New to the camping world and I purchased a 2010 34' Flagstaff that weighs around 7000#. I am needing to purchase a new truck. I will be pulling it maybe 6-10 times a year pretty close to home (200 miles) mostly but once a year a two week journey on longer trips (1k-2k miles). I have had various opinions of trucks to buy from a 250/2500 with diesel to 250/2500 gas but others say 150/1500 is sufficient as they now have towing capacity around 10k as long as you get sway bar, load balancing hitch, etc. Couldn't I get a 150/1500 and if i didn't like the ride to add another spring in the rear? I am looking at gas mileage in the larger truck to be around 12 mpg with normal driving just tooling around home for 90% of the time and with a smaller one, I can get around 20 or more. Thank you for your time and assistance.

You will get a lot of "good honest" advice here. Listen carefully, it is all about weights. Do not assume or go with someone saying "you will get by with"We have learned a lot from people here. I will just guess here because I do not know your numbers but I think the 150/1500 might be pushing your luck.Listen to the ones here that have towed a lot of RV's with a lot of vehicles.

What "smaller one" can you get around 20mpg or more driving around town??

Our Passport 2910BH weighs in loaded at 6900 lbs. We camp locally about the same as you and also do one long trip a year. I used to have a Ram 1500 with 2500 lb. helper springs and rear sway bar added. They made the truck handle better, but it struggled when it got into the mountains even with the 5.9 engine and 3.92 gears. When I weighed it I was almost 2000 lbs. over the GCWR even when under the max tow weight. I would have kept the Ram if we only made short trips but, since we travel long distances We moved up to an F350 Diesel SRW to fit our needs. If I were you I would be looking at a 3/4 ton for your application. It's the right tool for the job and you won't be maxing out the capabilities of your truck, and have an acceptable safety margin. The make and model are up to your personal preference as they all make nice trucks. Gas vs. Diesel is something that should be considered with where you will be primarily traveling, ie. mountains vs. plains. At the end of the day, you want to have "the right tool for the job", not the tool that's just "good enough to do the job". Good Luck with your search.

Where the half-tons fall short with a 7000 lb. trailer is the available payload. After you add the tongue weight, the WDH, and fill it with gas, you won't have any capacity left for passengers and gear in the truck. FWIW, my old technology 5.4 V8 in a 4x4 F-250 is getting me 13 mpg in town and 15 mpg, unloaded, on the interstate. 10 mpg with 5000 lb. on the ball. Newer 3/4 ton should be better. Fuel consumption difference between the 1/2 ton and the 3/4 ton at an assumed 20K miles per year is around 300 gals./yr.. I guess you'll have to decide if the extra $1K/yr. is worth the shift to a bigger truck.

On paper a properly-equipped 1/2-ton may get the job done, but it will struggle to do so. And a big problem with 1/2-tons is the payload capacity or lack thereof. A crew cab 1/2-ton loaded with kids and gear runs out of payload real quick.You'll be much happier with a 3/4-ton Diesel.

buying new truck, assistance needed | Good Sam Community

43 Replies

MUDDYNOLL
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
Our Passport 2910BH weighs in loaded at 6900 lbs. We camp locally about the same as you and also do one long trip a year. I used to have a Ram 1500 with 2500 lb. helper springs and rear sway bar added. They made the truck handle better, but it struggled when it got into the mountains even with the 5.9 engine and 3.92 gears. When I weighed it I was almost 2000 lbs. over the GCWR even when under the max tow weight. I would have kept the Ram if we only made short trips but, since we travel long distances We moved up to an F350 Diesel SRW to fit our needs. If I were you I would be looking at a 3/4 ton for your application. It's the right tool for the job and you won't be maxing out the capabilities of your truck, and have an acceptable safety margin. The make and model are up to your personal preference as they all make nice trucks. Gas vs. Diesel is something that should be considered with where you will be primarily traveling, ie. mountains vs. plains. At the end of the day, you want to have "the right tool for the job", not the tool that's just "good enough to do the job". Good Luck with your search.
Tvov
Explorer II
Sep 26, 2013
What "smaller one" can you get around 20mpg or more driving around town??
loulou57
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013
You will get a lot of "good honest" advice here. Listen carefully, it is all about weights. Do not assume or go with someone saying "you will get by with"

We have learned a lot from people here. I will just guess here because I do not know your numbers but I think the 150/1500 might be pushing your luck.

Listen to the ones here that have towed a lot of RV's with a lot of vehicles.

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buying new truck, assistance needed

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