New Member needs advise

[Sandra Brindamour]

Hi to All,

My husband and I are very excited to be a new owner of a 2012 Keystone 30RLS. It may have been the wrong sequence to purchase the trailer first before the truck, but so be it. We are now asking advise on whether to purchase a 150 or 250 V8 to haul our new travel trailer. The salesman and specifications in the manual note that a 150 V8 is more than adequate; however, friends are holding their breath when we mention that is our intent. As we intend on traveling to the southwest and along the Canadian border, it has been suggested that a 250 V8 is the right vehicle to acquire. Our gut is telling us they are correct, but we don't want to spend any more money than is necessary and it appears that a 250 V8, even used (which it will be), is more expensive than 150s.

Setting aside our desire to be frugal, your candid advise is greatly appreciated.

Sandy and Paul

[Festus2]

To be both brief and candid ....... I would recommend a 3/4T for that Keystone 30RLS. A Dodge, Ford or GMC would all be good choices. Even though you may have to spend a bit more money for a 250 and it may be less "frugal", I think that it is, by far, the right and best-sized tow vehicle. IMO, you would regret having made a decision to tow that TT with a 1/2T ---- despite what the salesman and brochure are telling you.

And welcome to the forum!!

[chartrand]

I agree, the f250 is the better choice. If it were me, I would even go so far as to get the diesel instead of the gasser. The difference in mileage and torque is night and day. I wish I had one...

[RdRmr]

X2 on the 250 or 2500, you can never have too much truck. If for nothing else, the increased payload capacity is worth it. You may wind up in a situation where you'll need it for one reason or another. Just my 2 ¢.
Happy Campin...

[Sandra Brindamour]

Thanks so much for the quick response. I'll look forward to more responses to validate the recommendations I've been receiving. Shopping tomorrow morning with our son and may come home with a 250, probably from our local Ford dealer.

Quick question. When I signed up, I didn't see an option to put a cool handle on my postings like I am seeing on yours. I typed my full name and that is what everyone sees - just not feeling "cool!" Where in the forum format can I make this change so I don't appear so formal? Many thanks!

Sandy

[fla-gypsy]

You are getting solid advice from those of us who do this regularly. Get the 3/4 ton of your choice with the biggest V-8 available in that brand.

[azlee56]

Sandra, go click on your user name on the top right corner, then look to the top left corner where it says "user cp". If you click on signature you can be creative there.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by chartrand

I agree, the f250 is the better choice. If it were me, I would even go so far as to get the diesel instead of the gasser. The difference in mileage and torque is night and day. I wish I had one...

Actually, the gasser's usually have higher payload ratings due to the added weight of the diesel which is subtracted from the truck's overall payload capacity. The Fords are for certain.

But the mileage and torque issues are important, too. Tough choices all around.

[Festus2]

Sandy - -
To edit your signature, avatar and other "cool things", look at the blue bar at the top of the page and find User CP (Control Panel) just as azlee indicated. Click on this.

A new set of options appears on the left-hand side. Look at Settings and Options.
Find Edit Signature or Edit Avatar, etc. Select the one you want and follow the directions.

Then you'll be "cool".

[therink]

Definitely 3/4 ton minimum. If going with gas, please consider 4:10 axle. You won't regret it. The Gm 6.0 and Ford 6.2 are good strong gas motors. If you plan on owning truck for years to come and long distance towing, diesel would be good investment. My gasser tows my 12k fiver fine for my weekend towing needs.
Steve

[GaryWT]

I tow with a F150 and it does what I needed it to but down the line when it is time to upgrade it will most likely be a 250. Good luck and welcome. Also the way you did this is good now you can buy the right truck vs having a truck and buying a trailer that is too heavy for it.

[Bugle Boy]

Without doubt, the F250. If you get into mountains the F150 will be inadequate. Been there-did that. Never take for gospel what a salesman says.

Allow me to explain. We have a Sunline 276SR (soon to be traded for a Cougar 31RKS). I lived in the Sunline for 18 months in SE New Mexico on a consulting job. When done, Jan came out and we headed north toward Yellowstone. Well, between Hobbs, NM and Yellowstone there are these Rocky Mountains. Upon reaching the top of the passes the transmission was stinkng to high heaven. Upon our decent down the Million Dollar Highway into Ouray, Colorado by the time we got to the bottom the brakes were stinkin to high heaven.

I can't imagine owning a TT for long and not encountering either the Rockies out west or the Applechain mountains back east.

[davidjsimons]

You can never have too much truck. With that said, too much trailer for the truck makes for some long days towing and eventually the ruination of an otherwise nice 1/2 ton. Go with the 250.


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[wbatto]

Make sure your Tow Vehicle is big enough as it makes it a lot more enjoyable to go camping. My 297 Sprinter weighed around 9500 loaded and the first year I towed it with a 2009 Toyota Tundra 1/2 ton. I took the dealers word that it would tow it ok. After that first summer of white knuckle driving it didn't take me long to buy a bigger truck. Congrats on the new camper and have fun this summer