Just bought our DRV MS and need truck advice

[DunnDeal82]

Hey all, my wife and I just purchased a 2017 DRV MS Santa Fe and I'm going to need a truck! We sold our small TT and my truck won't work, I am going with a dually, probably an F-450/550 or Chevy/Ram 3500 depending on best deal.

So my question is any advice on which truck would handle a very heavy rig and with a budget of $35000, any sites you would suggest I look? I've looked at a bunch but there maybe a gem out there hiding! Lol

Thanks for your knowledge and any advice in advance!

Dave

[anijet]

I can only speak to the GM products. For the increased towing you will want a 2011 or later. Personally I would stay away from any 2011 and look for a 2012 or later because of the emission problems the 2011's have. '12's and on are pretty good. We are please with our 2012 GMC.

After looking up a Santa Fe, I really think you are in at least MDT or HDT territory.

[wanaBretiered]

I have a 36 foot 2011 Elite and have over 4000# of pin weight.
You will be more, I pull with an HDT now. No stress, cheaper to run and safer to drive.
Total length is about 60 foot long.
Head on over to the escapee forum and have a look at the HDT site at the National rally and east coast rally pictures. May be something to think about pulling 44 feet of very heavy 5er.
Kevin

[DunnDeal82]

Thanks Anijet and wanaBretired for the input, I was thinking I'd need a MDT but I will look into HDT. I would like to drive the truck daily because I like a truck but that might not be possible.

I will take a look at Escapees today.

Dave

[Cummins12V98]

35K is most likely a deal breaker!!!

Look for a 13 or newer RAM dually with Aisin trans and 4.10's. I tow a combined load of 33K within axle and combined load ratings. Factory rear air is a great option but only available on 15 and up.

[DunnDeal82]

Thanks Cummings, my budget was me wanting to stay out of debt! Lol I will get what I need to pull our new home, I really like the look of the Ford but I see a lot of owners with the Ram w/aisin tranny. I really could do either, more research need I suppose.

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks Cummings, my budget was me wanting to stay out of debt! Lol I will get what I need to pull our new home, I really like the look of the Ford but I see a lot of owners with the Ram w/aisin tranny. I really could do either, more research need I suppose.

Ford makes a nice truck but NO way would I own any of their diesels after the 7.3. Ford has denied warranty on their CP4 injection pump. GM has the same pump but has taken care of their customers. Cummins uses the very durable CP3 Bosch pump.

The cummins and RAM are true Medium duty. They are used in other Medium duty applications.

I have the factory rear air option. Truck rides great loaded or unloaded. Air ride keeps the truck sitting the same loaded or unloaded. I tow 33K combined with rear axle weighing around 9,750#.

http://i.imgur.com/bfcfg0ml.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/BHxEpTRl.jpg

[GlennWest]

Gave 21k for my Freightliner, singled $1800, bed 4k, hitch 4kish, all less than 35k. But my truck is 29' long. Not a good daily drive. We tow a Smart on deck. Now you could get a shorter truck and single short. It can be length of cc lb dually. Won't carry a Smart, motorcycle, atvs, this length though. HDT not for everyone but is a comfortable ride, as good on fuel as a dually, some better. I can't stress the safety factor here. In a bad accident you are the big boy, not the camper. You rule. with the dually the camper rules. jfyi

[Cummins12V98]

"In a bad accident you are the big boy"

That is why we daily drive our Dually. Would not have such a small car. I am a hypocrite tho since I bought a Motor Cycle last winter!

[GlennWest]

You are not the big boy with the dually. Your MS will rule in an accident. Odds are you will never have one. But if you do???? All of life is about comfort with safety. But sometimes life gets us out of that comfort zone. That's when I want all bases covered. Anyway I prefer the HDT ride also. I forget my 21k Teton is even behind me.

[Cummins12V98]

If comparing to the Big Boys the 80K combined Semi's have about 25% tractor to trailer ratio. My combo is around 30% to 70%. So my weight ratio is better than the BigBoys.

[GlennWest]

Your MS is twice your weight. It is the big boy.

[terry and jo]

If comparing to the Big Boys the 80K combined Semi's have about 25% tractor to trailer ratio. My combo is around 30% to 70%. So my weight ratio is better than the BigBoys.

My impression is that comparison is wrong because I don't know of any RV rig towed by a Class 8 truck will weigh anywhere near 80K total, thus your 25% ratio would be wrong.

Terry

[Cummins12V98]

I am just talking what percentage of total load a tractor is of a 80K combined commercial load.

My "tractor" is a higher percentage is all I am saying.

[GlennWest]

But you the only one posting about commercial. We are not commerical.

[DunnDeal82]

Update.... I found my truck! I bought 2011 Ford F-450 DW, King Ranch. It has the 6.7 Turbo Diesel with 4.33 gears.

The price was right and it has low miles, like brand new so I felt I couldn't pass on it. Now for my hitch purchase, any suggestions? I kinda like the Anderson Ultimate hitch but just now researching.

Thanks for the great advice, Cummings I was leaning towards the RAM 3500 but just couldn't find one setup and priced that met my wish list and GlennWest, I just can't see myself driving a Semi, at least not at this point.

[GlennWest]

A semi not for everyone. I had never driven one and couldn't see myself in one either. After towing 21k+ units with a LDT they changed my mind. They are very comfortable. And no worry about power or stopping. You are in total control. Sweet. Hope you enjoy your Ford. I would look seriously at a Tralersaver air hitch.

[Joezilla]

I do believe that a semi truck would be great for towing, however, the wife will never consider one. Also to think about, with a semi you need a car for running around. That car will either need to be carried on the back of the semi, or, you need a toy hauler with a garage big enough for the car, OR you need the wife to drive it to every destination.

My wife will not agree to a toy hauler either. She had a car for a couple of years and drove it while I drove the truck and RV. Last year, she decided she no longer wanted to drive so we sold the car. Now she rides with me in the pickup.

So, I have a wife I love, who does not want a semi, does not want a toy hauler, and does not want to drive. If I put those three points together, I come up with we will stay with a pickup and Mobile Suites Atlanta that we have now.

Joe

[Cummins12V98]

"So, I have a wife I love, who does not want a semi, does not want a toy hauler, and does not want to drive. If I put those three points together, I come up with we will stay with a pickup and Mobile Suites Atlanta that we have now."

Ditto other than ours is a 39TKSB3.

[Bobplouhar0@gmail.com]

"So, I have a wife I love, who does not want a semi, does not want a toy hauler, and does not want to drive. If I put those three points together, I come up with we will stay with a pickup and Mobile Suites Atlanta that we have now."

Ditto other than ours is a 39TKSB3.

Your truck looks beautiful mine is the same an 18 Dually no air bags she dropped 2” when loaded pulled nice I have Anderson hitch I believe I can get by without air bags what is your opinion my ms weight is 16,000 ponds loaded

[Cummins12V98]

What MS do you have that ONLY weighs 16k LOADED?

I towed a 19k MS with a 11 DRW RAM without bags and it was fine. I did add bags and Bilstiens and it rode MUCH better as in smoothed out some of the awful roads.

Keep an eye out for bed deflection caused by the base of the Andersen.

[Bobplouhar0@gmail.com]

I have a 2004 36RE Mobile Suites what do you mean by the bed deflection of the Anderson hitch

[Cummins12V98]

You must not have anything loaded if it actually weighs 16k. My 36 MS weighed 18-19k loaded.

It's common knowledge that the ANDERSEN can cause bed deflection because it simply sets on top of the high portion of the corrugation of the thin bed. You hit the brakes with 16-? K and it transforms the weight to the front of the hitch causing the hitch to depress the bed and cause deflection.