Tow Vehicle Preferences

[cemmett]

We are carefully planning our investments for a fifth wheel and tow vehicle. We have had some experience with Ram 3500 dually, diesel and have read good reports on their performance. We see a lot of GM products and Fords towing the larger fivers, which is what we are considering. We are also paying attention to rear end ratios and have been told that 4.73 is about the right ones for towing. So, the question is what advice, pro and con, will be helpful? The seasoned RVers (you guys) can offer the best firsthand input. Thanks for your reports.

[Shepherd]

I have got upto 19.5 mpg interstate.

[4bearhug]

psford wrote:

roadking59 wrote:
Blah< Blah, Blah... The Cummings cheerleaders are out!

And wouldn't you know it, Cummins12 the head cheerleader, can't figure why he left out B&W in the cheerleading :B

Haha, good one. I was thinking the same thing.

[psford]

roadking59 wrote:
Blah< Blah, Blah... The Cummings cheerleaders are out!

And wouldn't you know it, Cummins12 the head cheerleader, can't figure why he left out B&W in the cheerleading :B

[lenr]

Back to orig. question: Rear ratio is going to depend on high gear transmission ratio, tire revolutions per mile, peak torque RPM, and load/tow rating. Ford Super Duty ties rear ratio to other options such as heavy pkg. or tow rating. Got to choose the correct option to get the desired rear ratio. Going from memory the Ram uses a numeric lower ratio for the top gear so also uses higher numeric rear ratio (as compared to Ford). Can't compare just rear ratios in vacuum of everything else.

[The_Mad_Norsky]

roadking59 wrote:
Really! Who uses a dually to go off road...Funny!

:h

Guess that all depends on where one lives then. Around these parts (upper Mid-west, upper great plains) I can list farmers, ranchers, oil field workers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts of all types who drive off pavement with their dually's.

Fact, sometimes the pavement gets so bad with winter conditions, one may as well be off-road then!

Mind you, I am not always meaning breaking new trails here. A lot of these off pavement adventures mean driving on minimum (IE: NO ) maintenance roads, or unimproved section line two wheel rut type trails.

But with farmers and ranchers it often does mean completely off any type of established trails, out in their fields or pastures doing work with the truck necessary for the operation of the farm/ranch.

[Cummins12V98]

agesilaus wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If the RV is "weighing in at 16K" that could mean loaded 19-20K.

Test drive them all make sure they have 45PSI rear and 72 front so you can fairly compare the ride.

You mean the truck tires? They are 80 psi front and back for towing. At least on Fords and I suspect the other brands are the same. On my Ford the tire low pressure alarm is set at 65 psi so you can't really air them down lower than 70 psi.

Yes the truck tires. I am talking Dually here.

I am talking solo driving. Look at the tire weight inflation chart for the tires on your TV you will see the tires do not need 80psi loaded unless you are actually overloading your TV.

Loaded I run 60psi rear and 80 front. I have 5K in pin weight and I have plenty of air in the tires and I have even wear.

The truck numbers are CYA.

As I said to see how each truck handles have the same psi in each TV tested. If you are running max pressures running solo you are wearing out your tires and will have less stopping ability along with poor ride.

[Water-Bug]

roadking59 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If you are looking at new trucks, the axle ratio isn't as critical as it once was.

In the old days of 3 speed transmissions (and to a lesser but still important degree 4 speed transmissions), the ratio was important. The lower ratio rear end would give you better economy running empty but when loaded, it would drop down a gear and you would have to run at inefficient high rpm when stressed at all. Going to a higher ratio would allow you to stay in the top gear most of the time.

With the newer 6-8 speed transmissions, they can compensate by selecting a lower gear when needed but with just a modest increase in rpm and dialed in for efficiency.

Really! Who uses a dually to go off road...Funny!

FUNNY IS RIGHT!! I didn't see the term "off road" anywhere in the quoted text.

[agesilaus]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If the RV is "weighing in at 16K" that could mean loaded 19-20K.

Test drive them all make sure they have 45PSI rear and 72 front so you can fairly compare the ride.

You mean the truck tires? They are 80 psi front and back for towing. At least on Fords and I suspect the other brands are the same. On my Ford the tire low pressure alarm is set at 65 psi so you can't really air them down lower than 70 psi.

[Cummins12V98]

If the RV is "weighing in at 16K" that could mean loaded 19-20K.

Test drive them all make sure they have 45PSI rear and 72 front so you can fairly compare the ride.

[cemmett]

Thanks for the correction. I did mean 3.73 rear end and not 4.73. The fiver we have been looking at is 40 feet and weighs in at 16,000 pounds. A dually is also our thinking when we test drive and these are typically hard to find at dealerships here in southeast Alabama. The input from you guys has been helpful so far and we hope for some more. One of you mentioned pleasing the DW and yes that is a top priority. When we had a one ton dually before, she only let me drive it when it needed fuel. Maybe this correction and additional information will elicit more wise suggestions.

[roadking59]

valhalla360 wrote:
If you are looking at new trucks, the axle ratio isn't as critical as it once was.

In the old days of 3 speed transmissions (and to a lesser but still important degree 4 speed transmissions), the ratio was important. The lower ratio rear end would give you better economy running empty but when loaded, it would drop down a gear and you would have to run at inefficient high rpm when stressed at all. Going to a higher ratio would allow you to stay in the top gear most of the time.

With the newer 6-8 speed transmissions, they can compensate by selecting a lower gear when needed but with just a modest increase in rpm and dialed in for efficiency.

Really! Who uses a dually to go off road...Funny!

[roadking59]

Blah< Blah, Blah... The Cummings cheerleaders are out!

[Water-Bug]

Six+ speed transmissions and modern high torque diesel engines have blurred the need for high ratio rear ends. (Unless you plan on towing a space shuttle). That RAM 3500 diesel dually that tows 30, 000 lbs with a 4.56 rear end will pull a 17, 000 lb 5er just fine with a 3.73 rear end.

[Dtank]

As others have posted - get an idea of the size and weight of what you plan on towing.
Consider - that you *may* want to upgrade to a heavier trailer sometime. Will your TV be adequate?

Sooooo - which tow vehicle?? -

A friend is a Ford man - blue oval forever.
Wouldn't have any other brand.

BIL is a Chevy/GMC guy - nothing but a bow tie will do.

I have had an equal number of each (cars/trucks) - never a Dodge.
My present TV is a 1T Dodge CTD. Very satisfied.

BTW - I have a 2005 - and, IMO - you can't see much of the engine on newer CTDs either, LOL!

Anyway...*NOT* being brand loyal.....how did I choose?
(I would do the same again - if I was looking for a new TV)

My suggestion for you also...
Spend time on the diesel forums for *EACH* brand.
(Plenty of gas burner forums also)
See what the *owners* are reporting/asking/etc.

Problems? - Return for warranty work? - Down time for same?..:@
Search out the good-bad-ugly for each.
Then - start your shopping & pricing plan/s.

.

[Cummins12V98]

Dave H M wrote:
what a strange thread. Two pages of posts and we don't even know what the OP plans on hooking up to. :h

Should not matter. Go big then buy what you want!