Looking for a HD truck

[CatchingSmallies]

I'm a long time Toyota truck owner that is shopping for a new camper and is looking for a HD truck. I currently tow a ~7K lb GVW camper with a 2019 Tundra and we are looking to buy a new camper in the range of 9k to 12k GVW, so bye bye half ton. If I'm not hauling something in the bed or have something on the hitch, my truck is sitting in the garage and I'm driving my car. Thanks for letting me join the forum.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Welcome from Ontario, Canada!

I'd say a 2500 with the gas engine is your magic ticket

 

[Harley Harrold]

 

[huntergreen]

I would say buy your trailer first, figure out loaded weight then choose truck.

 

[diymirage]

Make sure you get the 6.1, the 5.7 is a dog

 

[BossHogg]

I would say buy your trailer first, figure out loaded weight then choose truck.

The best advice I've seen. You would be surprised how many buy the tow vehicle first, then go camper shopping, ending up with a camper that exceeds the tow vehicle's ratings. I almost did that until someone on an RV forum suggested I visit grampgrounds and talk with campers about their experiences. It was the best street education I have ever gotten, and it saved me from foolish buying.

 

[crash68]

If I'm not hauling something in the bed or have something on the hitch, my truck is sitting in the garage and I'm driving my car

You'll want to start with the 2019 year and newer for a 2500/3500 truck as that was the first year of the 8HP75 (8spd) transmission in the gas trucks. It's a much better transmission for towing due in part to the gear ratio stager and overall span. Basically 1st gear of the prior RFE66 (6spd) is equivalent to second gear of the 8HP
The diesel trucks just got the 8spd for 2025 but they also have the torque to compensate for the gearing.
It's not that the RFE transmissions are bad, just the 8HP are that much better.

 

[Papa Red]

Welcome to the forum.

Red

 

[CatchingSmallies]

Welcome from Ontario, Canada!

I'd say a 2500 with the gas engine is your magic ticket

I would say buy your trailer first, figure out loaded weight then choose truck.

The best advice I've seen. You would be surprised how many buy the tow vehicle first, then go camper shopping, ending up with a camper that exceeds the tow vehicle's ratings. I almost did that until someone on an RV forum suggested I visit grampgrounds and talk with campers about their experiences. It was the best street education I have ever gotten, and it saved me from foolish buying.

Thanks very much for the replies. We are shopping campers now and will probably land on a fifth wheel in the ~12-14k GVWR, so 2.5-3.2k pin weight. The 2500 gassers I have looked at have the payload. The Cummins 2500 does not have the payload after adding in passengers and other stuff in the truck. What I would really love to know is will the gasser do OK hauling that weight up the mountains in CO and NM (we go every year) or do I need to get the 3500 turbo diesel? I'm concerned the gasser doesn't have much more HP and torque (about 40 lb ft) than the 5.7L in my Tundra and it also weighs 1k pounds more. And my Tundra has 4.3 gears vs. 3.7 in the 2500 gassers I have seen. I don't want to be that guy in a HD struggling to pull his fifth wheel up the mountain.

 

[huntergreen]

I wait for replies from experienced folk pulling a similar set up.

 

[Dean2]

Welcome to the forum. It is a great place to learn about Ram pickups.

With that pin weight and loaded trailer weight, don't mess around. Get the 3500 with the HO diesel. You said you don't daily drive it, the pickup is for hauling, so that is far and away the best hauler.

I have a 2021 2500 with the 6.4 and 3:73 gears. It will pull the weight you are talking about just fine, but I pull something once every 2 years or so. If I towed regularly, I would have the diesel.

 

[BossHogg]

We are shopping campers now and will probably land on a fifth wheel in the ~12-14k GVWR, so 2.5-3.2k pin weight. The 2500 gassers I have looked at have the payload. The Cummins 2500 does not have the payload after adding in passengers and other stuff in the truck. What I would really love to know is will the gasser do OK hauling that weight up the mountains in CO and NM (we go every year) or do I need to get the 3500 turbo diesel?

There is a lot to consider when deciding between a gas or diesel tow vehicle. A diesel would serve you best pulling this weight. One issue few think of besides climbing up the passes is getting down them. The Cummins has the best exhaust braking system; test after test, the Cummins comes out on top. Using the exhaust brake in conjunction with tow/haul mode is the best way to keep it all under control on the descent.

Downside to a modern diesel, besides the initial cost, is the emissions system. Some will point out higher maintenance costs and/or upkeep, and repair, but I don't; I do my own oil and filter changes. The other issue is with the emission system; they don't do well with multiple short trips. They need to get to operating temperature so the DPF system can regenerate, about ten to twenty minutes.

I have a 2015 3500 Cummins I use to pull a dump trailer, a few other smaller trailers, and a 16,000-pound fifth-wheel RV. I've never had emission issues, but I don't take multiple short trips often.

I used to pull a bumper pull camper in a Tahoe with the 5.3L engine. It did the job, but it struggled on the freeway, it struggled up grades winding out the RPMs. The camper was about 8,000 pounds. Towing on surface streets wasn't a big deal, but towing over 50 MPH was where the struggles started. Like I said before, my campground street education convinced me a diesel was the way to go. 11 years later, the Cummins is still pulling strong, it's paid for, and I have no regrets on my decision to go diesel. It just hurts up front with the higher cost.

If you do go this route (HD RAM), gas or diesel, consider adding the rear air leveling system. It's fantastic when towing with a heavy pin load.

 

[nlambert182]

Welcome to the forum. It is a great place to learn about Ram pickups.

With that pin weight and loaded trailer weight, don't mess around. Get the 3500 with the HO diesel. You said you don't daily drive it, the pickup is for hauling, so that is far and away the best hauler.

I have a 2021 2500 with the 6.4 and 3:73 gears. It will pull the weight you are talking about just fine, but I pull something once every 2 years or so. If I towed regularly, I would have the diesel.

This is good advice.

If you're not daily driving it, get a 3500 dual rear wheel with the 6.7. It will provide a smooth towing experience and you'll enjoy the trip to the campgrounds much more. With the DRW, you won't need airbags at all. 12-14k should sit nice and level.

 

[crash68]

get a 3500 dual rear wheel with the 6.7.

let's not try to turn this post into a

D'oh!

If the OP is considered trailers bigger that what he stated above then a DRW truck might start to make sense.

 

[Dean2]

let's not try to turn this post into a
View attachment 571635
D'oh!

If the OP is considered trailers bigger that what he stated above then a DRW truck might start to make sense.

Have to agree. There is very little difference, drive wise, between a 2500 and 3500 SRW, especially with a load. Dual rear wheels however, are a major pain in the butt to put up with, have poor traction in snow, mud etc. and increase the costs for tires by 50%. I would only ever have a DRW if it was absolutely required and that would take a much bigger trailer than what the OP is talking about, before it is needed.

 

[nlambert182]

A 14k trailer has a 2800 pin weight. That's a lot on many diesel 2500s. Can it be done on a 2500 gasser or 3500 SRW? Sure, in a lot of cases.

But from experience, towing a trailer that heavy is a lot more stable with a DRW. My last trailer was 14.5k and it leveled my 3500 DRW. You left out the part where I said "If you're not daily driving it". For me, there was no difference but for some it's a lot.

 

[HEMIMANN]

There is a lot to consider when deciding between a gas or diesel tow vehicle. A diesel would serve you best pulling this weight. One issue few think of besides climbing up the passes is getting down them. The Cummins has the best exhaust braking system; test after test, the Cummins comes out on top. Using the exhaust brake in conjunction with tow/haul mode is the best way to keep it all under control on the descent.

Downside to a modern diesel, besides the initial cost, is the emissions system. Some will point out higher maintenance costs and/or upkeep, and repair, but I don't; I do my own oil and filter changes. The other issue is with the emission system; they don't do well with multiple short trips. They need to get to operating temperature so the DPF system can regenerate, about ten to twenty minutes.

I have a 2015 3500 Cummins I use to pull a dump trailer, a few other smaller trailers, and a 16,000-pound fifth-wheel RV. I've never had emission issues, but I don't take multiple short trips often.

I used to pull a bumper pull camper in a Tahoe with the 5.3L engine. It did the job, but it struggled on the freeway, it struggled up grades winding out the RPMs. The camper was about 8,000 pounds. Towing on surface streets wasn't a big deal, but towing over 50 MPH was where the struggles started. Like I said before, my campground street education convinced me a diesel was the way to go. 11 years later, the Cummins is still pulling strong, it's paid for, and I have no regrets on my decision to go diesel. It just hurts up front with the higher cost.

If you do go this route (HD RAM), gas or diesel, consider adding the rear air leveling system. It's fantastic when towing with a heavy pin load.

I had the 5.3 too. NEVER again! I thought the thing was gonna climb out of the hood, it was struggling so badly.

I stayed with gas, the 6.4 HEMI because I don't tow that often, so put up with the gas-sucking when I do tow.

 

[CatchingSmallies]

I had the 5.3 too. NEVER again! I thought the thing was gonna climb out of the hood, it was struggling so badly.

I stayed with gas, the 6.4 HEMI because I don't tow that often, so put up with the gas-sucking when I do tow.

Pulling my 28' TT with my Tundra I get around 8-9 mpg avg so that is expected.

Have to agree. There is very little difference, drive wise, between a 2500 and 3500 SRW, especially with a load. Dual rear wheels however, are a major pain in the butt to put up with, have poor traction in snow, mud etc. and increase the costs for tires by 50%. I would only ever have a DRW if it was absolutely required and that would take a much bigger trailer than what the OP is talking about, before it is needed.

A 14k trailer has a 2800 pin weight. That's a lot on many diesel 2500s. Can it be done on a 2500 gasser or 3500 SRW? Sure, in a lot of cases.

But from experience, towing a trailer that heavy is a lot more stable with a DRW. My last trailer was 14.5k and it leveled my 3500 DRW. You left out the part where I said "If you're not daily driving it". For me, there was no difference but for some it's a lot.

A DRW is not going to happen. I can't get a long bed in my garage.

 

[CatchingSmallies]

I had the 5.3 too. NEVER again! I thought the thing was gonna climb out of the hood, it was struggling so badly.

I stayed with gas, the 6.4 HEMI because I don't tow that often, so put up with the gas-sucking when I do tow.

Pulling my 28' TT with my Tundra I get around 8-9 mpg avg so that is expected.

Have to agree. There is very little difference, drive wise, between a 2500 and 3500 SRW, especially with a load. Dual rear wheels however, are a major pain in the butt to put up with, have poor traction in snow, mud etc. and increase the costs for tires by 50%. I would only ever have a DRW if it was absolutely required and that would take a much bigger trailer than what the OP is talking about, before it is needed.

A 14k trailer has a 2800 pin weight. That's a lot on many diesel 2500s. Can it be done on a 2500 gasser or 3500 SRW? Sure, in a lot of cases.

But from experience, towing a trailer that heavy is a lot more stable with a DRW. My last trailer was 14.5k and it leveled my 3500 DRW. You left out the part where I said "If you're not daily driving it". For me, there was no difference but for some it's a lot.

A DRW is not going to happen. I can't get a long bed in my garage.

 

[nlambert182]

I get that... so I'd recommend trying to stay in the 34' range and around 12k lbs GVWR. Again... there are some 2500 gassers and 3500 SRW diesels that will pull that much weight, but you'll have to very specifically pay attention to their payload ratings. Length of the trailer will also play a factor into how it tows. For 40'+ trailers a DRW will make a night and day difference. It's not a comfortable tow in a lot of cases.