New Truck Question

[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!

[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

[Scottenj]

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

I agree with Earl.

A 17,000 pound trailer means the pin weight will likely be 3,400 or more when fully loaded (I have had pin weights close to 3,400 pounds with my 15,000 pound Eagle) add to that the hitch weight, driver and passenger weight and any cargo in the truck.

My Eagle is 15,000 gross weight and I have a GMC dual rear wheel. With the trailer fully loaded, my tool box, cargo, me and passengers I am near the cargo capacity of my truck on a regular basis. Mine is a 2018 and cargo capacities have gone up since then but my rule of thumb is any fifth wheel with a gross weight rating over 15,000 pounds should have a dual rear wheel tow vehicle.

[Joan617]

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

...and really, we find the dually to be no problem as our only daily driver. We don't mind walking from far out in the parking lot. The bigger bother is the poor (big) turning radius, but that's more particular to our model. The only time we have not been able to park somewhere was at an Aldi Supermarket because they seem to have small parking lots. That was no trouble because we were only curious, having never been to one, and shopped elsewhere.


Plus, we have been driving the high plains with stupid winds and the big footprint of the DRW really held us firm and made us feel safer.
-Angus


Edit: I just looked up your GVWR at 16,995, and your rig is even heavier than mine!

[Ringneks]

Whatever you get order one with the 50 gallon fuel tank, and like it was said above get the air suspension also.

[bill3kirk]

We pull with our F350 LB DRW and it is our daily drive as well. I really don't find many issues with it other than the ride is rough when not loaded. Next summer we plan this upgrade https://kelderman.com/shop/2017-ford...air-suspension which should smooth it out some.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by Joan617

...and really, we find the dually to be no problem as our only daily driver. We don't mind walking from far out in the parking lot. The bigger bother is the poor (big) turning radius, but that's more particular to our model. The only time we have not been able to park somewhere was at an Aldi Supermarket because they seem to have small parking lots. That was no trouble because we were only curious, having never been to one, and shopped elsewhere.

Ford F450 is the way to go. Turning radius is as tight as a car’s. I drive mine daily.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by Lowmiler

Ford F450 is the way to go. Turning radius is as tight as a car’s. I drive mine daily.

I have my doubts it turns as tight as a car. Lol even if it was a regular cab short bed 2wd I would doubt it. Lol unless you by car you mean a 70's 12 passenger station wagon.


Earl

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

I have my doubts it turns as tight as a car. Lol even if it was a regular cab short bed 2wd I would doubt it. Lol unless you by car you mean a 70's 12 passenger station wagon.


Earl

Whereas a typical dually has about a 30' turning radius, the 450 is around 23'. Most large size cars around 20'.

If you haven't driven one, you're missing out. It will blow your mind how tight a turn it can make.

I had a GMC Sierra dually for years, so I know exactly what I am comparing to.

No more K turns.

[F350guy]

I'm not sure what curb to curb exactly means but the when I was shopping for my F350 the Ford website showed the curb to curb turning radius for an F450 to be 50.4 feet and for a long bed F350 it was 57.8. Seems like a significant difference.

I didn't buy a Ram but I specifically wanted a single rear wheel truck. I've had 2 duals and I didn't enjoy driving them solo which seems to be contrary to some folks experience. I was disappointed I could not find a truck in a short bed with the payload capacity I needed. With it's 12,400 GVWR the Ford was the most I could find but it had to be a long bed to get there. We were looking for a fifth wheel in the 35 to 37 foot range and with a weight that a single rear truck could handle. We found our 32RLTS Pinnacle to be the perfect fit. I am using about 3700 pounds of my 4562 payload, with 3120 being my pin weight. My total weight for the Pinnacle, heavily loaded for a month long trip, is 14,700.

It performs, handles and rides as good as any combo we have ever had but I would not want to be much heavier. My concern for you is with that size fifth wheel you probably are not going to find a single rear wheel with the payload capacity you need. If you do I would think you would be bumping it pretty close.

[rkymntsno]

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!

You're definitely in dually territory. Book says hitch weight is 3370. My 355mbqs says hitch is 2500 and scales say loaded 3100 so a huge difference. I definitely would not be looking at SRWs.

[Lowmiler]

Originally Posted by F350guy

I'm not sure what curb to curb exactly means but the when I was shopping for my F350 the Ford website showed the curb to curb turning radius for an F450 to be 50.4 feet and for a long bed F350 it was 57.8. Seems like a significant difference.

Curb to curb means a 180 degree turn.

[JaycoAl]

Dually. If you can, get the dually. I've pulled fifth wheels with singles and duals and never will I hook to a fifth wheel without a dually again. More stability and less white knuckle driving.

[NorCal Eagle]

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!

I'd go dually.

No matter what you're getting a long bed, so if its a bit wider in the rear with the dually, its not such a big deal. Your mirrors will still be the widest part of the truck.

[RedHorse1]

Our 5th scales close to 13k# and we tow with a ‘13 F350. We are 300-400# below the Rear GAWR WITH 3,000# on the pin. I expect at 14-15k# we’d be over on the rear axle and into dually country. As it is the 350 does a great job towing and the 6.7 is an OX, it loves to pull. I noticed the TV had quite a bit of squat when hitched and started planning to install bags. I’d read about Timbrens and decided to give them a shot. They’ve reduced the squat to an acceptable level and unloaded I don’t notice a difference in the ride, tho some people report it’s rougher.
This said, the 350 is a ‘13 and I think the newer Fords have an aluminum body (or some alum body parts) and have a bit more payload on the rear axle. I’ve always been a “Blue Oval” guy so I can’t offer anything about “Bow Tie” or RAM trucks.

[LegalEagle]

I bought my first DWR in May. I had a one ton SRW before that, and a 3/4 ton for years before 2018. I had to invest in air bags for all of my previous trucks to keep from sagging horribly when hitched, even the one ton SRW. And my hitch and pin weight are only about 2500 lbs. My fifth wheel is 13,000 GVWR, which is smaller than yours, but the dually is superior in every aspect of towing. I live in Texas, and travel in wind most of the time. No contest in the smoother more stable ride of the DRW. I also drive my truck daily, and yes it's a little inconvenient. But that is a small price to pay for the much better and safer performance of the DRW. While I drive the truck daily, the reason I have it is to tow the RV. Can't recommend a DRW enough.

[rkelly]

I had a F-350 DRW and liked it but I absolutely love my F-450! The turning is great and with the new 10 speed transmission my fuel mileage is about 18% better than my last truck. It is also my DD

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

I have my doubts it turns as tight as a car. Lol even if it was a regular cab short bed 2wd I would doubt it. Lol unless you by car you mean a 70's 12 passenger station wagon.


Earl

F450 has a 6ft tighter turning radius over the F350 due to the wider front track.

[Mopar_Earl]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

F450 has a 6ft tighter turning radius over the F350 due to the wider front track.

So you're saying it turns as tight as a car? By car I mean modern everyday average car that the everyday average person has. Not a suv or mini van or such. An actual car. Not a limo either. Lol


Earl

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by Mopar_Earl

So you're saying it turns as tight as a car? By car I mean modern everyday average car that the everyday average person has. Not a suv or mini van or such. An actual car. Not a limo either. Lol


Earl

I suppose it's all relative. When you drive heavy duty pickup trucks, doesn't matter what brand, none of them turn very well. Drive an F-450 and when you turn, it feels like you're driving a car. It's quite amazing.