Tow Vehicle for 10k bumper pull

[CampingFamily10]

My travel trailer is a 2020 Keystone Outback 340bh. About 40 ft long and 8800 lbs u loaded / max 10500 loaded. We have a permanent spot but will still probably travel 1-2 times a year up and down the east coast with the worst being Allegheny mountains in PA. Because I won’t tow frequently I am looking at probably going gas truck again as I replace my current Ram 1500 with the 5.7.

Any recommendations when comparing the big 3? I’m probably looking for a 2014 - 2017 used 2500/F-250. Seems like the 6.4 HEMI does well but with a weak transmission. A lot of people think the 6.0 is underpowered and I’ve heard the 6.2 is pretty comparable as well. I don’t really have any allegiance to a brand.

[Grit_dog]

Lol, no I just hope that providing a little reality will help the impressionable folks that are asking the questions! Cheers!

[spoon059]

Grit dog wrote:

Lwiddis wrote:
Weight wise a 3/4 will do it but at 40 feet I'd get a one ton. That's a bunch of tail for a dog to tow.

But a 1 ton dog is the same size as a 3/4 ton one, regardless of how big his tail is...

Never let reality get in the way of the RV.net weight police... don't you know better by now!!!???!!!

[spoon059]

Honestly the 6.0 is plenty of truck. My FIL tows an 8500 lbs trailer with his 6.0 and has plenty of power. The PA mountains bring his fuel economy to 6 or 7, but he can easily maintain highway speeds up those grades. Any of the big 3 will do fine, but definitely get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck for that weight.

The older Ram 6.4 with the 6 speed had plenty of power, but the transmission gearing was wonky at best. Maybe try to find a 4.30 rear axle 6.4, apparently those work better with the transmission ratio on the 6 speed.

Ford 6.2 has plenty of grunt and should handle those weights just fine.

Did your 5.7 have enough power? You can still get a 2500 with the smaller Hemi.

Just remember though, a gas engine needs to rev more to make power. There is nothing wrong with towing at 2500 RPM and occasionally revving higher to pull grades. That is exactly how they are designed to work. Any modern 3/4 ton truck with a gas engine should be able to handle those weights... especially just a couple times a year.

[kw_00]

The GM 6.0 is far from being underpowered, any gas job will work for you especially with the 6 speed transmissions.

[Me_Again]

CampingFamily101 wrote:
My travel trailer is a 2020 Keystone Outback 340bh. About 40 ft long and 8800 lbs u loaded / max 10500 loaded. We have a permanent spot but will still probably travel 1-2 times a year up and down the east coast with the worst being Allegheny mountains in PA. Because I won’t tow frequently I am looking at probably going gas truck again as I replace my current Ram 1500 with the 5.7.

Any recommendations when comparing the big 3? I’m probably looking for a 2014 - 2017 used 2500/F-250. Seems like the 6.4 HEMI does well but with a weak transmission. A lot of people think the 6.0 is underpowered and I’ve heard the 6.2 is pretty comparable as well. I don’t really have any allegiance to a brand.

2x4 35K+
https://www.31dodge.com/new/Ram/2019-Ram-2500-kernersville-2818f47d0a0e0ae97bdec050ff637cb9.htm
4x4 38K+
https://www.31dodge.com/new/Ram/2019-Ram-2500-kernersville-9d08a82f0a0e0ae7453a4472d18a02e1.htm

4x4 is nice looking. Chris



Window sticker.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=3C6UR5CJ5KG577198

[valhalla360]

Lwiddis wrote:
Weight wise a 3/4 will do it but at 40 feet I'd get a one ton. That's a bunch of tail for a dog to tow.

Huh? Unless you move up to a dually (overkill for 10k), they are essentially the same truck.

Modern gas V8's are largely all over 350hp...so plenty of grunt.

Our 2008 V10 is rated at 365 and many are pushing up close to 400hp.

[wowens79]

I’ve been looking and researching trucks, and started looking at 2-3year old trucks, but looking at prices it looks like new ones are not much more, so I’m looking new.
All 3 have made big changes for the 19’s and 20’s
Ram in 2019 went to an 8 spd trans, and people are loving the new trans. The old 6spd was solid, but had bad shift points, and internal gear rations
Chevy upped the engine to a 6.6 liter for 2020, but left the 6spd trans and it seems it has bad shift point like the Ram had.
Ford just realeased a 7.3 liter gasser with a 10 spd tranny, and it is getting every ones attention. It seems to be a real beast.

[Grit_dog]

Lwiddis wrote:
Weight wise a 3/4 will do it but at 40 feet I'd get a one ton. That's a bunch of tail for a dog to tow.

But a 1 ton dog is the same size as a 3/4 ton one, regardless of how big his tail is...

[dodge_guy]

If you can find one of the last year F250's with a V10? that's what I would do.

[1320Fastback]

Even my old 1st Gen Dodge is rated to pull 11,600 so I would hope any modern 3/4 ton could do it too and if I was only going to pull a few times a year would go with a 3/4 ton.

[blt2ski]

Not saying you will find either of these.
GM has a 1500 with a 6.2 V8 with more HP torque than a 23/35 series truck. I know of one person pulling a 12kbboat from E Was over Stevens pass at 50+ on 4-5% grades. That is plenty fast for that road. An interstate would be 60'ish.
The other, probably a better chassis setup. Ford's F150 has an 8400 gvw option with the 3.5 Ecoboost. So no loss of power until you hit 8-9000' elevation, which I don't believe is possible on east coast. Last year or two has an 8 or 10 so auto.....
With a WD system, either of these has ability to pull you just fine too. Only issue, might be payload, depending on hitch weight, passenger wts etc. When I had 4 adult sized teens, that trailer, I would at or just above these two trucks abilities chassis wise, power no. A couple, these are options. Family of 6 that weighs in at 1200-2300 lbs, not happening.

Marty

[blt2ski]

2014 and later, seem to have mower power than the 13and older models. At least with three manufactures I know in gas. The GM 6.0 iirc has 350+ ponies to move you along. If that does not work I. A 25/35 series SW rig. Then you're in trouble!
Not positive on power specs of other two brands, I would suspect they will motor you along just fine too.
Buy the one wife likes, star traveling.

Marty

[IdaD]

Any newer 2500 or 3500 truck, gas or diesel, would do nicely.

Price new trucks too. I suspect the incentives may get real appealing pretty soon and new may compare favorably to lightly used.

[wanderingaimles]

rexlion wrote:
Here's what you need. Go big or go home! 😉

Rex, thats ok if you have a pop up, he has a 30+ foot tt.

[rexlion]

Here's what you need. Go big or go home! 😉