Let's talk about HOW we tow and with what truck.....

[mhbell]

We just traded our Jayco Designer and got a 2012 Denali 289RK which we will pull with a F250 Lariat Super Duty CC 2WD Power stroke Diesel. Bought a Equalizer hitch with sway control. Hopefully will not have problems Pulling ma TT after have 5th wheels.

[Louie]

I need some advise.
I went to get a new GMC 2500 HD to pull our Dutchman and I find I can't lease one. They say nobody leases 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. I don't want to buy because I am not sure we will want to keep towing for more than 3 more years. Dealers tell me I can lease the 2013 GMC 1500 with Max tow option and 6.2 engine, 3.7 gears, extra cooling, sway control, 10,400 trailer max and it will pull my 289RK just fine. I have the Reese sway control on the trailer already.

The numbers look good. I see the 1500 has P series tires which scares me. I see many people have the F150 similar to the 2013 GMC 1500 so I think the 1/2 ton might be ok especially when trailering is only 30% of my driving time.

Any experience with 2013 GMC 6.2 with Max tow package option?
I am tempted to put $5000 repairs in my old HD truck it might be safer.

[mhbell]

Originally Posted by Louie

I need some advise.
I went to get a new GMC 2500 HD to pull our Dutchman and I find I can't lease one. They say nobody leases 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. I don't want to buy because I am not sure we will want to keep towing for more than 3 more years. Dealers tell me I can lease the 2013 GMC 1500 with Max tow option and 6.2 engine, 3.7 gears, extra cooling, sway control, 10,400 trailer max and it will pull my 289RK just fine. I have the Reese sway control on the trailer already.

The numbers look good. I see the 1500 has P series tires which scares me. I see many people have the F150 similar to the 2013 GMC 1500 so I think the 1/2 ton might be ok especially when trailering is only 30% of my driving time.

Any experience with 2013 GMC 6.2 with Max tow package option?
I am tempted to put $5000 repairs in my old HD truck it might be safer.

We have friends that pull theirs with a 2013 F150 Lariat with eco boost and they have had no problems. I tow mine with a F250 SD psd Diesel. You can never have to much truck especially in the mountains.
Mel

[Chalkie]

Originally Posted by mhbell

We have friends that pull theirs with a 2013 F150 Lariat with eco boost and they have had no problems.

Smart people! The EcoBoost blows all the other 1/2 tons away. Drove a friend's and it was just a pleasure to drive and I honestly felt like it has as much power as my F250 diesel.

[Torch]

Meh I'll take my Ram 1500 Hemi all day over a blower v6,only reason i'm moving up is I'm thinking of going 5th wheel in the near future.

[jdftwrth98]

Hi there, its been interesting what you folks have been saying about your tow vehicles, not anything I did not expect to see though. Like i said in my new member post, we were going after a 5th wheel originally but ruled that out because we did not what to have to use a 2500 or 3500 series truck as our family vehicle too.

So i guess I am backing into the decision by buying my truck first and then finding trailer that fits it, yep I know thats probably a dumb to do. But I really did not want to be riding around in a vehicle that rides like a cement mixer on a daily basis.

So we traded in all our other vehicles on a 2013 ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4, its got the hemi engine and a 3.92 rear end along with all the trailer towing related stuff. Once I figured out how to turn that dang mds nonsense off my mileage on nice flat road is running about 25 mph as long as i stay under 70mph and keep my foot off that accelerator pedal. Going up hills drops the mileage down to 10 to 12 mpg, about what you would expect from a truck.

My wife and I do like this truck though, it rides nice and is a pleasure to drive and after you fill that 32 gal tank up a couple of times you learn real fast to drive smart.

I had the option of picking up a 2500 Laramie Longhorn with a diesel but 62k as compared to 48k for the 1500 made the decision for us.

In the end we may very well decide that we need more truck and if we will the lottery may well by a bigger truck but for now it is what it is.

Later,

JD

[kevinmiles]

I had a 2008 GMC 1500 crew cab with the 6.2 L gas engine and used it to tow my 2008 Holiday Rambler 28-foot TT which weighed about 8000 lbs if I remember correctly. It worked OK, but going up hills was slow and the engine revs could go quite high as the transmission shifted down. I don't know what your trailer weighs, but you might want to avoid big hills if its any more than 8000 lbs.

[jdftwrth98]

Kevin, thanks for the input, auto transmission shifting is one of the reasons that I went with the ram in the first place, with the select shift functions, I can control how the transmission shifts.

[Sebber83]

Originally Posted by jdftwrth98

Kevin, thanks for the input, auto transmission shifting is one of the reasons that I went with the ram in the first place, with the select shift functions, I can control how the transmission shifts.

I pulled y Denali BH311 with my 2012 Ram 1500 for a season, I loved how it towed but i found myself over the max tow capacity and swaying was an issue due to the truck being pretty light!

If you stay around the 28-30 foot mark and under the 8,000lbs mark, you will love your Ram for towing! Throw on a good WD hitch and you are set!

[MikeB]

I just upgraded trailers from a 36' Avion fiver at 13.5k lbs to the current 2014 Voltage 3950 at 15.5k lbs. empty. I seriously looked at upgrading my truck as well, came very close, had the paperwork ready for my signature. I told them I had to think on it overnight, that made them VERY unhappy, but it's my money, not theirs. Talked to the wife about our options again, decided to upgrade the truck I already have, and is paid for.

I tow with a 2006 Ram 3500 with diesel and 6spd manual. It is a CCLB, 4x4, SRW, that I had already spent money on to make it better for towing. I had already installed on-board air, Pacbrake airbags with in cab controls, Pacbrake exhaust brake, South Bend 3600lb DD clutch, and some other goodies. I spent some money on the issues that Dodges have, steering, brakes, and front end. I also went with 19.5" wheels and tires. Spent a lot of money, and yet even with all the stuff, the total cost for the truck and all mods is still way less than that new truck would have cost. I would still have to set up the new rig for towing as well. Very happy with my decision, my truck tows great, no issues, and I feel safe towing the new rig.

SSBC front calipers
EBC slotted and dimpled rotors all the way around
EBC Yellow pads
SpynTec front hub kit, new joints in axle
New front link arms with Johnny Joints, made 3/4" longer
New front Ball Joints
Track Bar bushings
Custom (by me) Chromoly tube with heims for tie rod, drag link
New Bilstein's, remote resevior front
2" level kit
TPMS System
Max Brake brake control, Better than my Prodigy by a long shot
19.5" wheels and Toyo tires, 5500lb load rating each
Custom longer brake lines, Kevlar/teflon/SS Braid, in blue
Mag Hytec diff covers, front and rear.
Plus stuff I am sure I am forgetting.

I already had some stuff done as mentioned. This just added to the overall package. Again, this worked best for me, I was able to handle all the mods myself. I did the install on everything, except the tires, so that helped in the decision. Your best option may be different than mine.

Mike B.

[FlyingDutchmen]

Sounds like you made the right choice Mike B. You already have the truck you love & now probably a lot better than a new one at a fraction of the price.and doing all the work your self always puts a smile on your face.....

[Chalkie]

MikeB looks like you have done a lot of work. Nice that you are able to do it yourself. I used to do that, but now I am too lazy.

When we decided we were going to buy a 5er in the future we started shopping around for a truck. We found the one we bought at a price we could not refuse so we bought that and then let it set the limits on what we could get for the 5er.

Only thing we have added is air bags and the slider that works with the turnover ball hitch that was already in the truck. I keep debating about getting it chipped but for now that is not in the near future. I am going to get the TPMS sensors for the truck that go with the ones on the trailer.

[Jbee]

Mine is an F250, added airbags with a wireless controller...good to go

before bags;

after;

[FlyingDutchmen]

Looking good Jbee. That's a nice setup you got there !! What a difference in stance after the install..

[hddecker]

Originally Posted by MikeB

I just upgraded trailers from a 36' Avion fiver at 13.5k lbs to the current 2014 Voltage 3950 at 15.5k lbs. empty. I seriously looked at upgrading my truck as well, came very close, had the paperwork ready for my signature. I told them I had to think on it overnight, that made them VERY unhappy, but it's my money, not theirs. Talked to the wife about our options again, decided to upgrade the truck I already have, and is paid for.

I tow with a 2006 Ram 3500 with diesel and 6spd manual. It is a CCLB, 4x4, SRW, that I had already spent money on to make it better for towing. I had already installed on-board air, Pacbrake airbags with in cab controls, Pacbrake exhaust brake, South Bend 3600lb DD clutch, and some other goodies. I spent some money on the issues that Dodges have, steering, brakes, and front end. I also went with 19.5" wheels and tires. Spent a lot of money, and yet even with all the stuff, the total cost for the truck and all mods is still way less than that new truck would have cost. I would still have to set up the new rig for towing as well. Very happy with my decision, my truck tows great, no issues, and I feel safe towing the new rig.


SSBC front calipers
EBC slotted and dimpled rotors all the way around
EBC Yellow pads
SpynTec front hub kit, new joints in axle
New front link arms with Johnny Joints, made 3/4" longer
New front Ball Joints
Track Bar bushings
Custom (by me) Chromoly tube with heims for tie rod, drag link
New Bilstein's, remote resevior front
2" level kit
TPMS System
Max Brake brake control, Better than my Prodigy by a long shot
19.5" wheels and Toyo tires, 5500lb load rating each
Custom longer brake lines, Kevlar/teflon/SS Braid, in blue
Mag Hytec diff covers, front and rear.
Plus stuff I am sure I am forgetting.

I already had some stuff done as mentioned. This just added to the overall package. Again, this worked best for me, I was able to handle all the mods myself. I did the install on everything, except the tires, so that helped in the decision. Your best option may be different than mine.

Mike B.

Right decision, Mike. Your laffin' and scratchin' all the way to the bank.

I've got an 07 3500 with the 6.7l, if I could get a decent deal, I would trade it for a 5.9l in a heart beat.

I don't believe that the power of the 6.7 makes up for the crappy fuel mileage.

With the number of older 5.9 Cummins that I see still going strong, you have a truck that will be running for a long time to come.

[buckeroo]

I purchased a 2013 GMC 3500 HD dully now I'm getting ready to purchase my 3800 voltage what 5th wheel hitch do you all recommend 13500 dry weight 20000 loaded with toys i'm thinking of the super 5th so it will be easy to remove

[ATCguy]

Was pulling my Voltage 3200 with my F-250, until I found out that I was nearly 1,000 lbs. over the GCWR. The truck handled ok, but didn't like living on the edge...




So I traded a few weeks ago to a new F-450. Don't think I'll be outgrowing this one anytime soon. My only concern is that I'm now riding a little nose high even with the hitch down in it's lowest position... and I don't think there's any adjustment left in the pin box w/o bringing the nose too low in re the pick-up bed rails.

[mhbell]

Originally Posted by buckeroo

I purchased a 2013 GMC 3500 HD dully now I'm getting ready to purchase my 3800 voltage what 5th wheel hitch do you all recommend 13500 dry weight 20000 loaded with toys i'm thinking of the super 5th so it will be easy to remove

I would think it will depend on how much money you want to spend. There is a wide range of hitches available. Most are easy to remove. Probably one of the easiest is a goose neck hitch with a turn over ball in the bed of truck to hide the ball and make the floor flat. I have seen that set up on some very heavy expensive fivers.
Mel

[mhbell]

Originally Posted by ATCguy

Was pulling my Voltage 3200 with my F-250, until I found out that I was nearly 1,000 lbs. over the GCWR. The truck handled ok, but didn't like living on the edge...

So I traded a few weeks ago to a new F-450. Don't think I'll be outgrowing this one anytime soon. My only concern is that I'm now riding a little nose high even with the hitch down in it's lowest position... and I don't think there's any adjustment left in the pin box w/o bringing the nose too low in re the pick-up bed rails.

I had the same problem with another 5th wheel and here is what I done. I raised the rear of the trailer so it was level with the front When hitched up. There are several ways of doing this.

1. Flip the axles If not already done. (put the springs on top of axle) This will raise the back of the trailer about 4 inches. Preserving the space between the fiver and the rails of the truck.

2. Some setups have 3 holes in the spring shackles were you can adjust the springs to raise or lower the trailer. each hole will give about 1 to 2 inches of lift by going from the top hole to the center hole. (Jayco)

Mel

[lakebuster]

Tow a 2014 Voltage 3950 with a 2013 Ford F-350 DRW FX4 at 68 mph I average 9.4 to 10.2 mpg, I think the pressure in the trail air pinbox is set around 70psig and drives like a charm, could not justify the extra monies for the f450 it does have widetrack and 4.30 gears but mine 3.73 pull just fine. Now looking at the advertisements on the 2015 F-450 going back to 19.5 wheels, bigger brakes and more torque from larger turbo, this might get interesting! Truck came with 5th wheel prep pkg. so ordered 25K OE hitch from tweetys, dang it is late and done forgot the brand!