds empty. It really weighed about 12,000 plus pounds before we put our stuff in it. Good thing we had a diesel.
Traveling in a 5th wheel or travel trailer is not cheap. Maybe your best bet is to buy a 23 foot travel trailer with a slide, and a 3/4 ton gas truck.
