Hello forum,My wife and I are getting ready for full time RV living.We will be spending the majority of our time in Colorado, Northern California, Washington and other states with mountainous terrain.Our fifth wheel will be 38'. I have not decided if we will get a Chevrolet, Doidge or Ford 3500 years from 2011 to 2013.I have been told to go with a Dodge for the towing weight advantage. People say stay away from a Dodge because of engine or transmission problems.They say go with a Chevrolet or GMC with a Duramax diesel and an Allison transmission. But we will lose on towing weight compared to a Dodge.Conflicting truck recommendations depending on who I am talking to.Question: Since we will be spending the majority of our time driving in mountains, what truck do you recommend? (has to be automatic transmission)

Dodge with a diesel and asin (sp?) tranny, if not that then second choice is a ford with a diesel.

Love our '13 Ford F350 with a 6.7 diesel. But please consider getting a dual rear wheel truck. A 38' FW will have a lot of pin weight, and if you get a diesel truck, your payload will probably not be sufficient with a single rear wheel truck.

For what you are planning I would suggest you look at a Ford F450.

Any of the three brands but get a dual rear wheel with that big fifth wheel. Diesel of course.

2013 RAM with Aisin medium duty truck tranny. Dually with 4:10 or 3:73 gears. SRW only get 3:42 gears. You will get the more reliable CP3 injection pump. However new one sell for little more than 2 year old used ones. Chris

Best Truck For Mountain Driving | Good Sam Community

Grandpere
Explorer
May 24, 2015
Dodge with a diesel and asin (sp?) tranny, if not that then second choice is a ford with a diesel.
TucsonJim
Explorer II
May 24, 2015
Love our '13 Ford F350 with a 6.7 diesel. But please consider getting a dual rear wheel truck. A 38' FW will have a lot of pin weight, and if you get a diesel truck, your payload will probably not be sufficient with a single rear wheel truck.
Traveler_II
Explorer
May 24, 2015
For what you are planning I would suggest you look at a Ford F450.
agesilaus
Explorer III
May 24, 2015
Any of the three brands but get a dual rear wheel with that big fifth wheel. Diesel of course.
Me_Again
Explorer III
May 24, 2015
2013 RAM with Aisin medium duty truck tranny. Dually with 4:10 or 3:73 gears. SRW only get 3:42 gears. You will get the more reliable CP3 injection pump.

However new one sell for little more than 2 year old used ones.

Chris
Bionic_Man
Explorer
May 24, 2015
My choice would be a RAM but I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the 3.

An 11 or 12 RAM does not use DEF. simpler exhaust system but will not get as good of MPG as something that does use the system.

If you are talking a dedicated tow vehicle I would go DRW.
RAS43
Explorer III
May 24, 2015
agesilaus wrote:
Any of the three brands but get a dual rear wheel with that big fifth wheel. Diesel of course.

I agree, and spend most of our time in our mountains.
R12RTee
Explorer
May 24, 2015
The best truck would be a road tractor with a real jake brake. More cost effective and much better braking than any of the pickup trucks.
PRodacy
Explorer
May 24, 2015
GMC diesel with the Allison will give you the best downhill performance (braking, holding you speed, etc,) and be as good as any of TTC others going uphill.
Water-Bug
Explorer
May 24, 2015
firefight1981 wrote:
Hello forum,

My wife and I are getting ready for full time RV living.
We will be spending the majority of our time in Colorado, Northern California, Washington and other states with mountainous terrain.

Our fifth wheel will be 38'.
I have not decided if we will get a Chevrolet, Doidge or Ford 3500 years from 2011 to 2013.

I have been told to go with a Dodge for the towing weight advantage. People say stay away from a Dodge because of engine or transmission problems.
They say go with a Chevrolet or GMC with a Duramax diesel and an Allison transmission. But we will lose on towing weight compared to a Dodge.

Conflicting truck recommendations depending on who I am talking to.

Question: Since we will be spending the majority of our time driving in mountains, what truck do you recommend? (has to be automatic transmission)

I don't understand the "stay away from Dodge, because of engine/transmission issues" comment. The Cummins diesel and Hemi gasser are two off the top rated engines out there. Haven't heard of any tranny issues with late model 2500/3500 Dodges either.