3/4 ton or 1 ton truck?

[Dfb]

A gas 3/4 ton has more ''carrying capacity" than the diesel because it does not have the diesel engine and it heavy weight. The weakness of the gasser is the lower GCWR due to the weaker engine.

Uhhhh ,NO! THE Gvwr of a gm 2500 pickup is 8000 to 11000. The truck WILL be over loaded. That gas 2500 is not enuff truck.. Even a 1 ton Srw will be over the rear axle rating. Do yourself a favor. Get a dually . Or a smaller trailer. One more thing.. I don't think a 2500 can carry 5600 lbs.! Gvwr on our ram dually is 14000 lbs...

 

[Cat320]

I think you miss understand my point. I'm simply stating the 3/4 ton gasser has more carrying capacity than the 3/4 ton diesel. Check any Tire and Information sticker on the driver's door. However, with a big Montana, I agree with getting a diesel dually....that's what I had.

 

[PSFORD99]

IMO a Montana fifth wheel these days , it's at least a SRW 1 ton . The lightest GVWR they have now is the 3123RL , it's 16,580 , and it's 35'-1" . My old 2008 3400RL was 15,500 GVWR , and it was just over 38' . You might get way with a Ford or Chev 3/4 ton ,still running rear leaf springs . Ram no way with their coil rear suspension . No idea why other then the coil suspension gives a better ride , the Ram 2500 just about took itself right out of the market for towing fifth wheels . 6.7 Cummins will get it done ,but the truck sure won't .

 

[Spartacus]

Like it was said, just bypass the 3/4 and I would go for the dually, I don't like to be on the edge I like to leave myself some wiggy room, but hopefully you will make the or made the right choice.

 

[twindman]

Some of us like to park the truck in a garage - mine is about 7 feet wide, so dually is a no go. Also, I have enough problems finding a parking spot in a lot for a single axle, let alone a dually!! No thanks. p.s. My rig has a pin weight of around 2300-2400 and I can just make it under the axle limits and live with the 300 over on the truck. I get almost no sag on the back axle when hooked up so I am okay with that, although I would have bought a 3500 if I knew they were only $1800-2000 more.

 

[PSFORD99]

Some of us like to park the truck in a garage - mine is about 7 feet wide, so dually is a no go. Also, I have enough problems finding a parking spot in a lot for a single axle, let alone a dually!! No thanks. p.s. My rig has a pin weight of around 2300-2400 and I can just make it under the axle limits and live with the 300 over on the truck. I get almost no sag on the back axle when hooked up so I am okay with that, although I would have bought a 3500 if I knew they were only $1800-2000 more.

I think that is the most common mistake when buying a truck . When I bought my first diesel truck the 99 Ford Superduty, didn’t even consider a 3/4 ton , went right to the 1 ton crew cab short bed . My advice to anyone that’s considering towing anything, just get the 1 ton , and be done .

 

[Daryles]

Today, driving down the road at 65mph (posted speed limit).
A propane truck in front of me decided to Slam on his brakes and make a right turn.
I STOOD on the brakes and smoked ALL 10 tires but I stopped in time.
TG no one was behind me.
It's moments like this I TG we have a dually.
It's not about what your truck can haul. They can haul anything you hitch to them.
It about CONTROL, when something bad happens...

 

[PSFORD99]

Today, driving down the road at 65mph (posted speed limit).
A propane truck in front of me decided to Slam on his brakes and make a right turn.
I STOOD on the brakes and smoked ALL 10 tires but I stopped in time.
TG no one was behind me.
It's moments like this I TG we have a dually.
It's not about what your truck can haul. They can haul anything you hitch to them.
It about CONTROL, when something bad happens...

I’ll make the argument, been towing fifth wheels a long time . I’ll take disc brakes on my fifth wheel any day over a dually , provided I’m within my ratings . I’ll also make the argument on smoking all ten tires , no doubt you smoked your trailer tires . But I’ve had a few panic stops , there was never any tires locked up on my trucks with antilock brakes , just doesn’t happen on mine . My fifth wheel tires locked up , but not the truck .

 

[jsb5717]

It seems that all of the main points are valid and need to be considered

1. Proper weight management - be smart about putting the right truck with a trailer so you're not overloaded
2. Proper equipment - Disc brakes on the trailer sounds smart to me. My next trailer will have them. Until then making sure I've got well-greased bearings and good brakes is important.
3. Proper control - Just because all of the numbers work out in point 1 doesn't mean that you are well equipped for emergency management on the road. I prefer overkill. High winds, dumb drivers, fast stops, etc are all reasons I'm glad to have a dually. Just can't beat the added stability.

There's more to think about when first getting set up than many newbees are aware of or consider.

 

[twindman]

I think I read a long time ago that duallies actually don't stop as well because there is less weight on each wheel and they therefore don't 'bite' into the pavement as well. Not sure if there is any truth to this or not.

 

[Spartacus]

Hmmm, I haven't noticed it myself, but maybe someone else will come and tell us more.

 

[RMcNeal]

I found that, even with 4 wheel drive, a dually can actually get hung in wet grass and not get out of its own way. Not so with my SRW. That said, there are situations where a dually is necessary. Depends on weight and conditions.

 

[Saturn V]

I drive a 2024 Chevrolet 2500HD gas truck single axle 4x4 and tow package. It has to serve as my every day vehicle and my tow vehicle.
Am I going to be in trouble if I buy a Montana High Country 37 foot 2025 331RL 5th wheel at 12,217 lbs dry weight?

This is for straight highways and byways use. No Boondocking.

My truck dealer says no, surprisingly, and the trailer dealership says no. Not sure I trust either of them. The truck dealer, in particular, has no experience hauling such a heavy trailer, and the trailer dealership says obviously just wants to sell a trailer.

Thanks for any helpful insights.

OP, can you update us on what you decided to do? I am also contemplating a 24-25 Chevy to tow a 351BH but would like to hear from others that are towing this heavy with the 6.6L gas 10 speed. I posted on another forum too, but so far everybody responding is towing under 10k. Thx

 

[PSFORD99]

OP, can you update us on what you decided to do? I am also contemplating a 24-25 Chevy to tow a 351BH but would like to hear from others that are towing this heavy with the 6.6L gas 10 speed. I posted on another forum too, but so far everybody responding is towing under 10k. Thx

For starters , definitely a 350 or 3500 . My experience with an older diesel 7.3 Superduty 350 , towing a fifth wheel with a GVWR of 15,500, and 38’ it just didn’t get the job done . I wouldn’t expect any gas motors to do better .

Although not familiar with the bigger gas motors , I can’t imagine a 6.6 gas motor handling a 351BH , that fifth wheel without looking has got to be in the 39’ range , and 16,500 GVWR ? Way too much IMO for a 6.6 gas motor handling.

 

[Saturn V]

I know a diesel or Godzilla is "better", but I'm just looking to see if the 6.6L is a total dog pulling 13k+. Keep in mind I currently tow my 351BH (13,200# dry) with a 6.8 V-10 which has about 40 less HP and slightly less torque than the 6.6L. It does have 4.30 gears so that's helpful off the line, but it's also a 5 speed. I'm not the fastest up a big hill, but I could care less. I may already have my answer in the 6.6L by comparing it to my current setup, but I'd like to hear to hear other's experiences with the 6.6/10. Thx

 

[jsb5717]

I know a diesel or Godzilla is "better", but I'm just looking to see if the 6.6L is a total dog pulling 13k+. Keep in mind I currently tow my 351BH (13,200# dry) with a 6.8 V-10 which has about 40 less HP and slightly less torque than the 6.6L. It does have 4.30 gears so that's helpful off the line, but it's also a 5 speed. I'm not the fastest up a big hill, but I could care less. I may already have my answer in the 6.6L by comparing it to my current setup, but I'd like to hear to hear other's experiences with the 6.6/10. Thx

So you're not actually towing 13200lbs. You'll be towing more like 15000-16000 lbs once you're loaded for a trip. I think the large v8 gassers will pull it...but not so sure you'll like it. There will be a lot of high RPM screaming pulling the mountains. JMHO.

 

[Mikendebbie]

Go over to IRV2 forums and search “towing with 2024 Chevy 6.6L”
Lots of threads come up…here are a few.
I think the advice you will get here and other forums is “DON’T DO IT”.
20 yrs ago I bought a used 1997 C3500 Silverado Crew Cab long bed (97k miles) with a 6.0L Vortec to tow a 32’ Alpenlite fifth wheel (weighed 13k)…not the same as what you are considering I know! Nice truck! It was what we could afford at the time. It was fabulous towing to the TX coast (all down hill) but it was a DOG coming home. We traded it in 2005 for an 03 Chevy C2500 Duramax crew cab. Wow what a difference. Have you considered a used diesel?

New Tow Vehicle!

After a wait that was longer than I wanted, but in time for our next two trips, picked this up yesterday. 2024 Chevy Silverado 3500HD LTZ, 6.6L Gas, 10spd transmission....should be adequate to pull our Passport 2704RKWE. The Sierra half ton could pull it "ok" but wasn't feeling safe after...

www.irv2.com

Is a GAS 6.6 or 6.8 10 speed enough??

Owned a Chevy Duramax for 12 yrs, it essentially for me died last Oct 23 he was diagnosed as needing new injectors($12,000). We traveled all over S.D. ,Colorado ,Wyoming, Montana never had a problem going up or down! towing a 13,000 lb 5th Wheel. Can I do the same traveling with the newer GM...

www.irv2.com

How are you running Chevy transmission when towing?

2024 chevy 2500 6.6 with 10 speed Alisson. Left Branson MO heading south into Arkansas and hit some 7% grades with many sharp turns. Camper probably weighed about 8k loaded. Pulled well and thought braking worked well with gain set at 6. Was told should be running in tow/haul mode any time road...

www.irv2.com

 

[Spartacus]

So you're not actually towing 13200lbs. You'll be towing more like 15000-16000 lbs once you're loaded for a trip. I think the large v8 gassers will pull it...but not so sure you'll like it. There will be a lot of high RPM screaming pulling the mountains. JMHO.

X2, I'm been there done that, we live in the PNW and yeah I had a ram 2500 towing a 12K plus and we did not like it, my wife said, what is that and why do it do that and I told her gas make their power with high rpm, but if a person don't mind that I would say go for it.

 

[Saturn V]

Appreciate the links. Unfortunately, I don't see any discussion on truck performance pulling anything over 10k. There are a couple youtube videos of a guy pulling a 13k# Big Horn and he claims it does just fine. I considered a diesel but not for long. My truck sits in the garage often weeks at a time without being driven. That is not good for these modern diesels and their def issues. The biggest reason that I would ever want a diesel is to be able to use the semi-truck fuel lanes!

 

[Spartacus]

well then gas is a no brainer, but I would go with the 3500 on 1 ton.