Pick up for TC

[intravino]

Hello,

First post.

I was looking to get a pick up with 8 feet bed for TC and I found a nice 99 Cummins. The problem is that owner is saying that he used to pull a fifth wheel.

Would you consider a pick up that was used for a fifth wheel ?


Thanks,

[Grit_dog]

intravino wrote:
Yes, it is an ATX, the truck is $ 7000 CAD and no rust, perfect frame also, one owner truck. The owner said it never saw winter and an oil treatment was done on the undercarriage every year. I don't have much more info until I go and see it.

If it is actually what you said above AND well maintained mechanically, that is a decent deal for a reg cab 2wd 2500, good deal if it's a 2wd quad cab and a steal if its a 4wd and grand larceny if it's a quad/4x4!

Seriously, the only thing that could make that not a good deal is a 53 block and even then, you could still buy it and double your money to use for another truck.

Good luck man!
Regarding weight, eh, 3000lb camper comfortably with some airbags.

[Lwiddis]

Your “deal” is your “risk.”

[deltabravo]

intravino wrote:
Christ, If I knew that asking a question would have given so condescending answers, I would have went on a Facebook group. What a warm welcome.....

This forum has a lot of good members, but a lot of rude ones too, as you see in this thread.

[ajriding]

160,000 is very very low miles for a 20 year old truck. Unless the guy was a full-time RVer living in his 5th then Id say he drove very little ever.

It probably has original everything mostly. You will need to figure that you will be replacing things at some point. If it is original injector pump then it might die tomorrow. 160 is a long time for that pump. The clutch likely has been replaced, if not then it is pretty worn likely, or maybe it an auto..

Anyway, if it is only $7,000, and only has 160,000 and there is no big issues, then it is a good price. Even if you drive straight to the shop and put in a new clutch and trans /or auto trans it is still a good price. I think you confirmed it is 4x4, if 2wd then $7k is still decent since low miles but nothing special.

A dually is not necessarily needed for a TC.

Yes, these 2500 trucks are ample for most truck campers. Though, TCs come in many weights. 1,800-2,500 is the normal light to medium weight. Anything heavier and you will want a dually.
With this 2nd gen truck you can simply add air bags. On this truck there are leaf springs which are outside of the frame rails and the air bags will go directly on top of the springs (might need to remove the helper springs), so you do not introduce any imbalances as if the bags were to go inside the frame rails.

The goal with bags is not to get the truck up to empty height, but to get is mostly level. The truck sits rear high when empty because the engineers figure when you load it with normal stuff there will be some sag, so they allowed for this. Air bags up to give some support bc a TC is a little more than the average load.

The weight weak link is usually the tires and wheels. You will need, and it has Im sure, E rated tires, 10 ply. which can handle over 3,000 lbs each.

Mine weighs 1,800 dry, and yes, add 1,000 lbs if you have a lot of stuff, which includes propane, water and all your food, gear, bedding, pots pans etc. and what is in the truck cab, people, dogs, tools etc.

Depending on your plans for camper is what you want in it. No shower for me is a no deal. I used to have a pop up TC and though it was great driving for mpg cross the country and back in reality it did not save me enough to put up with all the negatives of a tent top. Tents are noisy and cold. I am way happier with a full size, and it might cost 100 bucks more to drive across the whole country. well worth it.

If you insist on a pop up then do not get the HECO lift system. All I will say is; nightmare.

In Canada, how do they enforce weight? Do they look at the truck door sticker and then look for a camper sticker? Campers are always listed dry weight, and may not even include features like AC in the weight. If they go by stickers then you should be fine, if they weigh it then everyone is over, haha. Do you have to go through highway scales?

[intravino]

Yes, it is an ATX, the truck is $ 7000 CAD and no rust, perfect frame also, one owner truck. The owner said it never saw winter and an oil treatment was done on the undercarriage every year. I don't have much more info until I go and see it.

How much do you have to add to the dry weight to be safe, 1000 lbs ? I was looking into a TC with only shower and no toilet. I saw some new and used ones from 1000 lbs to 1400 lbs dry weight. The most heavy I was interested in was 1800 lbs with stove/oven, shower and toilet. I saw some Pop-up ones but you are talking about 1600 lbs with toilet.

BTW, we will be traveling as two adults and one 30 lbs hunting dog.

I think Quebec doesn't enforce the GVWR door tag yet but I heard from other owners that that the US customs, they do check the GVWR, even more so if you have a slide out TC.

I hate the jive that some TC salesman gave about GVWR saying that don't worry about it.


Thanks again,

[Bedlam]

There has been considerable information posted on this era truck within this thread from people that have seen the good and bad. The truck the OP posted will be a good one for someone that can do their own repairs and service, but will cost someone else too much if they have to pay for labor.

I feel the OP will hard time finding a camper as light as he posted unless it has minimal amenities. If Quebec is like BC and enforces the GVWR door tag, it will be difficult to stay compliant once people, gear and water are added to the total.

Newer trucks are heavier but have a larger GVWR. There would be better chance of finding a camper that works on a SRW truck that has 3000-4000 lbs of payload available.

[Grit_dog]

^ Dont take it personally bud. Some of these guys eat each other at times too.
160k miles is nothing on the overall useful lifespan on the truck.
Those that are "into" trucks know there is a littany of things that "could" go wrong with any vehicle. Vehicle specific stuff. And there's the possibility that the current owner took great care of it and fixed all of the nuance type problems and is up on all maint and repairs.
Pulling a 5ver wont in and of itself hurt the trans, but presuming its an auto, it is also not the longest lasting trans out there. But it was good in 1999. 160k towing and stock engine, no tune, and maintained fluids filters band adjustments etc, I'd give it a greater than 50% chance or making it to 200k. On the flipside, well....

Again, it's about your expectations. Are you getting a cherry, not spent its winters in Quebec, great deal on a perfect $15k truck for $10k with the expectation that if you have to put $5k or more into it in the next couple years you're cool with that. Or is your expectation different?

[intravino]

The pickup is a single wheel drive, 160K miles and I don't know if the block is a 53. The payload of Cummins is around 2900lbs for what I saw in old Dodge brochures. I like much more a Ford gasser but I have this "deal" on this 99 Cummins.

I know the attachment system is different on a TC.

I am looking for a long bed 8 ' and I want a "lite" TC, 1800 lbs max, no tips out like Lance or an other super heavy brand.

I just asked that question because pulling a 5 Wheel would not damage the transmission long term or lower the lifespan?

Thanks to the OTHER members for their answers.

Christ, If I knew that asking a question would have given so condescending answers, I would have went on a Facebook group. What a warm welcome.....

[_1Flyboy]

You might not know it now, but, you really want a DUALLY if you’re getting a hard side TC... Do the math when you figure out which TC you’re gonna get - FULLY LOADED!

[work2much]

How hard a used truck has been driven is not a bad question. While the Cummins engine in general is a long lasting and reliable workhorse the rest of the running gear wears out sooner. Pulling a trailer decreases the life expectancy of components. Given that the truck is 2 decades old I would put a keen eye on the maintenance history and have a good diesel mechanic give it a solid look over.

[Grit_dog]

ryoung wrote:
The OP seems to be a complete newbie by asking the question. He seems to think there is problem with pulling a fifth wheel initially and then using the truck to haul a TC at some later time. In my opinion there is no problem.

Just answer his question and quit berating him.

ryoung

But it’s easier for the geniuses on this site to make fun of people....
To the OP, a 99 Dodge Cummins in and of itself is absolutely able to haul a TC.
How big depends on what it is, how it’s set up and what you’re comfortable with.
But any HD pickup of a similar configuration will have similar abilities.
The biggest thing for you to look at imo, is the miles and Condition of the truck.
At 20 years old, it could have a lot of issues and not be fit to haul or it could be a great truck. But given your perceived lack of knowledge about vehicles, proceed with caution. The wrong vehicle could cost more in repairs and downtime than you paid for it.

[ajriding]

Listen to burningman on the 53 block

99 with long beds are harder to find, but not impossible. Autos are more abundant than the manuals. Which are you looking at?

I assume by "towing a 5th" your concern is all the stress on the truck. True, but how many mile did the PO actually tow? I would be very weary of buying a truck with a 5th or gooseneck hitch in the bed. Those hitches are great for towing very heavy loads. The Cummins can tow 30,000 lbs, way over the rated limit, and there are people who will do just that.
Though, my truck has a gooseneck hitch I put on and have never used it. I went another route..

Other than the 53 block, the Cummins is a great motor. The tappet cover will leak, so see if that has been replaced, the original ones just dry up and crack. You will have oil leaks, this is not detrimental, actually normal for diesels, but you also do not want one that leaks like a spigot.

The injector pump is the VP44 and will fail. $1,400-1,500 for a new one plus labor, but not hard to do yourself.

The stock lift pump (what sends fuel from gas tank (diesel) to the injector pump) is junk. You want to see an aftermarked one which will be installed on the frame between fender and frame in front of the left rear wheel. FASS or Air Dog is typical. There are other good fixes, but these two are best.

The drivers seat cushion will be worn out. Genos (genoes) garage has all these parts. The dash board top will be non-existent or will have been replaced.

If 4x4 you will want the more rare CAD front axle, otherwise the front axle spins all the time into the diff and the transfer case.

Back to the trans. On manual there are a lot of issues with the NV4500 5 speed trans. The 5th gear was a major issue and cause of many trans end of life. The 5th gear nut can be fixed. Ask for proof of this. Otherwise budget the price of a new trans in what you plan to spend (about $3500-4000 installed) The trans itself is about $1.500 for a rebuilt NV4500, there are no new ones.

There are a lot of bad rebuilt units out there. I got one where the KY rebuild shop welded in the 5th gear, so that one was ruined after only 80k of driving. Just avoid anything that originated from KY to be safe.

If it has been "chipped" then that may or may not be good. Depends on the owner. Chips are Edge programmers or other brands that alter the CPU, mostly increase the fueling to the injectors to increase power. More power means more stress on that already stressed trans pulling a giant 5th wheeler.

I see trucks pulling giant trailers up mountains blowing by me doing 70-75mph. The cummins can do that, but the trans is screaming, help me. I would not want to buy that truck.

Go look at dodge cummins forums, or do internet search for info on that 2nd gen truck to get an idea what you are getting into. There were a lot of issues with the truck, but if those were fixed then would no longer be an issue. Some people fix them with upgrades, some just replace with the same problem part and hope for a few more miles.

[ryoung]

The OP seems to be a complete newbie by asking the question. He seems to think there is problem with pulling a fifth wheel initially and then using the truck to haul a TC at some later time. In my opinion there is no problem.

Just answer his question and quit berating him.

ryoung

[Lwiddis]

While I’ve kept vehicles 20 years, I wouldn’t buy a 20 year old vehicle.

[jaycocreek]

jimh425 wrote:
My used truck had been used to pull horses across the country. It was well maintained, and there were at least regular services done.

They showed horses and generally those people are easy on trucks. I don’t know much about 99 Dodges, so maybe it’s ok, or maybe not even if it didn’t pull a fiver.

Maintenance is everything..The op might consider talking to a diesel mechanic or have them look at and drive it before making the jump..

When I was looking for a truck to put a TC on,diesels was an option..My neighbor owns a diesel shop and I see them towed in almost daily..I definitely would have asked him about what I was considering and even better,let him check it out before buying..

Good luck to the op in buying a truck for a truck camper.