Help selecting proper tow truck
I am getting a 5th wheel. Avalanche 380fl Specs of the 5th wheel have a gross combine weight rating of 15,600 when loaded. Hitch weight is like 2800 pounds. I am looking on Craigslist for older...
Forum Discussion
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.
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.
