Help picking new truck

[docjason]

Hello to all...been lurking here for years and have learned lots here but just signed up as a new member for some advice. I started camping with the normal progression...pop up then a travel trailer (still have) and am now moving up! Just ordered a 2017 Grand Design Reflection 367BHS 5th wheel today...dealer will set it up when it's in (late April or early May) at our seasonal camp site as our current truck is a Silverado 1500 6.2 and of course would be crushed under the new rig. We will be trading the Silverado for a proper truck for the camper next spring.

So my question is what type of truck should we be getting into? Our dealer told us a 2500 diesel will do just fine. I'm not so sure, I think we will need a 3500 diesel and possibly dual axle. The specs on the camper are:

UVW 12362
Hitch weight 2496
GVWR 14995
Length 41 feet

The payloads on the 2500 diesel trucks with 4x4 (necessary where we live) are all under 3000 pounds that I'm seeing online. The 3500 diesel trucks all have payloads over 4000. So am I reading this wrong that a 2500 is not enough truck and I should go 3500? I would prefer 2500 but am OK with bigger. Also, with 3500, do I need dual axle for this rig? Dealer says no.

Thanks so much for the advice in advance

[The_real_wild1]

The wife refuses to drive a dually now too. Its funny because she used to drive one to high school for a year or so. That one had cracked and broken rear fenders too.

[Me_Again]

One of my buddies got two rear duallie finders and one mirror!

[bfast54]

The_real_wild1 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I don't ever see any tow mirrors bashed in but I sure see a lot (relatively speaking) of DRW fenders smashed in from hitting something.

Never thought of it but that is very true!

Apparently were you guys live or drive WHERE THEY ARE crappy drivers???????

I rarely see duallys with bashed fenders --'and I see a lot of duallys

Like inspector Callahan said "a man's gotta know his limitations"



For the original poster it's about safety and overall comfort and joy


The D.R.W. already has your spare tire mounted ----in case you have a tire issue Much more stable better ride ---but You know you can't convince the srw crowd since they've never driven Duallys apparently......



I'll bet most of them aren't even convinced that indoor plumbing is all the rage either hahaha:W

[The_real_wild1]

FishOnOne wrote:
I don't ever see any tow mirrors bashed in but I sure see a lot (relatively speaking) of DRW fenders smashed in from hitting something.

Never thought of it but that is very true!

[FishOnOne]

I don't ever see any tow mirrors bashed in but I sure see a lot (relatively speaking) of DRW fenders smashed in from hitting something.

[Dadoffourgirls]

For those that say a dually is fine for a daily driver, it depends on where you live, and what your daily drive is. I can tell you that a crew cab long bed (just 8 ft - using 2017 marketing definition) is not a wonderful daily driver if you park in a parking deck every day, or live in an older neighborhood with narrow streets and driveways.

If you live in a rural setting, and your daily drive includes parking in large open parking lots, than maybe a DRW could be similar.

I can also say that a 2017 Sierra Denali with the new Duramax is fantastic.

[dfb]

Im just talking RAM... We have a 2015 Ram 3500 4x4 Mega cab shortbed. The GVWR on this truck is 12300lbs. With our 2015 Montana loaded at 13000 lbs, We are over our Rear Axle weight and GVWR. By about 400 Lbs.. When you add a sprayed in liner and a superglide and the trucks weight is 9000 lbs it don't take much.. If I were to do it again.DUALLY!!!!!
. I would get the Ram 3500 Crew cab Long bed with Factory rear air suspension. Diesel with the Alison Automatic and a minimum of 3:73 gears. Maybe 4:10s... Exhaust brake and tow prep with the puck system in the bed. Go with the light Andersen Hitch.. Of course a Laramie... Like I said, even with the Alison and a 16000 lb tow rating .. still over the GVWR.. Instead of using the dually as a commute vehicle, buy a cheap car to go to work.... Just an opinion... that's it...been doing this since 1992... Not my first Rodeo...NEVER EVER take the Dealers word... EVER!!!

[docjason]

Thanks to everyone who replied, I appreciate all of the input. The good thing is we aren't buying the truck until next spring so it gives me plenty of time to read and also talk to more folks at the campground this season and check out their set ups. But this thread has been a great start and tremendous help!

[Old-Biscuit]

Properly matched, a 1/4 ton truck can be a great towing platform.

That is why I have a SRW 3500....it is PROPERLY matched to tow my 14K (13,873# scaled) 5th wheel.

A NEWER 3500 SRW will be properly matched to tow that 15K 5th wheel
The dry pin weight % is 20% so wet pin weight will be roughly 3000#
My wet pin fully loaded is 2980#----pin weight is 22% on my 5vr

Contrary to some postings I HAVE owned duallies. And they were good towing platforms for the weights I towed but they doesn't mean I NEEDED a dually for current towing.
My old 2007 SRW does a great job......towed FT for 7 yrs and NEVER did I once think 'DANG I should have gone Dually'-----cause I didn't need one----PERIOD

Match truck and trailer....then go camping!

(A NEW SRW WILL BE A GREAT MATCH FOR THAT 5VR) :B

[The_real_wild1]

I disagree with the dually and srw trucks being almost identical for a daily driver. My truck is a cclb and I can park it anywhere. Sometimes I have to fold in my mirrors. If I had a dually there are only about 1/2 the spots I could park in as I do now. You can't fold in fenders.

[FishOnOne]

When purchasing a trailer I make sure it doesn't require a DRW truck. As a weekend warrior for camping I don't want to live with a DRW as a daily driver.

Bottom line there is an overlap area that makes either a DRW and a SRW both acceptable.

[ljr]

I learned a very expensive lesson awhile back when a camper upgrade forced me to replace a great truck that just wasn't quite up to the task.

Don't buy a TV for this trailer. Buy it for the next one.

[The_real_wild1]

Exactly. I was a dodge guy. I still think they have the nicer interior but as for towing the two don't compare. When I bought my last dodge it was a toss up between a dually diesel with less option or the srw big hemi with more options. My new check drives way nicer and tows better big time. It is my daily driver too. Other may feel butt hurt by me saying this and thats fine. I am just suggesting to people they drive them both and make their own decision. The only thing with chev now is they have the new engine. Lots of power but it is a first gen engine so no one knows if they will have issues or not and won't know for another couple years. I won't suggest ford as I don't care for them but if someone is spending that kind of cash it would be wise for them to look at all their options.

[Me_Again]

blofgren wrote:

The_real_wild1 wrote:
LMAO. You don't need a dally for that trailer. Before you buy take the dodge and chevy out for a long test drive. I got rid of my dodge 3500 and got a chev 3500. Both srw and the towing was night a day difference. The chev chassis is way better then the dodge. This could be why the dodge guys always say go dually lol. 2016 or newer chev 3500 duramax srw is what I recommend.

What year was your Dodge?

From other post he made.

"I bought 4 new dodges since 2008. 2 one tons and 2 1/2tons. All were great trucks until the last one which was a 2014. Should have went on a longer road test with that one. Hated the truck. It was a lemon. Traded it in on a new duramax LTZ this fall and couldn't be happier. I suggest looking at the chev/gm line. "