Good morning, I know I`m going to open a can of worms here but here it goes. We have a 2015 Keystone Outback 296FRS that we really love and next spring we will be looking to buy a new truck to tow with. This will be our last new truck so I will want every bell and whistle on it. The weight on the 5ER is 9600 lbs. I`m thinking about a diesel and would like the option of the engine brake or something like that. I don`t care if it be a dodge , ford , GMC . I currently have a dodge ram that is 10 years old and still love it. Also some thoughts on the dual tires, I would like to stay away from that but I have been told it`s much safer . We will be traveling down south next spring and then out west next summer. Again I now this is quite a large and wide open subject but I would like to see what others are using . Thank you, Denny and Ida

The current crop of duallies will give you the ability to tow most any fifth wheel you may consider now or in the future. A 3500SRW series will limit you to around 14,500GVWR. Besides two more tires to purchase a dually will be a bit wider to park. And will be more stable towing. Neither are really suited for parking garages, or down town parking.As for which one? Go drive them all,preferably all on the same day and over the same road. Then decide which one DW likes best and buy that one. Their all decent now days, and they all have quirks that you may or may not accept.

You don't need a DRW for that trailer, so if you prefer SRW (as do I), just go for it and don't look back. As far as which one, I looked at them and my favorite was the Ram with Cummins. It seemed to me to offer the best combination of solid chassis, nice ride/handling and hopefully a reliable engine. I read a lot of things that made me leery of the CP4 injection pump that the Duramax and Powerstroke both use, and the older style CP3 unit in the Cummmins seems to have fewer issues. They are all more than capable of handling that trailer and they all have pros and cons to consider.

We love our "standard" (short) bed 3500 Chevy Silverado. It is a 2015. We already have 33k miles on it and have had no issues. We paired it with a pullrite slider hitch. We are FT and really wanted to have a shorter truck w/o dual wheels to make parking easier.

dennyida wrote:Good morning, I know I`m going to open a can of worms here but here it goes. We have a 2015 Keystone Outback 296FRS that we really love and next spring we will be looking to buy a new truck to tow with. This will be our last new truck so I will want every bell and whistle on it. The weight on the 5ER is 9600 lbs. I`m thinking about a diesel and would like the option of the engine brake or something like that. I don`t care if it be a dodge , ford , GMC . I currently have a dodge ram that is 10 years old and still love it. Also some thoughts on the dual tires, I would like to stay away from that but I have been told it`s much safer . We will be traveling down south next spring and then out west next summer. Again I now this is quite a large and wide open subject but I would like to see what others are using . Thank you, Denny and IdaDenny, that FW only grosses 10,900 lbs, per the Keystone site; any of the current model 2500 series trucks would handle it with ease. If you think that you might upsize in the next few years, then go with a 3500 SRW if you stay < 13k GVW; anything larger and you'd really want a dually. My current FW grosses just under 11,300 and I tow with an '02 Duramax. While it tows it OK, I know I'm exceeding a couple of my specs, but I've never felt uncomfortable towing it, and I don't look like a WWII searchlight when towing at night, either. My next one will be about 1,300 lbs lighter, though longer and with 2 more slides.Lyle

laknox wrote:dennyida wrote:Good morning, I know I`m going to open a can of worms here but here it goes. We have a 2015 Keystone Outback 296FRS that we really love and next spring we will be looking to buy a new truck to tow with. This will be our last new truck so I will want every bell and whistle on it. The weight on the 5ER is 9600 lbs. I`m thinking about a diesel and would like the option of the engine brake or something like that. I don`t care if it be a dodge , ford , GMC . I currently have a dodge ram that is 10 years old and still love it. Also some thoughts on the dual tires, I would like to stay away from that but I have been told it`s much safer . We will be traveling down south next spring and then out west next summer. Again I now this is quite a large and wide open subject but I would like to see what others are using . Thank you, Denny and IdaDenny, that FW only grosses 10,900 lbs, per the Keystone site; any of the current model 2500 series trucks would handle it with ease. If you think that you might upsize in the next few years, then go with a 3500 SRW if you stay < 13k GVW; anything larger and you'd really want a dually. My current FW grosses just under 11,300 and I tow with an '02 Duramax. While it tows it OK, I know I'm exceeding a couple of my specs, but I've never felt uncomfortable towing it, and I don't look like a WWII searchlight when towing at night, either. My next one will be about 1,300 lbs lighter, though longer and with 2 more slides.LyleWell your money, and sounds like you want to travel in comfort. The rig you have will be strong for many more years.That said I would look at a SRW 350/3500, new Ram's are really nice the other two also. I am more of a Cummins fan than a Ram, but I have zero complaints about both.

looking at trucks | Good Sam Community

tinner12002
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
dfb wrote:
Coach-man wrote:
I guess some people are closed minded! In the 1950, the word was Chrysler had awesome engines, but the body would rust in a year! Now they are saying Cummins good, Dodge bad? Why not be open minded and actually take a close look? My son purchased a 1500, gas engine, and drove it for 400,00 plus miles, it looked and drove like new, no major problems ever. A battery, 2 brake jobs and tires were the only thing replaced!

How much are these muscle car mopars worth again?... Oh....... In the millions!! My 04 Cummins booked at 17000.... Sold for 25000 ...old 6.0 fords aren't even getting 50 percent back of wholesale....dealer in California is asking 37000 for a 2003 Cummins..."must tell ya something.. I'd put the new ram limited Laramie against fords or gms for fit and finish, power train and interiors......mopars in the millions? 1970 to 1974 426 hemi convertibles....only 27 cuda and challengers....

According to the trailer life tow rating report in their March issue, the Ram has the highest tow rating of the 3500s with gm being the lowest!
tinner12002
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
Checkout the March 16 issue of trailer life magazine as it has a tow rating guide in it.
dfb
Explorer
Feb 14, 2016
Coach-man wrote:
I guess some people are closed minded! In the 1950, the word was Chrysler had awesome engines, but the body would rust in a year! Now they are saying Cummins good, Dodge bad? Why not be open minded and actually take a close look? My son purchased a 1500, gas engine, and drove it for 400,00 plus miles, it looked and drove like new, no major problems ever. A battery, 2 brake jobs and tires were the only thing replaced!

How much are these muscle car mopars worth again?... Oh....... In the millions!! My 04 Cummins booked at 17000.... Sold for 25000 ...old 6.0 fords aren't even getting 50 percent back of wholesale....dealer in California is asking 37000 for a 2003 Cummins..."must tell ya something.. I'd put the new ram limited Laramie against fords or gms for fit and finish, power train and interiors......mopars in the millions? 1970 to 1974 426 hemi convertibles....only 27 cuda and challengers....
dfb
Explorer
Feb 13, 2016
Just sold my 04 dually 4x4 nv5600 for 8000 overbook! Bought a new 2015 megacab sb, srw. Tow capacity is 16660! Gvwr is 12300. The new trucks interior is the best! Aisin trans, 385 hp, 865 torque. 5ver weighs 12200 dry and hitting 14000 ready to go. Advantage of srw is car washes, parking and tires! Only 4 not 6.. Dually advantage 6 tires, greater gvwr.. The new Rams are the bomb... Imo....I got 19.5 mpg with only 1800 miles on truck hiway. Pulls Montana 2610 rl legacy with ease..reason for a dually is added gvwr. If your load or hitch weight is too heavy for a srw, then dually. On the ram 3500 we are talking 1700 lbs more capable. If you want a big cabover, then it's dually..the dually is also more stable in heavy winds.. But, when it's time for tires.........NOT FUN,!
Coach-man
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
I guess some people are closed minded! In the 1950, the word was Chrysler had awesome engines, but the body would rust in a year! Now they are saying Cummins good, Dodge bad? Why not be open minded and actually take a close look? My son purchased a 1500, gas engine, and drove it for 400,00 plus miles, it looked and drove like new, no major problems ever. A battery, 2 brake jobs and tires were the only thing replaced!
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 12, 2016
dennyida wrote:
rhagfo ,tell me what you have for a drive train in your dodge

It is almost all in my signature;
2001 Dodge 2500 4X4, 5.9 Cummins 5 speed, 3.55 gears, Pacbrake PRXB, DS Power Puck,Bilstien 5100's, 290,000 miles.

The only part not mentioned is I have a Valair organic double disk clutch. the truck did come from the factory with both towing and camper package, which while not changing the GVWR, does include 3500 springs.
dennyida
Explorer
Feb 12, 2016
rhagfo ,tell me what you have for a drive train in your dodge
rhagfo
Explorer III
Feb 12, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
laknox wrote:
There's nothing wrong with a Cummins...except that it's in a Dodge. :-)

Lyle

I bought this truck with 50K from a friend because of the Cummins and figured the truck would fall apart around it. NOT so, sold it to my Son with at least 360K and now is approaching 400K. It's been a very solid dependable truck.

Dang, Cummins you make my 2001 with only 290,000, look like a low mileage garage queen!!

It makes one feel real good when Fish pays a complement on a Ram. :B
john_bet
Explorer II
Feb 11, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:
MFL wrote:
laknox wrote:
There's nothing wrong with a Cummins...except that it's in a Dodge. :-)

Lyle

Lol, just think, if Ford would have used the Cummins, instead of IH, there may not be a Ram today!:B

Jerry

I think that is very possible.
Ford was at one time working with Cummins in the Walesboro Plant, but then there was trouble and Ford had to leave. There were legal issues after that between them.
IdaD
Explorer
Feb 11, 2016
If the Super Duty had the Cummins and the Ram had the Powerstroke, I'd be driving a Super Duty.