buying new truck in spring

[skorski]

Going to buy new in the spring. pulling about 13,000 5th I have a booklet on the 14 but very confusing. What options would you members suggest I must have? I have a 2005 now with 140k Should I trade or sell outright?

 

[jgillott]

Are you thinking 2500 or 3500?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I recommend 3500 with Aisin. Don't need to get factory hitch prep. The B&W gooseneck and Companion fifth wheel hitch is good for 20,000 pound fifth wheels. They also will have a fifth wheel hitch that mounts directly to the four corners of the factory hitch prep package without an adapter. Release date for that hitch should be late February.

 

[skorski]

2500 will work fine for me.

 

[dloughrey]

I pull about the same weight 5th wheel and recently purchased a 2014 3500. Very happy with the truck. I've only towed my 5th for a couple of hundred miles to check it out but it's almost as if the trailer is not their. I added the long side steps and I really like these to access the 5th wheel hitch. I also added a 200 amp alternator to keep my batteries charged while towing. I have a inverter that powers my freezer.

 

[jjdiesel]

When talking 3500's, do we need to distinguish between DRW and SRW? Might get confusing if we don't?

 

[LocoPilot750]

If you are in a cold climate, order the heated steering wheel, and build the truck around that. I've found that the older I get, the less I like cold steering wheels, always the last thing to warm up.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I like to get more truck than I "need" so that I will have "enough" when everything goes wrong.

 

[gsbrockman]

2500 will work fine for me.

I'd thoroughly research the amount of truck payload you'd have left over on an empty 13,000 lb 5er. At 15% pin weight, you're at 1950 lbs. At 20% pin weight, you're at 2600 lbs. With the 2500 and 3500 SRW, you're limited to 3.42 gearing. With the 3500 DRW, you can opt for the 3.73's or 4.10's. If you tow a lot in mountainous areas a large percentage of the time, the overall towing experience would be more pleasant in a DRW. Spend a little time here http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/tow_chart/

 

[gsbrockman]

I like to get more truck than I "need" so that I will have "enough" when everything goes wrong.

Me, too !!!!

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[PDM]

I'd thoroughly research the amount of truck payload you'd have left over on an empty 13,000 lb 5er. At 15% pin weight, you're at 1950 lbs. At 20% pin weight, you're at 2600 lbs. With the 2500 and 3500 SRW, you're limited to 3.42 gearing. With the 3500 DRW, you can opt for the 3.73's or 4.10's. If you tow a lot in mountainous areas a large percentage of the time, the overall towing experience would be more pleasant in a DRW. Spend a little time here http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/tow_chart/

This!

I noticed payload gets scarce in the 2500 crew cab compared with the pin weight many of us will see with a GN or Fifth.

 

[dloughrey]

I just love my heated steering wheel and heated seats.

On my one trip with my 5th wheel to check things out I traveled about 200 miles round trip west over hwy 68 in western Maryland. Any one familiar with the route will know it is very hilly, 6 & 7% grades. I had the truck on cruise heading west from Hagerstown up to Sideling hill at 55mph. The truck did down shift but did not reduced speed from 55. I was amazed! the same thing going back down the hill, I turned on the EB and TowHaul and did not touch the brakes. My other Fords would not have done so well!