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Tow vehicle for 5th wheel

Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:42 am
Posted by greenbean
USAF Retired - 31 years
Member since Feb 2019
6328 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:42 am
I recently “unexpectedly” came into possession of a 2021 Grand Design Solitude ST346FLS-R Fifth Wheel Camper, GVWR of 16,800 Ibs and UV (Dry Weight) of 14,198 Ibs. It was a combination deal with a piece of property i purchased.

Give me recommendations on a tow vehicle. I’m assuming i will need a one ton F350 or equivalent? Is a dually necessary? If so, how much of a PITA is a dually to drive around city streets and park? A vehicle that is a few years old is fine. Diesel the best option?
Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
45679 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:45 am to
Whatever allows you to roll coal most effectively.

Posted by mikie421
continental shelf
Member since Nov 2008
828 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:53 am to
3/4 ton and up should do it. Dually not needed.
Posted by Techdave
Laffy
Member since Apr 2014
589 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:58 am to
quote:

3/4 ton and up should do it. Dually not needed.



I want....but do not need a 3/4 ton for my camper. But damn them things pricey!
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71967 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:00 am to
quote:

3/4 ton and up should do it


No. Do not get a 3/4 ton for a 5th wheel.

A 1 ton is totally necessary and a dually is probably necessary as well, and if not totally encessary, it certainly is nice to have. The tongue weight on most 5th wheels is rediculous once they're loaded to travel weight.

OP, get a one ton dually, or get rid of the trailer. 5th wheel = one ton dually, with very few specific exceptions.
Posted by Bawpaw
Member since May 2021
1702 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:00 am to
Wy doesn’t TD have a car board yet??
Posted by iron banks
Destrehan
Member since Jul 2014
4223 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:03 am to
I have a 3/4 Ram and tow a 42 foot 5th wheel with no problems. Stops the trailer just fine with trailer brakes and exhaust brake. 6.7 cummins pulls it on the hwy just fine.
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
7270 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:05 am to
quote:

3/4 ton and up should do it. Dually not needed.


Now I'm not the payload police like most of the internet but a 3/4 is not going to work for a trailer with a dry weight of 14k.

Now again I'm not the payload police, I actually tow a 42 ft fifth wheel with a 3/4 ton diesel, but my pin weight is 2100 lbs. The dry pin weight on that trailer is over 3k, so before adding anything to the trailer.

My full payload on my 3/4 ton diesel is 3,100 lbs, and that is high for a 3/4 ton.

You'll need at minimum a 1 ton to tow that rig.
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
178370 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:06 am to
I'd go Ford or Ram dually. 350/3500 variety. or you sell camper cause you seem pretty naive. big investment to make not sure of this whole camping thing.
Posted by YOURADHERE
Member since Dec 2006
8481 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:07 am to
While you could get by with a 3/4 ton you really would be better off with a one ton, dually and diesel definitely preferred.

Source: I occasionally pull around a similar sized RV in my 3/4 ton....it's much more sketchy than pulling the same unit with a 1 ton dually.
Posted by El Segundo Guy
1-866-DHS-2-ICE
Member since Aug 2014
11587 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:09 am to
I have a 39' Geand Design Reflection, same year and I use a 3/4 ton diesel.

But that's a bigger rig, so I'd go dually. I feel like my 5th wheel is getting pretty dang close to the max of what I would safely feel comfortable with.

Especially when you have water in your tanks, coolers loaded down with beer and ice, etc. The weight adds up. My 3/4 ton pulls my 5th wheel just fine, but if i got a bigger 5th wheel I'd mibe toa dually. That pin weight also adds up quickly.
This post was edited on 4/9/26 at 9:30 am
Posted by DeoreDX
Member since Oct 2010
4332 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:42 am to
quote:

Now again I'm not the payload police, I actually tow a 42 ft fifth wheel with a 3/4 ton diesel, but my pin weight is 2100 lbs. The dry pin weight on that trailer is over 3k, so before adding anything to the trailer.


This. Not sure what the pin weight is on your new camper but you will run out of payload capacity quick on a 3/4.
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
7270 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:46 am to
quote:

While you could get by with a 3/4 ton you really would be better off with a one ton, dually and diesel definitely preferred


Arbitrarily saying you need this or that for a "fifth wheel" is dangerous.

The pin weight on that trailer is over 3k lbs. You're over the payload on 99% of 3/4 tons before you even put fuel in the truck.

Some 3/4 toms are also capped at a vertical pin weight less than their payload. You step over 3k on pin weight you're immediately in 1 ton territory. A SRW 1 ton should give you close to 4k payload.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71967 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:46 am to
Not only that but its a 16,800 gvwr. Max CVWR for a 3/4 ton is 26,000 pounds which means its over both the pin weight and total weight limits for a 3/4 ton.

This state is full of retards dragging around big arse 5th wheels with F250's and it pisses me off. Just because it can doesnt mean it should. Dont do it. 5th wheel = dually, end of discussion. The idiots in this state are by and large far too stupid to understand when it is and isnt ok to use a smaller truck for a 5th wheel, so all of you retards need to get duallys or lose the 5th wheels before you kill a family of people.

Idk what it is about baws but the frickers think a diesel 3/4 ton is a frickin heavy haul peterbuilt. It fricking isnt.
This post was edited on 4/9/26 at 9:49 am
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
71967 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:53 am to
quote:

Arbitrarily saying you need this or that for a "fifth wheel" is dangerous.


Nah. 5th wheel = one ton dually, at least. End of discussion.

Some of these monstrosities really need chassis cab 4500/5500 trucks.

InB4 somebody with the one specialized airweight 5th wheel who makes their wife ride in a certain seat on trips to get the distribution just right says "aktualllyyyyyy I tow a 5th wheel with a half ton just fine" chimes in. Stfu. You arent normal.
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
7270 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:53 am to
I mean I get the point you're making but it is possible to tow fifth wheels with a 3/4 safely and under the rated limits.

A lot of consideration needs to go into that though. Stay within the door sticker and all is well
Posted by tigerinexile
The greatest parish
Member since Sep 2004
1593 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 9:53 am to
Anything less than a Peterbilt is a waste of time
Posted by BoogaBear
Member since Jul 2013
7270 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 10:03 am to
A bit drastic, pay attention to the weights and the door sticker. You can't say you have to have a 1 ton for this or that without knowing weights and capabilities.

The weight of his 5th wheel dictates a step up to a 1 ton. My fifth wheel does not.





Well under all limits for my setup with a 3/4 ton even when the trailer is maxed out.
Posted by Jack Bauers HnK
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
6074 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 10:04 am to
If you're already getting a 3/4 ton+ truck, get the dually. It's a minimal price difference from 3/4 to 1 ton and like $1,500 to get dually over SRW. For a mere fraction of the overall price (which would likely be made up on resale/trade in), you can increase your capacity and stability.

A dually is no less convenient to drive around with than a SRW. Your struggle getting into spaces will be the length of your truck, not the width of your rear tires. You'll usually be backing into spaces instead of pulling forward into them.

If you're open to a dually of the Ford variety and you intend to get a diesel, consider an F450, especially if you're going to order a truck instead of getting one on the lot. Bigger wheels/brakes on a wider front axle will give you tighter turning radius compared to the 250/350, more like an F150's turning radius. It's still a pickup with the same bed as the 250/350.

If you aren't set on diesel, you can get up to a F350 dually with the 7.3 gas motor. Both will move your fifth wheel. Plenty of online discussion as to the economics of diesel vs gas, maintenance/repair costs, etc.
Posted by Frankenswine5150
Central Arkansas
Member since Nov 2023
54 posts
Posted on 4/9/26 at 10:05 am to
Real world experience….for the longest of times, we pulled our 40’ 5th wheel with an F-250. And honestly, at times, I felt we were asking more of the truck than we should have. So, we finally ended up with a dual wheel truck. There is no comparison. For the gross weight of a forty foot 5th wheel, I’d never go back to single wheel. Stopping, stability, overall peace of mind, dual wheel is where you need to be.
This post was edited on 4/9/26 at 10:06 am
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