Which Truck for 3970? I need your help/advice ASAP!!!

VAN TREKKING lifestyle · 10-13-2014, 01:46 PM

We're in a motorhome now but next Monday we're taking delivery, assuming I can get a suitable truck, of our 2015 Voltage 3970. We have gone from excited to "oh no what have we done" in a hurry. I thought buying a tow vehicle would be the easiest part. Wrong! Especially since this thing weighs in at over 15K.

We have 30-35 to spend on the truck. I thought we'd get an older, maybe Dodge Ram 3500 DRW, truck with low miles. But if I'm reading the tow ratings correctly then that might not be advisable. Since Dodge doesn't list different ratings for 5th Wheel towing can I safely add any amount to their listed number? It's looking like I need to get a newer truck with higher miles to stay within our budget. Suggestions?

What are you guys using to tow your heavy homes? Do you have any recomendations? We tow downhill (both ways) to Florida each year and park her for 5-6 months, so I'm not too concerned about big hills (just yet).

Thanks for the advice in advance. I have to pull the trigger on buying one by Wednesday so I'm starting to get worried. Guess I should have asked a lot earlier.

Owen

Owen and Lynn Poteat
"No bathroom needed in our RV 'cuz we're pretty puckered up about this big purchase"

**wahoonc** · 10-13-2014, 01:57 PM

Personally once you get over 13k I prefer a Class 7... I can't help you much on tow ratings. My dually is a 1996 F350 rated to tow around 12,000. I have had close to double that in an emergency. Some of it is going to be how comfortable you are with the risk of towing over the limits. Most one ton are going to be in that range. You can look for larger, but I think you get more value out of a Class 7. YMMV.

Aaron

VAN TREKKING lifestyle · 10-13-2014, 02:18 PM

Thanks Aaron. The Class 7's look nice, but betting I couldn't keep it in our budget. I used to have a 24' Wellcraft W/A that was a heavy girl. For many years I towed it with a Durango. So I used to be more comfortable with that risk. But I always had nightmares of being in the car, launching the boat and drowning. :-)

So I guess the question I'm wrestling with the most is: Is it a better choice to get an older (2007/2008) truck with 40k miles or get a 2012/2013 with 140k miles?

Thanks for the reply. Makes sense this would get to someone else in NC first. :-)

**wahoonc** · 10-13-2014, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opoteat

Thanks Aaron. The Class 7's look nice, but betting I couldn't keep it in our budget. I used to have a 24' Wellcraft W/A that was a heavy girl. For many years I towed it with a Durango. So I used to be more comfortable with that risk. But I always had nightmares of being in the car, launching the boat and drowning. :-)

So I guess the question I'm wrestling with the most is: Is it a better choice to get an older (2007/2008) truck with 40k miles or get a 2012/2013 with 140k miles?

Thanks for the reply. Makes sense this would get to someone else in NC first. :-)

High mileage doesn't bother me as long as it has been well maintained and it has good maintenance records. Lower mileage can be a concern because things that don't get used have a tendency to rot away and break with little warning, again it boils down to number of owners and quality of maintenance records.

That being said! I have a 2003 F150 that we tow with that has 238,000 miles on it. My 1996 F350 had 38,000 when I bought it in 2006 and just now rolled over to 150,000, most of those miles were put on in just over 2 years.

My company car has 255,000 on it and it is a 2008 Nissan Altima.

Aaron

Dtreolo1 · 10-13-2014, 03:54 PM

I tow my 3905 with a 2013 dodge crew cab 3500 srw with no problem at all! The newer trucks have way higher towing capabilities.

VAN TREKKING lifestyle · 10-14-2014, 12:20 AM

Thanks for the info. We priced everything today and a base model 3500 2014 is not that much more than a 2011 so that seems to make the most sense.

ldo2104 · 10-14-2014, 02:49 AM

I tow with a 2013 3500 CC DRW with no problems, take the time to read the tow ratings of your choice of truck. look on theTrailer Life website. I believe they have a document that shows different trucks by year and give a good idea of fifth wheel limits.

azdryheat · 10-14-2014, 04:04 AM

You don't need an 18-wheeler to tow a V3970. My 2013 Chevy 3500 DRW does an excellent job towing our V3600 on flatlands and especially in the mountains on 6 and 7% grades. We're rated by the lawyers at Chevy to tow a 5th wheel up to 22,500 pounds. Make sure you get a truck with a good payload because that 3970 is going to put over 3,000 pounds on the hitch. My truck has a payload of 5,000 pounds.

kodiak krusin · 10-15-2014, 12:10 AM

My 2014 ram 2500 with the hemi is rated to tow just over 15k so a 3500 dually will be plenty enough truck to do the job. That cummins is a great pulling engine.

Pirate · 10-15-2014, 08:26 AM

Owen,

Plenty of good info in this thread.

I was a Dodge Cummins guy starting with a 1998 2500 then a 2005 3500.

But then in late 2010 retirement was just around the corner, we were getting into the Toyhauler world, and went looking for another truck.

Found the 2011 Silverado 3500 dualie, Duramax, crew cab, Allison 6-speed and its been an incredible towing machine. The 6.6 litre Duramax is an incredible puller...and we found the Silverado had more of the "creature comforts" than the new Dodges.

So I made the change and haven't regretted it for a minute. There are lots of the Duramax Silverado 3500's around...you should be able to stay in your price range.

Whatever you get, take a bit of time to make sure the 5th wheel hitch can be installed right over the rear axle for load control and safety.

Regardless of what you get, spend the $500 on Firestone air bags to help keep the truck level when hooked up.

Good luck!!

Pirate

donzinger · 10-15-2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

Owen,

Plenty of good info in this thread.

I was a Dodge Cummins guy starting with a 1998 2500 then a 2005 3500.

But then in late 2010 retirement was just around the corner, we were getting into the Toyhauler world, and went looking for another truck.

Found the 2011 Silverado 3500 dualie, Duramax, crew cab, Allison 6-speed and its been an incredible towing machine. The 6.6 litre Duramax is an incredible puller...and we found the Silverado had more of the "creature comforts" than the new Dodges.

So I made the change and haven't regretted it for a minute. There are lots of the Duramax Silverado 3500's around...you should be able to stay in your price range.

Whatever you get, take a bit of time to make sure the 5th wheel hitch can be installed right over the rear axle for load control and safety.

Regardless of what you get, spend the $500 on Firestone air bags to help keep the truck level when hooked up.

Good luck!!

Pirate

Pirate - could not agree more on the airbags no matter the brand (as long as they are a quality name) - I had PacBrake bags on my 2500 and on the my 3500 I have the Airlift remote system with 8" bags. Well worth the money and the couple of hours to install!

DesertRat · 10-15-2014, 05:50 PM

I also installed the Firestone bags on my FORD F-350. Only need 20 psi in them to bring it off the overloads.
As far as what tow vehicle well what sells more? What do you see most folks towing with? I happen to drive one.

Bmxboysmom · 10-15-2014, 10:14 PM

I think Ford makes the best trucks. I pull our V3895 with a 2008 f-450 dually without any problems. I can't imagine driving any other brand of truck

Pirate · 10-16-2014, 03:26 AM

Oh here we go...98% of Ford trucks made in the last ten years are still on the road. Only 2% could make it home!! LOL!!

But each to his own. The "Big Three" all make good trucks.

To pull a 3970...I wouldn't go with less than a 350/3500 one ton truck.

I like the dualie, but have a Highway Products bed so that I have a rolling tool box and can put my Polaris RZR in the bed when I need to.

I just heard that Ford statement a couple of weeks ago...never heard that one before!!!

Pirate

**wahoonc** · 10-16-2014, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate

Oh here we go...98% of Ford trucks made in the last ten years are still on the road. Only 2% could make it home!! LOL!!

But each to his own. The "Big Three" all make good trucks.

To pull a 3970...I wouldn't go with less than a 350/3500 one ton truck.

I like the dualie, but have a Highway Products bed so that I have a rolling tool box and can put my Polaris RZR in the bed when I need to.

I just heard that Ford statement a couple of weeks ago...never heard that one before!!!

Pirate

That is pretty good... All of my Fords must be in the 2%

Now I can tell everybody I am a 2 percenter.

Aaron

Bmxboysmom · 10-16-2014, 10:32 PM

I'm a 2 percenter too! We have owned Fords for 30 years!

DesertRat · 10-16-2014, 10:46 PM

My first one was a Demo 86 Taurus. DST which does ads for Ford rented it back from me & was in the 87 SuperBowl Ford commercials that played. It was advertised as a 87 because the color on it was a 87 color not a 86 one. I got it back with new nicer rims & brand new tires.

mhbell · 10-17-2014, 01:23 AM

I use to pull a Jayco Designer 5th wheel 22,000 Lb Gross Truck and Trailer never had a problem and pulled many a mountain pass. We have down sized to a Denali 289RK which is light to tow with my rig. My Sig says it all.
10,500 Lb Payload 23,000 Lb tow Rating same as F350 difference is dual wheels

Grdrod1 · 10-17-2014, 09:09 AM

I picked my 3970 up in August . I have a Chevy 3500 heavy duty 4X2
. Pulled it from nw Arkansas to centrol NJ. Averaged about twe've mpg. Pulled great, no problems. Had two Harleys in the back and full time daily living assentails.

Camper2b · 10-17-2014, 03:42 PM

My 2014 Dodge 3500 DRW with the all new upgraded suspension from factory doesnt need air springs to pull anything. It sits level with 5th wheel attached. My truck, or any other Dodge 3500 will pull any of these Voltage trailers without any probems whatsoever. If! You have an older Dodge..... you might need assistance of air springs...but it would have to be pretty worn out. 20 + years in Dodge diesels 1 tons....

no complaints... opinions may vary.

I can even use my truck to close the slideout if help is not available when it fails... can your truck do that?

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