cinker

Hi,
I bought a 2009 double axle , dual axle TT 4 years ago and its been standing static in a seasonal site, it has electric brakes. Its 8000 lbs dry and 11, 000 lbs wet.
I plan on retiring in 3 years and do not have a truck as yet to pull it and am a newbie. Before I retire I may get a 5th wheel.
when I retire cash flow will be important to me as will mpg and costs so I want to make sure I choose the correct set up now as I plan to buy a truck before this summer so as I become expert at towing before the great day.
my thoughts are with a RAM 2500 SRWD, although living in Canada I may need a 4X4.
I am nervous , although I want one, is a 3500 dually but my thoughts are that it will prove expensive against the 2500 in maintenance, running costs and mpg, although I dont know the relative mpg differences between the 2500 and 3500 and whether I should be concerned about this or not.
Should I get a 5th wheel, I would like the drive to be as stable as possible but would like the flexibility of parking the trailer and driving into cities, sightseeing etc.
i know I am asking for the best of both worlds but understand i will need to maske trade-off's but dont understand, as yet, what those trade - off's are.
I would be grateful for any advice,
thanks
craig

pdogg

3500 dually won't be that much more expensive to run except when you have to buy 6 tires instead of 4.. They both can haul about the same, with the exception that the dually will have slightly higher bed capacity. I tow an 11k fifth wheel with my SRW 2500, and I have airbags to keep it level and watch my tire pressures on the drive axle like a hawk. Tows like a dream.

Mike L

Given some of your uncertainties about what type of RV you will end up I would go with a 3500 SRW 4x4. That way, if you start with a smallish RV and decide to go bigger, you will still be able to tow it where as a 2500 may be at the end of it's capacity.

Cheers and enjoy your retirement when you get there - life is good!

Mike

cinker

Thanks pdogg and Mike. Another question, do you know if many 5th wheels will fit on a Ram short bed or should I be looking for a long bed?

John_P

cinker:

Welcome to the website Sir!

The other DTR Members are giving you some good advice. I would add that the Dodge CTD CR 3500 Duallies are more "stable" with heavier loads. But, I regularly tow well over 10,000 lbs. with my 2006 Dodge CTD CR 4X4 SRW with no problems at all. In my opinion though, if you are over 10,000 lbs. you will need to install some air bags on a 2500 SRW. My 2006 tended to "squat"
a little too much for my liking and bounced too much on bad roads. The air bags made a HUGE difference in the ride.

Anyway,.....good luck Sir and Welcome Aboard!

--------
John_P

pdogg

All fifth wheels will "fit" on a short bed, as mine does... The difference is in the hitch you buy.. In a short bed you would buy a sliding hitch to allow the hitch head to slide back away from the cab when maneuvering in tight spaces to avoid crunching your cab.

That's what I have.

SIXSLUG

If you are planning on towing a 5'er, I'd go with a Dually. The cost difference will be negligable, the stability will be greatly appreciated.

I added airbags to my 2500 for pulling a 13,000lb fishing boat and it's a nice addition, but a dually would be ideal, I just really don't need it very often and have a dually work truck at my disposal when needed...

I'd also opt for a long bed, but that is just me after owning both...

Welcome to the site!

JimC

cinker,
I tow a 14K fiver with my 2500 SRW but have done many mods to make it comfortable for me. If I had it to do over, I'd have bought a 3500 DRW. I am over the on the pin weight and if I was ever pulled over by the weight police I'd be in trouble. The new 3500's will tow a ton of weight and it looks like they have got all of the problems with EPA mandated stuff worked out.

cinker

Thanks everyone. This is really helpful, your comments has raised issues i have not thought about before. Seems that if i want the flexibility that allows me to choose any 5'er or TT then its a 3500 DRW. If i go to 2500 and want a bit larger 5'er then I will probably need airbags. Also, there is not much cost difference in running a 2500, 3500 SRW or DRW.
So thanks, this really helps my decision making.
great site.

Busboy

First towing a 5ver is all about the amount of hitch weight you will be carrying on your truck. If you buy a 2013/14 3500 SRW you will have lots of capacity, you buy the same truck in a 2011/12 and you will be limited to about 34-36 foot 5ver, if you even think you might buy a 5ver DON"T get the 2500 there is not that much difference in price. If you decide to stay with a travel trailer then a 2500 would be adequate, but... a TT does not tow as well as a 5ver and takes longer to hook up plus require a weight distribution hitch and even then the factory rear hitch is not rated high at all 1000/10,000lbs and that's with a WD hitch so you may need to replace that, TT's are generally cheaper and all on one level though. I would rule out a dual rear wheel truck because the only parking lots they fit in is Costco. Forgot to mention Dodge finally installed a class 5 hitch on the 2013 trucks instead of the "toy" ones previously.

Coming out west? BC is pretty strict for trailer towing and AB has their weigh scales at 4500KG 9800lbs for commercial reporting, most provinces it's 10,000KG I know you said "retired" but that could mean you have a business as well.

Last short box or long box? it depends on the trailer, my 2012 Crusader has cut away corners and allows 88 degrees of turn with just a standard hitch in my short box, I never come close.

pdogg

Don't forget about never being able to take your dually through an automatic car wash..

j_martin

I wouldn't put my truck through an automatic car wash anyway.

Mike L

Most of the new 5ers are designed to allow for a shortbed. I know our Cougar says up to 90* with no contact. I bought a slider hitch JIC and have yet to use the "maneuvering" position.

Cheers!

Mike