Hi folks...Our needs are to tow a 5th wheel or travel trailer toy-hauler, a couple times per year. 14,000 - 15,000 pounds UVW.(One option is to hire someone a couple times per year...anyone know about what it costs to move, say, 1000 miles?)1) It doesn't matter how old the truck is, as long as it's reliable. 2) Like to spend $15,000 or less, the less the better.3) 4WD is desired, so I can use the truck for 4WD purposes as well.4) MPG's aren't important.5) Brand name not important.6) Realizing that the tow ratings are of course paramount, and not that I would ever want to exceed them...but...just how much fudge factor are in these ratings? Again, I'll tow maybe twice per year, so absolute longevity is really not that important.If the truck was rated to pull, say, 13,500 pounds, would pulling say, a 14k pound or 15k pound trailer, practically speaking, be all that inadvisable?If you guys can point me at a couple different model years from 1 or more manufacturers, that'd be much appreciated.--Bill

Any one ton p/u from the 3 major manufacturers will work. At 15K unloaded weight tho I'd be looking at a dual rear wheel truck. At 15K the pin weight could possibly be over 3500# and some older trucks may not support that. Dually's I've heard don't work well off road as a 4WD. As for paying someone, I've heard you should expect the per mile costs to be over $1/mile. On the Ford used p/u front avoid the 6.0 L engine tho some people have no problems there are many others who have had problems.

Just clarifying, 14 -15,000 lbs unloaded, then what is the weight going down the road? The answer may influence the quality of answers you get. Good luck with your research and realize there are many highly qualified people on the forum that will be glad to help.

You will be loaded at around 18K. Pin can easily be 4-4,500#. One tow, 100 tows still too much for any SRW. Sure a SRW will "TOW JUST FINE" but will it "HANDLE" the load???

nofoolin wrote:Just clarifying, 14 -15,000 lbs unloaded, then what is the weight going down the road? The answer may influence the quality of answers you get. Good luck with your research and realize there are many highly qualified people on the forum that will be glad to help.Nofoolin,Right...good point...we're probably looking at a minimum of 14k pounds UVW...then 16k to 17k loaded?The 5th wheel we have been salivating over is something like a Momentum, 38-ish feet long (looking for a nice used one). The specs on that are about 14,300 UVW, then of course adding the normal stuff...2,000 pounds worth?Anyway, at the moment I'm looking to get advice as to generally which trucks to look at. 1 ton, 2 ton, single axle, dually, gas, diesel, a certain range of years, like, say, the 20XX to 20XX Ford such and such, or Chevy such and such.Of course more specific recommendations would be terrific.--Bill

agesilaus wrote:Dually's I've heard don't work well off road as a 4WD.Thanks for that...I guess that's a trade-off I'll live with. Max 4WD capability is not paramount.--Bill

Please help choosing used tow vehicle, about 14,000 UVW.

wsalopek
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
And personally I wouldn't even think of towing that much long distances without it being a diesel.

Grit Dog,

Thanks for the advice.

When you say you wouldn't consider a gas engine, are you talking explicitly for torque/grunt/acceleration? (All important, of course.)

Since I won't be towing more than a couple times per year, I suppose I can live with the lower performance of a gas engine...but...just how much difference, practically speaking, are we talking about?

I mean, are we talking about on-ramps? Going up a grade? Situations where the gas engine might actually be a safety issue?

I know I'm wading into probably one of the oldest truck/towing discussions ever, but would still like to hear your thoughts...and, if/when someone else comes across this thread, the more complete it is, the better.

Thanks...
wsalopek
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
2nd gen cummins Dodge. Look for a tuck with the 6 speed manual and enough go fast parts to make it pull like the newer trucks. That would be my choice on a budget. Or find the nicest early Duramax you can for the budget.
7.3 early super duty with 6 speed with some mods would be good too

Grit Dog...

So that's a ...

1994 - 2002 Cummins Dodge.

2001+ Chevy Duramax.

1994 - 2003 Ford 7.3 Super Duty.

All with a factory tow package and preferably some performance parts.

Manual trans better than auto...can you say why? My wife will hate that. :)

Dually.

Sound about right?

Thanks...
wsalopek
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
and remember. some trucks have hour meters... could be important. mine had 4,100 running hours for 138,000 miles
and 600 idle hours. so it was a Freeway truck. and did little towing... as hitch had little use/wear.

Chuck,

Interesting about the hour meter...what's a good ratio of hours to miles?

--

Bill
Chuck_thehammer
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
wsalopek wrote:
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
and remember. some trucks have hour meters... could be important. mine had 4,100 running hours for 138,000 miles
and 600 idle hours. so it was a Freeway truck. and did little towing... as hitch had little use/wear.

Chuck,

Interesting about the hour meter...what's a good ratio of hours to miles?

--

Bill

can not say for sure...

but my case 138,000 miles divided by 4,100 hours is 33.6 miles per hour over the 138,000 miles ... so it must be a freeway truck.

and 600 idle hours it workers eating lunch with heat or AC running.. not bad.
as I know Ford has this meter.. others might as well.. mine is part of the message board with odometer and such. and mine is the "XL" so cheapest body Trim made by ford.
2001400ex
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
I would rethink your toy hauler to pickup budget. Right now you are about $50k for a toy hauler and $15k for a truck. So you will be towing one if the nicest toy haulers you can with a 15 year old pickup. Getting a good pickup that ta reliable and will pull 17k comfortably is hard to find for $15k.

You can maybe get into a Ford 6.0 diesel, but I'd do your research first. They are finicky and you have to do some specific work to it to ensure it rubs right. And sometimes even then they run into issues. They will pull awesome to after you get a tuner and some other things.

Other than that, as others have said, early 2000s diesel.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2016
Grit dog wrote:
If you had any experience towing you wouldn't be asking the question, so get the newest dually you can afford. And personally I wouldn't even think of towing that much long distances without it being a diesel.
$15k will get you a nice hopped up 2nd gen cummins Dodge. Look for a tuck with the 6 speed manual and enough go fast parts to make it pull like the newer trucks. That would be my choice on a budget. Or find the nicest early Duramax you can for the budget.
7.3 early super duty with 6 speed with some mods would be good too, but they're getting more scarce than the other 2 brands due to Fords 8 year hiatus from making good diesel pickups.
You'll have to shop hard for a deal and know what you're looking at to not get a clapped out older diesel as most all will be higher miles or still $20k for a dually 4x4.
2wd will save you a lot of money and potential repair costs as well.

Personally I would look for a 2002 HO RAM Dually with a 6 speed. That would be a great truck.
APT
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
4000+ pounds of pin weight is dually range. I don't think early 2000's 1-ton duallys are rated for 17k+ pounds either, which is what your budget suggests. You may want to shift that budget a little.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2016
APT wrote:
4000+ pounds of pin weight is dually range. I don't think early 2000's 1-ton duallys are rated for 17k+ pounds either, which is what your budget suggests. You may want to shift that budget a little.

You may want to ask the RV Haulers and HotShotters about that!

The 5.9 24V Second gen Cummins, NV 5600 6 speed and Dana 80 are a tough combo.

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Please help choosing used tow vehicle, about 14,000 UVW.

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