We sold our diesel pusher and just ordered a 2016 Montana 3160RL. The fifthwheel has a dry weight of 11,700 and a pin weight of 2570. I know I need a 1 ton and prefer to stay with single rear wheel because this will be my every day driver. What I am torn between is the gas vs. diesel debate. I know that all of the big 3 can tow the weight I need with the proper axle ratio but in the case of ford, I would have to order because I can't find a truck on the lot with 4.30 gears. in the past, I owned a fifthwheel and towed it with a 6.0 power stroke so I know that diesel tows better. What is making me nervous about buying another diesel is the reliability. I see issues all over forums about problems with def systems, injection pumps, injectors, etc. this will be my everyday driver to get me to work everyday along with towing the new fifthwheel under 2,000 miles a year. Another thing that is important to me is resale value. I put approx. 15,000 per year and usually trade them at under 80,000 miles. I know most of the time I will be under warranty but breakdowns are still a major aggregation, especially if it's your only vehicle.Are the newer diesels that problematic?Do the newer diesels have better resale or do they loose that advantage due to the cost factors of repairs once out of warranty?Is the diesel worth the investment when 90% of its life will be just driving it for transportation and doing Home Depot runs, etc.I'm not trying to start a gas vs. diesel war because I like them both and if the epa wasn't involved in these vehicles, I already know what I would buy. Even a friend of mine that works as the service manager at a local ford dealership told me that a lot of there fleet customers are switching to gas. Why?

Dry weight really has little bearing here. How much do you think you will add to it? See, kind of hard to answer. So instead look at the trailers GVWR. You may not hit it, but better to err on the side of caution.From its GVWR use 20% as its pin weight. My guess the fiver your looking at will have a 15-16000 GVWR and a pin weight around 3500 pounds. I doubt your going to find a SRW truck that will have 7000+RAWR, but your welcome to look. Also, I do not think you will find any gas truck today capable of towing 15K around.

if you can aford it, check out a used Freightliner Sport Chassic Truck

I drive my 2014 Ram 3500 SRW with a Cummins daily with no issues at all. It is a fine daily driver. Prior to this truck I had a 2008 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins that I also drove daily with no problems at all. As for towing it's another non issue. Our trailer has a GVWR of 15,500 amd last time I rolled across the cat scales I was under on every weight. RAWR is 7,000 on the Ram SRW.

It can be done with a SRW 3500/350. If you pack 2,000# you will just under 14,000# GVW, with in the capacity of a SRW 3500/350.To the diesel question, I drive an older diesel with the first cut of electronics. Mine has been good, I sure don't hear many issues other then dirty diesel causing high pressure issues.I would look at the brand specific forum sites for the big three.

The Montana fifthwheel has a GVWR of 16,000#. I know for a fact it will never weigh that much. I never carry water and we only go camping for a week at a time. I would estimate the trailer would weigh in between 13,000 and 13,500 at most and even that is estimating high.The number one thing I am looking for is reliability. I don't want to be on vacation thinking about when is my truck gonna breakdown like I did with the 6.0 psd. I think the big 3 have the engines pretty much figured out but the emissions is the add on that ruins them. If your truck goes into limp mode due to a emissions related issue, will it have enough power to get you and your trailer off the road?

Fifthwheel ordered - now I need new truck - advice please

Me_Again
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2015
Hedgehog wrote:
At first I was dead set against a diesel but I'm not sure now. Why is that the manufacturers de tune there gas engines in trucks over 10,000 GVWR? Will that be a issue if I purchased a gas truck?

You will be hard pressed to find a gasser that is rated to tow that trailer. The Ford 6.2 appears to get the best reviews for towing, however you want one rated to tow close to the GVWR (16K) of the trailer or say at least 15K, and I am not sure that is available. At those weights a gasser is going to suck fuel like no tomorrow!

Being a Dodge Boy, my choice would be a RAM 3500 SRW Diesel with the Aisin tranny, factory 5th wheel prep, and B&W 5th wheel hitch rated to tow 17K+. They come with 3.42 gears and get very good mileage as DDers. The Aisin has a low first gear to account for the high rear end ratio to get things moving. And the RAM still uses the more reliable CP3 injection pump.

Chris
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2015
donn0128 wrote:
Dry weight really has little bearing here. How much do you think you will add to it? See, kind of hard to answer. So instead look at the trailers GVWR. You may not hit it, but better to err on the side of caution.
From its GVWR use 20% as its pin weight. My guess the fiver your looking at will have a 15-16000 GVWR and a pin weight around 3500 pounds. I doubt your going to find a SRW truck that will have 7000+RAWR, but your welcome to look. Also, I do not think you will find any gas truck today capable of towing 15K around.

I am a believer in that you need to look at ALL THE NUMBERS!!

In this case the 4,415# carrying capacity of the 5er comes into play.

Unless you are a real pack-rat tough to get there. Likely to add 2,000# maybe 2,500# so total weight of 5er should be around 13,500# to 14,000#. Well within the capacity of newer 3500/350 SRW carrying capacity. Dry pin is 2,535#, not likely you are gong to 1,000# to that adding 2,500# to the 5er.

I tow a 11,000# GVW, on a 12,360# GVWR 5er with an 2001 Ram 2500, 2,200 pin still have about 500# left on the tire controlled 6,084# rear axle rating. With the optional tires that were part of the factory Camper Package the axle rating could be 6,430#.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
After towing with a gas 3500 and then 2 different diesel 3500's, I'll never go back to gas. And by the way, the dully will give you more stability. Yes, you do have to be a little more "thoughtful" when parking, but other than that, I use mine as a daily driver and rather than fretting over the truck size, the fact it's a diesel, or any things else, I SIMPLY just enjoy driving my truck! Really, after a while owning it, you won't even think about size or it being a dully or a diesel any more. You'll never look at a 4 wheeled truck the same again! Get the truck that will tow the trailer and tow it comfortably. That should be the most important factor in your decision. Everything else ... daily driver, etc, is secondary!
the_bear_II
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
After towing a 15000lb 5th wheel for over 20 years with gas and diesel 2500s, 3500s and 4500- SRW and DRW there are a couple of never do again that I have come up with:

Only diesel no gas... the exhaust brake alone is the tipping point along with the torque for mountain grades.

DRW only no SRW- I live in Los Angeles and would commute 24 miles each way into downtown LA daily in my crewcab dually longbed. Never an issue. In fact I felt very safe in the big truck. The DRW provides a very stable tow platform.

Keep in mind on forums you will read posts mostly from folks who have a problem and are looking for an answer, are new and need info, or like me like to read through the posts and provide answers when possible. The majority of truck owners and RV'ers never post on forums...you are seeing just a small sample of the total population.

In 2008 I moved up to a C4500 Chevy with the duramax and allison. It is the best truck I have ever had. Towing is a dream with it.
Hedgehog
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
At first I was dead set against a diesel but I'm not sure now. Why is that the manufacturers de tune there gas engines in trucks over 10,000 GVWR? Will that be a issue if I purchased a gas truck?
Hedgehog
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
The Montana fifthwheel has a GVWR of 16,000#. I know for a fact it will never weigh that much. I never carry water and we only go camping for a week at a time. I would estimate the trailer would weigh in between 13,000 and 13,500 at most and even that is estimating high.
The number one thing I am looking for is reliability. I don't want to be on vacation thinking about when is my truck gonna breakdown like I did with the 6.0 psd. I think the big 3 have the engines pretty much figured out but the emissions is the add on that ruins them. If your truck goes into limp mode due to a emissions related issue, will it have enough power to get you and your trailer off the road?
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jun 02, 2015
It can be done with a SRW 3500/350. If you pack 2,000# you will just under 14,000# GVW, with in the capacity of a SRW 3500/350.
To the diesel question, I drive an older diesel with the first cut of electronics. Mine has been good, I sure don't hear many issues other then dirty diesel causing high pressure issues.

I would look at the brand specific forum sites for the big three.
garysol
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
I drive my 2014 Ram 3500 SRW with a Cummins daily with no issues at all. It is a fine daily driver. Prior to this truck I had a 2008 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins that I also drove daily with no problems at all. As for towing it's another non issue. Our trailer has a GVWR of 15,500 amd last time I rolled across the cat scales I was under on every weight. RAWR is 7,000 on the Ram SRW.
yrusoslo
Explorer
Jun 02, 2015
if you can aford it, check out a used Freightliner Sport Chassic Truck
donn0128
Explorer II
Jun 02, 2015
Dry weight really has little bearing here. How much do you think you will add to it? See, kind of hard to answer. So instead look at the trailers GVWR. You may not hit it, but better to err on the side of caution.
From its GVWR use 20% as its pin weight. My guess the fiver your looking at will have a 15-16000 GVWR and a pin weight around 3500 pounds. I doubt your going to find a SRW truck that will have 7000+RAWR, but your welcome to look. Also, I do not think you will find any gas truck today capable of towing 15K around.

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Fifthwheel ordered - now I need new truck - advice please

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