Build my TV

[bc-00044]

Upgrading from a 27'TT to a 41' 5er. Obviously now also need to trade in my TV for something more capable.
Relying on the collective wisdom of this group for guidance. I do not have any strong brand loyalty beyond american made -- concerned about driving experience, ride comfort, towing capacity for the quoted trailer, and reliability. Make your proposals.
Pretty well set on a diesel, but convince me if I am wrong.
Trailer is 40' UVW 14344 lbs

[thomas201]

Buy the best seat, that fits your tail. Use the price on the other 2 makes to bargain the price down on the one you want.

Most of the other advice is good, but nothing beats a comfortable (to you) truck.

[time2roll]

Build? Get something built a few years ago. Or if you must custom order pick a color that semi matches the trailer 😉

[afidel]

I'm sold on the widetrack front axle on the F450, while you can get a RAM 4500 chassis cab with the widefront once you add a hauler bed it's going to be a significantly more expensive truck than the F450.

*edit*
I take it back, if you're willing to settle for Tradesman trim it looks like you can save about $8k by buying a chassis cab with a basic hauler bed. Should I need a dually I'll strongly consider that route.

[4x4ord]

I've got a new Ford on order and in the mean time I've taken a Ram for a test drive (which is actually quite a bit as I've not set foot in a Ford dealership). At the same price I'd go Ford but if Ram would beat Ford by a dollar I might be willing to give Ram a try. As it is the best I can do on a Ram Limited is a couple thousand more than what a Ford Platinum comes in at. For a trailer with a GVWR of 17k you could go SRW or dually .... either would do the job. I'd opt for a SRW short box.

[rhagfo]

NJRVer wrote:
Buy whatever brand is comfortable to sit in for long trips.
Just make sure you get a diesel dually with a 4:10.

Really don’t need 4.10’s with a diesel towing 16k to18k as 3.73 give me 25,214# towing capacity.

[NJRVer]

Buy whatever brand is comfortable to sit in for long trips.
Just make sure you get a diesel dually with a 4:10.

[ksss]

Is the trailer a toy hauler?

[rhagfo]

FishOnOne wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
RAM HD's are "Assembled" in Mexico with mostly US Made components.

Ford's Diesel is Made In Mexico.

Guess you need to look into GM's total content.

RAM HD's are "Made in Mexico" Unless FCA's own label on a Mexican made truck is incorrect.



In addition I believe that FCA has or will merge with the French brand Peugeot.

No not incorrect, has been that way for a while, as Cummins12V98, they are assembled in Mexico, other company's import foreign made diesel engines in their Made in America trucks.

Heck, I actually looked for a Ram with a Japanese Transmission (Aisin). I will add when I finally felt that the shocks on out 2001 Ram didn't do a good enough job of dampening rebound when towing I replaced them at 255,314 miles and they were still charged, see picture below, note build date:

[rhagfo]

bc-00044 wrote:
Upgrading from a 27'TT to a 41' 5er. Obviously now also need to trade in my TV for something more capable.
Relying on the collective wisdom of this group for guidance. I do not have any strong brand loyalty beyond american made -- concerned about driving experience, ride comfort, towing capacity for the quoted trailer, and reliability. Make your proposals.
Pretty well set on a diesel, but convince me if I am wrong.
Trailer is 40' UVW 14344 lbs

Should have added more detail. GVWR = 16,800# Hitch weight 2686#
Very interested in the comments on DRW v SRW

Well I will add my thoughts, first of all what you are missing is the 5er payload which is 2,456# which for a 40' 5er is low.

Next the 2,686# DRY pin is only 18.7% of the dry weight, most 5er run about 22% wet pins. That would put you at 3,696#.
So those are somewhat real world pin weight.

Most SRW 3500's top out at between 4,000# and 4,200# payload, leaving you around 500# for everything else you add to the TV after it leaves the factory. Making thing very tight weight wise.

Newer SRW 350/3500's max out at 12,400# GVWR and as mentioned for a diesel 4X4 Crew Cab about 4,000# to 4,200# of payload.

Now a 350/3500 DRW Diesel 4X4 all now have 14,000# GVWR and payloads in the range of 5,400# +/-.

Many on this forum will say you can get by with a SRW, but for a far more comfortable towing experience DRW is the way to go. We full time and our only vehicle is a 2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW 4X4 with 3.73. Ram listed Payload by VIN is 5,410.58# and towing capacity is 25,21.58# I worry a lot about the .42# that the Yellow sticker rounded up to 5,411# :).
Just an FYI the 14,000# GVWR less the Payload 5,411# meant the truck weighed 8,589# with a full tank of fuel and a 150# driver when it left the factory.
The last time I scaled it ready to tow, with DW, me, hitch, dog, on board air, and in bed tool box with stuff, we scaled 10,000#! Yep we lost 1,411# of payload before we hooked up the 5er.

So I would suggest the 350/3500 DRW of your preference, with the trim level you like, Diesel and 3.73's or 4.10 gears.

We tow with the 5er right at about 13,000#, and compared to the 2001 Ram 2500 5 speed and 3.55's we use to tow with, I need to check the mirrors to be sure it is still back there.

Good luck with your hunt.

[FishOnOne]

bc-00044 wrote:
Upgrading from a 27'TT to a 41' 5er. Obviously now also need to trade in my TV for something more capable.
Relying on the collective wisdom of this group for guidance. I do not have any strong brand loyalty beyond american made -- concerned about driving experience, ride comfort, towing capacity for the quoted trailer, and reliability. Make your proposals.
Pretty well set on a diesel, but convince me if I am wrong.
Trailer is 40' UVW 14344 lbs

I agree with going with a diesel and if "American Made" is your requirement (It's my requirement as well) then GM and Ford is your excellent choices.

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
RAM HD's are "Assembled" in Mexico with mostly US Made components.

Ford's Diesel is Made In Mexico.

Guess you need to look into GM's total content.

RAM HD's are "Made in Mexico" Unless FCA's own label on a Mexican made truck is incorrect.



In addition I believe that FCA has or will merge with the French brand Peugeot.

[valhalla360]

bc-00044 wrote:
Should have added more detail. GVWR = 16,800# Hitch weight 2686#
Very interested in the comments on DRW v SRW

I'm still thinking 3500-4000lb pin weight by the time you get loaded.

You can find SRW trucks that might take that pin weight but it's near fully loaded with just the pin weight. Keep in mind, you probably aren't going to run with an empty truck.
- At a minimum your average 5th wheel hitch can add 200lb
- Passengers count against payload.
- Diesel engines eat into payload
- 4x4 eats into payload
- 4 door cabs eat into payload
- Bells and whistles eat into payload
- Firewood, other camping gear?

If you had a SRW truck already, you might work the numbers to see if it's possible to keep it within the ratings but unless the dealer lets you take it to a nearby scale, you are hoping they are accurate and even then, you have to leave some margin for loading your gear into the trailer increasing the pin weight.

If you don't have the truck, I would just go straight to the dually, so if your estimates are a little off, you have some payload to play with.

[MFL]

That would be dry pin, but still low for 14,350 UVW.

As to SRW/DRW, the safest way is DRW, but depending on use of truck, some SRWs may work for you. Towing in mountains of Colorado, a DRW would allow more stability.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

bc-00044 wrote:
Should have added more detail. GVWR = 16,800# Hitch weight 2686#
Very interested in the comments on DRW v SRW

Unless it’s a triple axle that pin is wayyyy low.

[bc-00044]

Should have added more detail. GVWR = 16,800# Hitch weight 2686#
Very interested in the comments on DRW v SRW