20,000 Teton 5er - Truck Needed (legally)

hone eagle wrote:
Yours truly at 10;45HI guys :B

Sweet ride.

Thanks 2oldman
Cummins12v98 I don't think you understand the true reason the MDT's might be on the market , its really hard to find them with any more power then a pick-up ,( usually less )combined with a heavy chassis the owners are not satisfied .This was the light that went off and resulted in the HDT trend, more power, less cost.
Other draw backs for sure ,but a full timer like yourself should consider one when the pick-up is worn out.
They all have the same 'footprint' MTD and HDT and long bed dually pick-ups all about the same size.

hone eagle wrote:
..true reason the MDT's might be on the market , its really hard to find them with any more power then a pick-up ...... should consider one when the pick-up is worn out.

I drove an HDT with a stick tranny, and decided right then that a stick was not in my future. The only fully automatic I was aware of was a Volvo. An RV hauler builder I knew in Calgary didn't get one of those all too often, and they got snapped up pretty fast.

Time being a factor, I soon found my FL online, in Colorado. I knew full well the engine was not going to swallow hills, but, since that's about 0.1% of my driving, I could forego that. She's a beauty with air everything, heavy as hell, and pretty as a picture. You should see the looks I get! The mpg is almost identical to my 7.3L PSD.

I would never call it that ,its just they are rare with the power you got .The low power intercity delivery types are more common,I remember your search ,you did good.
Getting them with class 8 power is usually a 'you order it' new and big bucks for us retirees ,result compromise -2 doors, tall climb in,awkward transmissions,no financing HDT.
but I love it.
The OP never came back ,I would like to ask ? Why a truck that will barely do the job?
only travelling a short distance couple times a year?
Size intimating ?
Thinks minium truck will cost the least ?

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The 13 or 14 RAM Dually will easily and legally handle that RV.

Our combo is 28K+ and the RV is 18K+. The truck handles the RV with ease in all conditions.

I agree. I weigh about the same, 28k+, and, with the 2014 RAM Dually, it handles it great. MUCH better than a few years older model would. Exhaust brake, etc. I am amazed at how well it works.

And, I am a commercial trucker, Peterbilt lover! I had been thinking about converting one of my Petes with CAT C-15 and 18 speed, but not anymore. The new model DRW's are impressive.

mpierce wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
The 13 or 14 RAM Dually will easily and legally handle that RV.

Our combo is 28K+ and the RV is 18K+. The truck handles the RV with ease in all conditions.

I agree. I weigh about the same, 28k+, and, with the 2014 RAM Dually, it handles it great. MUCH better than a few years older model would. Exhaust brake, etc. I am amazed at how well it works.

And, I am a commercial trucker, Peterbilt lover! I had been thinking about converting one of my Petes with CAT C-15 and 18 speed, but not anymore. The new model DRW's are impressive.

Before this dually I towed a 32.5' Avion Platinum with my 98 4x4 quad cab RAM with the combo grossing 20.5K. The truck handled the RV in most conditions except for the sudden gusts of wind and semi's passing and so on. I always felt I was at my limit and always felt like I always had to be constantly paying attention.

I was extremely pleased after towing the new RAM Dually and MS Combo of 28K+ in all weather conditions.

What convinced me the Dually was up to the task was traveling from Palm Springs to Phoenix on I-10 heading east with winds coming from the South West at 45mph. I could let go of the wheel and did not move from my lane. The only time I actually felt the wind was coming into Blythe where the road curves to the right and the wind was more directly from the side. Even then it did not feel unsafe. Friends were traveling in front of us in a 40' Motorhome. When we stopped the driver said how much he fought the steering wheel to stay in his lane. I told him what our rig felt like. Now he is thinking about a Dually and 5er.

I am sure the bigger rigs are rock solid also but I know my combo is very safe from all It has been thru.

Nice to have options. A few years ago I would have gone with the bigger rig but that now is not necessary. IMHO

My choice for that would be a no-brainer: Ford F-550, V10 and 4.88 gears.

Thanks everyone. Great info. I currently have a 2005 DRV 18,500 lb RV (loaded) and pull it with 2011 Ford 450 6.7. It pulls it fine but I am always conceded about stopping power. The 2006 Teton would be 20,000 loaded. I thought I would need a stronger truck at least for the stopping power.
Thanks Again!

Thanks everyone. Great info. I currently have a 2005 DRV 18,500 lb RV (loaded) and pull it with 2011 Ford 450 6.7. It pulls it fine but I am always conceded about stopping power. The 2006 Teton would be 20,000 loaded. I thought I would need a stronger truck at least for the stopping power.
Thanks Again!

We have a heavy fifth wheel at 18+ weight. We pull it with a Dodge Ram diesel 5500 and it handles it great.
Just my opinion, I think we get a little bit better fuel mileage with a Dodge. We get around 10 MPG and up, towing. Depends on the road and terrain.
We are full timers.

RLGetman wrote:
Thanks everyone. Great info. I currently have a 2005 DRV 18,500 lb RV (loaded) and pull it with 2011 Ford 450 6.7. It pulls it fine but I am always conceded about stopping power. The 2006 Teton would be 20,000 loaded. I thought I would need a stronger truck at least for the stopping power.
Thanks Again!

Does your MS have disk brakes? With the Teton the first thing I would do is install disk brakes and then the trailer is stopping the trailer. Our MS has disk's and we never feel like there is a stopping problem.