Tow vehicle as daily driver?

[rctoyguy]

We are planning to get our first RV in the next month or so, and we are kinda split between a bumper pull or a 5th wheel. Either way, I will also be buying a truck to pull it since neither of our daily drivers will pull much (Honda Pilot and Jeep Wrangler).
Leaning toward getting a 3/4 ton truck to give us more options for the camper, but the only way I can do a newer truck would be to trade the Jeep, making the truck my daily driver.

So - older (less expensive) truck dedicated as tow vehicle, or newer (more expensive) truck replacing the Jeep as my DD? I drive about 20-25k a year, normal commuting, moderate to warm climate (Alabama)

How many of you drive a 3/4 ton or larger truck as your daily driver?

[Road_Phantom]

I bought a 2014 dodge ram 2500 because of the redesigned suspension. The older trucks rode hard unless you got a long bed four door model. My new truck is my only driver and rides great compared to the older models.

[Veebyes]

Ever consider geting your self a used cheap to run small banger for your local commuter car & get yourself a much newer much nicer truck for your travels & times when the truck is really needed?

For my home car I have an 11 year old Toyota Yaris. Never done anything to it but change 1 set of plugs & change the oil & filter on a regular basis. Drives like an oversized gocart but for 30 minutes max per trip I sure don't need anything else. 35MPG is sweet too.

The truck is a different story. We spend alot of time & drive many miles in that truck.

[ramgunner]

rctoyguy wrote:
So - older (less expensive) truck dedicated as tow vehicle, or newer (more expensive) truck replacing the Jeep as my DD? I drive about 20-25k a year, normal commuting, moderate to warm climate (Alabama)

How many of you drive a 3/4 ton or larger truck as your daily driver?

We went from a 1999 TJ to a 2014 Ram 3500 DRW. Much larger vehicle that can't go everywhere the Jeep did. I wouldn't want to hang it from a winch-line going up a waterfall. It will tow far more than the Jeep, holds a lot more inside, and we have a 2014 Polaris RZR800EPS for going off-road.

I drive the Ram every day, including through a narrow security gate a couple of times a day. It's not as nimble as the Jeep, but it tows our home (a 2016 Grand Design Momentum 385TH) and works great for us.

[SkiSmuggs]

While not part of the plan, my 2015 F350 diesel has become my daily driver for a 76 mile round trip commute at 18-19.5 mpg. I had a 2002 Subaru as a DD and winter beater, but had to give it to my daughter when hers crapped the bed.
I just hadn't figured on driving the truck on winter roads to protect it from chemicals, but I retire in a few months so this should be the only winter driving it gets.

[nickthehunter]

I love my F-260, I Hate it as a daily driver. Uses more gas, not parking lot friendly, won't fit in my garage, and it won't fit into a lot of parking decks that a F-150 will fit into (ask me how I know this). If I could I would get an F-150 but it's just not in the cards right now.

[eDUBz]

I drive 07 Chevy diesel as my daily driver/tow vehicle. I enjoy driving it.

[laknox]

rctoyguy wrote:
We are planning to get our first RV in the next month or so, and we are kinda split between a bumper pull or a 5th wheel. Either way, I will also be buying a truck to pull it since neither of our daily drivers will pull much (Honda Pilot and Jeep Wrangler).
Leaning toward getting a 3/4 ton truck to give us more options for the camper, but the only way I can do a newer truck would be to trade the Jeep, making the truck my daily driver.

So - older (less expensive) truck dedicated as tow vehicle, or newer (more expensive) truck replacing the Jeep as my DD? I drive about 20-25k a year, normal commuting, moderate to warm climate (Alabama)

How many of you drive a 3/4 ton or larger truck as your daily driver?

I grew up farming. I didn't have a car until I got married the first time. 🙂 I'd =rather= drive a truck, but my Civic was necessary when gas was $3 and diesel was even higher and I had a 50 mile RT commute.

First thing you need to figure out is what kind of camping you're going to do. If you're a weekend warrior, with occasional longer trips, go with a gasser. If you're in for the long haul, then seriously consider a diesel. Gassers are cheaper to buy and maintain and they'll have a higher payload than the same truck with a diesel. Second, figure out what RV you want =before= you buy the truck. Never forget that it's what you can =carry=, not what you can =tow=, when considering FWs. TTs are a different story, since you can use a weight distributing hitch. If you like a larger RV, especially FWs, then don't ignore 1T trucks; they usually aren't that much more expensive. If you keep your RV wants reasonable, then you can easily handle a decent-sized FW with a SRW and not have the need for a dually.

Lyle

[b_pilot]

I drive my 3500 GMC Duramax dually as a daily driver. It is my tow vehicle for my 5th wheel but I use it as my daily transportation. Wife has her own car. I am retired but even before I retired I drove my 3/4 ton truck to work.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
2007 3500 with Cummins 5.9L daily driver and dedicated tow vehicle

Same conversation yesterday........HERE

2005 CTD 3500 QC daily driver and tow vehicle for 5th wheel - (both since 2005).

OP - playing devil's advocate -
when considering a bumper pull -vs- a 5th wheel, keep in mind you can tow most bumper pulls with a *large* SUV if desired.
(Chevy Suburban, etc.)

Also - *if* you get in a jam - and need a friend to tow you....
he or she doesn't need a pickup - just a substantial vehicle with a 2" receiver...:W

~

[camp-n-family]

Getting an older dedicated tow vehicle isn't going to save you anything. The extra insurance and maintenance costs to keep a 3rd vehicle will be much higher than a little extra fuel driving a bigger truck daily.

I inherited a 4cyl Camry and started driving it to work daily while my truck sat parked in the drive. The insurance plus oil changes and regular upkeep added $150 to my monthly expenses. I could buy a lot of gas for that. After 3 months I sold the Camry. Not driving the truck regularly wasn't good for it either.

[BB_TX]

Before retirement, I drove my two different F350 longbed crewcab diesel SRWs about 25,000 miles per year as my DD. Still do but the yearly miles are closer to 10,000 now.

[GoPackGo]

I had my new 4x4 F350 diesel dually for 6 months as a daily driver before I went full time (now it is obviously my DD). During that time I drove 60 miles/day just back and forth to work - so about 10-12k during that time period including other travel.

I traded in my 6 year old Honda with 180,000 miles on it (still ran perfectly).

In your situation I would get a dedicated older truck and use it only for towing. You will drive 100-125,000 miles in the next 5 years - sounds like mostly highway. Why not put all those miles on a vehicle that is much cheaper to run and maintain and that you already own ? Just as an example, you may very well wear out 2 sets of tires by the 125k mark on a truck. But I could get 100k miles out of a set of (cheaper) tires on my Honda. Will your new truck be a 4x4 ? If so, why put 125,000 miles on a 4x4 drivetrain if you don't have to - and yes, I do know about lock out hubs.

If you decide on a 5th wheel, you may very well get a long bed truck. Also will have the hitch in the bed. Maybe an aux fuel tank/tool box. Will just be easier to drive your current vehicle as a daily driver.

Just my .02

Tim

[riggsp]

Use my 2004 Ram 2500 CTD as a tow vehicle and a daily driver...only real problem is some parking lots when they are busy, so I just pick a spot a little further away and enjoy the exercise.

[donn0128]

If your even thinking fifth wheel, do yourself a BIG favor and go with a 3500 truck. Especially if your considering a fiver over around 10,000 GVWR.

[Halmfamily]

I drive my 08' 3500 DRW from Talladega to Jacksonville daily, 38 miles each way a averaging 16.9 mpg every other week and drive my 09 Honda Odyssey on the opposite weeks averaging 23 mpg.

Two years ago I purchased the 3500 for $29000. Fully loaded, 108000 miles. Two years later only maintenance has been done with zero repairs needed.

We couldn't justify having just the truck as we use the van for family trips and hauling our two big dogs. Wife drives a Lincoln as her daily driver and she refuses to drive the truck and her drive is only seven miles each way.