Bought the Camper now I need a truck

[tjw0099]

Hey folks,

It has been a while since I posted.

My wife and I purchased a 2017 Jayco 34RSBS travel trailer.

We love it. However, I don't have a truck that can pull it.

I borrowed a friends F350 to get it to the campground and I am looking to purchase a good used truck by mid May.

The TT is 10900 empty. We have about 500 pounds of stuff in the TT.

I need a 4 door truck, since we will be taking our German Sheperd with us. I am also going to need an 8 foot bed so we can load the Golf Cart.

I am concerned about the EGR issue with the F250's. I have seen where some are bulletproofed and others have had the EGR delete.

I have also looked at the Ram 3500.

I want diesel.

I would appreciate any and all input from personal experience on the F250 and the Ram 3500. Also if there is a Chevy that can do the job, please feel free to post.

It just seems that there are more F250's available in my area.

Thanks in advance.

I will be using a weight distribution hitch with the camper.

Tom in Virginia

[john1928]

1320Fastback wrote:
That's 1 ton territory but feel free to buy higher.

Registration will kill ya though...

Depends where you live and how they price their tabs... Around here cars and 3/4-ton and lighter trucks pay tabs based on value $10 + 1.25% X MSRP (decreasing by 10% of MSRP per year). So, for an $80K 3/4-ton you'd pay $1010 for your tabs (presumably because you must be a lousy rich person).

On the other hand 1-ton and heavier trucks pay based on weight and 1-tons are at the very bottom of that fee table. If you buy a $80,000 1-ton pickup (gross weight under 15K) your tabs will run you $120 (presumably because you must be a salt of the earth working class stiff rather than a lousy rich person). Yes, the logic is flawed.

The difference is smaller with lower priced trucks, and decreases with age (eventually favoring the 3/4 ton after 10 years). That said, if you're buying new around here you're likely not going to come out on top in the registration fee column over the life of the truck going with a similar 3/4-ton vs 1-ton.

[ctilsie242]

The price difference between a one ton and a 3/4 ton can be so low... I'd just go for a one ton, and be done with it.

Even though this sounds like heresy, I do wish Ford still sold F-350s with the V-10 engine. I don't need a diesel for what I do, and gassers are relatively headache free and need relatively little upkeep to keep them going.

[dodge_guy]

As was already mentioned the trailer is not 10,900 dry.

Actual specs.
Unloaded Vehicle Weight 8600lbs
Dry Hitch Weight 1275lbs
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 10950lbs
Cargo Carrying Capacity 2350lbs

So 8600lbs dry will end up weighing approx. 9800lbs loaded for a trip, maybe a bit less if you pack light. hitch weight will be approx. 1225lbs (12.5%).

Knowing you will be taking a golf cart I would definitely get the 1 ton. a 3/4 ton would be OK without a golf cart.

[deltabravo]

downtheroad wrote:
Any of the later diesels...Ford, GM, Ram...
but with a 11000 lb DRY trailer...absolutely go with a 350/3500.

Ditto.

I love my CHevy.

[ulvik]

LIKE2BUILD wrote:
I have a '14 Ram 2500, crew cab, 8' bed, with 6.7L Cummins. That trailer is well within the specs of this truck. GCWR is 25,000lbs and max trailer weight is 16,870lbs. It has coil springs on all 4 corners and rides very smooth when unloaded. I can put my 5er on the hitch (14,000 GVWR) and it squats just about 1" and rides very well. Power is never a problem when hooked to the trailer.

So, no you don't need a 3500. My truck would pull your TT without issues.

KJ

As far as best bang for the buck this is the way to go. And in a tradesmen edition 4 door 4wd and diesel you can get them new for under $40K

[1stgenfarmboy]

I am not a ford guy but I am in the diesel world hip deep with all brands, if you can buy a 6.0 that has had the EGR system already taken care of along with new head gaskets they are really a pretty good engine after that, the duramax engine is quite powerful and pretty dependable but parts and labor will kill ya if needed, some folks won't even look at trucks that are more than a few years old ( why I will never know ) but a dodge from 91.5-98.5 which takes in two body styles but still has the 12V mechanical pump cumins would be my choise for a truck to get you there and home, parts are better priced and most any diesel shop or farmer can work on them with no problems. I have had 4 trucks of this vintage all went well over 200k before I sold them with zero engine problems, they are not quiet, the truck it's self has a few problems but they are hard to beat.

[noteven]

another job for a V10 EcoBoost, 600HP! ...

[deltabravo]

downtheroad wrote:
Any of the later diesels...Ford, GM, Ram...
but with a 11000 lb DRY trailer...absolutely go with a 350/3500.

Ditto.

Drive each, pick the one you like the best

[Camper_G]

Agree with the others, but check your weights real good. My 17 Ram 2500 has over 3100 lbs of payload.

Absolutely avoid, and run from like the plague any 6.0 l ford diesels. They are very problematic.

[jerem0621]

Just a quick word on the golf cart in the bed of a long bed Ford. You will not be able to close the tailgate. I had to strap mine up when I hauled my golf cart in the bed. I highly recommend a Dually if you are going to do the golf cart in the bed plus pull a TT at the same Time.

Worked great for us...this was my old rig... mine was a v10...miss this trouble free/worry free truck.



Thanks,

Jeremiah

[westend]

goducks10 wrote:
You'll absolutely need a 1 ton if going diesel. 1275 lb dry hitch weight plus a golf cart in the truck will overload a 3/4 ton. And that's not including you, the wife and that bog ole dog along with whatever else goes in the TT.

X2, check your specifications sheets. I have an F250 4 door and 4WD, not diesel. Payloads may surprise you.

[goducks10]

You'll absolutely need a 1 ton if going diesel. 1275 lb dry hitch weight plus a golf cart in the truck will overload a 3/4 ton. And that's not including you, the wife and that bog ole dog along with whatever else goes in the TT.

[LIKE2BUILD]

I have a '14 Ram 2500, crew cab, 8' bed, with 6.7L Cummins. That trailer is well within the specs of this truck. GCWR is 25,000lbs and max trailer weight is 16,870lbs. It has coil springs on all 4 corners and rides very smooth when unloaded. I can put my 5er on the hitch (14,000 GVWR) and it squats just about 1" and rides very well. Power is never a problem when hooked to the trailer.

So, no you don't need a 3500. My truck would pull your TT without issues.

KJ

[Calicajun]

His GVWR is 10,900, dry 8,600, hitch 1,275. Nice floor plan. Any 3/4 ton truck will pull that trailer without a problem.