Forum Discussion

chucksma's avatar
chucksma
Explorer
Sep 24, 2016

Guidance on tow vehicle

Hi all, I'm looking for some input from your collective wisdom on selecting a tow vehicle for my specific situation.

We have 3 boys (4,7,9YO) and are looking to start doing limited camping next year. Due to various activities we expect this will only be ~4 trips a year, with one of them being to family in western NY 400 miles away. I want to stress that do foresee limitations on how much time we will have for it, thus the limited # of trips. We are in southern new england and expect the trips to be long weekends in the region with the 400 mile trip being the longest. Hopefully that characterizes the distances and mountains (or relative lack thereof).

So we are looking to buy a used bunk house travel travel or 5th wheel this fall (we are also wanting it for a back up kitchen when renovating the one in our house in the early spring).

With our budget it looks like we will be able to procure a 30'+ travel travel with 2 slides dry weights in the 7-9k lbs range. Or possibly a 1 slide 5er that is a bit heavier. From what I've read the extra weight and stability of a 3/4T truck is merited, even if some half tons can to this "on paper" (due to length and wind/stability).

Therefore we are targeting a 3/4T crew cab 4x4, ideally with a front bench in case we ever have another kid along with us. We are looking at used trucks in the low to mid $30k range.

At this point I've driven both gas and diesel options, with some being 3/4T and some 1T. I prefer 3/4T because I think Massachusetts will force a 1T to be a commercial registration (more $ every year). That's a small debate (your thoughts welcome) but the big one is gas vs diesel? As well I have a 5YO Ford fusion that I can keep as a daily driver, or trade in an stretch the budget into up 30's.

I've read a lot on this age old debate on here already and but wanted to ask about this specific situation where we only plan ~4 trips a year. Any thoughts? The diesels I've look at have ~70k miles on them and I'm concerned about the cost for major repair/maintenance items (EGR/Injectors etc). However I know diesel is better for heavy towing (though 10-11k wet might not really be that heavy). Also, being that diesels are a little more $ on the used market I would need to trade in car so it would become my daily driver so the better MPG would be favorable.

So I guess it comes down to: Keep the car as daily driver, find a 3/4T gasser. Or a diesel and possibly turning in the car.

Any perspective much appreciated!

thanks
Chuck
Tow Vehicles
  • Peg_Leg's avatar
    Peg_Leg
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    3 boys, your going to need space to haul bikes and other toys that they will deem necessary as they grow. A bunkhouse TT will allow you to add a topper to the truck for their equipment. A small 5er toy hauler could handle more stuff and convert into their bunk/personal space at the campground.

    Seems you need to pick a unit type first then try to match the TV. My gasser has a tow rating around 13,500 for a 5er not sure but in the 10k area for a TT. You need the lower rear ends (4.10) for more capacity. Of course the dallies have higher payloads. I can't speak to your commercial requirments, thank God here I don't have that problem.

    You better watch out, I see you at the bottom of a 3 boy pile up in the near future.
  • chucksma's avatar
    chucksma
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    carringb wrote:
    For such little use, why not just rent a motorhome? 2 depreciating assets with little use will make your cost per trip $$$$.


    It's a good point and one we've considered. It's actually why we've waited a couple years. It's a situation where it's something we know we want to do and want the freedom to pick weekends and trips freely so figure owning is the best way to do that.

    Also, the truck will be handy for us even aside from camping so we'd be in the market for one either, albeit it likely a 1/2 ton in that scenario.
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    For such little use, why not just rent a motorhome? 2 depreciating assets with little use will make your cost per trip $$$$.
  • chucksma's avatar
    chucksma
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    Yeah, the used prices I'm seeing are pretty high, especially for the diesels. But that's also because I'm looking for trucks 2011 to present to include a few more creature comforts if its a daily driver. There is a part of me that is saying if I go gas, just keep the car for commuting and look for a truck 5+ years old and get into the low $20's.
  • chucksma's avatar
    chucksma
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    Thank you all! If I keep my car, the truck may only be driven once a week or so in the summer. Probably more during inclement weather in the winter. Does sitting idle like that tip the scale significantly?

    I've heard two different side of this: On the engine side, gas can tolerate infrequent use better than diesel with various add'l filters and injectors. However on the fuel side, the ethanal gas we have hear breaks down whereas I'm told diesel is more stable.

    Certainly my diesel kubota hasn't had issues sitting a week or so over the years..then again it's a 2001 motor so probably less sensitive than the new truck motors with all the emissions controls etc.
  • belairbrian's avatar
    belairbrian
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    I probably in the minority that gave up a diesel for a gasser. I had a duramax dually pulling a 32 foot Cougar (GVWR 11k) did a good job but honestly the pin weight wasn't enough to settle the rear down and was always a little bouncy.

    We downsized to our current 5er (9800 GVWR) and at the same time went to a 3/4 gasser with the 8.1L Vortec.

    Dues to year model differences the Gasser has more hp by 100 and only 50 less ft/lbs torque.

    I've towed both campers with the Vortec and prefer it to the LB7.

    Don't let mileage too big a factor in decision, rather cost per mile. between my two the gasser goes 400 miles for $75 the diesel $76 due to fuel cost.

    A bit confused on 30K for a used truck. I just paid $15K for mine with 62K on the clock. Mileage is more important than age in these trucks. I realize in New England age can equal rust so consider some long distance shopping.
  • IdaD's avatar
    IdaD
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    Diesel costs more up front and slightly more to maintain, but gets better fuel economy and has better resale. In terms of the total dollars you'll spend on either truck, money wise the difference is immaterial. Anybody who tells you different hasn't thought it through or is pushing an agenda. This assumes you'll keep the truck over a long period of at least 8-10 years.

    In your case either will work for what you're planning on towing and where you're towing, so it's a matter of preference. If a 3/4 ton is significantly cheaper to register where you live I'd definitely buy one. The dirty little secret on RV.net is that most 3/4 tons are within a few hay bales of being able to carry the same load as a SRW 1 ton. The difference is almost entirely on paper versus real world, and your jurisdiction is a good example of why 3/4 tons exist.

    Food for thought - I paid $39k for my truck in June of 2015, brand new. So I'd at least investigate new prices versus used to cover your bases, especially if you end up going with a diesel. Used diesels are crazy expensive these days.
  • jus2shy's avatar
    jus2shy
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    Here is something to consider, a gas truck in three quarter ton guise actually has quite a bit more payload than a three-quarter ton truck that is a diesel. for your case I think a gas truck would probably be the better purchase since you will not be doing all that often and traveling a pretty short distance. Also unlike the West, in the East you probably have far more gas stops along your highways, versus having some stretches of more than 100 miles with no fuel stop. In that area you also do not have the high-altitude challenges in which a turbo diesel becomes a really large benefit.
  • KKWilliams's avatar
    KKWilliams
    Explorer
    Sep 24, 2016
    For trips <400 miles I would stick with gas. You may not be able to climb hills with the diesel trucks but you aren't going very far, so it shouldn't be that big a deal.
  • evanrem's avatar
    evanrem
    Explorer II
    Sep 24, 2016
    3/4 tons run out of payload pretty quick when looking at fifth wheels so be on the look out for that. Diesel is going to give you more power for pulling at an added cost for which you will never see the return on. I just bought a new 2500 HD gas and tow a 8200 lb bunkhouse and it does fine. Diesel would do better but at 10k more I could not crunch the numbers to make it worth it. It would be nice though.

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