Aussie trying to understand your trucks

45Ricochet wrote:

Just wondering IB, is that photo before your pin box failure? Looks like your clearance is pretty small in the photo.

Yup, old pic, before the POS Lippert frame failed.

Mik68 wrote:
Going to be buying a FW with a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds and hopefully under 30 foot. Need to know what can tow & more importantly stop it.
Cheers Mik

No body has mentioned it, but all trailers are equipped with brakes that are designed to stop it. The towing vehicle doesn't really need larger brakes for towing.

I agree with others, more is better and much less ware and tare on the tow vehicle. Seems to me your biggest problem is learning to drive on the "right" side of the road.

Happy RV'ing


Ron

Under 10,000 gvwr trailer should be fine on 250/2500 or 350/3500 single rear wheel. The major difference is payload as the trucks are virtually the same. If you get a heavy diesel engine that reduces the payload rating and may push you toward F350.

If you go a little smaller trailer you could get a 8200 gvwr F150. Tow ratings in USA seem to be very conservative compared to other parts of the world including Australia.

Hey Mik, what year trucks are you looking for?

Get the biggest GVWR you can afford...I love extra capacity (safety margin)
for that day Mr Murphy crosses my path

Am NOT one of those who thinks 'just enough' is the way to go, or 'over the ratings'

Have an Internet buddy who lives close to Melbourne and says lots & lots of dirt roads. That
Holden's do much better than their American made cousins.

Amazing to me that he can cast off of a 'beach' and it is several hundred feet
deep just a few feet off....that he catches BIG fish from those spots, or he's
pulling my leg with a 'fish' story.... :)

Do yourself a favor OP and just shop for the 35 series of trucks for the added payloads.
Just wondering IB, is that photo before your pin box failure? Looks like your clearance is pretty small in the photo.

If you aren't already aware the GMC and Chevy are the same truck "under the hood". If your choice comes down to those two I would think looks (and option packages) should be the defining factor. Not a super important point and maybe not helpful but I needed to point that out.

Get a 3500HD/F350. In 2011 the GVWR increased significantly on all models/makes.

I had a 2005 3500HD SRW diesel and the GVWR was 9900 lbs and our 2011 3500HD SRW has a GVWR of 11,600 lbs. I am not towing within the GVWR of the truck.

Diesel - will cost more up front - but they are great for towing.



Bed Rug bed liner, Luverne SS running boards, Air Lift LoadLifter 5000 air bags, Reese Custom Base and Rail Kit, Handy fifth wheel tail gate, rear wheel liners, rear seat storage tray, front lower bumper billet grill, Bushwacker bed rail cap, PML rear diff. cover, Bilstein 5100 shocks, GM steering stabilizer, Edge Insight CTS.

With a GVWR of less than 10,000#, you could use a 2500, but a 3500/350 without dual rear wheels (they are available, I have one) would be better IMO.

Dodge/Ram makes a big 4 door cab model, called a Megacab (I have one). It is indeed biggest in class. Google images can show you. It comes in short bed only (6 foot 3 inch). Without the biggest cab (they are called crew cabs) and they are all pretty close to the same size in the rear seat (Dodge, Chevy/GMC, and Ford) post 2010 models. 2009 and older Rams (Dodge) "quadcabs" were quite small in the rear seat.

Here is a Dodge/Ram 3500 Dual Rear Wheel (DRW) "Quadcab" longbed.



Here is a Dodge/Ram 3500 DRW "Megacab" shortbed.



Here is a Dodge/Ram 3500 Single rear wheel (SRW) like mine, shortbed only.



Here is the new crewcab size, available in short and longbed:



Note that the quadcab longbed (8' box) and the megacab shortbed (6'3" box) are exactly the same wheelbase and overall length. The only difference is the cab/box size.

I would suggest avoiding the 2003 - 2010 Ford diesels. In 2003 - 2007 they used the infamous 6.0L Powerstroke, and it is a trouble prone engine Here is some interesting reading - 6.0L diesel engine. In 2008 - 2010, they used a 6.4L diesel, and it was slightly better, but still not near as reliable as the competition.

I would suggest you shop for a petrol powered Ford, or a petrol or diesel Dodge or GMC/Chevy.

You will have no trouble pulling a 5th wheel with a shortbed model truck. I do. Here's a picture of my set up:

Going to be buying a FW with a GVWR of less than 10,000 pounds and hopefully under 30 foot. Need to know what can tow & more importantly stop it. 2 adults & 3 kids weighing under 500 pounds. So need a 4 door pick up. Ford, Chev or GMC & Dodge seem to be the front runners. I'm a big dodge fan here in Oz. but also love Chev, and if Ford fits the bill so be it. Would I get away with a 2500 series in these trucks? The only one of these our local dealer didn't have was the Dodge, are they roomier in the rear than Ford & Chev. Im told to get one post 2011 because of some changes from that year, probably diesel. Are all 3500 series Dually's? and are these too big? Are there short bed & long bed and does it matter what i get? What else should I look for in a truck. At this stage I can only look on-line.
Cheers Mik

Most fifth wheel folks will probably tell you that the biggest truck issue is payload. If your fifth is 10,000 gross and you are carrying 500 or so pounds in the truck the payload needs to be at least 2500-2700 pounds and a little more would be better. (20 percent of 10,000 pounds on the pin, the hitch at around 200 pounds plus the 500 pounds you mention for family) You are at the high end of most three quarter ton trucks and a one ton would be ideal in your situation. I know there will be many that will tell you that the three quarter ton will do the job and has for them for many years. All three diesels have more than enough power for 10,000 pounds and all trucks will give years of good service. If you want a huge cab, check out the mega cab by Dodge and the new ones have a much higher GVWR and payload then previously.