another "newbie" question on tow truck

r2young3390 wrote:
So the 5th wheel I need is:
dry wt 12,830
gross 16,000 and hitch wt is 2,592......... whats the best truck to get to pull this and have some ok gas milage? Im a travel nurse and will be doing the west coast thing..........thanks!

I was a Ford man True Blue through and through, until it came time to by a Diesel.
Best truck Diesel is not re-branded with the truck builders name, get a Ram 3500 DRW, Cummins the most reliable diesel in the market. IMHO

Definetly F350 DRW territory here.

My trailer gross is 18.5K so I went with the new Ford F350 DRW that has a 21K rating. My milage is 11.8 or so pulling and I get 16.8 empty going to work and I live 8 miles from work. On longer trips I do get better something close to 17.5.

That pin weight you list, is probably a 'DRY' measurement. Loaded up, I would bet the real pin weight will be more like 3200# on that trailer. While most late model 350/3500 SRW trucks will handle that pin weight, I think you would want a dually to handle the loaded trailer weight. And the engine should be a diesel.

My 2012 F350 pulls 14,250 and gets 12.2 MPG towing on the highway. And 11 MPG with a headwind or up hill. My old 2006 V10 Gasser would get 7.0 MPG towing the same trailer.

I'll be going through this same process this week as I just purchased my new "home" at the Hershey show. I'm regretting not visiting the hitch exhibit now. I'll be having the fifth wheel hitch installed on my truck after market as I don't trust the factory installed equipment, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which hitch will be ideal. Been looking at some B&W products. Pretty sure I want to avoid rails but I want the best hitch for towing a trailer with GVWR of 16,500 for the most reasonable price.

You could also look into lighter weight, maybe a little smaller fifth wheels and go with a SRW truck. Something like the Montana/Cougar High Country line.

My new Ford F350 Diesel SRW has a towing capacity of 15,900". If you are loading up to near the GVWR of the FW, I'd sure suggest the DRW.

That trailer is definitely diesel/dually territory.

Plus dual rear wheels. Chris

Welcome to the Forum...
1 ton diesel...GM, Dodge, Ford. (350/3500 series)