Advice wanted from experienced RV'ers

[BlueThunder34]

Disclaimer- Weight police need not review, looking for practical advice not buying a locomotive to tow a 26' travel trailer

We have (myself, wife, 3 young kids) a 26' BH empty weight of 5660 and wet 7660, empty tounge 640lbs. Current TV is a 2014 RAM 1500 Quad cab 4x4 5.7L Hemi with 3.55 rear end. I've added airbags in the rear with onboard compressor, as well as "D" load 8 ply tires.

Our current rig pulls the trailer ok and feels pretty stable but in my mind I keep thinking it would be safer with a 3/4 or 1 ton? I do not want a diesel and would be looking at the 2015 F-250/350 with the 6.2L gasser 4x4 crew with 3.73 rear. Would I really notice a better towing experience with this setup vs current? Engine wise the Hemi has more torque but stability wise the 3/4-1ton has more weight and wheelbase which leads me to believe there would be less sway and dominance from the trailer. Our travels take us over the Eastern Washington mountains as well as the Siskiyous into CA, also planning a trip to TX in a couple of years. Wonder the longevity issue as well of the 1/2 ton carrying this weight around long distances.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by bluethunder34

disclaimer- would i really notice a better towing experience with this setup vs current? .

Yes..........

[Hansel]

Well IMHO you can't have enough tow vehicle, sounds like too me you are really wanting too upgrade. Not sure if your interested but when looking for a new truck and even thou you loose some of the towing weight get a 4X4, I had too replace my F-250 2wd when it was totaled, and I now have a 4wd truck and after getting stuck in the backyard in the mud having a 4wd truck was nice.

But if you can find it and afford it just go for a F-350 or 1 ton truck, so in case you upgrade in the future you have enough truck.

[Goingfor9]

I just upgraded from an f150 to an f250. My trailer is longer and heavier, it's 35 ft and maxes out about 9200 pounds. Never get near that more like 8500 loaded. I put new tires and air bags on my f150 and a pro pride hitch to eliminate sway. My truck pulled it ok. Took it on 1500 mile round trip week and never felt real uncomfortable. I was overweight by a little but that didn't really bother me. I decided to go up to an f250 since I was going to start towing it more and wanted a little more stability. We pulled it with the f250 and it amazes me the differance. Once I pulled with it im not sure the f150 was really that stable. It shocked me how much more stable the f250 felt. After I pulled it with f250 i determined my f150 was no more than a glorified car. Wish I had made the choice to switch earlier.

I didn't go diesal just the gasser.

[sourdough]

A 3/4 will pull your trailer fine. If you want to stick with gas I would recommend the Ram 2500 6.4L - it's plenty of truck. There is a ton of difference pulling with a 3/4 vs the 1/2 ton and yes, you will definitely feel more comfortable, in control and safer.

[Festus2]

With your current RV, you would notice an improvement by going to a 3/4T. How much better would it be? Hard to tell but with a good WDH setup, I'm sure that it would be noticeable.
A 4.10 rear end is a possibility for towing in the mountains but you would always be looking for a gas pump --- a 3.73 sounds like a better all-round setup and more economical.
Unless you have short-term plans to go to a bigger TT, I can't see going to a 1T with your 26 footer.

[GaryWT]

We towed with a 150 and it did fine, never an issue. Upgraded to a 350 and it is even better. Tows great.

[x96mnn]

I have towed, ( my freinds camper) and my freind still tows a 27ft, (30ft bumper to hitch) camper that was 5500pds dry. My truck was a 2011 ram HEMi with E rated tires and an airlift 1000 airbags and it did a great job. His ram is the 2014, same truck with 6 speed but no E rated or airbags and also tows great. The 30ft I had that was 8000pds, it towed but was not great.

More truck is always nicer but if your making the pruchace will you be upgrading the camper anytime soon? That's what I would be thinking about and what will I want in the future. If your not having any issues now, not sure if you will notice any improvement in the overall tow experiance other then more power depending on the engine and rear you pick. A stable ride is a stable ride.

As for a gas truck, great reviews on the 6.4 HEMi in both the 3/4 and 1ton trucks. Will be honest do not pay much attention to the other brands.

[therink]

You will definitely have a better towing experience with a 3/4 ton brand X. Aside from the trailer, you also have a heavy load in the truck with 3 kids, not to mention bikes and other gear in the bed.
Everything on HD trucks is heavier, frame, suspension, brakes, drive train, etc.
Look ahead 5 years and ask yourself, what trailer will I have then. Family needs change as kids grow. We started with a 3500 lb pop up 15 years ago. Now 6 trailers later, have a 12k lb fifth wheel. I have also upgraded trucks along the way.
If you see yourself moving to a larger trailer in the next few years, do yourself a favor and consider a 1 ton SRW truck (gas or diesel doesn't really matter for trailers under 11,000 (in my opinion). If you do go with gas, I recommend a 4:10 axle ratio if you do any serious towing.
Just my opinion based on my experience.

[theeyres]

We pulled a similar setup all over the country with a 1/2 ton. It did just fine and never failed us. But we sure did slow down in the mountains and truck seldom shifted into overdrive. After full-timing we went back to a smaller trailer but kept our 3/4 ton. I now forget the trailer is back there. Of course, we do have a diesel but I don't think a gasser would be much different. The bigger truck pulls with ease. On the other hand, at the time of the 1/2 ton it was also my daily driver and it sure was more comfortable, empty, than my 3/4. Only you can make the decision!

[Barbell]

Two points: This is just my opinion; everyone has at least one.
1. Gas v. diesel; depending on how long you intend to keep your tow vehicle, diesel is the much better choice if you plan to keep it for a while. Diesel engines, especially Cummins engines will be good for at least 200,000 miles and more likely over 400,000 miles if properly cared for. Fuel mileage will be considerably better than gas. Horsepower and more importantly, torque, (the ability to pull a load) is much better with diesel. On the other hand, if you will never upgrade to a bigger RV and don't plan to keep your TV but for a few years, gas is the better choice because of the lower cost.

2. 4wd v. 2wd; As a retired farmer from Missouri, I have owned a number of 4wd trucks, mostly 3/4 and 1 ton. The only difference between the two is that you can go to a whole lot worse place to get stuck with the 4wd. In my limited experience in pulling a 36 ft fifth wheel, (roughly 25,000 miles the last two years) I have never been close to needing 4wd. Our current tv has positract rear end and I have spun both rears from time to time in getting around on dirt, but 4wd would only add traction from one front wheel. For my money the extra cost and weight of 4wd is not worth it.

[x96mnn]

barbell

I think you make great points. One thing I caution on based on experiance is the type of campgrounds you visit. 75% of the campgrounds I visit, ( right estimate), are grass fields or grass lots and not gravel or cement/pave. It takes very little rain or dampness/morning due and a small incline to cause a 2wd with a camper attached to spin out.

I live in Atlantic Canada, this is the style of Camo grounds associated with the area. I have seen a number of 2wd rigs stuck, no fault to the drive and have used my 4wd a number of times. Gravel and paved sights no issues.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by BlueThunder34

Disclaimer- Weight police need not review, looking for practical advice not buying a locomotive to tow a 26' travel trailer

We have (myself, wife, 3 young kids) a 26' BH empty weight of 5660 and wet 7660, empty tounge 640lbs. Current TV is a 2014 RAM 1500 Quad cab 4x4 5.7L Hemi with 3.55 rear end. I've added airbags in the rear with onboard compressor, as well as "D" load 8 ply tires.

Our current rig pulls the trailer ok and feels pretty stable but in my mind I keep thinking it would be safer with a 3/4 or 1 ton? I do not want a diesel and would be looking at the 2015 F-250/350 with the 6.2L gasser 4x4 crew with 3.73 rear. Would I really notice a better towing experience with this setup vs current? Engine wise the Hemi has more torque but stability wise the 3/4-1ton has more weight and wheelbase which leads me to believe there would be less sway and dominance from the trailer. Our travels take us over the Eastern Washington mountains as well as the Siskiyous into CA, also planning a trip to TX in a couple of years. Wonder the longevity issue as well of the 1/2 ton carrying this weight around long distances.

We tow with a F250 gas 6.2L 4x4. We average about 15 in combined driving and about 9 or 10 towing. We tow a Cougar XLite fifth wheel that weighs about 8100-8500 when packed for a trip. I would like to have a diesel, but honestly, I can't justify the extra 10K on top of what this truck cost and I really don't "need" the increased HP/torque. The 3.73 rear end is a great "all around" compromise for towing medium heavy loads and solo driving.

I think you'll be just fine with a F250 or a F350 depending on what you can find on the lot and what kind of deal you can make. Remember, in many states you have to register a 1 ton differently than a 3/4 ton. Also call your insurance agent and find out the difference in premium prices for the two trucks. There are a number of people here, depending on where they live, that pay a significant higher insurance premium as well as increased registration and licensing fees.

Either truck will do you just fine, and if you're able to get a better deal on a RAM or GM product, do the numbers on payload and if they fit your situation, put them in the "running" as well. I haven't done the numbers on RAM in a while, but there are members reporting that the RAM 2500 has a much lower payload than the GM 2500 and the Ford F250. That may have changed with the 2015 models, but make sure the payload is comparable and will work for your towing situation.

Good Luck

[Hansel]

Originally Posted by x96mnn

barbell

I think you make great points. One thing I caution on based on experiance is the type of campgrounds you visit. 75% of the campgrounds I visit, ( right estimate), are grass fields or grass lots and not gravel or cement/pave. It takes very little rain or dampness/morning due and a small incline to cause a 2wd with a camper attached to spin out.

I live in Atlantic Canada, this is the style of Camo grounds associated with the area. I have seen a number of 2wd rigs stuck, no fault to the drive and have used my 4wd a number of times. Gravel and paved sights no issues.

I will agree that some camp grounds are very rough when it comes too the ground, and I've never owned a 4wd truck until my truck was totaled and I replaced it with a 4wd. I've been stuck twice in my backyard on wet ground, and the 4wd is what saved me, so I will always have a 4wd truck and I will accept the fact it will tow less weight because of that, but I'm not going too get stuck in the yard anymore.

The guy also mentioned he wanted too stick with gas, but if it was me he should go diesel and never look back, I'd say over 65% of the tow vehicles at a camp ground are diesel's, the rest are pulling something so small they don't need a diesel.

[PARAPTOR]

I also questioned DO I REALLY need 4x4, luckily the one I purchased off the lot had it. As stated grass camp grounds, water and bad drainage not a good combination. Been there, rig tires sunk down about 3-4" dually tires spinning. Really nice to see that selector on the Dash labeled 4x4. As I pulled out, the neighbor was waiting for the high lift to get his class A motor home out. Glad I have it and I am sure it will be used in the future

[C130]

As others have suggested a diesel, you should at least test drive one of the new diesels if you haven't already. I'm on my second diesel truck and don't plan on ever buying a gas powered truck again. Of course if you really don't need or want one it would be hard to justify the extra cost. Resale value wound be much higher on the diesel I would think, at least in certain parts of the country it is. I use my truck as a daily driver also and with my F250 I averaged 18-20 mpg depending on traffic and the speed I drove but got 18 consistently. The gearing in my F450 is lower, so is the mileage. I have to drive at or below 65 mph to get close to where I was with the F250. But, with diesel being quite a bit higher than gas I doubt I'm saving any money with driving a diesel so there goes that theory.

[BlueThunder34]

Well I made the mistake of test driving the new F-350 diesel and man that is one powerful truck! In the far future we plan on a buying a fifth wheel but for now I would feel kind of silly pulling a 26' BH with a powerhouse like that. How do the gassers do with 5th wheels (I'm referring to the 1 ton 6.2L)? Maybe planning for the future plans I should just bite the bullet and get the diesel now. I have a beater car to drive to work daily so mpg is really not a concern for me.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by BlueThunder34

Well I made the mistake of test driving the new F-350 diesel and man that is one powerful truck! In the far future we plan on a buying a fifth wheel but for now I would feel kind of silly pulling a 26' BH with a powerhouse like that. How do the gassers do with 5th wheels (I'm referring to the 1 ton 6.2L)? Maybe planning for the future plans I should just bite the bullet and get the diesel now. I have a beater car to drive to work daily so mpg is really not a concern for me.

Read my post #13 directly above yours, I specifically answer exactly what you're asking.......

[audio1der]

If your truck is a tow vehicle only, the upgrade to 1 ton might be a good idea; it really is only $1000 (from 3/4 ton).
If it's a daily driver staying at 3/4 might make it a better driver for you. The RAM 2500 now has coil rear suspension albeit slightly lower payload but if you're looking at gassers you should have plenty.

If money were not an issue I would upgrade our 1/2 for exactly the reasons you are; the 1/2 does OK but does feel overwhelmed (the tail wagging the dog) from time to time) and it would be nice to have "more" in front of the trailer for the safety of the family.

[BlueThunder34]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Read my post #13 directly above yours, I specifically answer exactly what you're asking.......

Thanks great info. Do you have the long bed or short?