What size truck?

WNYBob wrote:
Can you get actual scale weights? MFG posted wts are usually way off.

An never trust a salesman!

I truly believe the RV dealers are playing what one of my bosses described as "deliberate ignorance". They don't want to reveal exact weights after they or the manufacturer has added very profitable options. The customer buys the RV based on advertised weights, goes home and loads it up and discovers "it ain't what they said". The customer has the choice of spending even more money for a new tow vehicle or towing over weight. If RV dealers by law weighed the exact vehicle the customer is buying the process would be much more transparent. As it is, I never heard of a dealer that would allow a potential customer to hook up a RV and tow it to a CAT scale.

Sonny....folks in some states really want to stay with a 2500 because of license costs and driving restrictions. Not sure about Alabama but in Texas I don't even know what the cost difference is. Apparently it's insignificant because it didn't enter in my deliberations of choices.
Anyway...you may find there is significant difference in Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings between brands. I bought the Montana when I had a Ford F350 Single Rear Wheel. By the time it was all loaded up, I was well over payload capacity. I looked at Chevy and Ram and discovered the Ford had the lowest payload, with Chevy next, and Ram the best. Example...My F350 diesel, 4x4, CC, LB, Lariat had 3264# payload, a Chevy equipped the same was 3750#, my Ram equipped the same is 4018# capacity. I think Ford builds the same truck with different GVWR so keep your eyes open for that if you prefer Fords. My Montana is 12,500# GVW. I usually pull it at around 12,000#, depending on water tank levels. This is as heavy as I want to go with a Single Rear Wheel. In fact I wish I had bought a dually because I have since bought the cabover.
Good luck........

What everyone else has said plus, do you have a special concern? For me I must drive into the northeastern states, read that NJ or divorce the DW. So the 250 can use the left lanes, some parkways, park on the street, while the 350 cannot. Most cops don't care, a few do.

I maxed my 5er to an 250 size truck, it is a "half ton towable". That is as big as I will go, as long as the pick up must occasionally make the trip to NJ with the pickup.

Ram 2500 trucks diesel or gas have 6000/6200 and 6500 RAWR which can leave up to around 2800-3000-3300 lbs for a in the bed payload all depending on truck selections.

The 3500 SRW has a 7000 rawr in the same axle with up to around 3800 lb payload in the bed.

And of course the 3500 DRW has 4 tires and a 9750 rawr for up to 6000+ lb payload in the bed.
Numbers above are a estimate as each truck depending on cab/drive train/options can weigh different after you get it home and add junk and goodies.

And non of the diesel 2500/3500 trucks will have any issues pulling their max rated tow ratings.

20 or 25 percent is usually used for 5th wheel pin weight.

Tom

dfletch wrote:
Just went through this. We found a 5th wheel we liked and I took the numbers to my truck dealer and we went through the numbers. 5th wheel gvw 16,000 lbs going with 15% of that for pin weight 2,400 lbs. so while a 3/4 ton may pull it and stop it if I want to put anything in the truck bed I will be right on the edge (if not over) the payload limit of the truck. I went with a Chevy 3500 HD Deisel dully for peace of mind and safety. The cost vs a 3/4 ton was negligible.

MFL wrote:
Best to know what FW you plan to tow first, then buy the truck to fit what your towing. If buying a truck with a diesel engine, may as well just get the 3500, as the diesel engines are heavy, using up a lot of payload.

Jerry

X1 on the diesel 3500. This will give the RVer more flexibility in choosing other RV's if they decide to go to bigger RV unit. There is minimal difference between the 2500 vs 3500 on how they feel driving.

Just went through this. We found a 5th wheel we liked and I took the numbers to my truck dealer and we went through the numbers. 5th wheel gvw 16,000 lbs going with 15% of that for pin weight 2,400 lbs. so while a 3/4 ton may pull it and stop it if I want to put anything in the truck bed I will be right on the edge (if not over) the payload limit of the truck. I went with a Chevy 3500 HD Deisel dully for peace of mind and safety. The cost vs a 3/4 ton was negligible.

If buying new, just get the 3500 and don't look back. The price difference is pretty small (at least mine was back in the day). Even if you don't need the extra capacity now, you will thank yourself down the road when you do.

Sonny, buy or select the TT or FW first. Then match a truck to it.

Best to know what FW you plan to tow first, then buy the truck to fit what your towing. If buying a truck with a diesel engine, may as well just get the 3500, as the diesel engines are heavy, using up a lot of payload.

Jerry