We are brand new RVersWe purchased a flagstaff 25FKS July 2020. We tow with a 2020 Chevrolet 1500 5.3 L Silverado that has a 3.23 rear ratio and a towing package with built in sway control.It took 3 months to get the husky load distribution hatch set correctly and the trailer not sway all over the place. We have the sway under control with load distribution hitch and sway bar. We only get on average about 7 MPG. We go on long distance trips normally 1000 miles one way. Fuel stops are often. We are considering purchasing a 2500 truck with a dieselWill the bigger truck help with the sway?Should we expect better fuel mileage?Are we making a good choice going to the bigger truck?Would you purchase a diesel or bigger gas engine?If you purchased the diesel would it be a Cummins or Duramax with Allison transmission?

Skip the 3/4-diesel. Diesel drivetrains are heavy and eat up the payload on a 3/4-ton truck. Go straight for a 1-ton single rear wheel. For your purposes, though, the new, big, gas engines would do fine (still low fuel mileage).Yes - a heavier truck will handle the trailer better.Allison does not make engines - they make transmissions. The Allison transmission is usually paired with the Duramax diesel in GM trucks. Cummins engines are found in Ram trucks and the third option is the PowerStroke diesel in Ford trucks. They are all capable powerplants.Rob

With that size camper a 2500 gasser would be ideal. Yes the diesel will get 12-13mpg towing, and the gasser will get 8-9mpg. But the diesel is $10,000 more, and has higher maintenance costs. Most estimate the fuel savings of the diesel pays for itself somewhere around 200k miles of towing. Now if you plan to tow 14-15k lbs the diesel is the way to go.

Yes, a 2500 will handle most trailers better than a 1500.You do not need a diesel for that size trailer. If you want to trade for a new diesel, a Chev 2500 HD, with Duramax would be a good choice. Yes the mileage with diesel will be a big improvement.Lots of 25 series trucks with gas engines, that will do a great job. To gain mpg with a gas truck, while towing, you just need to slow down.Jerry

I replaced our Tundra CrewMax with a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummings Turbo Diesel. Yes they cost more, but if you go with an affordable trim level and hit the dealer in December to buy the current year model you can make up the $9,800 add for the diesel. Diesel is the way to go if you tow a trailer.

Metzfamily wrote: We tow with a 2020 Chevrolet 1500 Silverado that has a 3.23 rear ratio and a towing package with built in sway control.You did not mention the engine size or the transmission !A 3.23 rear ratio is simply the wrong ratio ! Minimum of a 3.73. Withe the CORRECT engine, transmission, rear axle and load package a 1/2 ton should pull that trailer fine.

Towing challenges with flagstaff 25FKS | Good Sam Community

64 Replies

trailer_newbe
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
I replaced our Tundra CrewMax with a Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummings Turbo Diesel. Yes they cost more, but if you go with an affordable trim level and hit the dealer in December to buy the current year model you can make up the $9,800 add for the diesel. Diesel is the way to go if you tow a trailer.
MFL
Nomad II
Dec 12, 2020
Yes, a 2500 will handle most trailers better than a 1500.

You do not need a diesel for that size trailer. If you want to trade for a new diesel, a Chev 2500 HD, with Duramax would be a good choice. Yes the mileage with diesel will be a big improvement.

Lots of 25 series trucks with gas engines, that will do a great job. To gain mpg with a gas truck, while towing, you just need to slow down.

Jerry
wowens79
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2020
With that size camper a 2500 gasser would be ideal. Yes the diesel will get 12-13mpg towing, and the gasser will get 8-9mpg. But the diesel is $10,000 more, and has higher maintenance costs. Most estimate the fuel savings of the diesel pays for itself somewhere around 200k miles of towing.
Now if you plan to tow 14-15k lbs the diesel is the way to go.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2020
Skip the 3/4-diesel. Diesel drivetrains are heavy and eat up the payload on a 3/4-ton truck. Go straight for a 1-ton single rear wheel. For your purposes, though, the new, big, gas engines would do fine (still low fuel mileage).

Yes - a heavier truck will handle the trailer better.

Allison does not make engines - they make transmissions. The Allison transmission is usually paired with the Duramax diesel in GM trucks. Cummins engines are found in Ram trucks and the third option is the PowerStroke diesel in Ford trucks. They are all capable powerplants.

Rob

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Towing challenges with flagstaff 25FKS

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