Ok, so I am new here and new to the RV lifestyle and as we have not even purchased out first RV yet, we are looking for suggestions. We have decided to make the first RV we purchase our home and relocate to Florida, most likely in the spring of 2017 and have decided on the Grand Design Momentum 376TH. However, I am having issues deciding on a tow vehicle. Granted, the 5'er will be parked 75% of the time at our chosen RV full time lot (at this time, we are looking at The Great Outdoors Resort in Titusville, FL but are open to suggestions on that as well) as we still have to work for a living, however, we are torn on a tow vehicle. I am looking to purchase the vehicle first since we have finally decided on a 5th wheel (after looking at about 100 of them) and can't find a good consensus as to what would pull a rig of that size. Since it's GVWR is right at 20,000 lbs. and over 40 feet long, I know I am going to need a dually to pull it with and have narrowed it down to 2, the Ford F450 and the Dodge 3500 DRW. The part I am struggling with is if I actually need an F450 or if an F350 would do? I am assuming as long as the F350 had the payload capacity for the hitch weight, our gear and us and is equipped with the 4.10 gear ratio that there shouldn't be an issue with towing it but I also like the Dodge a little better but all of the used ones I seem to find have the 3.73 gear ratio and I am not 100% sold that this ratio would pull it without considerable strain on the engine. I keep researching all of the forums and websites and just am not sure and want to make the right as well as an educated decision. I just don't want to end up with too little truck for the trailer. Any comments or suggestions would be most helpful for this first timer!!

You can NEVER have too much truck. But you sure as heck can have too little!

Get the one you like best. F350, F450, or Ram 3500 will pull it fine. Just get the dually as that Momentum has a heavy pin weight I believe.Don't worry about the rear end. My SRW F350 has a 3.55 and our camper loaded down is over 19,000 lbs. Its not a strain on the truck at all. Your overall gear ratio will be just fine.

Following Up. If you can get the actual pin weighed for a real world number, you may be OK for an SRW truck. GD lists the pin as 3250 lbs. If it really is close to that, you can get an SRW 1 ton; especially since you said you won't be towing too often.But if you absolutely don't mind getting a dually, do it. As donn referred, its much better to have more than enough truck.

20,000 pounds? I'd go for the 450 and look for a dully. Why? Well ... look at my 'disclaimer' in my signature line below. You can never go wrong if you follow that advise.

Regards, I smart buyer can get a deal of a new RAM that is very close to the cost of a 1-3 year old used one. Their is a RAM mega dealer in your area that has really good pricing. I believe that it is this one. http://www.kernersvillechryslerdodge.net/new-inventory/index.htm Financing on a new truck is cheaper and easier on a new truck if you are doing that.This one has 4:10 gears. You can add the factory 5th wheel pucks, like I did to mine. Should sell for less than what they have listed.http://www.kernersvillechryslerdodge.net/new/Ram/2016-Ram-3500-1344baf20a0e0ae74e4d799be052d711.htmChris

Decisions, Decisions.... | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

totaleclipse4u
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016
Again, thanks for the replies. The 5er will not sit 100% of the time so the TV is a must. We also plan to travel and taking the "house" along was what has drawn us to the 5th wheel. A little back story here, we started looking at a 16' Coleman to travel with so we could take weekend camping trips within the southeast. Once on the Camping World lot, the wife looked at her first fifth wheel and was hooked which set all of this in motion. We've always talked about relocating to Florida and with an RV, we can relocate without the expense of having to worry about "what if" when Mother Nature decides to send a major storm to the area. With the fifth wheel, we pack up and go if evacuated.

So back to the TV, I am ok with the Ram 3500 but if I decide to go up from there, I would switch to the F450. I don't want to spend the extra money for the larger trucks when it will be somewhat of a weekly driver, not so much of a daily driver. And having the extra feature of the "pucks" in the 2013 and newer Dodge 3500 as well as certain Ford F450's appeals to me as it would allow me to use the truck bed without the hitch in the bed and not having to worry about damaging the rails in the bed. Again, we have just started looking so buying is almost 6 months away but it never hurts to get a jump start on research. I am pretty much sold on the Ram 3500 so the only thing that may change my mind is if I find an inexpensive F450 with low miles. But hey, there's always room to hope, right??
Me_Again
Explorer III
Nov 04, 2016
GeoBoy wrote:
If you like the Ram what about the 4500/5500 trucks?

Why, the 3500 pickup has more HP and torque, and will tow the trailer without an issue even with the 3:42 gears.
GeoBoy
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016
If you like the Ram what about the 4500/5500 trucks?
McIntraveler
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016
The 2016 Ram 3500 4x4 Laramie CC LB dually with AISIN tranny and 3.42 gears is rated to pull a 20,400 lb 5er, 3.73 = 24,900 lb and 4.30 = 30,200. Ratings are much lower if you don't get the AISIN.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 04, 2016
Rule out SRW

Momentum 376TH has a dry pin of 3250...that's 20.5% of UVW

Using 20.5% of GVWR....that's a pin weight of 4100#

That eats up almost ALL of payload ratings on ALL SRWs trim levels

Rule out SRWs

If not traveling, just parking on RV lot in a 'resort' why not just purchase a park model and have it put on lot or buy one already set up?

Then you don't need added expense of big truck and driving it around daily.

Besides FT RVing is not cheaper then apt/condo and a heck of a lot smaller living environment
But I was never one to just park RV ...it was about traveling for us.

So which ever truck brand..rule out SRWs
Me_Again
Explorer III
Nov 04, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
Figuring a 4klb pin weight give er take, anything from a SrW 350/3500 on up would work well. Bigger the truck, the more stable it will be.
I'll stay out of the brand wars but suggest you think about how many hours a year you'll be sitting in it as a daily driver vs hours behind the wheel with the 5ver in the back. As well, your intended use. I.e. Are you planning on Alaska trips and running through the mountains both back east and out west? Or are the trips FL to the Midwest and back?

Since you're already set on a dually, that analysis isn't as critical, but unless I was towing ALOT, I'd opt for a 350/3500 that you could air down the tires when using it as a DD vs a truck with factory 19.5s.

Time you put in a hitch and other stuff in the truck, no SRW with stock tires is going to be able to handle 4K of pin weight. Chris
Grit_dog
Navigator III
Nov 04, 2016
Figuring a 4klb pin weight give er take, anything from a SrW 350/3500 on up would work well. Bigger the truck, the more stable it will be.
I'll stay out of the brand wars but suggest you think about how many hours a year you'll be sitting in it as a daily driver vs hours behind the wheel with the 5ver in the back. As well, your intended use. I.e. Are you planning on Alaska trips and running through the mountains both back east and out west? Or are the trips FL to the Midwest and back?

Since you're already set on a dually, that analysis isn't as critical, but unless I was towing ALOT, I'd opt for a 350/3500 that you could air down the tires when using it as a DD vs a truck with factory 19.5s.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016
Second Chance wrote:
The pin weights listed by GD are EMPTY - not an accurate reflection of what it will be loaded.....

That's why I said to get the camper weighed for a real world number. If GD said it was close to 4000 lbs., it wouldn't be worth the trouble of getting it weighed.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Nov 04, 2016
lawnspecialties wrote:
Following Up. If you can get the actual pin weighed for a real world number, you may be OK for an SRW truck. GD lists the pin as 3250 lbs. If it really is close to that, you can get an SRW 1 ton; especially since you said you won't be towing too often.

But if you absolutely don't mind getting a dually, do it. As donn referred, its much better to have more than enough truck.

The pin weights listed by GD are EMPTY - not an accurate reflection of what it will be loaded. Use 23% of the GVWR of the trailer as a working number. I wouldn't consider anything less than a F350/3500 dural rear wheel for a Momentum. Safety first!

Rob
totaleclipse4u
Explorer
Nov 04, 2016
Thanks for the insight. I actually prefer the Dodge as the back of the truck doesn't look as wide as the Ford with the fender flares. Not only that, but the puck system is what really sold me on that model although you can also get that on the F450. And it's good to know that the 3.73 gears will work as well. That puts me more at ease about my decision. I would love to stick with a SRW pickup but the shear size and the pin weight of the 5ver alone will make me opt for the DRW. Thanks again for your knowledge as I just want to make our RV experience the best it can be!

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