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Date Posted |
Forum
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RE: Help making a decision on truck purchase.
Buying and maintaining a 2nd vehicle didn't make cents/sense for my use and others. BTDT.
Figure up the cost of a second vehicle....insurance...maintenance cost over long term. My and others issues with two vehicles is a 600-700 mile a week work commute. It made cents to keep driving my current '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins HO that ran 21.5-22 mpgs week after week month on month. 20 years later even with 380k miles on the odo the truck still works pulling my 11k lb rv and other smaller/larger trailers.
Same with a older 2500 chevy 5.7 truck. Ran it for 9 years on a shorter work commute.
Others that live in town and have a short commute, and money for a 2nd vehicle, may work for them.
A F150 3.5 EB with a 7500 gvwr/4050-4500 rawr (20+ mpgs) will handle that small trailer with ease. The big plus here is no added cost of operating a 2nd vehicle.
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JIMNLIN
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03/24/23 09:06am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Help making a decision on truck purchase.
I am thinking of buying a new truck to pull our winnebago micro Minnie 5th wheel. We currently have a 2006 gmc 2500 . I’d like to go with a smaller truck for gas mileage and was thinking of a Toyota Tundra or GMC 1500 4x4. While the trailer is fairly light and we’ve been told a 1500 can pull this trailer, I’d like to hear other opinions. Is there anyone who has any experience towing smaller 5th wheels with these trucks? . Gross Vehicle Weight is 7000 on the trailer.
JMO...best non towing mpg will go the Fords F150 3.5 EB engine.
Plus the F150 has several higher gvwr/rawr packages than any other 1/2 ton truck out here.
However a engine in a 1/2 ton will get similar mpgs as a 3/4 ton gas truck engines when towing a trailer.
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JIMNLIN
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03/23/23 07:16pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Dicor and 303
Here’s a question for those familiar with Dicor. Once the Dicor has completely cured can you use 303 on it to help extend the life of the sealant by providing extra UV protection?
I would 1-800 to Dicor tech line and see what they say. Problems from adding one product over another can arise.
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JIMNLIN
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03/19/23 06:15pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: F-250 vs F-350 srw
Yes, you got to make the RV.net police happy.
Yeah..some years back one poor guy over on IRV2 website posted about his new 2015 F350 srw had a low payload sticker 2100-2200 lbs. He later posted the truck had a 10000 gvwr.
The forum weight cops convinced him he should have bought the same model truck with the 11500 gvwr.
Later he posted back the swap cost him several thousand bucks....just for a 11500 gvwr sticker...and for the same exact truck.
Just one reason dot doesn't use a LDT vehicles gvwr nor is it used in a civil lawsuit case on the commercial side.
With 17 different gvwrs for the F350srw does anyone actually believe rv website myth that a civil lawsuit would ever happen for exceeding a LDT mfg gvwr.
It doesn't happen on the commercial side so why would it happen on just the rv side.
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JIMNLIN
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03/15/23 09:43am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2002 3/4 Ton Heavy Duty Diesel Chevy 2500
Only thing I'm concerned a little bit about now (and I don't want to cause anymore controversy lol... but I probably will) is the TT we are interested in has a length of 38'-6". Going off of the wheel base for a 2500 3/4 ton Diesel... that's probably way over the length you should tow. With Sway Control + Weight Distribution Hitch, it should be fine? Thanks in advance everyone. I'm new to the Travel Trailer lifestyle. I want to make sure I'm being safe. Thanks again for any info/tips. I take everything into consideration.
Forums are made up with all types of folks. Some give you info requested to make a informed decision. Others will say no to a 3/4 ton pulling a 38' trailer of any type. And of course every forum has its blow hard know it all types who diss all input but his opinions are the only way to go. If you hang around , learn to read between the lines.
Anywayz...when choosing a good WD hitch for that 38' TT first read the clicky at the top of the TT forum from Ron Gratz on WD systems.
We also have several very experienced TT owners who can help you with making a good choice on brands or WD types. All WD hitches aren't the same.
And of course you will get input from my brand is best,others are junk.... and those that know little experience with the WD subject....but have a opinion.
JMO....you gotta' a stout older tow truck so keep a good maintenance program going on it.
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JIMNLIN
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03/15/23 08:35am |
Towing
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RE: F-250 vs F-350 srw
Fords F350 srw has a 6340 rawr....6780 rawr...7230 rawr depending on wheel sizes and other selections.
Fleet Ford specs shows the F250 uses the same 6340 as the F350 srw.
Also the F250 6.7 diesel uses the same rear spring specs as the F350 srw.
Fords Sterling axles are rated well above the OP 6900 rear axle weight plus a upgrade to higher capacity 20" wheels and tires.
Sounds like the OP has done his home work.
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JIMNLIN
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03/14/23 07:34pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: T.T. Recommendation
allen camper
More small 4k-5k gvwr TTs to look at....Located in Allen, Oklahoma (south).
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JIMNLIN
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03/13/23 11:47am |
Travel Trailers
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RE: 2002 3/4 Ton Heavy Duty Diesel Chevy 2500
it's a "2002 3/4 Ton Heavy Duty Diesel 4x4 Chevy
3/4 ton truck from that era had around 9000 gvwrs and 6084 rawr.
My 2500 Dodge/Cummins 305/555HO NV5600 tranny 3.73 gears has a 13400 lb tow rating. A '02 2500 GM diesel will have around the same tow rating.
A 13000 lb 5th wheel trailer can have around 2600-2800 lb hitch weight which will go over the truck 6084 lb rated rear axle. The weight of the hitch and other gear in the bed adds up also so your looking at approx 3000 lbs at the most for your 2500 truck.
3/4 ton trucks that era rear axle weighs in the 2700-2900 lb range. You have the truck so drop by a CAT scale and find the trucks front and rear axle weights with attention to the trucks rear axle numbers.....then do the math. You don't want to exceed GM 2500 6084 rawr numbers (tire/wheel/rear spring pack).
I would stick with a 12k-13k gvwr (9000 lb dry weight) 5th wheel trailer as a max size.
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JIMNLIN
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03/10/23 05:15am |
Towing
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RE: Michelin commercial tire lifespan
michelin Q&A
What is the expected service life of tires?
While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years, it is recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a simple precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they have not reached the legal wear limit.**
The OP truck is a F350 srw.. more along the line of the same truck we use in commercial service carrying same heavy loads in the bed.
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JIMNLIN
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03/05/23 03:12pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Axle and tire?
Quality commercial grade all steel ply carcass LT E tires like the XPS Ribs or Bridgestone R-238 are gonna' cost more than run of the mill poly ST E made in china/USA tires however run a cost per miles years of trouble free service and the Ribs and R238 will be cheaper to operate in the long run on a trailer especially for those of us who travel 10k-15k miles per year.
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JIMNLIN
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03/04/23 08:58pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Axle and tire?
I have ran 235-15 Good Year wranglers from Walmart. This is a 3 axle trailer.
In the late '90s and early '00s Goodyear Wrangler HT came as OEM on several rv trailer brands with 5.2k and 6k axles. Most were LT235/85-16" load E size.
Then in the mid '00s Goodyears started having issues with their G614 load G and the Wrangler HT tire lines.
By the late '00s to Goodyears credit both had their issues fixed (mostly tread loss).
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JIMNLIN
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03/03/23 12:02pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Question about double towing
I would love to pull my boat behind a FW. I have specifically asked 3 DOT officers about this. All have said the same thing; it's illegal. I asked about commercial doubles since I already have a CDL. They said that if my truck, FW, and boat trailer were all registered as commercial vehicles
Yeah ...A CDL gains noting for towing non commercial doubles.
I went from a chauffeurs to a commercial chauffeurs then grand fathered to a CDL when they became available.
I dropped my CDL years ago simply because showing it to a LEO brought other questions about my non commercial/not for hire truck/trailer and my personnel equipment.
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JIMNLIN
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03/01/23 06:00am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Question about double towing
As you say regulations varies between the states.
Your state doesn't allow non commercial double towing so how are you planning on getting out of town.
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JIMNLIN
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02/28/23 12:06pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: New Tires
Also depends on the type of tire used. If the tires are 5-6+ years old and the usual load C/D/E ST maypops then they don't make a good reliable spare at that age.
If the tires area LT or a commercial grade load G or H ST then they make good spares for several more years....assuming their protected from the sun.
Now if the trailer sees maybe 1500 miles a year then cheap quality low cost tires may work best.
On the rv trailers I've owned and several GN or bumper pull service trailers I never buy a new spare.
Run a quality tire on a road trailer and the spare may never roll on the ground.
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JIMNLIN
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02/27/23 12:08pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Truck to fit camper
For a SWR truck, depending on the exact size, tires will have a load rating of about 3500#, 7000# for both tires. The base weight of the truck will be about 3500# on the rear axle, leaving about that same amount for cargo.
Yeah...some seem to think those big 4000- 44xx lb payload stickers on some 350/3500 srw trucks is what we use for carrying a truck camper/heavy GN or 5th wheel hitch loads....and ignore the trucks rawrs. Those big payload sticker numbers come from the newer gen high gvwr's but the truck mfg's are still using older gen 7k-ish truck mfg rawr.
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JIMNLIN
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02/25/23 08:02am |
Truck Campers
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RE: Truck to fit camper
I find it interesting that when a manufacturer mentions max payload they don’t say anything about rear axle ratings, tires and rims.
That's what they're talking about where it says "properly equipped." It's hard to spend 5 minutes prattling on about axles, tires, and rims in a 15-second commercial.
"Facebook Guy" went by the maximum payload in the advertisement not realizing his truck was not "properly equipped" and ended up with a broken frame. Despite the fact that he was under the axle manufacturer's rating on the rear axle.
That’s what I was eluding to. Try to tell the manufacturer that even though you were over the sticker payload you were in fact under the rawr and see if they will accept your claim to fix the truck under warranty.
You guys are not on the same page. There is a big difference in axle mfg rating and the truck mfg rawr.
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JIMNLIN
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02/24/23 07:39pm |
Truck Campers
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RE: Do we have a pickup glut already?
Local dealers (Chevy and Ford) have considerably more trucks than a year ago. But far less than before the chip related shortage.
Same here.
I'm in the middle of three small town dealers like in a triangle. They all have few new model trucks on their lots....but lots of used trucks of all brands.
Before the pandemic all lots were loaded.
JMO but they don't want a glut of new LDT's on dealers lots that could force their pricing downward.
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JIMNLIN
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02/23/23 07:33pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Should I Buy The Dealer's Hitch
Why white? To match the trailer? I'm OK with white, but I might take something else, if it's not black.
White trucks have more power and can carry more weight :B
Anywayz.... I'm a huge white truck fan with a bit of black and chrome here and there (No black wheels for me).
I sure like my old '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins NV5600 3.73 gear short bed quad cab I bought new. However I still kick myself for not getting one with a 4wd. I've bought several (13-14) trucks over the years and some were bought this time of year. I found most dealers this time of year don't have a lot to pick from especially 3/4 and one tons. Good luck on the hunt.
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JIMNLIN
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02/23/23 12:30pm |
Towing
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RE: Should I Buy The Dealer's Hitch
Hmmmm....I was going to reply to the OP question but looks like someone else hijacked the OP question.
Anywayz.... to the OP question.
The only F150 that would stand a chance pulling a 9000 lb TT plus folks plus other gear in the truck is the F150HDPP 7850 gvwr and 4800 rawr. It would be a max load to carry and pull with those numbers. Some have no issue towing at max ....others don't like it.
If it was my choice I would go with a F250 gas or diesel....your choice....but its gotta' be a white one.
With the F250 you get a great deal more braking capacity...heavier truck....and not a maxed out truck.
Hitches....I have a Husky Centerline TS 1200 lb bar I use on the wifes 1500 chevy pulling a 10k gvwr car hauler...7760 lb blue tractor with a cab. Makes for a very top heavy load for the trailer 16" load E tires. The trailer now tracks the truck like my GN trailers.
As others suggest if you go with the F250 I would suggest making a trip without a WD hitch. Then determine if the combo actually needs one.
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JIMNLIN
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02/23/23 08:06am |
Towing
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RE: Help With Figuring Out Which Trucks Will Work For A Camper
a 3/4T truck has a max GVWR of 10,000LBS and the addition of even a 'medium' hardside camper can easily push the weight of the truck+camper+gear to 11-12K LBS fairly quickly and easily.
Newer 2500 GM trucks come with up to 11550 gvwr and more important bigger 6600 rawr for carrying in the bed payloads.
Ford F250 comes up to 10800 gvwr and 6340 rawr.
No need for a one ton drw for a small truck camper that size.
Now if you underestimated the camper weight and its over 3800-3900 lbs then I would go with the drw truck.
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JIMNLIN
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02/20/23 07:49pm |
Truck Campers
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