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What truck to buy next for towing Travel Trailer

Poohper
Explorer
Explorer
Hi Everyone,

We are in the processing of looking for another truck to tow our 35' Travel trailer. Our truck (2007 Ford F250 Diesel)is on it's last leg at 145,000 miles and it hasn't been such a great truck maintenance wise.
We are now looking at the Chevy, Dodge and GMC. We have seen more Rams towing compared to the others. What do you tow your Travel Trailers with and should we stick with the diesel? Should we also get the 4X4 and what engine size should we look for. We have had the EGR valve replaced 3 times on this truck and it's time to move on. We decided no more Ford Trucks. Thanks!
Pooh:R
48 REPLIES 48

Greene728
Explorer
Explorer
FishOnOne wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
ppine wrote:
thanks to blofgren for a good post. The Ford 6.0 is probably the weakest diesel built in America in the last 20 years. Trade it for a different diesel. Any one of them not named 6.0 would be a big improvement. 145k miles is not the problem. I would not hesitate to buy a used diesel with 100k miles or more if it was maintained properly.


Don't forget the 6.5 GM Turdbo diesel! Like the 6.0no, most of them are able to drink legally now too, but I'd have to think hard about which one was the bigger piece of _____!
I may actually take a 6.0 since at least when it's running it has good to great power, lol.


I would take a 05-07 6.0PSD over a first gen 6.7 cummins any day. No soot clogging EGR valve, EGR cooler, turbo, DPF _____!

My BIL had a 98 Chevy 6.5TD and 04 6.0PSD and drove both of them ~5 years with minimal problems from both. He purchased a 09 6.7 cummins and had so many problems he unloaded that boat anchor after 9 months of frustration. The solution from dodge to prevent soot build up and CEL's was to run a diesel fuel additive and keep the exhaust brake on at all times. lol.


Right on que!!!
2011 Crossroads Cruiser 29BHS ( Traded )
2017 Grand Design 303RLS ( Sold )
Currently camperless ( Just taking a break )
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 4x4 6.0 and 4:10โ€™s
Me and the wife and our two daughters. Life's good!

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
Grit dog wrote:
ppine wrote:
thanks to blofgren for a good post. The Ford 6.0 is probably the weakest diesel built in America in the last 20 years. Trade it for a different diesel. Any one of them not named 6.0 would be a big improvement. 145k miles is not the problem. I would not hesitate to buy a used diesel with 100k miles or more if it was maintained properly.


Don't forget the 6.5 GM Turdbo diesel! Like the 6.0no, most of them are able to drink legally now too, but I'd have to think hard about which one was the bigger piece of _____!
I may actually take a 6.0 since at least when it's running it has good to great power, lol.


I would take a 05-07 6.0PSD over a first gen 6.7 cummins any day. No soot clogging EGR valve, EGR cooler, turbo, DPF _____!

My BIL had a 98 Chevy 6.5TD and 04 6.0PSD and drove both of them ~5 years with minimal problems from both. He purchased a 09 6.7 cummins and had so many problems he unloaded that boat anchor after 9 months of frustration. The solution from dodge to prevent soot build up and CEL's was to run a diesel fuel additive and keep the exhaust brake on at all times. lol.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
ppine wrote:
thanks to blofgren for a good post. The Ford 6.0 is probably the weakest diesel built in America in the last 20 years. Trade it for a different diesel. Any one of them not named 6.0 would be a big improvement. 145k miles is not the problem. I would not hesitate to buy a used diesel with 100k miles or more if it was maintained properly.


Don't forget the 6.5 GM Turdbo diesel! Like the 6.0no, most of them are able to drink legally now too, but I'd have to think hard about which one was the bigger piece of _____!
I may actually take a 6.0 since at least when it's running it has good to great power, lol.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
thanks to blofgren for a good post. The Ford 6.0 is probably the weakest diesel built in America in the last 20 years. Trade it for a different diesel. Any one of them not named 6.0 would be a big improvement. 145k miles is not the problem. I would not hesitate to buy a used diesel with 100k miles or more if it was maintained properly.

pullin2
Explorer
Explorer
We just replaced our truck with a 2017 2500 Ram (diesel). I'm not brand-loyal, having owned all the big three, but I think the Ram is the only 3/4 ton that has coil springs (instead of leaf). We test drove all three brands, in both 3/4 and 1-ton versions. For us, the coil springs gave a noticeably better ride when unloaded.

I realize this is subjective, but thought I'd point it out in case the unloaded ride was important to you (ie. if it'll be a daily driver).
RB, JC (& a few dogs)
2017 Ram CC LB Cummins,
35' Windjammer
30' Sea Ray
I used to tandem-tow (hence my username), but my trailers grew too big.

Ron3rd
Explorer III
Explorer III
Ram Cummins for me
2016 6.7 CTD 2500 BIG HORN MEGA CAB
2013 Forest River 3001W Windjammer
Equilizer Hitch
Honda EU2000

"I have this plan to live forever; so far my plan is working"

4x4ord
Explorer III
Explorer III
I'd stick with diesel..... Obviosly I'd buy a Ford diesel but because you're ruling out your best choice, just flip a coin on the Ram vs GM.... I think you'll be happy with either.... or just go with whichever is cheapest.
2023 F350 SRW Platinum short box 4x4.
B&W Companion
2008 Citation Platinum XL 34.5

blofgren
Explorer
Explorer
parker.rowe wrote:
Samsonsworld wrote:
MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Actually GM sells the most trucks each month in combined sales. Add the new 4500 - 6500 silverado and those numbers will go up.


Sure about that?



Well, if you consider the GMC and the Chevrolet the same underlying truck with different options and sheetmetal...they are pretty much the same as Ford in sales.

But I would never choose a truck that expensive strictly based on sales numbers anyway.


???? If you're talking full size trucks, Chevy/GMC even combined are almost 100,000 trucks less than Ford.....:h
2013 Ram 3500 Megacab DRW Laramie 4x4, 6.7L Cummins, G56, 3.73, Maximum Steel, black lthr, B&W RVK3670 hitch, Retrax, Linex, and a bunch of options incl. cargo camera
2008 Corsair Excella Platinum 34.5 CKTS fifth wheel with winter package & disc brakes

parker_rowe
Explorer
Explorer
Samsonsworld wrote:
MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Actually GM sells the most trucks each month in combined sales. Add the new 4500 - 6500 silverado and those numbers will go up.


Sure about that?



Well, if you consider the GMC and the Chevrolet the same underlying truck with different options and sheetmetal...they are pretty much the same as Ford in sales.

But I would never choose a truck that expensive strictly based on sales numbers anyway.
2015 Starcraft TravelStar 239TBS 6500 GVWR
1997 GMC Suburban K2500 7.4 Vortec/4.10
1977 Kawasaki KZ1000

Samsonsworld
Explorer
Explorer
MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Actually GM sells the most trucks each month in combined sales. Add the new 4500 - 6500 silverado and those numbers will go up.


Sure about that?

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
MARK VANDERBENT wrote:
Actually GM sells the most trucks each month in combined sales. Add the new 4500 - 6500 silverado and those numbers will go up.

That will be short lived when the Ranger comes back on the market.
McDonalds sells the most burgers but I like Burger King better. ๐Ÿ™‚

MARK_VANDERBENT
Explorer
Explorer
Actually GM sells the most trucks each month in combined sales. Add the new 4500 - 6500 silverado and those numbers will go up.

ppine
Explorer II
Explorer II
Even the 6.0 was not their best effort, Ford still sells the most trucks.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Threads like this need a big bowl of popcorn or a tall drink, but to answer your question, I drive a lot of trucks and have spent a lot of time in all of the big 3 in the last 5 years and they're all pretty tight. Pick your favorite color and call it good.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5โ€ turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

BurbMan
Explorer II
Explorer II
145k miles and on its last legs? I thought diesels were supposed to go for hundreds of thousands of miles....