Need advice on new truck

You need a diesel for that amount of load. It will handle it much better and you have the benefit of more torque for pulling grades and passing very slow moving tractor trailer rigs and better acceleration for merging with traffic, and above all you gain the benefit of the diesel engine's exhaust braking capabilities.

Diesels are more complex and more expensive to maintain but it is the price you pay for towing a 12,000 lb. trailer. The only "complexity" is needing to add DEF or diesel exhaust fluid to a separate tank. Figure on 750 miles per gallon of DEF. DEF is available at the same pumps at truck stops (and some Shell gas stations) as the diesel fuel so it is not a big deal.

All three companies, GM, Ford, and Ram, have greatly improved their engines and trucks and they are far more reliable than the ones from 2010 and earlier in every respect. The only real drawback is the need to use ultra low sulfur diesel fuel which can cause problems if you are in Mexico.

Ford F-450.

Cheers.

mkirsch wrote:
I love how people shy away from diesels due to the "complexity of the emissions systems."

Gas engines have had WAY more complex emissions systems for DECADES, but you don't hear people bellyaching about them.

For me at least, the difference is the gas engine emissions stuff has been around and has been engineered to the point where it is no longer an issue. Remember belt driven air/smog pumps and systems on cars in the 80s? People had issues with them and ripped them off too.

Once the diesel DPF/SCR technology has been around a few more years, it too will likely be a non-issue. Right now though, there are still some issues to work out. A trip through the forums on your favorite diesel web forum (all brands of diesel pickup, and including VW, Mercedes, and BMW) proves that out.

The wieght you are looking at I would go diesel, but also understand most of my towing experience is in Colorado and I wouldn't want a gasser towing that kind of weight over 7% grades at 8,000' altitudes. If you are near sea level and pulling hills vs. mountain passes you probably wouldn't be dissapointed in the big gas engines, well that is unless you have towed with a newer diesel...:B. I plan on picking up a Ram with the 6.4 gasser but I am only moving 6,000 lbs at the most between boat and camper.

mkirsch wrote:
I love how people shy away from diesels due to the "complexity of the emissions systems."

Gas engines have had WAY more complex emissions systems for DECADES, but you don't hear people bellyaching about them.

I'm also in the middle of a new truck purchase. Originally, I felt a new gasoline truck would suffice since they are rated similarly to my old diesel. However my next truck will again be diesel due to following:

1. Eventually, I will be hauling at the upper limits of the current gasoline models.
2. Most of my trips are over elevation where a compressor will surpass a normally aspirated engine.
3. As mkirsh pointed out, the emission systems are becoming as complex on the gasoline engines as with diesels (Ram even has an EGR cooler on its Hemi).
4. I have become very comfortable pulling any grade under 3000 RPM and no longer enjoy the sound of the engine when it is put to work.

The initial price of the diesel does sting although some of it will be returned when sold. But, I have no expectations of recovering the acquisition cost unless I were to decide on a second career as a driver. More so, the perceived benefits of driving my choice are weighed against the cost.

When sizing your truck, try getting something at least slightly larger than what you need currently. It will give you more options later if you decide to make changes, plus you will have reserve capacity for what you plan to haul today. There are SRW trucks that could tow your desired FW comfortably, but you would be close to the maximum capability of the truck (the same reason I decided against a gasoline powered truck). The DRW models are a better option for you unless you have to have a narrower or shorter truck to be able to park at work (like my current one at 19' long).

45Ricochet wrote:

ib516 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Lets get real and put the numbers out there....

That Montana 3610RL has a GVWR of 16,790#
That Bighorn 3169 Elite has a GVWR of 15,500#

I don't care what magical mfg. published tow numbers are......both of those 5vrs are DUALLY not SRWs.

If you are really set on an SRW then get a lighter 5vr.
No fun towing when overloaded....that means less frequent trips...that ends up using RV less...that ends up with it sitting around unused and costing big $$$

I have an SRW......5vr GVWR is 14,375#.
It is a great towing set up BUT any heavier of a 5vr.......it's DUALLY time. Plain and simple.

An SRW will run out of actual payload capacity, GVWR, RAWR, Rear tire max load ratings long before that mfg. max tow rating is reached.
That is for real.

Nothing against DRW trucks, but there are SRW trucks out there with 4000# or more payload. The newest Ram 3500 SRW has an 11,700# GVWR compared to a 2007 DRW which is 12,200#. That's only 500# difference.

Newer trucks are more capable than their counterparts were just a few years ago.

Simply put is my 06 truck has a 9350 RAWR. What's yours? The poster is talking about well north of 3k pounds of pin well above your 5er. Not knocking your truck or any newer SRW, they are impressive but they still have limits with only two tires (stock size anyway).
This poster is clearly very close to dually.
I will add that the truck wars the past 5 years or so have lead to a much narrower difference between axle rating and GVWR. Use to be about 80% or so, now they are all over 90%. But what the heck, do what you have to do to sell something...... ie removing bumpers, spares etc :W
Bottom line is the new trucks are great, yes much improved the last couple of years, but they still have ratings. In closing I wonder why the PUTC HD contest was with duallies :B

My SRW has 3700# payload and it is loaded except for leather seats (my seats are heated though just not cooled) and sunroof. My rear axle weighs in just under 3000# and the RAWR is 7000#. On a side note though, my 5er's pin runs right at 3000+- depending on where we are going and the truck squats below level. It handles it good but it does squat. I really think they should have put overloads on like the DRW trucks. I wouldn't be scared to put another 5-600 pounds of pin on it at all.

I love how people shy away from diesels due to the "complexity of the emissions systems."

Gas engines have had WAY more complex emissions systems for DECADES, but you don't hear people bellyaching about them.

ib516 wrote:
The new Ram 3500 Srw rear GAWR is 7000#. Mine is 6500#. Funny thing is, my friends 3500 has the same wheels and tires as mine.

Springs???

The new Ram 3500 Srw rear GAWR is 7000#. Mine is 6500#. Funny thing is, my friends 3500 has the same wheels and tires as mine.

ib516 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Lets get real and put the numbers out there....

That Montana 3610RL has a GVWR of 16,790#
That Bighorn 3169 Elite has a GVWR of 15,500#

I don't care what magical mfg. published tow numbers are......both of those 5vrs are DUALLY not SRWs.

If you are really set on an SRW then get a lighter 5vr.
No fun towing when overloaded....that means less frequent trips...that ends up using RV less...that ends up with it sitting around unused and costing big $$$

I have an SRW......5vr GVWR is 14,375#.
It is a great towing set up BUT any heavier of a 5vr.......it's DUALLY time. Plain and simple.

An SRW will run out of actual payload capacity, GVWR, RAWR, Rear tire max load ratings long before that mfg. max tow rating is reached.
That is for real.

Nothing against DRW trucks, but there are SRW trucks out there with 4000# or more payload. The newest Ram 3500 SRW has an 11,700# GVWR compared to a 2007 DRW which is 12,200#. That's only 500# difference.

Newer trucks are more capable than their counterparts were just a few years ago.

Simply put is my 06 truck has a 9350 RAWR. What's yours? The poster is talking about well north of 3k pounds of pin well above your 5er. Not knocking your truck or any newer SRW, they are impressive but they still have limits with only two tires (stock size anyway).
This poster is clearly very close to dually.
I will add that the truck wars the past 5 years or so have lead to a much narrower difference between axle rating and GVWR. Use to be about 80% or so, now they are all over 90%. But what the heck, do what you have to do to sell something...... ie removing bumpers, spares etc :W
Bottom line is the new trucks are great, yes much improved the last couple of years, but they still have ratings. In closing I wonder why the PUTC HD contest was with duallies :B