Please help choosing used tow vehicle, about 14,000 UVW.

[wsalopek]

Hi folks...

Our needs are to tow a 5th wheel or travel trailer toy-hauler, a couple times per year. 14,000 - 15,000 pounds UVW.

(One option is to hire someone a couple times per year...anyone know about what it costs to move, say, 1000 miles?)

1) It doesn't matter how old the truck is, as long as it's reliable.

2) Like to spend $15,000 or less, the less the better.

3) 4WD is desired, so I can use the truck for 4WD purposes as well.

4) MPG's aren't important.

5) Brand name not important.

6) Realizing that the tow ratings are of course paramount, and not that I would ever want to exceed them...but...just how much fudge factor are in these ratings? Again, I'll tow maybe twice per year, so absolute longevity is really not that important.

If the truck was rated to pull, say, 13,500 pounds, would pulling say, a 14k pound or 15k pound trailer, practically speaking, be all that inadvisable?

If you guys can point me at a couple different model years from 1 or more manufacturers, that'd be much appreciated.

--

Bill

[Cummins12V98]

APT wrote:
4000+ pounds of pin weight is dually range. I don't think early 2000's 1-ton duallys are rated for 17k+ pounds either, which is what your budget suggests. You may want to shift that budget a little.

You may want to ask the RV Haulers and HotShotters about that!

The 5.9 24V Second gen Cummins, NV 5600 6 speed and Dana 80 are a tough combo.

[APT]

4000+ pounds of pin weight is dually range. I don't think early 2000's 1-ton duallys are rated for 17k+ pounds either, which is what your budget suggests. You may want to shift that budget a little.

[Cummins12V98]

Grit dog wrote:
If you had any experience towing you wouldn't be asking the question, so get the newest dually you can afford. And personally I wouldn't even think of towing that much long distances without it being a diesel.
$15k will get you a nice hopped up 2nd gen cummins Dodge. Look for a tuck with the 6 speed manual and enough go fast parts to make it pull like the newer trucks. That would be my choice on a budget. Or find the nicest early Duramax you can for the budget.
7.3 early super duty with 6 speed with some mods would be good too, but they're getting more scarce than the other 2 brands due to Fords 8 year hiatus from making good diesel pickups.
You'll have to shop hard for a deal and know what you're looking at to not get a clapped out older diesel as most all will be higher miles or still $20k for a dually 4x4.
2wd will save you a lot of money and potential repair costs as well.

Personally I would look for a 2002 HO RAM Dually with a 6 speed. That would be a great truck.

[2001400ex]

I would rethink your toy hauler to pickup budget. Right now you are about $50k for a toy hauler and $15k for a truck. So you will be towing one if the nicest toy haulers you can with a 15 year old pickup. Getting a good pickup that ta reliable and will pull 17k comfortably is hard to find for $15k.

You can maybe get into a Ford 6.0 diesel, but I'd do your research first. They are finicky and you have to do some specific work to it to ensure it rubs right. And sometimes even then they run into issues. They will pull awesome to after you get a tuner and some other things.

Other than that, as others have said, early 2000s diesel.

[Chuck_thehammer]

wsalopek wrote:

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
and remember. some trucks have hour meters... could be important. mine had 4,100 running hours for 138,000 miles
and 600 idle hours. so it was a Freeway truck. and did little towing... as hitch had little use/wear.

Chuck,

Interesting about the hour meter...what's a good ratio of hours to miles?

--

Bill

can not say for sure...

but my case 138,000 miles divided by 4,100 hours is 33.6 miles per hour over the 138,000 miles ... so it must be a freeway truck.

and 600 idle hours it workers eating lunch with heat or AC running.. not bad.
as I know Ford has this meter.. others might as well.. mine is part of the message board with odometer and such. and mine is the "XL" so cheapest body Trim made by ford.

[wsalopek]

Chuck_thehammer wrote:
and remember. some trucks have hour meters... could be important. mine had 4,100 running hours for 138,000 miles
and 600 idle hours. so it was a Freeway truck. and did little towing... as hitch had little use/wear.

Chuck,

Interesting about the hour meter...what's a good ratio of hours to miles?

--

Bill

[wsalopek]

Grit dog wrote:
2nd gen cummins Dodge. Look for a tuck with the 6 speed manual and enough go fast parts to make it pull like the newer trucks. That would be my choice on a budget. Or find the nicest early Duramax you can for the budget.
7.3 early super duty with 6 speed with some mods would be good too

Grit Dog...

So that's a ...

1994 - 2002 Cummins Dodge.

2001+ Chevy Duramax.

1994 - 2003 Ford 7.3 Super Duty.

All with a factory tow package and preferably some performance parts.

Manual trans better than auto...can you say why? My wife will hate that. 🙂

Dually.

Sound about right?

Thanks...

[wsalopek]

Grit dog wrote:
And personally I wouldn't even think of towing that much long distances without it being a diesel.

Grit Dog,

Thanks for the advice.

When you say you wouldn't consider a gas engine, are you talking explicitly for torque/grunt/acceleration? (All important, of course.)

Since I won't be towing more than a couple times per year, I suppose I can live with the lower performance of a gas engine...but...just how much difference, practically speaking, are we talking about?

I mean, are we talking about on-ramps? Going up a grade? Situations where the gas engine might actually be a safety issue?

I know I'm wading into probably one of the oldest truck/towing discussions ever, but would still like to hear your thoughts...and, if/when someone else comes across this thread, the more complete it is, the better.

Thanks...

[Chuck_thehammer]

the newer the better. miles not so much

4x4 will add 5 to 7 thousand.
base model (work truck) much cheaper then top shelf package. save 2 to 4 thousand.

reason I purchased a work truck last summer.. 2012 F 250"XL" GAS with 140,000 miles, a Fleet/Lease with paperwork. but my trailer is under 9,000 pounds loaded.
but my needs are NOT your needs

and remember. some trucks have hour meters... could be important.
mine had 4,100 running hours for 138,000 miles
and 600 idle hours.
so it was a Freeway truck. and did little towing... as hitch had little use/wear.

also get the truck WITH the factory Tow package.
and you WANT a diesel

[Grit_dog]

If you had any experience towing you wouldn't be asking the question, so get the newest dually you can afford. And personally I wouldn't even think of towing that much long distances without it being a diesel.
$15k will get you a nice hopped up 2nd gen cummins Dodge. Look for a tuck with the 6 speed manual and enough go fast parts to make it pull like the newer trucks. That would be my choice on a budget. Or find the nicest early Duramax you can for the budget.
7.3 early super duty with 6 speed with some mods would be good too, but they're getting more scarce than the other 2 brands due to Fords 8 year hiatus from making good diesel pickups.
You'll have to shop hard for a deal and know what you're looking at to not get a clapped out older diesel as most all will be higher miles or still $20k for a dually 4x4.
2wd will save you a lot of money and potential repair costs as well.

[wsalopek]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
A 15,000 lb unloaded weight toy hauler could end up weighing 20,000 lbs loaded...Giving us the unloaded weight of the trailer really doesn't help at all. Nobody goes camping with an empty trailer, especially a toy hauler. What are you intending to haul in the trailer and how much does that weigh?

SoCal,

You make a good point...I was figuring "average" load. But yes I know...not very precise.

Again I am looking for general recommendations, not necc trying to figure it to within a couple hundred or even 500 pounds.

But to answer your question...no, I think no (heavy) toys inside (we just like the flexibility of the "garage")...though we've been renting ATV's lately, so who knows... 🙂

I don't know what an average load is...clothes, food, water, kitchen stuff, etc etc. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Figure 16,500 to 17,000 pounds? I'd think thats a bit on the heavy side, but a good figure to use.

Thanks...

--

Bill

[SoCalDesertRid1]

double post

[SoCalDesertRid1]

A 15,000 lb unloaded weight toy hauler could end up weighing 20,000 lbs loaded...

Giving us the unloaded weight of the trailer really doesn't help at all. Nobody goes camping with an empty trailer, especially a toy hauler.

What are you intending to haul in the trailer and how much does that weigh?

You need a dually, preferably with a diesel. Anything beyond that, depends on just how much the loaded weight of the trailer will be.

Avoid the 2003-2010 Ford 6.0 and 6.4 diesels.

[wsalopek]

agesilaus wrote:
Dually's I've heard don't work well off road as a 4WD.

Thanks for that...I guess that's a trade-off I'll live with. Max 4WD capability is not paramount.

--

Bill