I have a 37' outside length 5th wheel that I tow about 13,000 to 14,000 pounds depending on how long of a trip. I just sold my 2002 chevy crew with 8' bed with 6.0 gas and need to get another truck. I plan to go no older than 2011 but probably won't spring for new.GM is all I really know but I am willing to get any make of truck. The 6.0 pulled it fine but definitely slowed down on the hills on the highway. I am ok with that though as I am in no rush anymore.I am seeing a lot of diesels for sale and am willing to do that. But things like an F-250 super duty that looks bomb proof but then it has a 5.4L engine. That seems small to me. I know even less about the Ram. I am not sure if GM still makes the 8.1 gas but I imagine the 6.2 will be perfectly fine if the 6.0 was fine.What engine sizes in Ford and Ram should I look at 2011 and up?I will be doing a cross country this year.I am old enough now to know that whatever brand I buy will need maintenance because it is a million mechanical parts and they will all eventually rust because they are made of steel. They are what they are regardless of who makes it. Sadly I wouldn't think twice about buying a Toyota if they made one big enough.

The 8.1L was discontinued in '07; too bad, it was a great engine. If you want to stick with a gas engine Dodge is introducing the 6.4L hemi in the trucks this year but that means buying new and being a "guinea pig". The 5.7 hemi is a fairly proven power plant but it's no big block.Does GM offer the 6.2 in a 2500 or 3500? I thought they were only in the 1500 trucks. (Which really wouldn't make much sense.)The Ford V10 would be my choice if I had to have a Ford. Otherwise, their 6.2L is what's available now.Unless you don't pull much at all and/or let the truck sit a lot I would think you'd be happier with a diesel for that kind of weight. A GM Duramax pre 2011 would not have the DEF requirement and should be plentiful and reliable. The Dodge 6.7 Cummins has been a good engine for quite a while now. If you're buying a Ford diesel don't dare get a pre 2011.

Thanks. That is a lot more info than I knew.I was thinking I didn't need a diesel, but I have found a lot of them for sale. I am guessing people get over their heads price wise and are looking to unload. I have two cars so I don't drive a truck much. Trash to the dump, home improvements, rv, 1.5 miles to in-laws farm to haul whatever. I didn't know letting a diesel sit was a problem but I can just take it out at least twice per week.I really don't think I will go older than 2011. That is already 4 years old and they all rust. Older vehicles with high miles tend to have a lot of maintenance requirements and the low mileage older vehicles tend to have early rust from sitting.The price difference from new to even just one year old is so much that new is tough to stomach. I am just going to ding it up so letting letting someone else pay $15-20k to ding it up seems like a bargain.

For your fiver, get a diesel and make sure it is a dually. In the real world you have been towing overloaded, so why continue that mistake any longer if you have the chance. Depending on the region you live in makes a lot of difference the preferred truck brand.

You are in Maine, not a lot of mountains there. Do you find yourself pulling large mountains when you travel?If not, a gas engine should do you just fine. The GM 6.0 is in the 2500 and 3500 and is a fine engine. The Ford 6.2 is in the F250 and F350 and is also a fine engine. Ram is coming out with the 6.4 Hemi, but there isn't much real world experience with it. I would argue that any of these gassers would be just fine for those weights unless you are pulling serious weight up serious inclines in serious altitudes. I would prefer a new gas to a used diesel as long as the gas engine is stout enough.

thirteen wrote:I have a 37' outside length 5th wheel that I tow about 13,000 to 14,000 pounds depending on how long of a trip. I just sold my 2002 chevy crew with 8' bed with 6.0 gas and need to get another truck. ....... The 6.0 pulled it fine but definitely slowed down on the hills on the highway. I am ok with that though as I am in no rush anymore........I will be doing a cross country this year.I am old enough now to know that whatever brand I buy will need maintenance because it is a million mechanical parts and they will all eventually rust because they are made of steel. They are what they are regardless of who makes it. Sadly I wouldn't think twice about buying a Toyota if they made one big enough.I do like statements like this, it is fine if you get dragged down on the interstates with extra lanes for others to pass you. I personally see this as a safety issue on two lanes, if you get dragged down to 45 to 35 on a grade on a two lane without a passing lane, the backup be hind you will start to get impatient and then may try risky pass that could put others and you in danger.While a newer 3500 6.0 gas could do a good job of pulling, you might entertain the thought going to a diesel.

What Tow Vehicle is Enough? | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

jevanb
Explorer
Jan 19, 2014
N-Trouble wrote:
I couldn't imagine how anybody could be content with towing that much weight with a 6.0 gasser, especially mated to the 4-speed. That was my previous truck and would barely hold speed towing my 8K lb toyhauler up hills. 4500RPM in 2nd gear watching the gas gauge move is no fun. Definitely go diesel. I have and have not looked back
X2 I too had that truck in 2004 and it was ok on the flat roads, but hit any hills and the 7-8k TT would drag it down and I did not like towing at 65MPH in 2nd gear up hills, could not imagine towing a 12k 5er behind it. Go diesel IMO
Redsky
Explorer
Jan 17, 2014
At that load I would want a diesel for the power to accelerate onto a freeway and to have the engine braking going down a steep mountain road. With a gas engine I would go with the biggest I could get and get 4.10 gears.

With the diesel trucks the GM in the 2011 year have had the best overall performance when towing and the strongest frame but with the 2013 model year the Ram trucks improved the frames on the 1-ton trucks and Cummins improved the exhaust brake performance a good deal.

When I was looking for a diesel in 2011 I found that the asking prices for used trucks with less than 60K miles was at $35,000 and up. I ended up buying a new diesel for $42,000 instead. Used Ford diesel sell for a lot less than the GM and Ram and I suspect that is due to their poor reputation from the prior generation of Powerstroke engines (which no longer applies).
thirteen
Explorer
Jan 16, 2014
Just saw the dd post. Not a chance. My dd is a 2011 BMW 328i x drive with 130 horsepower. I have driven a lot of trucks and love them, but they call it the ultimate driving machine for a reason. We have a 2014 toyota sienna minivan and if that was my daily driver I would have kept my 2002 chevy 2500hd crew cab 8' bed 6.0l as my daily driver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just had to sell that truck as it needed rocker panels and a cat so it was time to jump up a decade. With a plow on it I made a quick sale at $10k because everyone wants a plow truck out here in December. It only had 101k miles. Had a spray in berliner and left 5th rails in it. Everything inside worked and nice tires. I think the guy that bought it got a good deal and I was happy with what I sold it for. He seemed like he was going to do the work himself.
thirteen
Explorer
Jan 16, 2014
I made a mistake on my weight numbers. When I weighed the truck and camper and then weighed the truck I did the math wrong. I actually haul the camper about 11,500 pounds and there is no way I would put more than 1,000 pounds additional in there even on a long trip so 12,500 max. Usually 3 kids want to ride with me (the boys) and the girls ride with mom in the minivan. They are skinny so with all gear I probably only need to add another 300 pounds in the truck.
I still understand the reason for a diesel and a dually, but my numbers were too high.
Somebody said I was towing over my gross - and I realize that person was using my erroneous number - but looks like I was just under the 22k.
I find it interesting that the dually diesel gross is the same - just looking at 2002 - and won't be buying one that old (by about a decade). I guess once I think about it they are the same frames I presume and I would think with the heavier diesel and dually the actually towing weight left is less than with a 2500hd gas. Granted, the more powerful engine and stability of the drw makes sense too.
I have been very sick for two days so nothing to do but look stuff up on the internet. I am getting enlightened. Not looking forward to what appears obvious more expensive repairs on a diesel and peeing in the exhaust at $5 per gallon.
My father in law just sold off his dairy farm. He could have had a side job refining cow pee into the stuff that goes into the trucks.
I have thinking about the concept of slowing down on hills causing a safety hazard. I can't concede to this. It isn't my fault if someone decides to unsafely pass me. And I don't think this situation exists on the east coast because we always have an added lane on hills here. Is that not the case out west? I would actually pull into the break down lane if there wasn't an additional lane added on the hill if I was slowing down that much, but I can't think of anywhere in New England where we don't get the added lane on hills.
campigloo
Explorer
Jan 16, 2014
You may find you like the diesel so much it becomes your dd.
thirteen
Explorer
Jan 16, 2014
I guess I was content to drive what I had because I hadn't tried anything bigger. I imagine I will be even happier once I use diesel dually.
We take truck with camper and separate minivan. I wish we could all fit in a truck and go but with 5 kids it just isn't possible.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
I couldn't imagine how anybody could be content with towing that much weight with a 6.0 gasser, especially mated to the 4-speed. That was my previous truck and would barely hold speed towing my 8K lb toyhauler up hills. 4500RPM in 2nd gear watching the gas gauge move is no fun. Definitely go diesel. I have and have not looked back
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
thirteen wrote:
Thanks for the info everyone. I am now leaning toward the dually diesel because I don't need it as an every day driver and there seems to be some good deals on used ones. Probably because they are so expensive new that the only place to go is down and I imagine there are very limited buyers.
My father in law has a dually diesel I drive sometimes and I agree it is nice to haul with, and his is old.

Someone said they have a 36.5' fiver at 12,000 pounds. I agree, that is what mine weighs as well. But I have a family of seven and a dog so we bring a lot of junk with us. I prefer to use conservative numbers when considering a truck.

Are you buying one of those Texas built trucks with 6 doors? How do you take 7 people and a dog in the truck?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Jan 15, 2014
thirteen….Good Call!
thirteen
Explorer
Jan 15, 2014
Thanks for the info everyone. I am now leaning toward the dually diesel because I don't need it as an every day driver and there seems to be some good deals on used ones. Probably because they are so expensive new that the only place to go is down and I imagine there are very limited buyers.
My father in law has a dually diesel I drive sometimes and I agree it is nice to haul with, and his is old.

Someone said they have a 36.5' fiver at 12,000 pounds. I agree, that is what mine weighs as well. But I have a family of seven and a dog so we bring a lot of junk with us. I prefer to use conservative numbers when considering a truck.