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k8et1120's avatar
k8et1120
Explorer
Oct 28, 2016

Replacing Tow vehicle, clueless :P

Looking to replace our pickup truck - Currently we have a 1995 Dodge RAM 2500 long bed with the 7 liter v-10 gas engine. Our RV is a 2001 Alumascape 33SKT (by Holiday Rambler) fifth wheel trailer.

Reasons to upgrade it are mostly to have the ability to take our 4 year old son in a car seat, which up to now we've only used my car and have to swap. So we are looking for an extended cab with a backseat that has room for a forward facing car seat.

I have the specs on the trailer and it says Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 13,000 (pounds?? doesn't say). What other info from the specs do we need to look at trucks?

Do we need an extended bed or was that just a preference of the previous owner? (We bought them together).

Any suggestions on trucks to look at? Looking to buy used.

Thanks for any help you can provide! Neither of us know much about cars so we just need a starting point and enough to know that a seller isn't lying to make the sale :P
Tow Vehicles

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  • k8et1120's avatar
    k8et1120
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2016
    LIKE2BUILD - thanks, we honestly don't tow often. The current one is gas, and only issue we had was the first trip (cross country, bought it in NV) when we were on 80 in Wyoming. Looked flat but man was it struggling :P (actually did fine going up to Mount Rushmore while towing, but that was slow because of the curves!)

    And I'm the mom, so yeah, I looked at the difference between cab options and definitely crew cab at a minimum.
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2016
    k8et1120 wrote:
    We probably will go gas not diesel, since we don't tow that often and it will be used as an almost daily vehicle as well. I'm expecting to spend 10-15k

    That changes things a lot. The small block gas V8 offerings from GM, Ford, or Dodge (RAM) will work A LOT to pull that camper. Diesel really is your best option.

    HOWEVER, if you insist on gas and want a new truck you should be looking at either a Ford with the 6.8L V10 or a Chevy/GMC with the 8.1L V8. Both of these engines would be powerful enough for your trailer. Also, on the GM going with the 8.1L gets you the Allison transmission which is very good. These packages are hard to find because most manufacturers sold many more diesels than large displacement gas engines, but if you look long enough one will pop up.

    I used to tow a 32' travel trailer with a Chevy Crew Cab that had the 6.0L V8. The truck was reliable and always got me there, but man, when I got into hills that engine screamed like a banshee. You go up enough hills and it just about made your head rattle.

    KJ
  • LIKE2BUILD's avatar
    LIKE2BUILD
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2016
    k8et1120 wrote:
    Looking to replace a 1995 Dodge RAM 2500 long bed....Reasons to upgrade it are mostly to have the ability to take our 4 year old son in a car seat

    RV is a 2001 Alumascape 33SKT ...Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 13,000

    Do we need an extended bed or was that just a preference of the previous owner? (We bought them together).

    Any suggestions on trucks to look at? Looking to buy used.

    At that trailer weight you need to be looking at 2500 series trucks.

    I would encourage you to look at crew cab trucks. Extended cab is okay, but kids legs get long quick and can run out of room. Also, what if the kid gets antsy on a long drive and mom needs to set back there with him? She's not very comfy as she rides in the back seat on that run.

    We've done the car seat in an extended cab thing and it just doesn't work all that great. The only way the forward facing seat would fit was in the middle so the kids legs could rest between the two front seats.

    A long bed truck is nice towing a 5th wheel, but a short bed with slider hitch works fine too.

    KJ
  • k8et1120's avatar
    k8et1120
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2016
    We probably will go gas not diesel, since we don't tow that often and it will be used as an almost daily vehicle as well.

    Budget - hmm. My husband never spent more than $3 on a car lol (and that was on this truck!) I'm expecting to spend 10-15k
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Oct 28, 2016
    Eaely 2007 Dodge Cummins 3500 quad cab long bed would be darn near ideal. Other than that and your budget any 3500 quad or crew cab in years 2010 and up. Avoid Ford diesels before the 6.7 advent. Most everything else will be pretty decent.

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