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01-20-2012, 06:53 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 6
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Truck Search-Questions
I am new to RV'ing and have purchased a Freedom Elite 39. I now want to purchase the truck best suited to this RV. I'm thinking a GM 1 ton, long bed, duley with the diesel and Allison. Is the duley thinking overkill or a good idea? Is a 1 ton needed or will a 2500 have the capacity and safety margin for safe travels? We plan on living full time and moving every 20-30 days. Any advice from you seasoned vets is much appreciated. Thanks, Hutch
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01-20-2012, 07:18 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,739
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In my quick scan of Elites for sale, I can’t find any weight information. How much does it weigh? And, since I’m not a 5’er, maybe the sticker mentions pin weight as well.
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-Scott, DW, DG, DB, and DD
2011 Passport 2590BH
2009 Ford F150 SuperCrew F X4 5.4L w/Max Tow
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01-20-2012, 07:21 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new purchase. If you are going to be moving around frequently and doing a fair amount of traveling over various terrain, I would opt for 1T duelly for both safety and peace-of-mind. It doesn't really matter however how far or over what terrain you will be pulling - as long as the truck can safely handle the load. Personally, I like your choice of tow vehicle and others will chime in with their recommendations of a Ford or Dodge. Any one of these 3 would make a good choice.
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2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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01-20-2012, 07:30 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Venice, FL
Posts: 484
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In my opinion you can never have to much truck! I can tell you the Duramax/Allision is an awsome combination.
__________________
Joe & Carolyn, Venice, FL.
2011 Laredo TT 297RL
2011 GMC Sierra Denali 2500 HD 4X4, Duramax Diesel/Allison Transmission, 3.73 Gears, Reese WD with two sway bars. Dometic 3000KW Generator.
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01-20-2012, 07:53 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego Il
Posts: 820
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Hutch,
I agree with the other poster on this thread also. A couple of things to remember when looking for a truck regardless of make are:
1. Axle ratios; I would not buy any truck with less than a 3:73 to 1 gear ratio. In fact the heavier pullers have 4:10 to 1 or higher number rating.
2. Tires: insure the tires are rated to tow the load that you are planning on pulling. They should be at least a LT tires and rated at an E rating or higher letter.
I would have an extra capacity fuel tank added in the sale of the truck; this could be external or an integral tank. This may not be required but you can save on diesel fuel cost as you travel. Some states and areas have lower prices than others and you could save some money. Also you will need to carry a supply of DEF (Urea) with you as you travel just in case none is available right away. This is required with the GMC/Chevy, Ford and the Ram Cab & Chassis model trucks for their diesel engines.
Jim W.
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Jim & Jill
2010 318SAB Cougar
2008 Dodge 6.7LCummins the original 6.7L engine, w/68RFE Auto
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01-20-2012, 07:56 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
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I'm with Hank on this one! Your inclination to a 1 ton duallie is good thinking.
Ford, Dodge, or Chevy/GMC really does not matter so much. What does is the options and body styles that affect towing and payload. Those you need to pay close attention to when spec'ing a truck.
Good luck!
__________________
'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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01-20-2012, 08:00 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 1,270
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Welcome to the forum Hutch,
The Freedom Series isn't listed on the Keystone site, so we don't have a direct source for
the specs on that 5th wheel. Do you know the GVWR on the trailer??
Simply from looking at the following ads, I'm going to suggest a 1 ton dually - nothing less!!
A 39 ft long (minimum), high profile, 5th wheel with 4 slide-out's is a beast (a very nice beast
I might add) and your going to need the DRW for stability in towing.
http://www.campingworldofportland.co...m-elite/176819
http://www.rvtraderonline.com/listin...MK39-101093379
http://www.rvtraderonline.com/listin...Elite-98645795
For comparison, this Alpine 5th wheel is probably similar in size/weight...
http://www.keystone-alpine.com/index...=&model=3700RE
Congrats on your new 5th wheel, and happy trails to you & yours -
Terri, the Chevy co-pilot
__________________
'06 Chevy 2500HD 6.6L Duramax/Allison 4x4 CC SB
2010 Laredo 265RL {SOLD}
Reese 15K Pro-series (manual slide)
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01-20-2012, 08:49 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 692
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Truck
Agree with the dually... that's a bunch of trailer you have there!
__________________
2011 F350 DRW 4X4
"The Beast"
2011 Cougar 325 SRX
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01-20-2012, 04:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 478
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Look at it this way. With a 1 ton Dually you can tow just about anything out there, yea there are a few real monsters out there that require something bigger, but unless you really go crazy the 1 ton Dually will fit the bill. On our second Dually and wouldn't consider towing anything with any thing less, unless we went back to a Pop-Up (When Pigs Fly)
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2011 Chevy Silverado 3500HD Ext Cab LT DRW Duramax/Allison pulling a 2012 SOB (still Thor, but not a Keystone), Dual ACs, 4 Door Fridge, Fireplace, Sleep Number Bed, Level-Up Auto Levelers, Disc Brakes, Winegard DirecTV SlimLine Auto Dish, Onan 5.5K, Splendide Combo Washer/Dryer, GY G114s on HiSpec 17.5 wheels, TrailAir Tri-Glide Pin Box, Mor/ryde IS.
Michelle & Ann Sullivan and 4 American Shorthairs
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01-23-2012, 09:16 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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HI THERE THERE IS A SAYING BIGGER BETTER FASTER MORE. BETTER TO HAVE MORE TRUCK THEN WORRING ABOUT THAT NEXT HILL. HAVE A BALL WITH YOUR NEW CAMPER AND WELCOME. PS SOMEDAY YOUR DW WILL WANT A BIGGER UNIT AND AT LEAST YOU WILL HAVE THE TRUCK
__________________
BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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12-02-2012, 09:43 AM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 6
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Thanks for all the advice and here is an update
We ended up with the 1 ton Silverado dual wheel, diesel etc. What a beautiful machine. Just finished our first big trip of 9000 miles. The turbo diesel had no problems pulling in the Rockies. The only issue I had was two flats, both inner tires on the truck. FYI this was caused by putting valve stem extenders on the rubber valve stems. The constant movement wore out the original valve stems.
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12-02-2012, 09:47 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Waco, Tx
Posts: 5,456
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happy to hear y'all are enjoying the dually and trailer..
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2015 Ford F350 DRW 6.7 Diesel XL
2020 Avalanche 313 RS
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12-02-2012, 10:15 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Venice
Posts: 5,346
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kphutch
We ended up with the 1 ton Silverado dual wheel, diesel etc. What a beautiful machine. Just finished our first big trip of 9000 miles. The turbo diesel had no problems pulling in the Rockies. The only issue I had was two flats, both inner tires on the truck. FYI this was caused by putting valve stem extenders on the rubber valve stems. The constant movement wore out the original valve stems.
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It sure is nice when doing your homework pays off. Nice combo, good luck and travel safely, Hank
__________________
Hank & Lynn
2007 Cougar 290RKS, E-Z Flex, 16" XPS RIBs ( SOLD .. Gonna miss her ... looking for new 5r)
2004.5 Dodge 2500 QC, LB, 5.9HO, WestTach gauges, Ride-Rite
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12-02-2012, 01:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 865
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I agree on the one ton dually diesel. 4.10's are a real good option. With the length of that trailer, I would think about a crew cab with an eight foot body for the extra wheelbase.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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12-02-2012, 02:04 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fraser Valley BC Canada
Posts: 7,015
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David -
Judging by kphutch's above post, it appears as though he has already purchased a truck ....."We ended up with a 1T Silverado dually....". He doesn't say whether it is a crew cab with a long box but if it isn't, then it is probably too late for him to think about that option. Good suggestion tho.
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2008 Cougar 5th Wheel 27RKS
2005 2500 GMC Duramax
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12-02-2012, 02:19 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Guelph, On
Posts: 308
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhs4771
Look at it this way. With a 1 ton Dually you can tow just about anything out there, yea there are a few real monsters out there that require something bigger, but unless you really go crazy the 1 ton Dually will fit the bill. On our second Dually and wouldn't consider towing anything with any thing less, unless we went back to a Pop-Up (When Pigs Fly)
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Saw a pig fly at the last Rogers Waters concert I was at!
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12-02-2012, 02:53 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 865
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Festus,
I gathered that after I posted. Sorry.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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12-02-2012, 05:45 PM
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#18
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Texas
Posts: 89
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Well sorry about the flats and sorry I didn't see your post before I could convince you to get a Cummins wrapped in a Dodge! Eh, I like all diesels. just partial to my in line 6.
And you have confirmed for me that extenders are not worth it.
Happy travels
__________________
CampJKL
2007 Dodge CTD MegaCab Laramie 4x4 Dually
2012 Cougar 324 RLB
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12-03-2012, 08:32 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: WESTERN,CT
Posts: 2,095
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congradulations on the new truck. bet it tows real well! enjoy the adventures and any flat i have had with mine was on the inside wheel too... flarp!
__________________
BARNEY AND CHRISTINE
2010 MONTANA 3750FL
2005 DODGE 3500 DUALLY TD
2 RESCUE PUPS: SUSITNA AND CRYSTAL. RIP ALYESKA!
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12-03-2012, 09:58 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: North Florida
Posts: 1,241
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With a trailer that size you are in one ton dually territory. Be careful to not go to light on the tow vehicle as you would regret it. there is more to towing than a diesel engine.
__________________
2006 Keystone Hornet 29RLS (The Cracker Cabana)
2009 F-250 SuperDuty CC 6.8L/4.10 (The Black Pearl)
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