I see a lot of people comment that if you tow over 10K lbs, you need to get a diesel. However, the big 3 all list gas trucks that can tow up to 14K (with the correct gears). I understand that a diesel has more torque and on grades the gas motor will turn some high rpms but I am curious to hear comments from people who are towing over 10K with gas engines. I am in the market for a new truck and looking to tow a fifth-wheel that has a GVWR of 12.5K. I live in flat Florida and only put about 6-7K miles on my truck a year. The price of a diesel seems like overkill for my situation.

My V10 pulls great, regularly up to 15,000 pounds (22,000 combined) and occasionally up to 18,000 pounds. I did do some breathing and programming upgrades to improve performance. My work trucks have all been diesel, and none of them have made me want a diesel for personal use.

You should be fine. If the OEMs rate it for xx,xxx# then it should be good to same.

Some gas engines have more torque then some diesel engines do. I'm happier with my gas then I was with some of the diesels I took care of when I worked.

We towed our 10,400 lb Jayco Eagle all over the southeast with our '03 250hp Cummins Ram and then our '05 345hp Hemi Ram. If I were deaf and didn't have a tach, I honestly couldn't tell the difference.Since I also use my truck for work, if my boss told me to go get a 20k lb loaded goose neck in Tampa and take it to Sarasota, I wouldn't hesitate even with my 5.4L F250. However, 10,000 lbs through the Rockies I'd have to decline. There are a lot of variables to consider.

Towing 10K+ with Gas Engine | Good Sam Community

31 Replies

ib516
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2014
If I was buying a new truck tomorrow, it would be a:

2014 Ram 3500 SRW
6.4L Hemi
4.10 gears
Laramie
4x4
Loaded.

JMHO, and I drive a Cummins right now (which has performed flawlessly).
milo
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2014
Our little V6 Ecoboost just keeps on chuggin that 9500 lbs down the ole boulevard.
mudfuel07
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
Like you and Gypsy, I'm in flat Florida, except when you get near Tally. My TT weighs in about 10k or a little more depending on the trip. I'm a weekend warrior and about two long trips a year. Other than being thirsty, it does the job fine, I can tow as fast as I want or as slow as I want. While I am a diehard Ford guy, I'm not a big fan of the 6.2 after having the V10. I drive the 6.2 everyday for work and get to enjoy the V10 on the weekends.
MetalGator
Nomad
Jan 23, 2014
therink wrote:
My fiver in signature weighs 12,280 scaled loaded and my gasser does well and I am happy with my setup. I will not win races, but am within all ratings for the truck. It meets my needs in semi hilly Upstate NY terrain.
If going with gas truck for a fiver over 10k lbs, I would want nothing less than a 4:10 axle.

therink

This is exactly the type of information I was looking for. Thanks.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2014
Nothing wrong with a properly matched gas engine! In some instances it is better! I'm towing 9200lbs with a gas V-10 motor and never once wished i had a diesel.
Supercharged
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
MetalGator wrote:
I see a lot of people comment that if you tow over 10K lbs, you need to get a diesel. However, the big 3 all list gas trucks that can tow up to 14K (with the correct gears). I understand that a diesel has more torque and on grades the gas motor will turn some high rpms but I am curious to hear comments from people who are towing over 10K with gas engines. I am in the market for a new truck and looking to tow a fifth-wheel that has a GVWR of 12.5K. I live in flat Florida and only put about 6-7K miles on my truck a year. The price of a diesel seems like overkill for my situation.
Gas good, diesel bad. Save money enjoy RVing not shaking, smelling, oily feet. extra repair cost.Gas good.
allen8106
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
I pulled my 10,500 Jayco with a 2009 GMC 6.0L gas engine from Kansas to California and back. The only problem I encountered was coming back east on I40 coming up the west side of the Continental Divide I was turning 4500 rpm and only getting about 45 mph. Other than that I towed the rig comfortably every where else.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2014
Bob Landry wrote:
K Charles wrote:
Some gas engines have more torque then some diesel engines do.

Which ones?

Wikipedia wrote:
The 1989–1993 Dodge Ram pickup engines were rated at 160 horsepower (119 kW; 162 PS) and 400 pound-feet (542 N·m).

The International Harvester IDI (from Indirect Injection) engine is a 4-stroke 8-cylinder Diesel engine used in International Harvester trucks, Ford F-Series pickups, and Ford E-Series vans from 1983 to 1994. ... Torque output 388 @ 1,400 RPM (7.3 L turbo)

Many gas engines are over 400 pound-feet.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
I tow right at 10k with no issues in Florida and would be comfortable with a little more.
therink
Explorer
Jan 23, 2014
My fiver in signature weighs 12,280 scaled loaded and my gasser does well and I am happy with my setup. I will not win races, but am within all ratings for the truck. It meets my needs in semi hilly Upstate NY terrain.
If going with gas truck for a fiver over 10k lbs, I would want nothing less than a 4:10 axle.