Which tow rig?

[Binkley2]

I recently purchased a 40' fifth wheel toy hauler, triple slide. The dry weight is 14,050 lbs., I figure 1000 lbs. of gear, my motorcycle is about 950 lbs., hers is 650 lbs. We try to two with minimal onboard water and empty grey and black tanks. I currently have a 1996 Ford F-350 DRW with a 7.3 liter Powerstroke and auto trans. It gets the trailer where it needs to go, but it really struggles on the hills and starting off, plus it is really old and I worry about the reliability. Fortunately our favorite camp grounds are not very far away, but we want o start venturing further. So my question is this, who runs a trailer this size and weight and travels long distances with it and what tow rig do you use and how well does it do. I am looking to buy a new truck, but not sure what to buy. Do I really need to look at medium duty trucks like an F-650 or a Kodiak? The guy I bought it from pulled it with a Chevy 2500 with an 8.1 gas engine and said it handled it just fine. Not sure I really would go that route, but maybe the motor is preferable but in a DRW. Any experienced advice is welcomed.

[Cummins12V98]

Binkley2 wrote:
So, I finally ended up buying a Chevrolet 3500HD DRW with the LMM Duramax motor. This truck pulls my rig like a pro. Way better than my old Ford. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Good call on the Dually!!! You will love the stability, my #2 choice in trucks.

[Binkley2]

So, I finally ended up buying a Chevrolet 3500HD DRW with the LMM Duramax motor. This truck pulls my rig like a pro. Way better than my old Ford. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[RobertRyan]

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Yes it was, plus a lot of help from Ford of England, who did a lot of the design and testing. Peugeot and other European OEM's had input

[Water-Bug]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Could be based on two Pinto motors side by side???

NOT A CHANCE!!! The Pinto's 4 banger was awsum for it's time.

[GoPackGo]

The only converted gas to diesel engine I remember was that fine 350 that GM brought out.

Was singlehandedly responsible for setting back the passenger car/light truck diesel industry for 20 years.

Tim

[Cummins12V98]

rhagfo wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

Could be based on two Pinto motors side by side???

[The_Mad_Norsky]

tdst51 wrote:
But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

Sure hope this was an attempt to be humorous. BTW, it failed.

:h converted gas engine. Where oh where did that misinformation come from?????????

To the OP asking questions here, the new Ford diesel 6.7L is NOT a converted gas engine. And the Duramax is a great motor too. And so is the Cummins.

Drive all, then pick which one you liked the best.

[rhagfo]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

X2,
Thought the Scorpion was designed and built from the ground up by Ford.

[Cummins12V98]

tdst51 wrote:

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

"Ford has a converted gas engine" Please explain?????

I agree on "not all have the best engine" part.

[tdsxt51]

avvidclif1 wrote:
I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

But not all have the best engine. Ford has a converted gas engine, and Chevy has an Isuzu.

[tdsxt51]

Binkley2 wrote:
I recently purchased a 40' fifth wheel toy hauler, triple slide. The dry weight is 14,050 lbs., I figure 1000 lbs. of gear, my motorcycle is about 950 lbs., hers is 650 lbs. We try to two with minimal onboard water and empty grey and black tanks. I currently have a 1996 Ford F-350 DRW with a 7.3 liter Powerstroke and auto trans. It gets the trailer where it needs to go, but it really struggles on the hills and starting off, plus it is really old and I worry about the reliability. Fortunately our favorite camp grounds are not very far away, but we want o start venturing further. So my question is this, who runs a trailer this size and weight and travels long distances with it and what tow rig do you use and how well does it do. I am looking to buy a new truck, but not sure what to buy. Do I really need to look at medium duty trucks like an F-650 or a Kodiak? The guy I bought it from pulled it with a Chevy 2500 with an 8.1 gas engine and said it handled it just fine. Not sure I really would go that route, but maybe the motor is preferable but in a DRW. Any experienced advice is welcomed.

One word- CUMMINS.

[Winged_One]

An F350 Dually with the 6.7 is just what you need. Have fun picking colors. 🙂

[avvidclif1]

I don't think there is a plugged nickels worth of difference in the towing of the big 3. Figure out how much truck you need. Towing and payload primarily. That's your baseline you can't go below, if it's a dually so be it. Then start shopping for the one you like the best or get the best deal on. All have the same warranty.

[davidaf]

I'm another stick with an Auto. With tow/haul downshifting and engine brakes working together the new trucks are a pleasure to tow with. All three have put a lot of work into their transmissions over the last decade. I wouldn't be as concerned as I once was and BTW I pulled with a 48RE for 10 years. Just take care of what you have and don't tune it but who really "needs" to with the current specs on these trucks.