I'm in the 2wd boat and I say get a 4x4... My last truck was a 4x4 and I never needed it once (1/2 ton gasser), so I decided I would get a 2wd this go around. Well I have gotten this truck stuck more times than I can count.

 

Unless you are towing/hauling a real heavy load, a 3/4 ton is fine. I`ve had 4X4`s most of my life, because of business and where i live. If you honestly think you NEED a 4X4 on a regular basis...buy one!
You have to consider the extra cost to buy ,operate, and maintain a 4 wheel drive vehicle. When they break...they cost lots of $$$ to repair.
When they get stuck...they are really stuck!
The amount you save buying a 2X4, can get you a lot of tow-trucks. And most guys/girls with 4X4`s are happy to pull you out for nothing anyway!

 

That's because the sand up there is closer to Georgia where everyone drives 4x4's. West side Florida sand doesn't like 4x4's.

StirinThePotBob

 

I Purchased A New Dodge 3500 2x2 6 Speed Automatic 6.7l. Diesel
I Have Read All Over This Site And Have Yet To Find Anyone That Is Pulling A 40 Foot Rv 5th Wheel Useing A Stock Truck??
Does Anyone Use One And What Problems Are You Having? How Many Miles??? I Had A 1996 2500 And Pulled 32,000 Lbs. ( Could Only Go 55 Max,) But Never Had Any Problems After 166,000 Miles.
I Hear, That The New 6.7l Diesel Is Junk ( Like Fords 6.0l) And Will Be A Hugh Problem?? Although It Is Too Late To Change, I Hope This Is Not A True Statement.
Please Give Me Tour Statements On This, I Am Very Interested.

Thank You In Advance, Jim

 

What weight? Perhaps the reason you don't see them is that it may be totally illegal to pull one with a one ton? In your example, that 32,000 lbs was FAR over your legal GCVWR........you are simply put, damned lucky you didn't get into an accident and been found to have been very seriuosly overweight. You would very likely be languishing in a federal penetentiary today. The fact that you had a 55 max would be your FIRST clue!

 

Sorry, Did Not Mean To Scare You.

I Only Did This Once And It Was Scary To Me As Well. You Are Righ About The Luck.

Now , Back To The Question. I Am Pulling 16,550 To 17,00 Lbs.
The Dealer Said As Long As I Did Not Pass 17,500, I Was With-in The Trucks Limits??
I Am No Long Up On The New Dodge Truck Capasities And I Want To Be Safe As Well. I Do Not Want To Distroy The Truck Or Myself.
The Rv Dealer Said This Truck Would Do The Job Fine, But They Are Trying To Sell Rv's. This Is Why I Am On This Web Site Trying To Be Sure??..

All Information I Recieve Is Welcome, Even If It Is Bad News.

Thank You For Your Concerns, I Will Do Better. older and wiser???

Jim

 

you better check with you states DMV in CA you would be required to have a non-commercial class A license to pull that weight

 

one other thing a 40' will not fit in most parks, 32 is max

 

one other thing a 40' will not fit in most parks, 32 is max

 

one other thing a 40' will not fit in most parks, 32 is max

 

not worried about any special lic. i live in fla. and as long as i own the vehicals, i am ok, even w/regular lic. but that is not the question i am asking

 

sorry about the multiple posts all i saw on my end was a long loading time.
how to delete them?

i understood that, off road camping 4x4
KOA type camping 2wd

 

i just returned from 8000 miles around country and have found that more and more parks are taking 40'+ motor homes and trailers. i stayed at several koa's and others that did. but that is still not the question i was asking.

 

I'm sure you know full well that you need to consider the loaded weight, that is with fuel, with full propane tanks, holding tanks, food , clothing, tools, etc etc etc...........and that is for both truck and trailer. Figure passengers including animals etc etc.........if you're still under your truck's GVWR (and that includes tongue weight, your GCVWR, and your trailer's GVWR, and you're both registered and licensed for that weight in your home state, then you're likely good to go.

Lots of people travel with empty holding tanks and no food etc for that very reason.

I would trust an RV salesman about as far as I can throw the Hoover dam.

I'd dare to guess that if the DOT made RVers scale, a very high percentage of them would be seriously overweight, and even more would be unlicensed for said weight as well.

But their RV dealers had told them they'd be fine.

With 4.88 gears like I think I saw there, you're likely good for pulling power. It's the axle and tire ratings the law is concerned with though.

 

Heres my 2WD and what I tow. Havn't got stuck yet (knocking on wood). And yes I've been to some RV parks in the mountains that say you have to have 4wd to get into the upper spots, and I got in with no prob. but it wasn't muddy either. Don't get me wrong, 4WD is the way to go, if you need it, but I couldn't justify the extra cost, extra maintenance and higher insurance costs when I just don't ever need it. I do REALLLY like the looks of the 4wd over the 2wd though!