Help with completely new setup

[BigToe]

Hey guys, new here and was sent here by Notanlines from another forum. Little background first. Camped for 32 years but always bunked with my dad in his camper. Unfortunately he passed last fall so I am now in the market to get my own tv and camper. Never owned anything larger than 1/2 ton. Never had or pulled a fifth wheel but that is what I would prefer moving forward. I would only make longer trips 1-2 times a year which would consist of going from okla to Colorado or North Carolina. Other trips would be at most 100 miles for weekend trips here and there. So here’s my questions and any help is greatly appreciated.

Truck will be daily driver which on normal days will be no more than 5 miles a day. For this reason I was suggested to not get a diesel as they aren’t nice for short commutes. Is this true?

Don’t have a exact camper in mind but the more options available to me the better. Currently looking at this one. https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/trave...te/2898KS/4392 Being 11k maxed weight I was told is getting into 1 ton territory due to payload. I don’t have any plans to go more than 12-14k max weight and would prefer the rig above weight.

Truck I was looking at is a Chevy (I’m a Chevy guy) 2020 2500 gasser with 10,650 GVWR, 24000 GCVWR, 6600 rear axle rating, 3400 payload, 2490 max tongue weight. Is this at or over the 3/4 limits?

I have also looked at a 1 ton gasser 11350 GVWR, 24000 GCVWR, 7250 rear axle rating, 3913 payload, 2460 max tongue weight.

Max weight of passengers will be around 750 lbs, add in hitch, toolbox with tools and I’m prolly around 1k added weight

With either of these vehicles what max weight fifth wheel should I be looking for. I’ve been told to take 25 percent of GVW of camper for pin weight however how does that work with max tongue weight rating on truck. Going by that logic a 1 ton truck can’t pull a 10k trailer and the 3/4 ton actually gives me more tongue weight but less payload.

Again, any help is greatly appreciated.

[Northofu1]

Hey guys, new here and was sent here by Notanlines from another forum
We won't hold that against you.

Welcome to the forum.
I own the 2019 version of your truck, 9500 lbs GVWR. Payload is a little less than yours. My trailer is 10000 lbs GVWR. I personally would not tow anything more than that. I like the buffer I have. Took it to the cat scales Friday night loaded for camping and was very happy with what I saw.
I would think that a 3500 should take care of what you want weight wise, but if I had to go through mountainous areas I would opt for the diesel.
Someone with a lot more experience than I will be along soon, you came at nap time.
Again welcome and good luck.

[Logan X]

Just my humble opinion, but with any fifth wheel, I think you are way better off going with a 1ton truck. 3/4 ton trucks are almost always limited by their payload capacity. The payload capacity is what you need in order to handle the heavy pin weight or “tongue weight” of a fifth wheel.

Either diesel or gas, if you want to tow a fifth wheel, get a 1 ton truck.

[flybouy]

Agree with the get a 1 ton but have a question. If you are only looking at 5 th wheels why are you concerned about tongue weight? Tongue weight is what a travel trailer applies to a hitch under the bumper of the truck. A fifth wheel applies pin weight to a fifth wheel hitch bolted in the bed of the truck.

[BigToe]

I was going by what shows on the towing label. It says conventional trailering tongue weight is 1450 but fifth wheel max tongue weight is 2490. I had just assumed it meant pin weight.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by BigToe

I was going by what shows on the towing label. It says conventional trailering tongue weight is 1450 but fifth wheel max tongue weight is 2490. I had just assumed it meant pin weight.

Don't know what "towing label" you were looking at but it should have said " fifth wheel max hitch weight is 2490". Not arguing semantics but if you start mixing tongue weight with fifth wheel pin weights you'll just get answers based on confusion.

[BigToe]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Don't know what "towing label" you were looking at but it should have said " fifth wheel max hitch weight is 2490". Not arguing semantics but if you start mixing tongue weight with fifth wheel pin weights you'll just get answers based on confusion.

Flybuoy, the new chevys have a towing label on them and that is the exact terminology that they use.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Flybuoy, the new chevys have a towing label on them and that is the exact terminology that they use.

Thanks for that picture. But the conventional terminology is what I'm getting at. Just trying to avoid confusion. Some of us are just naturally confused.

[chuckster57]

Just to throw it out there- a 1 ton DRW isn’t that hard to park and it would be the ONLY truck you would have to buy.

[Gegrad]

If you strongly prefer that 11k GVWR 5er you linked, @20% tongue weight you would have 2200 lbs pin. The 2020 Chevy you mentioned with a 3400 lb payload would leave you with 1200 lbs more payload. So with your 1k additional payload you mentioned, you would likely be close. I would probs go for the 1 ton gasser. One of our site team just got a new Ram 1 ton gasser and he has around 3900 payload and tows a 13-14k 5er. That should work.

[BigToe]

Originally Posted by Gegrad

If you strongly prefer that 11k GVWR 5er you linked, @20% tongue weight you would have 2200 lbs pin. The 2020 Chevy you mentioned with a 3400 lb payload would leave you with 1200 lbs more payload. So with your 1k additional payload you mentioned, you would likely be close. I would probs go for the 1 ton gasser. One of our site team just got a new Ram 1 ton gasser and he has around 3900 payload and tows a 13-14k 5er. That should work.

Thanks Gegrad, I also posted specs of a one ton gasser with 3913 payload. You think I would be safe with a 13k max fifth wheel with this one ton with occasional Colorado trips? This would exceed max pin weight noted by the truck. How big a issue is that?

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Thanks Gegrad, I also posted specs of a one ton gasser with 3913 payload. You think I would be safe with a 13k max fifth wheel with this one ton with occasional Colorado trips? This would exceed max pin weight noted by the truck. How big a issue is that?

Sure just stay far away from mountains at all times. If you are talking mountains and passes you need a diesel.

[Northofu1]

You might want to really pick the trailer first.
All of this means nothing if you're not happy with the floor plan and options you want based on the type of camping you want to do.
Do you need 40' of trailer and a 1 ton truck to long haul it once a year? You might find that beast of a set up a pain to weekend camp.
Now, the 3/4 ton and 1 ton have the same drive train so the only difference is the payload. fuel economy should be negligible.

I picked my truck based on the 5th wheel I wanted to tow and the Max GVWR of 10000 lbs. When I found it I bought it.

[BigToe]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

You might want to really pick the trailer first.
All of this means nothing if you're not happy with the floor plan and options you want based on the type of camping you want to do.
Do you need 40' of trailer and a 1 ton truck to long haul it once a year? You might find that beast of a set up a pain to weekend camp.
Now, the 3/4 ton and 1 ton have the same drive train so the only difference is the payload. fuel economy should be negligible.

I picked my truck based on the 5th wheel I wanted to tow and the Max GVWR of 10000 lbs. When I found it I bought it.

Yeah I’m really trying to do two things at once and that’s my error. I’ve just started looking at campers more seriously now though. I thought knowing the vehicle capabilities would help me pick the camper. I’m going to be in the truck much more than the camper and that was another reason I was focusing on truck first. I know I won’t get a dully. I just have no desire. I also have no desire for a 40’ camper either. I’d be fine in the low 30’s max length.

[ctbruce]

Very happy with my 1 ton diesel SRW Chevy. It is also my daily driver. DEF is a PITA butt (LOL) not a killer. I will not go back to gasser again, I like the power and feel.

[BigToe]

Originally Posted by ctbruce

Very happy with my 1 ton diesel SRW Chevy. It is also my daily driver. DEF is a PITA butt (LOL) not a killer. I will not go back to gasser again, I like the power and feel.

Do you know of any issues with short commutes with the diesel? I was told to stay away with the 2-5 miles I only drive everyday. I have nothing against them just don’t want to get myself into trouble for something I didn’t really need to begin with.

[ctbruce]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Do you know of any issues with short commutes with the diesel? I was told to stay away with the 2-5 miles I only drive everyday. I have nothing against them just don’t want to get myself into trouble for something I didn’t really need to begin with.

I haven't heard of any and do some short trips to store etc. I usually take the long way home or fiddle a little. To date in 3 years no issues for me. I take it out on the road for 2 to 300 miles a couple of times a month also. My commute is 20 miles so not a concern.

[BigToe]

Originally Posted by ctbruce

I haven't heard of any and do some short trips to store etc. I usually take the long way home or fiddle a little. To date in 3 years no issues for me. I take it out on the road for 2 to 300 miles a couple of times a month also. My commute is 20 miles so not a concern.

Just checked on the specs of a 1 ton diesel and lost a hundred pounds on payload. I hate this process. It’s smoke and mirrors. Truck says it can pull an additional 5k lbs over the gasser but in actuality it’s does less than the gasser due to payload.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Just checked on the specs of a 1 ton diesel and lost a hundred pounds on payload. I hate this process. It’s smoke and mirrors. Truck says it can pull an additional 5k lbs over the gasser but in actuality it’s does less than the gasser due to payload.

My guess is the two truck's your comparing have different gear ratios. If a 100 lb payload difference is a deal breaker on a 1 ton truck than maybe you need to think about less trailer.

I don't think most people choose a diesel for payload. There are as many opinions/arguments over gas vs diesel as there is over Coke vs Pepsi. Personally I wouldn't consider a larger trailer with a gas powered tow vehicle if I was towing a lot of miles or in hilly areas. The gas proponents can talk all day about the newer engines tolerating higher rpms all they want but here's the elephant in the room, at what load?

If you want a fair comparison of an engine that's under a constant heavy torque load look at the marine industry. Once you start cranking up over 4k for long periods you will see engine rebuilds increase in frequency. Ask anyone that's run a class A or large class C gasser and not only will they complain about the terrible fuel mileage the transmissions give up first then the engines. Moder gassers have gotten better but still don't compare to a diesel drive train IMHO.

It's not uncommon to see a diesel-powered rig with 200k miles that's still going strong. Haven't seen a gasser do that yet. I've towed with both gas and diesel and to me the diesel is hands down the winner. I don't understand the "expense" argument or the "don't tow that far or that often" argument either. To my thinking, spending $60-$70K or more for a large fiver and "only use it a few weekends a year" is a collaso waste of money but that's just me.

Bottom line it's your money your choice. Doing your homework, weighting all your options is the smart move.

[Badbart56]

Originally Posted by BigToe

Just checked on the specs of a 1 ton diesel and lost a hundred pounds on payload. I hate this process. It’s smoke and mirrors. Truck says it can pull an additional 5k lbs over the gasser but in actuality it’s does less than the gasser due to payload.

I agree, it is kind of a smoke and mirrors thing. When you look at the gas models it looks like you have all this towing capacity and you do, sort of. Depending on the options you may have a high payload on the gasser because that engine weighs much less than the diesel engine. But the reality is that you'll be so underpowered that it won't feel like the truck is up to the task. On the other hand you can get a truck with the diesel so gussied up with options that there isn't much payload left to tow what you need to. That's one of the reasons I opt for the dually. My payload is 4529 pounds and if I didn't have the crew cab it would be over 5000 pounds. Much to consider.

Understand though, my dually is also my daily driver when I'm home, so short trips, long trips, it doesn't really matter. I swore when I got this truck that if the emissions or exhaust filter ever gave me any problems I would do the delete. 190000 mile and I still have the OEM emissions system on it.