I recently purchased a 40' fifth wheel toy hauler, triple slide. The dry weight is 14,050 lbs., I figure 1000 lbs. of gear, my motorcycle is about 950 lbs., hers is 650 lbs. We try to two with minimal onboard water and empty grey and black tanks. I currently have a 1996 Ford F-350 DRW with a 7.3 liter Powerstroke and auto trans. It gets the trailer where it needs to go, but it really struggles on the hills and starting off, plus it is really old and I worry about the reliability. Fortunately our favorite camp grounds are not very far away, but we want o start venturing further. So my question is this, who runs a trailer this size and weight and travels long distances with it and what tow rig do you use and how well does it do. I am looking to buy a new truck, but not sure what to buy. Do I really need to look at medium duty trucks like an F-650 or a Kodiak? The guy I bought it from pulled it with a Chevy 2500 with an 8.1 gas engine and said it handled it just fine. Not sure I really would go that route, but maybe the motor is preferable but in a DRW. Any experienced advice is welcomed.

Binkley2 wrote:Do I really need to look at medium duty trucks like an F-650 or a Kodiak? Yes, but the 650 will ride like a shopping cart. If you have too much money lying around the Freightliner Sportchassis is a good rig. If you have time and want something really capable, get a Class 8 OTR tractor that's been rebuilt for large RV hauling.Binkley2 wrote:The guy I bought it from pulled it with a Chevy 2500 with an 8.1 gas engine and said it handled it just fine.He's lying. There's a good chance he got rid of it because it was not handling fine.

New 350/3500 diesel dually in any 'flavor' will handle it without going over ratings.

Binkley2 wrote:I recently purchased a 40' fifth wheel toy hauler, triple slide. The guy I bought it from pulled it with a Chevy 2500 with an 8.1 gas engine and said it handled it just fine. I'd definitely be looking in the 550 or MDT range...but that's just me and my wife often says I'm also full of baloney...

Clicky for good a good posting going to an HDT.A lot of good info and opinions here. Have talked to several HDT owners and their points are a more power, sharper turning, safer braking, and less cost. Camped nest to one that had a small car mounted up on the back of his HDT along with two motorcycles.Bill

If it is a solid 14,000 pounds dry, and add over 1,600 pounds of motorcyles, you are over 15,600. A FW that big you will probably add closer to 2,000 pounds of food, clothing, tools, kitchen ware, towels, sheets,....on and on....If you haul auxiliary fuel you may be over 18,000 pretty quick. I assume it is a triple axle. Since the guy you bought it from probably was not telling the truth about being able to pull it with his truck, check to see if there are G-rated tires on it (or higher). Believe it or not, it may have came out of the factory with tires not rated for all the weight you will end up having on it.It is was me, before deciding on what truck to start my search for, I would hook up and take it across the scales with the motorcycles loaded. Even if you don't have all your stuff in it yet that will put you in the general ballpark on weights. It will be $10.00 well spent.

Which tow rig? | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 29, 2015
Binkley2 wrote:
So, I finally ended up buying a Chevrolet 3500HD DRW with the LMM Duramax motor. This truck pulls my rig like a pro. Way better than my old Ford. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Good call on the Dually!!! You will love the stability, my #2 choice in trucks.
Binkley2
Explorer
Aug 29, 2015
So, I finally ended up buying a Chevrolet 3500HD DRW with the LMM Duramax motor. This truck pulls my rig like a pro. Way better than my old Ford. Thanks for all the suggestions.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
tdst51 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Yes it was, plus a lot of help from Ford of England, who did a lot of the design and testing. Peugeot and other European OEM's had input
Water-Bug
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
tdst51 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Could be based on two Pinto motors side by side???

NOT A CHANCE!!! The Pinto's 4 banger was awsum for it's time.
GoPackGo
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
The only converted gas to diesel engine I remember was that fine 350 that GM brought out.

Was singlehandedly responsible for setting back the passenger car/light truck diesel industry for 20 years.

Tim
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2015
rhagfo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
tdst51 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Could be based on two Pinto motors side by side???
The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
tdst51 wrote:
But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

Sure hope this was an attempt to be humorous. BTW, it failed.

:h converted gas engine. Where oh where did that misinformation come from?????????

To the OP asking questions here, the new Ford diesel 6.7L is NOT a converted gas engine. And the Duramax is a great motor too. And so is the Cummins.

Drive all, then pick which one you liked the best.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2015
Cummins12V98 wrote:
tdst51 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jan 24, 2015
tdst51 wrote:
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.
tdsxt51
Explorer
Jan 24, 2015
avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

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