R&J UK Posted February 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Hi everyone Thanks for the advise. I think the biggest problem we have found is the vast number of different combinations of truck within a weight category such as the various gear ratios 3.55 or 3.73 etc. We didn't realise that it made such a difference to the towing and weight carrying capacity of the truck. If I can persuade my wife (who is slightly nervous about drw), I think we may go the dually route if nothing else but for the stability and braking and it should open up a wider selection of 5th wheel options to buy , as everyone says you can never have too much truck. Cheers Roland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Greg Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 My wife drives our dually with no problems, the only thing we do different from a car is park further out in parking lots, avoid a few drive throughs and all drive through car washes. Duallies are no big deal, many small cars are more difficult to see through when backing up. A reverse camera and rear proximity sensors are nice. Greg Greg & Judy Bahnmiller Class of 2007 2014 F350 2007 HitchHiker Champagne Both sold 2/19, settled in Foley, AL after 12 years on the road http://bahnmilleradventure.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXiceman Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 My wife drives our DRW as it is our only vehicle. Watch the trucks GCWR. In Texas if you are at 26,001# and over and towing a trailer over 10,000#, you will need to get a class A non-commercial license. This will require taking a small written test over a part of the commercial license ruls and a test driving the truck and trailer. Not hard to pass at all. Ken Amateur radio operator, 2023 Cougar 22MLS, 2022 F150 Lariat 4x4 Off Road, Sport trim <br />Travel with 1 miniature schnauzer, 1 standard schnauzer and one African Gray parrot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R&J UK Posted February 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Does that mean if you are over a combined total of 36001# you need to have to take a non commercial driving test? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Keep in mind that the extra towing weight offered by a lower axle ratio isn't free, you trade higher engine RPM for the increased capacity. Putting 4.30 gears in a truck compared to 3.73 makes a big difference in the engine noise at highway speeds, top speed and a bit of fuel economy when not towing. In general you want to go with the highest ratio that will work for your load. Your dealer should be able to give you a chart with road speed versus RPM for the various gearing options. First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&J Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 Keep in mind that the extra towing weight offered by a lower axle ratio isn't free, you trade higher engine RPM for the increased capacity. Putting 4.30 gears in a truck compared to 3.73 makes a big difference in the engine noise at highway speeds, top speed and a bit of fuel economy when not towing. In general you want to go with the highest ratio that will work for your load. Your dealer should be able to give you a chart with road speed versus RPM for the various gearing options. Dealers know nothing about gears and setting up a truck to pull with, they only think about high gears for empty mileage not the proper gears for pulling a load and getting the best mileage pulling. I will guaranty that I will get better mileage pulling with 4.30 gears over 3.73 gears with very little given up empty. With the new transmissions with 2 OD gears it leveled out the 3.73/4.30 mileage. Denny Denny & Jami SKP#90175 Most Timing with Mac our Scottie, RIP Jasper our Westie 2013 F350 SC DRW 6.2 V8 4.30 Gears 2003 HH Premier 35FKTG Home Base Nebraska Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mptjelgin Posted February 18, 2015 Report Share Posted February 18, 2015 I will guaranty that I will get better mileage pulling with 4.30 gears over 3.73 gears with very little given up empty. With the new transmissions with 2 OD gears it leveled out the 3.73/4.30 mileage. Denny Same for me. I changed my 1999 Ford V-10 from 3.73 to 4.30 and got better performance and mileage towing, and just about the same mileage empty. When I ordered my 2010 Ford V-10 I went right to the 4.30 rear axle and never looked back. I note that they didn't even offer the 3.73 in 2010, only 4.10 and 4.30. So the most efficient rear axle ratio depends on the engine, transmission, tire size, etc. The best plan would probably be to find others with the same truck and see what they're running. Mark & Teri 2021 Grand Designs Imagine 2500RL, 2019 Ford F-350 Mark & Teri's Travels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestoneangler Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 I don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but I have the same question for my truck with this model 5th wheel. The 3055RL Bighorn is one on our short list. My initial thought is that this 5th wheel is too big for my truck (or even likely so before getting detailed weights). Here is the tow capabilities from the Dodge website (the 2006 Trailer Life shows 13,100 max tow): 2006 dodge ram pickup 2500 2500 SLT, QUAD CAB, 4WD, 6.25 Ft Bed, 4-Speed Automatic Transmission, 5.9-Liter HO Cummins Turbo Diesel Engine: With 3.73 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio You Can Tow 13000 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbsPayload = 2138 lbsCurb Weight = 6862 lbsCurb Weight Front/Rear = 4194 lbs/4194 lbsGAWR Front/Rear = 5200 lbs/6010 lbsGross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 20000 lbs With 4.10 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio You Can Tow 13000 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbsPayload = 2138 lbsCurb Weight = 6862 lbsCurb Weight Front/Rear = 4194 lbs/4194 lbsGAWR Front/Rear = 5200 lbs/6010 lbsGross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) = 20000 lbs Just 2 of us and a yellow lab and we travel pretty light. I will be adding a Pull-rite Super Glide hitch for peace of mind with the short bed. I see many on the Heartland forum towing this rig with 250 and 2500 trucks, but not sure they are doing so within limits? Would love to be able to consider this unit... what do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertraveler Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 ...I have the same question for my truck with this model 5th wheel. The 3055RL Bighorn is one on our short list. My initial thought is that this 5th wheel is too big for my truck (or even likely so before getting detailed weights)...Here is the tow capabilities from the Dodge website (the 2006 Trailer Life shows 13,100 max tow): With 3.73 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio You Can Tow 13000 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbsPayload = 2138 lbs With 4.10 Axle Ratio Axle Ratio You Can Tow 13000 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) = 9000 lbs Payload = 2138 lbs... I see many on the Heartland forum towing this rig with 250 and 2500 trucks, but not sure they are doing so within limits? Would love to be able to consider this unit... what do you think? If this is the same model Bighorn that you are looking at, the dry pin weight is 1995#. The GVWR of the trailer appears to be 14,000#(11075+2925). the GVWR(9000#) + trailer GVWR(14,000#) gives a Gross Combined weight of 23,000#. My guess is that that combination would be over just about all the maximum ratings for the truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Freestone I had the bighorn 3100 RL which is pretty much the same trailer in weights. I pulled it with a 1 ton dually and was very glad I did. That was a heavy trailer and I figure the pin weight was close to 2500 lbs loaded. That is too much weight for a single wheel rear axle. The dually handled it well and was great in winds. It was a rough ride though...loaded or unloaded I did not like driving that truck. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freestoneangler Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 Thanks for the cross-check guys... that's what I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sushidog Posted February 22, 2015 Report Share Posted February 22, 2015 My 08 F-250 could theoretically tow that Bighorn as it's within all specs, but I wouldn't do it. I don't recommend any 3/4 ton for a trailer that big and heavy. It would not be fun. Chip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whj469 Posted February 24, 2015 Report Share Posted February 24, 2015 I have a 2011 F250, XLT, CC, longbed, RWD, diesel and I tow a 38 foot fiver right at 13,000 lbs and that is the upper limit for me with that truck. I wouldn't want to tow any thing more then that. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yourpcgeek49 Posted March 3, 2015 Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Every new 5th wheeler has to face this question: how much truck do I need for the trailer I want (or the reverse, how small of a trailer do I have to get to pull safely behind my truck)? I had not previously seen the calculator that RayIN referred to -- but there is no avoiding the fact that you have to go through the numbers in detail if you want to have a safe truck/trailer combination. You can download the spreadsheet that I created for our analysis -- and tweak it for your own circumstances. This allowed me to compare several trucks against our selected trailer. The link is here: http://yourpcgeek.com/blog/z-truck-capacities-solar-plans-etc/ Just download it & modify it to meet your own needs. Safe Travels, Judith & Mark - Class of 2015 2011 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually 6.7 L Diesel 2011 Heartland Bighorn 3670 (38') Blog: http://www.yourpcgeek.com/blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R&J UK Posted March 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks yourpcgeek49 your calculator has made it a lot easier to work out what truck/5th wheel combo to look at. I think the biggest problem we have is trying to work out how much stuff we are going to have with us . Coming from the UK one thing in our favour is the amount of luggage we can bring on the plane , but we still have to factor in all the equipment we will have to buy to kit the rv out . We can now sit down and try and remember some of our school maths Roland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.