Request for help determining required tow vehicle specs

[Garyl53]

Hi All,
Seven years after selling our previous bunkhouse travel trailer we have just purchased a used 2007 Keystone Challenger 5ver. We are excited to be back to traveling/camping soon. However I need to obtain a tow vehicle for this new-to-me rig. We live in Colorado so high altitude mountain travel is the norm. Here are the 5ver specs:
Shipping Weight 9995
Carrying Capacity 2705
Hitch Weight 2375
Length 32’ 7”
Fresh Water 68
Waste Water 35
Gray Water 77
LPG 60
Tire Size 235/80R 16E
Rim Size 16 x 6

Please help me with a few questions:
1. I am estimating that we would add 1000 lbs to the UVW of the trailer bringing the actual 5ver travel weight to 11k. Reasonable?

2. The 5ver appears to have a high hitch weight (2375 unloaded) so I am a bit concerned if I will need a 1 ton diesel truck, but I would prefer a 3/4 ton diesel?

3. Previous owner ran a Ford F250 6.7L PS SRW Lariat w/tow pkg but when I ran the numbers with the 5ver at 11K lbs it appeared not enough truck(GVWR=10k,GCWR=23.5k,RGAWR=6290,GVW=7462). The GVWR-GVW=2538 before any pasengers, etc. load on the truck. With the 5ver at 2375 hitch unloaded isn't that too close? Do I have the correct ratings for the F250? The gasser version with lower GVW appears OK, weird..

Thanks for any help. Just trying to make sure I get the correct TV.
Gary

[saddleup]

Garyl53 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. Looks like it is a 350/3500 for us. A gasser might be better for the short daily commute to work I have when not towing but I am concerned that I won't be able to pull in the mountains adequately.
Gary

No worries using a diesel as a daily driver with short commutes...been doing that for 14 years with zero issues. And as you may know, there is no comparison when towing. I've had both and believe me, the diesel is hands down the way to go - especially if you tow in hilly or mountainous areas.

[rhagfo]

Garyl53 wrote:
Thanks everyone for the quick replies. Looks like it is a 350/3500 for us. A gasser might be better for the short daily commute to work I have when not towing but I am concerned that I won't be able to pull in the mountains adequately.
Gary

Yes if buying now a 350/3500 SRW will do nicely.
I will state I tow 5er with almost the same dry and GVWR as you with a 2001 Ram 2500 with camper package, and don't have any issue other than being over the TV's GVWR.

[Garyl53]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies. Looks like it is a 350/3500 for us. A gasser might be better for the short daily commute to work I have when not towing but I am concerned that I won't be able to pull in the mountains adequately.
Gary

[Old-Biscuit]

Just for an example......

My 5vr.actual scaled weight 13,830#...actual pin weight 2980#

My truck 2007 SRW 3500 with 5.9L diesel
I am over trucks GVWR, right at rear tire max load ratings and RAWR.

Truck/5vr combo great match. Steady non-issue towing and with added 'exhaust brake' mountain towing is a pleasure. Strong diesel tows and exhaust braking helps keep speed down on downhill grades. TOW/HAUL mode.

Any heavier of a 5vr and it would be newer SRW or a Dually (Newer have much higher ratings)

[NC_Hauler]

Garyl53 wrote:
Hi All,
Seven years after selling our previous bunkhouse travel trailer we have just purchased a used 2007 Keystone Challenger 5ver. We are excited to be back to traveling/camping soon. However I need to obtain a tow vehicle for this new-to-me rig. We live in Colorado so high altitude mountain travel is the norm. Here are the 5ver specs:
Shipping Weight 9995
Carrying Capacity 2705
Hitch Weight 2375
Length 32’ 7”
Fresh Water 68
Waste Water 35
Gray Water 77
LPG 60
Tire Size 235/80R 16E
Rim Size 16 x 6

Please help me with a few questions:
1. I am estimating that we would add 1000 lbs to the UVW of the trailer bringing the actual 5ver travel weight to 11k. Reasonable?

2. The 5ver appears to have a high hitch weight (2375 unloaded) so I am a bit concerned if I will need a 1 ton diesel truck, but I would prefer a 3/4 ton diesel?

3. Previous owner ran a Ford F250 6.7L PS SRW Lariat w/tow pkg but when I ran the numbers with the 5ver at 11K lbs it appeared not enough truck(GVWR=10k,GCWR=23.5k,RGAWR=6290,GVW=7462). The GVWR-GVW=2538 before any pasengers, etc. load on the truck. With the 5ver at 2375 hitch unloaded isn't that too close? Do I have the correct ratings for the F250? The gasser version with lower GVW appears OK, weird..

Thanks for any help. Just trying to make sure I get the correct TV.
Gary

Well, kick out dry weight,( a joke to use), just add 9995 + 2705 and get GVW of the 5er you intend to purchase...go with "real world" weights..GVW of the 5er is 12,700# with a down to earth hitch weight rating of 2540# (20% of GVW of 5er)....now work from there.

I would prefer a 3500 SRW for no more extra that it would cost you over a 2500 and gives you room to grow perchance you want to "go bigger" some day.. If you ever think about going bigger and you're concerned about what the 3/4 ton can handle NOW, then purchase a 1 ton SRW truck and be done with it..

As far as how much you'll load the 5er to, who knows? It's amazing how much we carry around and don't realize it till you clean the entire 5er out....I wouldn't want to "guess" at what I'd load to....I'd go with "worse case" and do your math from there...a possible 2540# pin weight plus 200# for a hitch, plus full fuel tank, family, pets and whatever else you'll load in your truck, THEN figure weight of 5er..

[KD4UPL]

For that much weight in CO you want a diesel. For that much weight in general I'd get s 350/3500 series truck for sure. There's no advantage to getting a 250/2500 that I'm aware of, at least not any advantage worth considering. I guess in a RAM the 2500 gets you the air bag suspension. I haven't driven one but I would want leaf springs for hauling that much weight. There's less to go wrong and loaded up it should ride just fine.
If you want a truck not above 10,000 GVWR for insurance purposes I know that at least GM will sell you a 3500 SRW, normally rated at 11,500 GVWR, but only rated at 10,000 to dodge some of the legal requirements. It's the same truck. This also illustrates how silly the argument is about the GVWR being the end-all-be-all of truck ratings. They play games with it depending on the laws.

[MFL]

If you get the camper package with the 250, it is basically the same as the 350. If you want the numbers to work, you will have to get the 350, with the diesel, due to the 250 having a 10,000 GVWR, no matter what suspension.

To answer B.o.,s question, the 250 sits a little lower, helping to keep the FW level. In my case, I had a concern about the 350 clearing my garage door opening as well.

To stay under all ratings, you will have to get the 350, if you want the diesel.

Jerry

[B_O__Plenty]

Why would you prefer a 3/4 ton over a one ton? They are usually the same truck it's just that the one ton will carry more weight. I just don't see an advantage to having a 3/4 ton even if you don't need the extra load carrying capacity...

B.o.

[Ductape]

What you want is a 350 single rear wheel (SRW). That will give you more weight capacity and avoid the duals that you apparently don't want.

250 diesels lack cargo capacity as you've already figured out.