Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Jayco RV Owners Forum
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-23-2014, 02:00 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Turtle
Posts: 37
5th Wheel options

So were thinking in the next few years of buying a truck and 5th wheel.So a few questions....1/2 ton truck or 3/4 ton? Diesel or gas? Ford or Dodge? Were not thinking of a huge 5th wheel but with at least 1 slide out. And on the truck were thinking of a quad vs a club cab? Thanks for any an all input..
Larkn5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2014, 02:08 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
troutslayer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NW AR (God's Country)
Posts: 2,051
I would like to give some input but there are really too many unknowns. Possibly narrowing it down to an RV model number would help. The variables on RV weights is to great.
__________________
Skip

2012 Eagle Super Lite HT 26.5RKS
2005 GMC 2500 SLT HD D/A
troutslayer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2014, 03:03 PM   #3
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Turtle
Posts: 37
Options

We'll not sure what model number but it will be a jayco and I'm hoping for no more that 28-30ft.
Larkn5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2014, 03:22 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
spoon059's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 1,795
If you are buying a truck specifically for a 5th wheel, buy at least a 3/4 ton. Your issue will be payload. 1/2 tons just don't have enough payload for most 5ers. A 3/4 ton, or even 1 ton (not much more expensive) is your best bet. Just as an example, a 2014 Eagle touring 28.5BHDS has a dry pin weight of 1622 lbs. Most half ton trucks have a MAXIMUM payload of about 1600 lbs, so you wouldn't be able to bring passengers or put any more weight in the truck or camper. Then when you figure the loaded tongue weight is closer to 1800 or 2000 lbs, you are overloaded with no passengers and no gear in the truck!

A 3/4 ton will have more payload, allowing you to have more weight in the truck. It will also have a stronger frame and bigger brakes for that heavier weight.

Gas vs diesel is a personal opinion if your trailer weighs under 12 or 13K lbs. Brand is also a personal opinion. Honestly Ford, Ram or GM all make quality products in both gas and diesel engine. I personally wouldn't buy a GM product because I disagree with the gov't bailout. That doesn't mean that they don't make a very good truck though.

Find the one that is comfortable for YOU and YOUR family and YOUR budget and put a lot of miles on it! If I had the money, I would buy a Ram 2500 mega cab with the 6.4 gas engine. Massive cabin for my growing family, sufficient payload for the next decade of my camping expectations and a stout gas engine with acceptable gas mileage.
spoon059 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2014, 03:30 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
RVhiker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,643
Just my opinion follows.

I've towed two approximate 8500 pound 30 foot fifth wheels. The first one was towed with both a Chevy crew cab 3/4 ton 6.0 liter gas engine and a Chevy 3/4 ton crew cab Duramax diesel; the second fifth wheel - our Jayco - has been towed only with a Chevy crew cab Duramax.

I find the power of the Duramax and the control it gives me, both up hill and down mountain roads to make driving much easier and more enjoyable than with the 3/4 ton gas engine.

As spoon059 stated, I'm not sure that Ford or GM or Dodge makes much difference.
__________________
There's lots of advice and information in forums... sometimes it is correct. For example, all of my posts are made by a political appointee who got the job as a reward for contributions to my diesel bill.

2011 Jayco 28.5RLS; 2021 Chevy Duramax; Pullrite Superglide Hitch

RVhiker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 07:50 AM   #6
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Straughn
Posts: 29
There ought to be lots of opinions expressed if you search this topic. My $.02 only comes from limited experience. We bought ours as a set up from some friends who were quitting. The 5er is an 07 26RLTS and so weighs 12.5K or more with whatever we load. I have never been sorry to have the load bearing capacity, the braking capacity or the stability of the F350 dually quad cab we have. Many will say the dually is not necessary, and they may be right. Load cap. is not that much greater and I will say when I drive the 350 to and from work, I get 12.7 MPG diesel, and look for a large parking space away from others. But the 1 ton would definitely give you more flexibility in choosing an RV. hth
oldtrojan66 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 08:11 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
Spoon makes some good points. I'd bypass the 1/2 ton for sure for exactly the points he makes. We upgraded out TV anticipating a 5th which we recently bought. I stressed over the F250/350 (I'm a blue oval kind of guy) until I realized there wasn't a huge price difference. I stressed over the gas/diesel much less and went for diesel. I work from home so most of the miles on the truck are towing. I opted for single rear wheel and 2WD. On the highway I will get about 20mpg and about 13 when towing (level ground) which I think is excellent. We pulled our first TT (X23B) with our Expedition (5.4) and got in the mid 9's when towing which seems pretty much in line with what others see.
We love the 5th and the truck. The F350 is an ox and it loves to pull!
Good luck with your decisions and we'll see you on the road.

One last thing, I'd suggest if you get a short bed (I did) get a sliding hitch (I didn't - guess why I wish I had).
__________________
Cheers,
T_

2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
RedHorse1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 09:08 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
UPCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: The Mitten
Posts: 459
We've been through half tons, a 3/4 ton gasser and now a SRW F350 Ford diesel. It's a short box, and I have the slider and I'm glad I do. Never use it but it's come close. I'll never go back to towing with gas. I'd go for a bigger truck if you think there may be any upgrading campers in the future. Take it from someone who has wasted money upgrading. You can't have too big of a truck. Put it this way, when you look through all of the floor plans, do you want to worry about weight, payload, tongue/pin weight? Or do you just want to find a floor plan that you like regardless of how large or small it is and be able to tow it with ease.

I have a 34' fifth wheel and I pull an 18' foot boat behind it. 75' long and about 12K lbs. My truck doesn't even blink. Only concern I ever have while driving is finding gas station that I can get through. Lol

Just my opinion...
UPCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 09:48 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: White Bear Lake
Posts: 409
While I stongly defend the position that a 1/2 ton CAN pull a fifth - you have to be VERY careful as to what fifth, and what truck in that instance. As pointed out, it isn't towing capacity, it is load capacity that will be the issue for ANY combination. Everyone will will talk gas vs diesel, 3/4 vs 1 ton, gear ratios and all the rest. All things to consider. But the big one is to get as much rear load capacity as you can afford, and let that drive your choice for all the other options and 5ths. If you can get the biggest, baddest, diesel dually - great, almost no limits. But never assume - always look up the specs! Vague classifications for trucks mean nothing any more. There are "1/2 tons" that can easily beat "3/4 tons". But, of course, there are "3/4 tons" that far exceed any "1/2 ton" - so ya gotta get into the details of the specific model/year/equipped truck to decide. From there you then can use pin weights to back into what weights of fivers you can look at, and then look at floor plans, amenities, quality, etc. And never assume that you can trust the advertised weights! Zero in on a few that interest you, and then use forums like this to find out what others are experiencing in the real world. It will take some time, but doing so will end with a great truck/5th combination!
__________________
2012 Ford F-150 Eco, SCrew, 4x4, MaxTow, HD Payload
SOB, used to be:Jayco 26.5 RLS
Flapper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-25-2014, 10:40 PM   #10
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mount Clemens
Posts: 13
I've towed multiple types of trailers and fifth wheels with Ford, Dodge, and GM, I am a ford guy but I will say they all did the job they needed to do. With that being said the Gas/ Diesel option for me is a no brainer I would say if you planning on hauling over 10,000lbs for long trips like through mountains and hills then my money would be a diesel hands down. I have a 4 door F350 long bed and it drags around my 385BHS like it not even back there. The longer the truck the better the weight will be distributed and the easier it will tow. Which ever truck you get if it a 3/4 or 1 ton I'm sure it will be fine. Good luck and enjoy.
RDNX0528 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2014, 02:44 AM   #11
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Mount Clemens
Posts: 13
sorry I meant to say 345bhs.
RDNX0528 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2014, 01:00 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Gibby3275's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ontario
Posts: 239
Absolutely diesel, if you can afford it. You don’t want to be the guy slowing down all the locals when they are going to/from work.

You didn’t mention 4X4. I asked about this when I was looking at trucks. I am glad I got it. I have needed it three times already. Last time was just wet grass, but I needed it.

Here is a link to a very recent 2014 Ultimate One-Ton HD Challenge by PickupTruck.com.

http://special-reports.pickuptrucks....challenge.html

GM won again, but all three will do a fine job
__________________
:Canada:

Gibby3275 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2014, 02:53 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
UPCamper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: The Mitten
Posts: 459
Let me just throw this out there. Have you ever heard a person with a diesel say its too much or they wish they'd have gotten a gasser. And every diesel owner will tell you they would not go back.

On the other hand, there are gasser owners who are happy with their truck, and gasser owners who wish they had gotten diesel.

If finances allow it, I'd recommend diesel. I've done tons of research on the two, and engines within the diesel category. The only drawback to diesel is higher maintenance costs. But in the end, much better mpg, towing capacity, life expectancy, etc.
UPCamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Jayco, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2002-2016 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.