Forum Discussion

MetalGator's avatar
MetalGator
Nomad
May 19, 2013

Might be forced to buy Diesel

Wife and I have been looking at Fifth-wheels. My truck is 8 years old (half ton) and I was thinking about getting a new 1 Ton gas truck next year. It seems that all the Fifth-wheel floor plans we really like are all right at or a bit over what a 1 Ton gas is capable of towing. I only put about 8000 miles a year on my truck and my work is only 6 miles from home. I have heard the short trips are hard on diesels because of the regens. I just hate to have to compromise our fifth-wheel choice because I don't have enough truck but I don't want to spend the money on a diesel if its not going to be able to be used as a daily driver. Do any of you have the same driving conditions that I do who have diesels (short trips, low yearly miles, etc).

Burch
Tow Vehicles

32 Replies

Show More
  • Vulcaneer's avatar
    Vulcaneer
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    Sure diesel power is nice. But for your application, I would think gas truck might be better for all around use. Those low miles are not good for the diesel. Mine takes at least 10 miles to warm up.

    You have very few hills. Save $8,000 up front by not buying the diesel.

    I pulled my 14,250 GVWR 5'r with my previous V10...all around the country. Over the rockies, etc. Never a problem. The new 6.2L or 6.0L motors are nearly as strong. They love to rev. And no diesel expense. Your daily driver requirements are NOT good for a diesel. And you trailer selection doesn't NEED a diesel.
  • 6_7_tow_rig's avatar
    6_7_tow_rig
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    Sure the gas engine is rated to tow 14k but that doesn't mean it would be fun. That type of weight is diesel country all day long. No way I'd pull that with a gasser. I make a lot of in town trips with my 12' cummins and have not had any issues. I do drive with the exhaust brake on to get it up to temp quick.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    May 19, 2013
    For example, one of the 5ers we really like is the Bighorn 3010 RE. It's 34' 8" and dry weight of 11,440lbs and GVWR 14K. That would be pushing it with a gas motor I would think. I do live in Florida and 90% of where we camp are in flat areas but we usually take a long trip once a year out of state.
  • WyoTraveler's avatar
    WyoTraveler
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    In Florida you'll most likely have less problems with low mileage on a diesel than in colder climates. I owned the 2000 F250 7.3L diesel in NW WY. I drove it once a week sometimes once every two weeks. It became very unreliable. I never knew if it was going to start or break down on me. It finally broke down on the way to town in the winter and I traded it for a V10 gasser. I can leave it parked for a month, and it starts and runs, never a problem. That diesel only had about 50,000 miles on it when it was traded. I think diesels need to be driven not parked for lengthy periods. JMHO
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    Maybe time to take the wants out and go with a little less. Sometimes, smaller is beautiful, too.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    May 19, 2013
    jerem0621 wrote:
    You must be planning on a monster fiver. My best friends 38 ft 4 slide Montana grosses at 14500 lbs. Jeremiah


    No, not looking at monster 5ers by any means. I am looking for something around 35' and most "non lightweight" 5ers are around 10K-11K dry. I am going by GVWR, not dry weight which puts most 5ers in this length range at between 12K-14K GVWR. That is right at the limit for most gas 1 ton trucks.

    Burch
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    May 19, 2013
    The Ford gas truck is rated at about 15k lbs with the dually and about 14k without.

    You must be planning on a monster fiver. My best friends 38 ft 4 slide Montana grosses at 14500 lbs.

    I have a dually and a "tight" parking garage.. Yes, it's the biggest thin in the garage, but it fits just fine. The duallys are NOT wider than the mirrors on a SRW truck. If you are going to be knocking off the dually's then you are going to need to worry about the mirrors

    As they say nothing pulls like a diesel, having towed with both I can say that nothing handles a trailer like a dually.

    Cheers

    Jeremiah
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    May 19, 2013
    jetboater454 wrote:
    The 6 mile trips might be bad for the diesel.But if a daily driver,why can't you just do a 30 mile or longer trip at highway speeds every couple of weeks.
    I have just over 45,000 miles on mine,but that includes 2 trips to CA and back to FL. Plus 2 trips to WI,and Texas every year. Probably 80% of my mileage is towing.
    Most of my normal drives are about 20-30 miles round trip only because I live in the country.

    If you go the diesel route,Blackstone Labs does the oil sample checks and gives a very detailed report.Then will recommend what needs to be done to your driving.


    I find it a good excuse to take the 5er out at least once a month for a weekend or long weekend.
    Florida, plan on going far north into the hill country a gas might work for you.
    Then again you might find that you will like the Diesel once you got it.
  • MetalGator's avatar
    MetalGator
    Nomad
    May 19, 2013
    Dave H M wrote:
    Wow Gator, what kind of a fifth wheel are you gonna tow?

    The Ford F250 is rated to yank 15000 (as I recall) with a gasser. If you need a diesel and got the bucks then that is what you need to get. It is all about what makes one happy.


    Yes, but I believe to get the 15000lbs is must be a dually. I park in a tight parking garage so a dully is out. Most of the 5ers we are looking at are 10k-11k empty and 13-14k GVWR.
  • Dave_H_M's avatar
    Dave_H_M
    Explorer II
    May 19, 2013
    Wow Gator, what kind of a fifth wheel are you gonna tow?

    The Ford F250 is rated to yank 15000 (as I recall) with a gasser. If you need a diesel and got the bucks then that is what you need to get. It is all about what makes one happy.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,051 PostsLatest Activity: Sep 24, 2025