New Truck Question

[robkelly]

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

You definitely want the rear air suspension option.

Trailer of that size and weight, I'd go dually. SRW would be overloaded and definitely no room for upgrading to a larger and heavier trailer.

Earl

Agreed! We have the SRW, with air bags, and I wish we had the DRW for the size and weight of our rig, and the MDQS is heavier yet

[pawags45]

We have the Pinnacle 36SSWS and pull it with a Chevrolet 3500 Duramax Dully. Don't even know you have a heavy 5th wheel behind you. When not towing I have not noticed much of a problem. Car warshes are hard to find but thats about it. A 5th wheel that a size you want to be safe. Look at the axel ratings and pay load of single rear wheel vs Dully. Then make your choice.

[RFactor1]

I tow a 2020 Eagle 317rlok, that's rated at just over 13K when fully loaded. My truck is a Ram 18 3500 Heavy Duty 4x4 with the 6.4L and 8' box. It's just a single rear axle, and we have no trouble towing. Now ours may not be as big or heavy as yours, so not sure it is exactly a fair comparison, but as far as we are concerned, we're happy the way the truck performs. I also use it as my daily driver, and yes it is a bit rough without a load on it.

[Rock]

Here is my take. I love my truck and it drives like a Cadillac. But if I did it again it would be the same exact truck but a short bed. The rear factory air suspension is the only way to go.
Rock

[b888b888b]

I think you should definitely go with a 3500 dually long bed. I just hit my rear window and made a dent while turning with my standard bed. I suspect that it was because I was at a campground with a really uneven ground and steep slope. Just something to watch out for.

[EP&DP]

I just checked the prices of slightly used F450 DRW 6.7L Diesel Platinum trucks and I'm surprised they are that low considering what you get as an awesome truck. $76K - $81K for trucks less that 20,000 miles

[Bill Johnson]

Originally Posted by breckenridge2003

Hi All-
We're buying a Pinnacle 37 MDQS this spring and getting ready to buy a Ram 3500 to tow it.

I would really prefer not to buy a dually if we can avoid it, since this truck will be used for non-towing purposes a lot of the time.

It would be great to hear from some of you about towing a fifth wheel on a 2 wheel back end. I've heard from a few that say it's not a big deal and a standard back end will do the job (with the right engine and axle ratio of course).

Any other input would be extremely helpful since I don't want to be disappointed with my Ram, given the cost.

THANK YOU!

This is a 2020 Ram 6.7L I6 CUMMINS HO TURBO DIESEL
ENG
6 SPD AUTO AISIN NEW HD
TRANSMISSION SRW 3.73 rear, 12000 gvwr, 4450 payload, 7547.96 total weight, 4607.03 front weight, 2940.93 rear weight, gawr-5500 front, 7000 rear, 33670 GCWR 25,580 max towing

[Greg Blakeley]

Congrats on your new trailer decision. We ordered the exact same floorplan and we're expecting to get it in January!

We had the North Point RLBH - so essentially the same trailer. We towed it with a RAM 2500 Diesel with no issues. The truck was loaded with the max tow package including the auto levelling air bags in the back. It did a really good job to be honest. We then decided to upgrade our truck to the RAM 3500 dually...WOW! What a difference. Honestly, it was like night and day. It's definitely not ideal for every day driving, but we manage just fine...we also have another car.

So, in my opinion, the 2500 did fine. I know the single rear axle 3500 is more capable than the 2500 for sure, so you'd be fine. In my experience, the dually really comes in nice on longer trips and in bad weather. When it's windy, this thing doesn't move while driving. We came home from Mrytle Beach last year through the Virginia mountains in a wind storm. Guys with smaller trailers were all over the road, mine was solid with the dually. Just food for thought.

[fsimms]

We are pulling our 2020 Pinnacle 36SSWS with a 2013 Ram 4x4, dually, 6.7 diesel, Aisin and this heavy 5th wheel pulls great. I would not feel safe pulling this size 5er with a single rear wheel truck. Our Ram truck rides much better when towing than it does shopping and driving around town. I installed Timbrens which I prefer over air bags that I've had on previous trucks. I don't know about the new duallies but our 2013 Ram dually rides very rough when not towing. So much so that my wife does not enjoy running errands with the dually. Another consideration, don't even think about going through narrow drive throughs at banks, pharmacies, and fast food joints as you will surely live to regret it. You'll have some great stories to tell about how you couldn't go forward and you couldn't back out with cars stacked up behind you. Our truck rides much better if I air down the tire when not towing but this causes uneven front tire wear. My advice, be safe, change your old driving habits, get the dually.

[HHNET]

38FLSA 18,500 gross, 3500 dually 9500 = 28,000. Air bags, exhaust brake. Do it right or pay severely later. RAM 3500 rack&pinion steering turns on the dime.
#HHNET #NASAV #15YearsFullTime #Pinnacle45 #2003RAM3500_5924V_Dually

[HHNET]

I have no issues in the cramped of parking lots. Learn your truck.
#HHNET #NASAV #15YearsFullTime #Pinnacle45 #2003RAM3500_5924V_Dually

[MattS]

I agree with must previous comments to go with the dusky. I have a ‘19 GMC 3500 towing our 32RLTS and am very happy with the tow performance but wouldn’t feel comfortable going up to the size you are talking about. Good luck!!

[usafdaddy]

Originally Posted by breckenridge2003

Hi All-
We're buying a Pinnacle 37 MDQS this spring and getting ready to buy a Ram 3500 to tow it.

I would really prefer not to buy a dually if we can avoid it, since this truck will be used for non-towing purposes a lot of the time.

It would be great to hear from some of you about towing a fifth wheel on a 2 wheel back end. I've heard from a few that say it's not a big deal and a standard back end will do the job (with the right engine and axle ratio of course).

Any other input would be extremely helpful since I don't want to be disappointed with my Ram, given the cost.

THANK YOU!

3 years ago, when I purchased my PINNACLE 38 FLSA (actually 41' long) I did a tremendous amount of research on the best size truck and whether I would need a dually. I spoke with at minimum 15 owners of large 5th wheels, 2 independent RV repair facilities, and service managers at 3 RV dealers. Without exception I was told ( 1) buy more truck than I needed (ie: a 3500 NOT a 2500, (2) buy a diesel, (3) with the exception of 2 or 3 owners, an 8' bed was recommended, and (4) without exception I was told you don't need a dually to pull the unit. I have owned my Pinnacle and Silverado 3500 HD Diesel for 5 years and have never had a problem
with the stability. The 3500 Diesel has given me all the power I need, especially going up steep hills and the 8' bed has given me greater maneuverability in parking
at campgrounds. I hope that this information assists you in making your decision.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by usafdaddy

3 years ago, when I purchased my PINNACLE 38 FLSA (actually 41' long) I did a tremendous amount of research on the best size truck and whether I would need a dually. I spoke with at minimum 15 owners of large 5th wheels, 2 independent RV repair facilities, and service managers at 3 RV dealers. Without exception I was told ( 1) buy more truck than I needed (ie: a 3500 NOT a 2500, (2) buy a diesel, (3) with the exception of 2 or 3 owners, an 8' bed was recommended, and (4) without exception I was told you don't need a dually to pull the unit. I have owned my Pinnacle and Silverado 3500 HD Diesel for 5 years and have never had a problem
with the stability. The 3500 Diesel has given me all the power I need, especially going up steep hills and the 8' bed has given me greater maneuverability in parking
at campgrounds. I hope that this information assists you in making your decision.

I’m curious, have you ever run your fully loaded rig over a scale to see what your pin weight is?

[usafdaddy]

1 - no
2 - why do you ask

[ScottK]

I have a 3500 with single wheel axle Cumin turbo and a Northpoint 377 with 4 slideouts and went on 28 day road trip last year and it did great.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by usafdaddy

1 - no
2 - why do you ask

Respectfully, with a rig that size, running it over the scales is the only way to truly know if you are safe with single rear wheels. You might be surprised to find out that you are overloaded (or maybe not). Feeling is one thing, measuring is another.

With a dually, you truly are buying more truck than you need, and running it over the scales is just for curiosity, because a 5th wheel that size will be within any modern dually’s payload capacity.

[P.Floyd]

I may have missed it while scanning this thread, you should also consider that with a DRW vehicle, you have more rubber on the road for stopping.

[sail154]

We pull a 2019 Jayco Pinnacle w in th a 2017 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins. The truck pulls the rig with absolutely no issues. Stable, smooth and great mileage considering the weight.

[usafdaddy]

I responded with the information I was given in my research and added my experience. It’s that simple. If your knowledge and experience is different than you’re welcome to state that in reply to Breckenridge2003’s inquiry. With all due respect.