Seeking advice on a towing vehicle for a 5th wheel camper.I am looking at a 2019 Heartland Road Warrior 413RWI've only ever owned a small travel trailer that was 21' so my SUV was able to tow.As given, with the fifth wheel I need to upgrade to a pickup but I am not well versed in pickups.I would have to buy used and not sure what size I should look for or if I should look for it to be gas or diesel, etc.Thx.

Looking at the stats for this coach, IMO you are in dually territory. Diesel as well. 2015 and up for any of three.

I don't know what that fiver weighs. But in general buy a 1 ton US brand pickup. The price difference is minor between the 3/4 and 1 ton. If you stay east of the Mississippi or in flatlands then you can get by with a gas engine. If you plan to go into the western mountains then you will be much happier with a diesel.For a large fifth wheel you will want dual rear wheels for smaller ones a single rear wheel will do and is more maneuverable. If you plan to stay on the pavement the a 2WD is OK if you want to travel on dirt roads (boondocking or exploring) then a 4WD. Tho you won't regret having a 4WD when you need one.If you buy a new truck then get the hitch bed preparation. If you buy used you'll have to take what is offered. For hitches get a B&W or Pullrite.

That's a big jump up from a 21ft bumper pull. Doable but don't cheap out or you will be sorry.We have a friend with a similar size Road Warrior. They have a diesel dually 1 ton (2013 I think)...and they've had the truck struggle in moderately hilly conditions.You are definitely in diesel dually 1 ton territory at a minimum (or possibly 450/550 range) but also need to consider age. Newer trucks often have significantly higher capacities.Looking the trailer up online: - GVWR: 20,000lb - Empty 16,045lb - Hitch Weight: 3,520lb (presumably empty)DO NOT JUST CONSIDER THE MAX TOW RATING!!!!Items to check on the truck: - Tow rating at least 20,000lb (don't fool yourself into thinking you will run with an empty trailer) - CGVWR: Max total weight for truck and trailer loaded for the road - combined. - Truck Payload: This includes the fully loaded hitch weight, hitch, people and any cargo in the truck. If there are after market add-ons like running boards, those count against you too. Note, the hitch weight should be 20-25% of the fully loaded weight. If we assume 20,000lb, that means 4,000-5,000lb hitch weight. - RAWR: Since the hitch, hitch weight and anything in the bed is almost all going to go onto the rear axle, you might hit the rear axle weight rating.Again, especially with older trucks, you can't count on them having the same capabilities, so don't assume 2020 truck numbers are interchangeable with a 2015 truck. Also, make sure to check the rating stickers on the inside of the door. They may have different differentials or in some cases different axles. Make sure it's new enough that it has an integrated exhaust brake to help slow things down coming down mountains. If the truck has been modified, be careful they didn't reduce the capabilities (ie: replaced the tires with ones with a lower load rating to save some money...A 10,000lb rear axle with tires that are only rated for 8,000lb limits you to 8,000lb).

Thanks for sharing the details... We are not head set any given RV.We are empty nesters with two dogs and are exploring our options if we go the RV route vs. finding a cabin somewhere, etc.We would like to find something that has a space for hauling a Dirt bike or Four wheeler and doubles as a space for dogs if needed.

I just looked at 1 online at Johnny Walker RV... It has a dry weight of 15,805#, with a GVW of 20k..With those weights, you would want a mildly used 1 ton DRW... IF you had a NEW ( 2020 ) SRW, you MAY be able to use that, but I believe yo stated your looking at used..These new generation SRW's are beasts.... 5'er tow rating of 21k... payload of 4500#... but still have to worry about the rear axle capacity, and tires..

Seeking advice on towing vehicle | Good Sam Community

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 24, 2020
rhagfo wrote:
upmm019 wrote:
I don't know much about trucks but I found today a trailer and truck package for sale in my area:

2012 Ram 3500 4x4 dually diesel crew cab 8ft bed B&W hitch, 102k miles

with

2014 Evergreen Tesla 3950 43 1/2 ft toyhauler

Asking $58k for the package.

2012 Ram 3500 DRW only had a GVWR of 12,300# if it was a 2013 the GVWR would be 14,000#.

My 11 HO DRW was also 12,300 GVWR. I’m sure I was well over that with a 4,500# pin weight. Licensed it for 14k. Truck handled the weight with zero issues. Combined was 29k.
ford_truck_guy
Nomad
May 23, 2020
FORD has a fifth wheel rating up to 22,800 on the F350 SRW depending on equipment..

that rating above is a 6.7 - 3.55 - 4x2 142" WB 8' Box - Supercab - - 22,800(4)/19,200(3,4)

BUT... there is an ** next to that... the rating is maxed at 18,000 if using the Optional Ford offered hitch, which is rated at 18k

1-18" All-Season Tires. 2-18" and 20" All-Terrain Tires. 3-Optional 10,000-lb. GVWR Package (68D). 4-Gooseneck tow rating shown. 5th-wheel tow rating limited to 5th-wheel hitch rating of 18,000 lbs. 5-17" Tires. 6-Tremor Off-Road Package (17Y). 7-Optional 11,400-lb. GVWR Package (68L).

2020 FORD TOW GUIDE

*** AND *** You can forget that high number, in reality you never get close due to the RAWR and the Tires....

Notes: • Calculated with SAE J2807® method.
• Trailer tongue (trailer king pin for 5th-wheel towing) load weight should be 10% (15% for 5th-wheel towing) of total loaded
trailer weight. Make sure vehicle payload (reduce by option weight) will accommodate trailer tongue (trailer king pin for 5th-wheel towing) load weight and weight of passengers and cargo added to towing vehicle. Addition of trailer tongue (trailer king pin for 5th-wheel towing) load weight and weight of passengers and cargo must not cause vehicle weights to exceed rear GAWR or GVWR. These ratings can be found on the vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Label.
justme
Explorer
May 23, 2020
neal10a wrote:
Ford must build one hell of a strong truck. A 2015 F250 with airbags pulled into our campground pulling 20k GVW Designer Suites. The owner claims it pulls well and has pulled that trailer for thousands of miles with no problem and never felt unsafe. I don't condone that combination, but it does show that newer trucks are robust pullers.

Wow that trailer far exceeds the factory carrying capacity and combined weight capacity. The add-on airbags make it near equivalent to an F350 SRW. and that still exceeds the factory specs for an F350 SRW. However the 2020 F350 would be better, but Ford claims not to exceed 18K GVW for a 5th wheel for some reason-- probably because the factory supplied hitch is 18K rated. Saying all that Ford is the king of the hill for 2020 trucks..
neal10a
Explorer
May 23, 2020
Ford must build one hell of a strong truck. A 2015 F250 with airbags pulled into our campground pulling 20k GVW Designer Suites. The owner claims it pulls well and has pulled that trailer for thousands of miles with no problem and never felt unsafe. I don't condone that combination, but it does show that newer trucks are robust pullers.
rhagfo
Explorer III
May 23, 2020
upmm019 wrote:
I don't know much about trucks but I found today a trailer and truck package for sale in my area:

2012 Ram 3500 4x4 dually diesel crew cab 8ft bed B&W hitch, 102k miles

with

2014 Evergreen Tesla 3950 43 1/2 ft toyhauler

Asking $58k for the package.

2012 Ram 3500 DRW only had a GVWR of 12,300# if it was a 2013 the GVWR would be 14,000#.
upmm019
Explorer
May 23, 2020
I don't know much about trucks but I found today a trailer and truck package for sale in my area:

2012 Ram 3500 4x4 dually diesel crew cab 8ft bed B&W hitch, 102k miles

with

2014 Evergreen Tesla 3950 43 1/2 ft toyhauler

Asking $58k for the package.
ferndaleflyer
Explorer III
May 22, 2020
You never have "to much truck". That being said the dually will have 50% more tire on the ground just for starters. Don't matter how much go power you have if you can't get it stopped.
laknox
Nomad
May 22, 2020
upmm019 wrote:
Seeking advice on a towing vehicle for a 5th wheel camper.

I am looking at a 2019 Heartland Road Warrior 413RW

I've only ever owned a small travel trailer that was 21' so my SUV was able to tow.

As given, with the fifth wheel I need to upgrade to a pickup but I am not well versed in pickups.

I would have to buy used and not sure what size I should look for or if I should look for it to be gas or diesel, etc.

Thx.

20,000 GVW is =solidly= in dually territory, and no more than 5-6 years old. Diesel by preference, though a gasser would work in more flat country.

Lyle
justme
Explorer
May 22, 2020
The truck ratings are important and should be adheard for, but the trailer suspension is probably more of a concern. Most trailer mfg's put minimal suspension .
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
May 21, 2020
ford truck guy wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
"These new generation SRW's are beasts.... 5'er tow rating of 21k..."

Is that a fifth wheel rating? If so one must understand that would be a triple axle unit with 15% pin weight no doubt.

That is the fifth wheel tow rating..... and agreed

Thanks!