Advice before buying

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Larry Bud

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I'm looking for a used truck ( can't afford new ). I guess it would likely be a 4th gen in the 16-19 year range.

I don't yet have a camper but would like to purchase a 5-7000 lb travel trailer for occasional use. I know a 3/4 ton would be better for the trailer but 95% of the miles will be unhitched. I would like the option to tow.

Question: is there a factory add like a max tow package or the like I should be looking at? If so, how do I know if it's there? Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

LB
 

zogg

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I would look for a truck with a 3.92 differential and a factory tow package which comes with heavy duty components….far better than an add on hitch.
Remember too, that a 5,000 pound trailer is closer to 7,000 pounds once you get it loaded. I agree, a 3/4 ton truck would be better….only towing 5% of the time doesn’t eliminate the danger of towing over loaded even one time. Good luck.
 

2003F350

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First, for the travel trailer weight you're looking at, you'd be fine in a lower trim (Big Horn or lower) half-ton with the 5.7 Hemi and at MINIMUM 3.55 gears, you'd be better served with 3.73 gears or ideally 3.92's. But that's going to severely limit what you can look for. You could make it work with a higher trim truck, but your tow capabilities and payload are (from what I've seen from some guys on here) drastically hurt by all the extra 'goodies' those higher level trucks get. So long as you properly set up the truck, trailer, and weight distribution system, that is. If you're not sure on how all that stuff gets set up, you might be better to look for a 3/4 ton gasser, as there are less maintenance costs involved. Be warned, 3/4 and 1-ton truck prices are EXTREMELY inflated right now.

Second, I would suggest you get your camper choices narrowed down to a couple different layouts that you like - they're generally all close to the same weight regardless of brand for similar layouts, and often the same layout can be found across 3-5 brands. I usually say buy the right truck for the job, so deciding at least close to what you're going to buy for a camper before you buy the truck is a good idea. I'd hate for you to buy a half ton truck then decide you want a 10k camper that will be more than the truck can handle.

Whatever you buy, look for something with a built-in trailer brake controller, and make sure it works before you buy (if it's a dealer they should be able to demonstrate, if it's private party see if they'll let a mechanic of your choice look it over). If the trailer brake controller is built-in you have a higher chance of the truck having actually been built with a tow package...but that isn't a sure-fire way to tell since people add them all the time. Only way to really tell is to see or look up the VIN and window sticker.

See if they can show you a maintenance history on the truck. Carfax, for all its faults, can at minimum bring to light serious repairs and/or if the vehicle was imported from Canada properly.
 

OC455

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First, for the travel trailer weight you're looking at, you'd be fine in a lower trim (Big Horn or lower) half-ton with the 5.7 Hemi and at MINIMUM 3.55 gears, you'd be better served with 3.73 gears or ideally 3.92's.
Hemi powered 1500's either have 3.21 or 3.92 gear ratios. The 3.6L V6 can either have the 3.21 or 3.55 gear ratios. 3.73 gear ratio is only on 2500/3500 trucks. (factory option).

Gen 5 1500's are the same, Hemi's get 3.21 or 3.92 gear ratio, 3.6L V6 gets 3.21 or 3.55 gear ratio, Eco Diesel can have 3.21 or 3.92 gear ratio. (factory option).

3.92 gear ratio usually give you a higher tow rating, but the 3.21 gear ratio does fine too.
 

2003F350

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^ that's good info. I didn't know Ram basically wasn't offering a 3.73 ratio for a half-ton truck. It used to be a good compromise ratio for people who wanted to tow infrequently but still get decent mileage. I remember an old Suburban of my parents, it would put down about 17 mpg on the expressway with 3.73's...with an old 700R4.
 

nekkidhillbilly

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brother tows a 32 foot with a 16 sport. i think he is right at 9k. we live in eastern ky as well so plenty of hills. he does wd hitch and bags but never has had a problem in 2 years.
 

ramffml

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I tow that weight with my 3.21. Good heavens, some people here think you need 600 hp these days. My parents almost towed that weight with a 3 speed 80's station wagon and 140 hp.
 

nekkidhillbilly

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I tow that weight with my 3.21. Good heavens, some people here think you need 600 hp these days. My parents almost towed that weight with a 3 speed 80's station wagon and 140 hp.
i know i remember pulling boats with a skylark. people act like you need a dually to pull a miata on a trailer anymore.
 

CamperMike

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Dinky's got the right idea... As far as what I can suggest, I have a big horn 1500 with 3.21 gears. I tow a 23' lightweight trailer with a slide, around 5200-5500 loaded. The truck works for that, but I'm at my payload capacity when loaded up. With a higher-end truck I would be overloaded. 3.92 wouldn't help me much as getting moving isn't an issue anyway. Payload is my limiting factor. And at this point it would be nice to have a larger trailer... my son is not taller than me and no longer fits in the bunk so we're stuck using the dinette as a bed when he comes along. Can't get a larger trailer as my truck cant really tow it, and prices of both truck and trailer are nuts right now.
 
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Larry Bud

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I'd like to thank all who took the time to reply. I never thought about higher trim levels having a lower payload. I do believe that a truck with a factory brake set up likely to be built for towing.

I'm a believer that the manufacturers engineers know what they're doing and I will utilize a vehicle within guidelines. I just need to the guidelines before I purchase .

Is there a vin analyzer that will tell me exactly what I'm looking at? Once a window sticker is lost, it's not easy to know the details.

Thanks, LB
 

rmill

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would stick to the 5k to 6k range. Anything bigger and your hitch weight is going to eat up all your payload. Would also take truck to nearest cat scale to get actual weight, whatever truck your interested in. good luck.
 

nekkidhillbilly

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You can tow 10K with a toyota corolla...Doesn't mean you can stop it. Brakes...that's what matters. Unless you're going up the mountain... :favorites37:
well a corolla isnt rated for 10 but a ram is.
 

Loudram

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You'll want a 3.92 rear. It'll be better for towing and more fun to drive. Trim: Express or lightly optioned Big Horn. Payload will get eaten up quickly.

What you're looking for sounds like a set up like mine. These are my numbers and they are pretty typical for a 6k trailer.

I have a '29 travel trailer. 6000 dry, 7100 loaded, 650 brochure tongue weight, 950 tongue loaded. My express has almost 1600 sticker payload and almost 1100 actual payload after all mods and extra weight including myself and my w/d hitch are figured in.
 
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Larry Bud

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You'll want a 3.92 rear. It'll be better for towing and more fun to drive. Trim: Express or lightly optioned Big Horn. Payload will get eaten up quickly.

What you're looking for sounds like a set up like mine. These are my numbers and they are pretty typical for a 6k trailer.

I have a '29 travel trailer. 6000 dry, 7100 loaded, 650 brochure tongue weight, 950 tongue loaded. My express has almost 1600 sticker payload and almost 1100 actual payload after all mods and extra weight including myself and my w/d hitch are figured in.


That's exactly what I'm after. Thanks for sharing.
 

4airstreamer

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I'm looking for a used truck ( can't afford new ). I guess it would likely be a 4th gen in the 16-19 year range.

I don't yet have a camper but would like to purchase a 5-7000 lb travel trailer for occasional use. I know a 3/4 ton would be better for the trailer but 95% of the miles will be unhitched. I would like the option to tow.

Question: is there a factory add like a max tow package or the like I should be looking at? If so, how do I know if it's there? Any advice or tips would be appreciated.

LB
I would pick out the trailer first and then match the truck to it for safety.
 

Juice17

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We tow with a 19 bighorn 3.6l e torque. 3.21 gears I believe. With a travel trailer, gear etc. We are around 5000lbs. Truck does fine on flat ground and small hills. Mountainous terrain your not going to break any speed records if you know what I mean.
 

Dean2

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The 2500s and 3500s cost less to insure and license. Gas mileage runs about the same on all the gas pots pulling and the 2500s+ have bigger brakes, better cooling etc when rigged with the factory trailer tow groups.

The half ton will do SLIGHTLY better empty on gas than the 6.4s. I bought a 2500 because I wanted a Crew Cab and full 8' bed. Rides as good as the 1500s. Too much truck is way better than too little truck and there is very little downside to the bigger truck. Well cared for they sell better than the 1500s.

If you stick to the 1500, I agree with those that say buy the trailer first and make sure the truck you buy is rated for it.
 
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