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RE: Your Rig
Those new 5ers sure look nice. they have come a long way since I bought mine in 2006. Makes me think about another one, but not too hard.
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Carl_722
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02/11/12 05:37pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
...I upgraded to the 6.0 and prefer it better, but thats just my opinion. Never been down to 25 mph with the 6.0 in the mountains, in fact I have stayed above 55 with no issues...
What mountains are you talking about Appalachians or Rockies. I have towed all over the Appalachians and can pull at 55 mph in 2nd gear on a 7% grade pulling 11,000 lbs no problem but when your altitude is over 8,000 feet like in the Rockies the air is much thinner and is a noticeable power loss just being unloaded. I rented a Toyota Sequoia in Colorado Springs and drove out to Keystone and in those high altitudes and inclines I couldn't believe how much the Sequoia lacked power. A naturally aspirated engine just doesn't have the ability to get enough air up high.
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Carl_722
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02/11/12 05:28pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
I had a new Chev 2006 6.0L 1500HD gasser that I bought to pull my 32" 8300# empty Sundance. It did fine as long as I was going downhill or on the flat with the wind at my back. It would pull up hill at about 25mph and 4000 rpms...
What grades and altitudes were you pulling at. My worst one has been a 7% grade but it was in WV so the altitude wasn't a factor but I could pull at 55 mph in 2nd gear @ 4,000 RPMs. I know the higher altitudes make a big difference in naturally aspirated engines. I am over 10,000 lbs for a weekend camping trip and have been as heavy as 11,900 when we were moving from PA to OK and crossing the Appalachians and needed 3 months of stuff with us until we could buy a house. 4,000 RPMs is where the 6.0L needs to run for hard pulls.
I am planning a trip to CO this summer and wondering how much the altitude is going to slow me down in the mountains passes. I do use a hypertech tuner and have it tuned for 93 octane which has been a good increase when towing. I get about 2 mpg better towing and don't gear hunt as often. If it starts to gear hunt I just shift down and let it run the higher RPMs until it can upshift and hold again.
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Carl_722
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02/09/12 12:49pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
Just be careful, you don't have to have a hd truck to pull all fivers. Just be careful about your weights and you will be fine...
Correct. You don't have to have an HD truck if your within the weight ability of your truck. There are many 5ers that are half ton towable but the pin weight should stay around 1/2 ton (1,000) +/- 200 should be fine with the newer trucks. My 97 Silverado Z-71 had something like a 1,400 lbs payload. It had a pretty decent set of leafs under it and it was really stable pulling my TT but I wouldn't attempt to put a 5er over 24 ft. They tow much better but that is because they put the weight right on the axle where the TT is on the hitch which puts it further behind the center of gravity of the truck. That is why the TT gets more sway because it has more leverage on the front of the truck. So if you definitely want a 5er I would consider shorter and lighter to reduce the pin weight. The pin weight is usually 20% to 25% depending where the CG and how you load the camper. You should do your numbers on the GVWR of the camper for worse case scenario. Like others said figure the weight of the hitch and passengers which also comes off your payload.
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Carl_722
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01/27/12 06:28am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
The 5.3L and 6.0L like the 4,000 RPM range for hard pulls. That is their peak torque. When I am climbing a steep grade I just try to keep it there. Anyhow I think you are gong to be overloading your rear axle quickly. Your tires are probably a standard load tire also. I would not be comfortable with that setup. If you are buying from an RV dealer who tells you there will be no problem with your setup I wouldn't buy from them because they are more interested in a sell that would result in a dangerous setup for the customer rather than point them in the right direction either more truck or less camper for the safety of their customer and everyone on the road around them. I wouldn't want to do business with a dealer that would do that to people.
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Carl_722
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01/26/12 09:57pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
The airbags will help the suspension but won't change axle ratings. I would like a pair to soften the bucking when the expansion joints are rough and just the right distance apart to make me miserable.
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Carl_722
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01/26/12 01:51am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: First Real long trip
I frequently leave in the evening after work to make the next day shorter, especially when I lived near Philly to avoid the rush hour traffic morning or afternoon. Oklahoma City usually isn't bad at all unless there is a road closure due to a wreck. Since it is 12 hours from here to family in TN pulling the 5er I will leave in the evening at try to make it 4 or 5 hours down the road so the next day isn't as long.
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Carl_722
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01/20/12 05:33pm |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: First Real long trip
Depending where you are at in MD I would take 113 / 13 to the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel to avoid the Baltimore/DC traffic. I went from PA to VA Beach a several times that way.
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Carl_722
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01/20/12 04:50am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: First Real long trip
No matter how much I want to leave early it always seems to be 9am by the time we get on the highway. Don't bother me too much though it gives time for traffic to die down. I used to leave at 3 to 4am before the camper and children. With the camper I get about 8 hours and I am ready to call it a day. I did 12 hours (700 miles) for our Christmas trip pulling the 5er and that was hard. I wished I had left it at home and made the trip in 9.5 hours at half the fuel cost. I only used it to carry all our extra gifts for family and then to bring home what was received. I don't like pulling to late at night myself either because the wife won't tow the camper and I tend to fall asleep after 10pm. I can't seem to stay awake while driving late at night and I work the midnight shifts frequently.
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Carl_722
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01/20/12 04:48am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 40 ft. 5th Wheel Turning Radius?
As far as planning ahead on where your going to tow a 40' 5er, I'd plan on staying on Interstates and secondary roads as much as possible, but I've had my 5er on some really curvy, "just barely" secondary roads in WV and all was well...(watch out more for overhead obstacles than not enough road...
I decided to take HWY 50 out of Clarksburg, WV instead of staying I-79 to I-68 and I got caught in some terrible hills and hairpin turns. I was in 1st gear a while climbing the side of the mountain because the road turned into a billy goat path and I was too far in to turn around and go back and there was no place to turn around. I got on one hwy and drove into the clouds and as I was exiting the other side it was a storm. I told my wife it wasn't fog that we were in the clouds and when hit the strom before coming out of it she couldn't believe it.
Anyhow my 5er can turn much tighter than my previous 32' TT. So I have to really watch the inside of the turn that I don't drag the 5er over something the truck cleared. The TT pretty much followed the truck so if the truck cleared it so would the TT but not so with the 5er.
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Carl_722
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01/20/12 04:31am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: 5' 8'' Bed Chevy Fifth Wheel Towing
My camper weighs dry at 8,870 and has been as heavy as 11,900 and it puts down from 1,800 to close to 2,300 lbs on the axle. I wouldn't want to put that kind of weight on a 1/2 ton. I have a slider hitch with my 6.5" bed and barely clear on a 90 when it is slid back. Some people have been finding a way to do it with the 5.5' bed but would definitely consider shorter and lighter camper.
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Carl_722
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01/18/12 04:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
I have seen more trucks with broken diesels than diesel without trucks.
Its AMAZING that anything gets moved across this country because of every diesel breaking down and costing 5-10,000 dollars every two months!!! Good grief, do you guys ever listen to your selves? I'll be suprised if my diesel will back out of the drive in the morning, at least according to all you diesel haters. Ok, we got it, you don't like diesels, you can't afford one, don't know how to service one, you HATE the noise and smell, and you cr*p your drawers each time you see one. We got it already and nobody is going to force you to buy one.
Do the rest of us one favor - Quit lieing about them and be honest about why you hate them sooo much and ask yourself if it really matters to the rest of us. Here's a clue - we don't care what you think.
Now go back to whatever it was you were doing there in your parents basement and leave the adults alone.
My meaning in more trucks with broken diesels than Diesels without trucks is that I don't see any good engines setting around. I have looked for my father. They are all worn out by the time they are setting out of the truck. That is why he is going to put gas motors in his broke diesel trucks. Because of cost. I like diesels and want one but not until I retire from the Navy in 4 years find my second career to know if I can carry a payment into military retirement. I work on jets they burn high grade diesel fuel. I am used to the smell and they are much noisier.
I have been out of my parents house over 20 years if you must make stupid accusations. Don't care what you think either.
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Carl_722
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12/22/11 10:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
I average 16 mpg hwy 13 mpg city and 8.5 to 9.8 mpg is my range in towing. I used my city average for figures. My neighbor's Powerstroke averages about 17 mpg in town and that is what I used. Both 3/4 ton trucks. He keeps trying to get me to go diesel also but he hasn't showed me a significant savings. He paid a whole lot more for his truck too.
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Carl_722
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12/22/11 03:23pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
I have towed plenty with gassers. I have towed a couple things with diesel. Definitely the better at towing. But I went for the gasser because of the $8,000 up charge for the diesel. With 95,000 miles on the truck with a average $0.60 a gallon in cost of diesel over gas figuring an average 13 mpg over miles on gas and 17 mpg on diesel I would have still spent $1633 more in diesel fuel than gas. So the savings in fuel cost over gas is not a factor. It would a lot longer than the 6 years I have had my truck to make up that $8,000.
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Carl_722
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12/22/11 03:20pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
Get the diesel. With proper care and maintenance, the engine will last longer than the rest of the truck. Ever wondered why inter-city buses and long haul tractors have diesel engines? Two reasons, and they are torque and longevity. A million miles on an engine is not uncommon with a diesel. Not so much with a gasser.
I have nothing against gasoline engines. My wife's car, our spare car, and my children's imported cars all have gas engines. The generator in my fiver and my John Deere lawn tractor have gas engines. But even my children, given the choice, would rather have a diesel engine in their Jettas. 50+ miles per gallon is nothing to sneeze at.
I have seen more trucks with broken diesels than diesel without trucks. Maybe in the case of a Semi-truck. My father has two diesel trucks setting because they broke and is over $5,000 to replace engines. A Ford and a Chevy. I think the Cummins last longer than the old Dodges because they didn't build those trucks to last as long as the Cummins. I looked at plenty of used mid 90's Dodge Cummins with 180,000+ miles on them and they were ragged out and felt really loose when I drove them, but the engine did run good. I would rather have them both last the same, one is no good without the other. My father is going to pull his diesel engines and replace them with gas engines. Neither truck has over 180,000 miles on them. The Chevy could have made it had the oil cooler line not ruptured. Either way Gas or Diesel maintenance is the key to longevity. Gas is cheaper to buy and maintain it just may not run as long as a diesel or get the fuel mileage of a diesel.
If the OP doesn't want a diesel why are the Diesel guys so adamant about selling him on a diesel. You won't get any commission on it. If the OP asked for a diesel then all your diesel advise would be better taken. Turh is what they have will do the job as said by many people who currently use the Expedition to tow same size trailers. If they want a newer 1/2 or 3/4 ton then either will do the job with a gas motor.
I plan on buying a diesel for my next truck but that is at least 5 years away.
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Carl_722
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12/22/11 11:57am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
A friend of mine had a 2002 Duramax that was under 125,000 miles 2 years ago he broke down pulling his camper through Phoenix. The dealer told him they would have to change his engine. He didn't have the time to wait so he traded it. It was going to cost him over $6,000. He got a 2009 Duramax. Then last year he traded it for a 2011 Dodge Cummins and because of the deals Dodge was making he wound up with cheaper payments. I would like to have any of the big 3 diesels but for the truck payments I would rather make do with what I have. Economics is my decision maker. If my truck gave up the ghost and I would consider a diesel, but would also weigh the alternative to rebuilding my motor and supercharging it with the Magnueson Rotax Supercharger kit. 550 Rear Wheel HP on a 6.0L gasser. That would be plenty of power and under 5 grand. Once again a decision of economics.
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Carl_722
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12/21/11 06:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
The new duramax has an injector in the exhaust to clean out any deposits. A friend of mine was complaining about his because it comes on every so often and when it does it considerably drops his mileage. He told me it was indicating 9 mpg while it was spraying. I am not sure what the mileage loss was over the whole tank of gas. Wait until one of those things fail. That has been his only complaint about his new truck. As for me I am content with my gasser when I look at what the payments would be on diesel truck I would like to have. For only 5 or 6 camping trips a year mine is alright. I will not swallow a $800 a month payment just to have a diesel. I would love to have a diesel. I guess you could say I have diesel envy. After seeing the cost of repairs on my father's 6.5L turd I don't think I want that until everything else is taken care of.
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Carl_722
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12/20/11 07:53pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Truck to tow and daily driver
Your Expie is fine for the job if you don't want to buy another truck. The only thing I would consider on the Expie is proper load rated tires, a good brake controler, and a good WD hitch and sway control system. I towed a 32' TT with a Trailblazer EXT (LWB) 5.3L and it had the power and brakes for the job but didn't have the proper tires and suspension for the job. I switched off to my 1500 pickup and it had the power and suspension but the brakes sucked. I traded the Trailblazer for the 2500 I have now and it did a great job. Then after going 5er it still does great. I am not the fastest on the road but not in a hurry. I let the truck run the rpm's it needs to run to pull the load and just go with it. I am a realistic guy who won't tell you that you need a 1 ton duallie diesel to pull everything. I would like to have one, but my truck is sufficient and I don't want to pay for another truck yet. I have many more years to get out of my truck, it is just broke in. Don't let all the advise to get some overkill truck get to you. If you are within your ratings for your Tow vehicle you are fine.
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Carl_722
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12/20/11 12:06am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6 door Excursion
I bet the wheelbase is no longer than a crew cab long bed. Turn radius would be decreased but no worse than CC/LB. I would love to have it but I have gone 5er. Would've been perfect for the last TT I had.
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Carl_722
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12/19/11 11:36pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: What truck do I need?
Already having my truck and not willing to go diesel for the extra cost and more payments my 6.0L 2500 does the job. Since you are looking for a truck to do the job I would definitley consider a diesel and a 1 ton maybe even SRW if you don't want a duallie. A gasser can do the job but a diesel will make the job easier. I have a little over 4 years until I can retire from the Navy then I will discover my second career. Once I know what I will be doing and what my pay will be I am thinking about getting a F-450 or 550 so I have enough truck for the future. Maybe even a FL-60.
My dry weight is over 8,800 lbs and my GVWR is 11,935. I have had it over 11,800 when we moved from OK to PA and then from PA back to OK. My 6.0L did the job even over its ratings. Never was a white kncukle experience and it averaged 9.3 mpg on the trip back from PA. Yes it will do the job but since you need a truck that you don't already have do yourself a favor and go 1 ton diesel.
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Carl_722
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12/19/11 10:41pm |
Tow Vehicles
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