Help selecting proper tow truck

Well...hope the OP understands that there a few attributes to "selecting proper tow truck"...

I provided the metrics to selecting the proper *SIZE* or *CLASS* of TV

Most of the other advice has to do with which flavor (AKA badge and
type of engine)

Both are subjective...

Sizing is only subjective on whether one believes in the OEMs ratings
or not
More of a black and white so to speak...though there are enough
who do NOT know if they believe in the OEM ratings system or not...

Flavor is much more subjective and is where this thread is at

I like GM full sized, but not blindly loyal...in that I'll change if
another flavor has more of my 'have to have' vs 'nice to have'


I like gasoline over diesel

I like bigger than just barely enough

Wonder where the OP is on this ??? or does the OP need more convincing
that 'mine is better than yours'...

transamz9 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

SouthernLoCo wrote:
In Dec of 2014, I bought a 2015 Jayco Seismic. This a 44ft fifth wheel which weighs in dry at about 15K lbs. At the time, I had a 2006 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. I put Firestone airbags on it and it handled the pin weight just fine. I also put a Banks exhaust brake on it. This truck, I thought, pulled just fine in the flatter lands of OK, AR, and TN. However, pulling in the mountains of CO was horrible.

I had my trailer loaded to about 16K, at least. Kids, dogs, etc. with me. Started up Monarch Pass and things got hot fast! The problem was, they were re-paving the highway up Monarch. I could not get to the turn offs when my tranny and eventually my engine began to heat up. When I got to the top, my tranny was scorched. Engine was fine. The tranny was not right the rest of the trip and barely got us home.

The point of this story.....Murphy WILL happen when pulling. Don't get out there without enough truck to do the job, in ANY circumstance.

I traded the 2500 off for a RAM 5500. I now have way more truck than I need. I've pulled with the 5500 on flat land so far, and I'm amazed at the difference. Much safer! I know this truck will pull my 5er anywhere I want to go, and safely. Do NOT compromise your tow vehicle. There is nothing more stressful than praying you'll make it home from a trip.

Besides the transmission that you could have upgraded what is the difference towing with the DRW compared to the SRW with the same 44' RV in tow?

HAHAHA!!! Not even apples to oranges. More like apples to elephants. He went from an 8 year old 2500 to a new 5500.:S

Hey said it towed fine on the flat lands. I wanter his experiences once in the mountains.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

SouthernLoCo wrote:
In Dec of 2014, I bought a 2015 Jayco Seismic. This a 44ft fifth wheel which weighs in dry at about 15K lbs. At the time, I had a 2006 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. I put Firestone airbags on it and it handled the pin weight just fine. I also put a Banks exhaust brake on it. This truck, I thought, pulled just fine in the flatter lands of OK, AR, and TN. However, pulling in the mountains of CO was horrible.

I had my trailer loaded to about 16K, at least. Kids, dogs, etc. with me. Started up Monarch Pass and things got hot fast! The problem was, they were re-paving the highway up Monarch. I could not get to the turn offs when my tranny and eventually my engine began to heat up. When I got to the top, my tranny was scorched. Engine was fine. The tranny was not right the rest of the trip and barely got us home.

The point of this story.....Murphy WILL happen when pulling. Don't get out there without enough truck to do the job, in ANY circumstance.

I traded the 2500 off for a RAM 5500. I now have way more truck than I need. I've pulled with the 5500 on flat land so far, and I'm amazed at the difference. Much safer! I know this truck will pull my 5er anywhere I want to go, and safely. Do NOT compromise your tow vehicle. There is nothing more stressful than praying you'll make it home from a trip.

Besides the transmission that you could have upgraded what is the difference towing with the DRW compared to the SRW with the same 44' RV in tow?

HAHAHA!!! Not even apples to oranges. More like apples to elephants. He went from an 8 year old 2500 to a new 5500.:S

SouthernLoCo wrote:
In Dec of 2014, I bought a 2015 Jayco Seismic. This a 44ft fifth wheel which weighs in dry at about 15K lbs. At the time, I had a 2006 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. I put Firestone airbags on it and it handled the pin weight just fine. I also put a Banks exhaust brake on it. This truck, I thought, pulled just fine in the flatter lands of OK, AR, and TN. However, pulling in the mountains of CO was horrible.

I had my trailer loaded to about 16K, at least. Kids, dogs, etc. with me. Started up Monarch Pass and things got hot fast! The problem was, they were re-paving the highway up Monarch. I could not get to the turn offs when my tranny and eventually my engine began to heat up. When I got to the top, my tranny was scorched. Engine was fine. The tranny was not right the rest of the trip and barely got us home.

The point of this story.....Murphy WILL happen when pulling. Don't get out there without enough truck to do the job, in ANY circumstance.

I traded the 2500 off for a RAM 5500. I now have way more truck than I need. I've pulled with the 5500 on flat land so far, and I'm amazed at the difference. Much safer! I know this truck will pull my 5er anywhere I want to go, and safely. Do NOT compromise your tow vehicle. There is nothing more stressful than praying you'll make it home from a trip.

Besides the transmission that you could have upgraded what is the difference towing with the DRW compared to the SRW with the same 44' RV in tow?

In Dec of 2014, I bought a 2015 Jayco Seismic. This a 44ft fifth wheel which weighs in dry at about 15K lbs. At the time, I had a 2006 Dodge 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins. I put Firestone airbags on it and it handled the pin weight just fine. I also put a Banks exhaust brake on it. This truck, I thought, pulled just fine in the flatter lands of OK, AR, and TN. However, pulling in the mountains of CO was horrible.

I had my trailer loaded to about 16K, at least. Kids, dogs, etc. with me. Started up Monarch Pass and things got hot fast! The problem was, they were re-paving the highway up Monarch. I could not get to the turn offs when my tranny and eventually my engine began to heat up. When I got to the top, my tranny was scorched. Engine was fine. The tranny was not right the rest of the trip and barely got us home.

The point of this story.....Murphy WILL happen when pulling. Don't get out there without enough truck to do the job, in ANY circumstance.

I traded the 2500 off for a RAM 5500. I now have way more truck than I need. I've pulled with the 5500 on flat land so far, and I'm amazed at the difference. Much safer! I know this truck will pull my 5er anywhere I want to go, and safely. Do NOT compromise your tow vehicle. There is nothing more stressful than praying you'll make it home from a trip.

mkirsch wrote:
I agree that a 6.0L Powerstroke is something to avoid completely. There is NOTHING even the most knowledgeable mechanic can SEE by simply looking under the hood that will tell him/her/you that this is a good engine.

People don't generally get rid of a vehicle because it's perfectly good, especially something more than 5 years old with lots of miles on it. If it was perfectly good, they'd still be driving it.

When you buy used, you are buying someone else's problems.

The second half is a blanket statement that isn't true. There is a big difference in perfectly good and that class of vehicle doesn't fit needs anymore.

I have a 2007 F-150 5.4 V8 with tow package. 130,000 miles. Truck is in great condition inside and out. I will problably keep it because it's paid for and I have a kid about to hit college. But I have an internal debate regularly about selling to get an F-250 or just downsizing to a Jeep if I decide to get a Class C. No college to pay for and I would get a Jeep Wrangler and Class C or small A.

For me an F-150 doesn't fit my needs anymore. I don't need a truck bed for the current phase of life and it won't pull the RV I want. For someone who wants to pull a boat and isn't concerned with tongue weight, it's a great truck.

I agree that a 6.0L Powerstroke is something to avoid completely. There is NOTHING even the most knowledgeable mechanic can SEE by simply looking under the hood that will tell him/her/you that this is a good engine.

People don't generally get rid of a vehicle because it's perfectly good, especially something more than 5 years old with lots of miles on it. If it was perfectly good, they'd still be driving it.

When you buy used, you are buying someone else's problems.

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
OK OP her is the perfect truck for you! Craigs List Seattle. "2001 Dodge Ram 3500 Truck, Ideal for Heavy Towing - $16000 (NE Seattle)"

One owner $16,000 100K, completely setup to tow!

Maybe someone can add a link, thanks!

Craigs List Link

Thanks!!!

i thought. Everyone was saying not to get the 6.0 diesel so the 2007 is not an option? wrote:

The message people are trying to across to you is that any diesel truck in that model year for only 9 grand is a "red" flag. Since it happens to be a Ford with the 6.0 people are trying to inform you of some of the issues that that particular model had. Not all the 6.0's were problems. I had a 2006 that I put 130,000 trouble free miles on. I owned it new from day one, meticulously maintained it, and never altered the stock configuration other than a 4" turbo-back exhaust. The Dodge boys are just trying to give some other options.

Make sure that your mechanic is knowledgeable regarding the 6.0 and some of particular issues it is prone to. I hope it turns out to be a diamond-in-the-rough...I would just be very cautious.

For me, the proper tow truck for that fifth wheel would be the newest Dodge Ram Cummins 3500 dually I could afford, with a 6 speed manual tranny and an exhaust brake, and Load Range E M/S tires. Probably a 4X2, IF I could find one.
I don't need four wheel drive for towing. Some say they do; that's fine, they can have 4X4 if they want.