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

Thanks for everyone's inputs on the pulling capability of a pickup vs MDT/HDT. One question that is still on my mind is braking capability. My 18k 2005 DRV and the 20k 2006 Teton both have shoe brakes. Is the Stopping power & distance of the RV combined with the 450/550 pickup compared to an MDT/HDT significant and a good reason for choosing one over the other? Again, thank for all you inputs.

OP this is a tough call and I can see your dillema. You have a newer 450 that is close to perfect but just barely. Here is how I handled a similar situation. With our truck we had a 13,500 k fiver for 4 years and the srw truck handled it fine. We bought a new longer rig that weighs 1k more putting us close to our gcwr. I was not comfortable with this so I found some 19.5 Ricksons and figured I would give it a shot. First tow was 10 miles on city streets stopping, turning, accelerating, and braking... all felt great. Trip 2 was 50 miles adding highway traffic. Finally we hit the road for 150 miles with long mountain passes. From the get go I said if I ever say "whoa" then a dually was in the forecast. Mind you we are within specs but I enjoy living. The truck performed perfect and we have now logged 800 miles.

Point to all of this is you can start out with your truck and see if you have a whoa moment. If you do then hdt is the way to go. You can pick up nice ones for less than you can sell your current truck for.

Your truck will be perfectly fine if you upgrade to disk brakes. The trailer should stop it's self. I bet your truck is helping stop your MS.

I can honestly say I don't feel the 18K+ MS behind me when I apply the brakes the TV and RV each do their job seamlessly. Until you experience it you won't believe it's possible. I did not!

Keep your TV get the new RV and install Kodiak Disk's.

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

Hahahahha........hahahaha, wait.....hahahaha!
You'd have another birthday before reaching your destination if you had to pull a 20k + trailer with a V10, even with 6.88 gears!

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

Well, I can agree, that you don't have any brains if you make that choice.

You guys really still think a 365HP V10 will pull slower than the 300HP PowerStroke in the F450/550? So much slower you'll have another birthday?

In case you haven't seen the specs, 365hp (V10) is more than 300hp (PSD).

Compare the torque. The gas pot will be left behind.

PSD vs. V10,,, This will be good. :B

carringb wrote:
You guys really still think a 365HP V10 will pull slower than the 300HP PowerStroke in the F450/550? So much slower you'll have another birthday?

In case you haven't seen the specs, 365hp (V10) is more than 300hp (PSD).

Are you and I the only ones that get this Bryan?

For all the others, and for the billionth time. Torque is not power. :S

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

carringb wrote:
You guys really still think a 365HP V10 will pull slower than the 300HP PowerStroke in the F450/550? So much slower you'll have another birthday?

In case you haven't seen the specs, 365hp (V10) is more than 300hp (PSD).

Are you and I the only ones that get this Bryan?

For all the others, and for the billionth time. Torque is not power. :S

Yeah, my car has 450hp and my Cummins has about 400 on the tow tune, but that truck would stomp a mud hole in the car's @ss if they were both hooked up to a 20k trailer!
Something about 800+ft lbs vs 400ft lbs? I dunno.

And yes I do. I've had 2 different Ford V10s and they are 2nd gear wonders wound out pulling even 10 k at any altitude.