TV Mileage

[Hamp]

I am in the market for a used TV for my new 3600 Sanibel. Hitch weight is 2,335 length is 39'5" GVW 15,500. This will be my first fifth-wheel. The TV will be 2009-2012.

Thanks for your input

[Michelle_S]

Remember that the 2335 pin is most likely the dry pin. With a gross of 15.5K, your wet/loaded pin will be 3K +/- a few hundred Lbs.

[jbcason]

Veebyes wrote:
Funny how whenever it swings to a SRW vs DRW topic the comments are always almost the same. Those who have SRW, often beefed up with airbags & such, & have never tried a DRW, swear that the SRW is just fine for a 32' plus, 12,000# plus trailer.

Meanwhile those who had a SRW then switched to a DRW swear there is a night & day difference without any mods needing to be done to the DRW.

Those of us DRW owners who have never had a SRW only know what we see if we happen to be behind a SRW on a windy day or curvy road. It can be a scary sight.

I have nearly 2 million miles hauling loads you can only imagine. I made a living with a dualie and 32 ft dual wheel trailer for four years. Again, capability is a huge part of any rig. Oh, and the 2 million miles were accident free. Not even a cargo claim.

[brownmht]

Hamp wrote:
I am in the market for a used TV for my new 3600 Sanibel. Hitch weight is 2,335 length is 39'5" GVW 15,500. This will be my first fifth-wheel. The TV will be 2009-2012.

Thanks for your input

Based on what you are pulling, I would suggest focusing on TV capability.

Trailer Life Towing Guide

[Atom_Ant]

I would GLADLY go back to a SRW, and if I was looking at the OPs trailer, I would wouldn't even look at the DRW - not needed, so why go to the hassle of owning one. Can't park it, doesn't fit in a car wash, typically doesn't fit in a garage, expensive to re-tire, and the list goes on. I towed with a SRW for over a decade and they are great tow machines. I'm only in a dually now because I'm up in the 4,000/17,000 lbs weight bracket with this trailer.

Don't let the tire blow outs scare you into thinking you need a dually. We all have single tires on the front, and that is the blow out that will send you off the road.

[Veebyes]

Funny how whenever it swings to a SRW vs DRW topic the comments are always almost the same. Those who have SRW, often beefed up with airbags & such, & have never tried a DRW, swear that the SRW is just fine for a 32' plus, 12,000# plus trailer.

Meanwhile those who had a SRW then switched to a DRW swear there is a night & day difference without any mods needing to be done to the DRW.

Those of us DRW owners who have never had a SRW only know what we see if we happen to be behind a SRW on a windy day or curvy road. It can be a scary sight.

[rhagfo]

jbcason wrote:
The only difference between an F250 and a F350 is a two inch spacer block, a helper spring, and recommended air pressure. Drive train brakes etc. are the same. Air pressure should be pumped up to max on the tire sidewall. SRW will do fine. If you are full timing then dualie should be seriously considered. If just weekend/vacation the disadvantages of a dualie might not out way the advantages. I have a F250 that I pull a 38 ft Montana with. SRW. I added air bags and a rear stabilizer bar. Good shocks are a must also. I use Blistein. Tires are goodyear wranglers run at 80 psi. The main thing is do not over drive your capabilities. I do think if you go with a dualie an air king pin is a must to absorb the extra shock so the helper spring.

The question you always need to ask is;

Would you feel safe and comfortable driving a a state highway like this with a 55 mph speed limit that most push to at least 60??

[64thunderbolt]

blow a rear tire @ highway speed and you will want a dually. Don't skimp on it get something that will do the job.

And the comparison with a semi, more gears and a LOT more cubic inches and TONS more torque.

Any modern diesel pickup will get decent milage. If milage is that much of a concern you are barking up the wrong tree with that trailer.

[jbcason]

The only difference between an F250 and a F350 is a two inch spacer block, a helper spring, and recommended air pressure. Drive train brakes etc. are the same. Air pressure should be pumped up to max on the tire sidewall. SRW will do fine. If you are full timing then dualie should be seriously considered. If just weekend/vacation the disadvantages of a dualie might not out way the advantages. I have a F250 that I pull a 38 ft Montana with. SRW. I added air bags and a rear stabilizer bar. Good shocks are a must also. I use Blistein. Tires are goodyear wranglers run at 80 psi. The main thing is do not over drive your capabilities. I do think if you go with a dualie an air king pin is a must to absorb the extra shock so the helper spring.

[brownmht]

Im so glad I got my 2008 F350 4 door long bed dually. It gets around 9 MPG pulling my 35' Cougar and 11 MPG dry. I questioned myself about getting a dually but I gotta say, the added stability is more than worth it.

[laknox]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

laknox wrote:
I've always found it interesting that no matter the size trailer and TV, the numbers are almost always in the same range.

That is because no matter what the trailer or TV - it is still a flat 8 foot wide by 12 foot high surface trying to cut a hole in the air at 60 mph.

Aerodynamics, weight variations, TV gearing can be a few tenths adjustment either way - but the end result is the rig is still trying to push huge amounts of air out of the way.

I know that if I got a newer FW, with a more round front cap AND rear cap, I'd probably get the same, or better, mileage with a full-height coach than my square box low profile. My main comment was that a semi, pulling 40,000 lbs gets about the same mileage as my 3/4 ton pulling my FW at 10,000 lbs.

Lyle

[laknox]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
Just throwing this out there: I have always HATED diesels. The smell of diesel and its exhaust makes me sick - so I was inwardly cringing when Ed proposed that we buy a 5er and tow it with a diesel truck 😞 The first truck he came home with was a 2006 Ford F-250 and within moments of riding in it, my stomach was churning - bleagh.

And then..... Ford came out with a new diesel motor in 2011 that uses urea to clean the exhaust system, We now own a 2011 F-350, and I LOVE it. It's quiet; and doesn't stink!! Not even when I'm standing next to the tailpipes!!

My understanding is that all the truck makers have gone to this urea (also known as "DEF": Diesel Exhaust Fluid). If you've got someone in the family who also hates diesels - you might want whatever year your intended brand switched over to the DEF system??

Also - our F-350 SRW gets 21-22 mpg when just cruising down the highway with no trailer. We're really happy with it! Naturally, you need a bigger truck - but hopefully you'll get better mileage, too?

Try some biodiesel. You'll smell like french fries. 😉

Lyle

[Halmfamily]

Make sure you purchase the right truck the first time, unlike I did. See sig. F350 SRW made it just over a year before I traded out to a dually. Night and day difference in towing, stability and performance with the GMC. Good luck.

[hbensley]

Look closely at the TV capabilities as others have suggested. Verify the TV will be able to handle your rig up hills and down hills. You only want to buy a TV once.
The rear axle ratio makes a big difference in the GCWR too. Don't let the RV sales rep tell you "sure your truck will tow this rig" as they are primarily (I hesitate to say only) interested in selling the camper.
I agree you'll need a dually for the pin weight.
TV mileage will vary. Your driving habits will have the largest impact on mileage. My other truck (06 SRW 5.9 all else the same) got 11-13 MPG towing and 18-23 empty.

[Cummins12V98]

I don't care what the weight is but with 40' of RV behind you need a Dually.

Your pin weight is a joke! Many will say 20% but in reality it will be closer to 25%.

Get a dually you will thank those that have suggested so,