Forum Discussion

Mommytwo6girls's avatar
Mommytwo6girls
Explorer
Sep 07, 2017

For the gas RV Fifth Wheel Hauler's out here.

Hi everyone,

I've been researching for a used 6 sitter truck. That can tow a fifth wheel GVWR 17K. Boy, it is truly a mind blowing experience!
I started with diesel. But, from my research. Diesel would use a lot of unwanted gas consumption using it as my everyday vehicle. We live in New England and the hard starting at 6:30am 5 days week to get my girls to school. That would be a challenge I think.
my girls and I only RV 2 months in the summer. Then a few weekends in the Spring/Fall. Then it goes into hibernation for the New England winter.
Right now I'm towing our Jayco Flight 32 TSBH GVWR 10,900LBS with a Ford F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab gas/FlexFuel.. GVWR12,200LBS/10,000LBS!

I have talked with my mechanic and he told me, nope do not get diesel... Just put adds on your F250 gasser and it'll do just fine.... Umm, after researching, reading tons of stuff... He could be putting my children and my life in harms way with 17K LBS behind us going 60 on a freeway in our F250.

Can anyone who pulls a fifth wheel with a gas truck help me in determining if that's impossible to do or if there is a used truck floating out there for sale. That can pull it safely and not prematurely damage the gas engine.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Tow Vehicles
  • Ron3rd's avatar
    Ron3rd
    Explorer III
    Sep 07, 2017
    A fifth wheel with a GVWR of 17K is too big for an F250 IMO. That's 1-Ton territory.

    "Diesel would use a lot of unwanted gas consumption using it as my everyday vehicle."

    Don't know who told you that when a diesel gets better mpg than a gasser.
  • Mommytwo6girls's avatar
    Mommytwo6girls
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    Thank you Rod.
    That's what I thought. My heart dropped when researching adds on my truck... When I ran over a few videos of wrecks pertaining to over loaded trucks pulling RVs....
    A few forums with gas vers diesel. A few examples did say diesel as a everyday run around town, stop/go would use more. How I made that assumption.
  • darsben1's avatar
    darsben1
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    Have you looked at the sticker on the drivers side door frame?
    It will give you tons of info. If you post the numbers people can guide you.
  • Michelle_S's avatar
    Michelle_S
    Explorer III
    Sep 07, 2017
    At 17K you're looking at newer 350/3500 Duallies. The newer crop of Diesels have glow plugs to help with cold weather starting, plus for northern area sales, a block heater is a mandatory option (at least with GMs), which allows you to plug the truck in during extreme cold temps. Also most of the current Diesels will probably get better mileage than your 250 both solo and towing.
  • wing_zealot's avatar
    wing_zealot
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    If you get the diesel don't buy one without the supplemental heater and heated seats. Either that or you better buy the best coat, hat, gloves, and thermal underwear you can find - you're going to freeze to death in that diesel.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Sep 07, 2017
    Keep your present 12k 5er or replace with new one at that weight. Is this new one going to get you excluded from any of your favorite places?
  • Mommytwo6girls's avatar
    Mommytwo6girls
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    Thank you everyone.

    Darsben1,
    I've gone and looked at only 2 diesels so far. I'll definitely start taking pictures of the side door sticker of the trucks I see in person. Just for my search in a used truck.
    Michelle. S,
    I've look online for trucks built in 13-15 and so many have been used to plow the tons of snow we have up here. I see how the snowplow companies beat their trucks first hand. It worries me on the longevity of the Diesel engine for the girls and I.
  • Mommytwo6girls's avatar
    Mommytwo6girls
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    Wing_zealot lol!
    Lol, Some things we do for RVing.
    If I can't find a gas 1ton truck that can tow.
    Then the search will go heavy into finding a good used diesel.
    At the start of my search. I went looking at a 2008 Dodge Ram Pickup 3500 - Laramie 4dr Quad Cab 4WD LB. It had 86,000 miles on it. It was beautiful. But, I was just starting out the search and moving from gas is scary too me. If I had the 80-90K for a new diesel. I wouldn't be that scared...
    If that makes sense.
  • Sprink-Fitter's avatar
    Sprink-Fitter
    Explorer
    Sep 07, 2017
    Mommytwo6girls wrote:
    Hi everyone,

    I have talked with my mechanic and he told me, nope do not get diesel... Just put adds on your F250 gasser and it'll do just fine.... Umm, after researching, reading tons of stuff... He could be putting my children and my life in harms way with 17K LBS behind us going 60 on a freeway in our F250.

    Can anyone who pulls a fifth wheel with a gas truck help me in determining if that's impossible to do or if there is a used truck floating out there for sale. That can pull it safely and not prematurely damage the gas engine.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.


    What does "just put adds on your F250" mean?

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