Being new to the lifestyle, as in we haven't even settled on a 5th wheel yet, I am not only wondering about the size of the towing unit, brand, etc but also what about the bed size. 6.5' or 8'? By the time you have a crew cab and an 8' bed, you sure have a "limo" for running errands and sight seeing. Thanks for your input!
Mike
RonC said
05:55 PM Aug 24, 2016
First of all, welcome. There is much to learn about all of this and there many very experienced folks here who will share their wisdom and experience with you. Others will likely chime in but here is my 2 cents worth (which is probably only worth 1 cent) on this subject. You are correct that a crew cab with an 8 ft box is a LONG truck, but in the towing world, wheelbase is your friend. It adds stability when the bow wave of an 18 wheeler rocks your rig, and it will BTW. There are other good reasons for an 8 ft bed, one being that if you are towing a 5th wheel, you will eliminate the possibility of your fifth wheel hitting the corners of your cab in sharp turns, which can happen in a short bed truck. The final reason is storage space. There never is enough of that so an 8 foot pickup bed offers more storage than a short bed. Same thing with a Crew Cab ... more space is good. While you didn't ask about the DRW vs SRW thing, I will tell you that a DRW is almost always a superior performer in the towing environment, but in some instances, if your load is light enough, a SRW truck can get by. The safest, most stable towing vehicle is a DRW CC (preferably diesel) with an 8 foot bed. This is always a "load driven" decision, so the weight of your trailer should drive your choice of trucks. Notice I did not mention any brand of truck. I have my preferences, but IMO, the new offerings from the big 3 are all outstanding vehicles ... notice I said "new" (like 3 years old or newer). Trucks older than that have various issues that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so I'd recommend a late model truck of the flavor you prefer, with DRW and an 8 foot bed. Personally, I'm a 4x4 guy, but that is purely a personal choice and not a necessity.
Good luck in your journey.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 06:03:45 PM
Glenn West said
06:58 PM Aug 24, 2016
or a dually like mine. Lots less money and superior ride
BiggarView said
07:03 PM Aug 24, 2016
I can't authoritatively speak on truck size but I'll address your "limo" comment. It's going to be a matter of simply getting used to a new paradigm. If you choose a 5er with appropriate tow vehicle or even a motor coach... it's likely going to be a considerably larger vehicle than you're used to. As you gain experience with it you will be come more comfortable with it. Just takes time. Remember the very first time you drove a car? Same feelings as then are now playing with your mind.
In due time, it should become second nature more or less and we can all sit around the campfire and recall that day you told us how you freaked out about driving a "limo"
Remember... "fear is the mind killer" (from Frank Herbert's Dune)
FWIW, Brian
RonC said
08:14 PM Aug 24, 2016
Glenn ... is that a 4x4? 😎
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 08:15:19 PM
Second Chance said
08:41 PM Aug 24, 2016
Just a note on clearance between the front cap and the cab... we have a short bed crew cab (on the newer GM chassis, that means a 6.5' bed). Our fifth wheel has the newer style of radiused and sculpted front cap. We don't use a sliding fifth wheel hitch (we use the Andersen Ultimate system) and don't have a problem with tight turns - forward or backing up. Do I wish I had a 1-ton DRW for load capacity? Yes. Will I someday wish I had an 8' bed to stick stuff (like a generator) in? Probably. We had the truck before we went full-time and it works well for us. As an addendum: my wife follows in a Toyota "chase car," so we have something small and nimble for sightseeing, shopping, and doing things like visiting her brother who lives in downtown Baltimore... not exactly truck country - no matter what kind of truck you have!
Rob
mikec54 said
08:49 PM Aug 24, 2016
Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate the input. I know ultimately brand will probably come down to personal preference as well as bed size, DRW etc.
My first truck had a 6ft bed. After being constantly bounced around due to freeway slab joints I was amazed at how smoother the ride over the same sections of freeway were in a truck with an 8 foot bed.
Then I bought a dually crewcab with an 8 foot bed; the ride was even smoother and even better when towing our 5th wheel.
I used the Dually Crewcab as a daily driver into Downtown Los Angeles to my office and to visit my customers throughout the LA area. I could always find a place to park it. Even at some of the luxury hotels it was fun to come out and see my truck parked out front next to the Bentleys, Porsches and other exoctic cars. The parking valet had to park it there because it wouldn't fit in the basement parking garages.
It was fun to drive up the ramps in the parking structure for my office. The weight of the truck causing the ramps to shake and loud exhaust would set off car alarms as I drove to the top level to park.
Besides a providing a smoother ride, the 8ft bed allows needed room to carry extra items- generator, gas cans, firewood, chairs, and we carry a mobility scooter broken down into 6 pieces.
The crewcab provides room for passengers, dogs or more stuff.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 25th of August 2016 09:38:24 AM
mikec54 said
06:25 PM Aug 25, 2016
Thank you Bear! Very informative.
Glenn West said
01:32 PM Aug 28, 2016
RonC wrote:
Glenn ... is that a 4x4? 😎
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 08:15:19 PM
No, don't believe they make one.
-- Edited by Glenn West on Sunday 28th of August 2016 01:34:49 PM
Dave and Denise said
01:43 PM Sep 4, 2016
Also responding to the Limo aspect. At first I thought I had a big truck, where would I ever be able to park it? After I hooked it up to the fifth wheel, then unhitched it, the truck suddenly wasn't so big. The only time I find an issue for me with the big truck is not being able to park it in a normal garage. Otherwise, I have parked it on busy city streets, even parallel parking it. Parking lots not a problem either. Although I do tend to park away from other vehicles when possible. Also, just my opinion, but when parking in a parking lot, I almost always back in. For some reason it just seems easier to make my gettaway.
RonC said
04:47 PM Sep 5, 2016
Glenn West wrote:
RonC wrote:
Glenn ... is that a 4x4? 😎
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 08:15:19 PM
No, don't believe they make one.
-- Edited by Glenn West on Sunday 28th of August 2016 01:34:49 PM
Being new to the lifestyle, as in we haven't even settled on a 5th wheel yet, I am not only wondering about the size of the towing unit, brand, etc but also what about the bed size. 6.5' or 8'? By the time you have a crew cab and an 8' bed, you sure have a "limo" for running errands and sight seeing. Thanks for your input!
Mike
First of all, welcome. There is much to learn about all of this and there many very experienced folks here who will share their wisdom and experience with you. Others will likely chime in but here is my 2 cents worth (which is probably only worth 1 cent) on this subject. You are correct that a crew cab with an 8 ft box is a LONG truck, but in the towing world, wheelbase is your friend. It adds stability when the bow wave of an 18 wheeler rocks your rig, and it will BTW. There are other good reasons for an 8 ft bed, one being that if you are towing a 5th wheel, you will eliminate the possibility of your fifth wheel hitting the corners of your cab in sharp turns, which can happen in a short bed truck. The final reason is storage space. There never is enough of that so an 8 foot pickup bed offers more storage than a short bed. Same thing with a Crew Cab ... more space is good. While you didn't ask about the DRW vs SRW thing, I will tell you that a DRW is almost always a superior performer in the towing environment, but in some instances, if your load is light enough, a SRW truck can get by. The safest, most stable towing vehicle is a DRW CC (preferably diesel) with an 8 foot bed. This is always a "load driven" decision, so the weight of your trailer should drive your choice of trucks. Notice I did not mention any brand of truck. I have my preferences, but IMO, the new offerings from the big 3 are all outstanding vehicles ... notice I said "new" (like 3 years old or newer). Trucks older than that have various issues that vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so I'd recommend a late model truck of the flavor you prefer, with DRW and an 8 foot bed. Personally, I'm a 4x4 guy, but that is purely a personal choice and not a necessity.
Good luck in your journey.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 06:03:45 PM
I can't authoritatively speak on truck size but I'll address your "limo" comment. It's going to be a matter of simply getting used to a new paradigm. If you choose a 5er with appropriate tow vehicle or even a motor coach... it's likely going to be a considerably larger vehicle than you're used to. As you gain experience with it you will be come more comfortable with it. Just takes time. Remember the very first time you drove a car? Same feelings as then are now playing with your mind.
In due time, it should become second nature more or less and we can all sit around the campfire and recall that day you told us how you freaked out about driving a "limo"
Remember... "fear is the mind killer" (from Frank Herbert's Dune)
FWIW, Brian
Glenn ... is that a 4x4? 😎
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 08:15:19 PM
Rob
Thanks for all the responses! I appreciate the input. I know ultimately brand will probably come down to personal preference as well as bed size, DRW etc.
My first truck had a 6ft bed. After being constantly bounced around due to freeway slab joints I was amazed at how smoother the ride over the same sections of freeway were in a truck with an 8 foot bed.
Then I bought a dually crewcab with an 8 foot bed; the ride was even smoother and even better when towing our 5th wheel.
I used the Dually Crewcab as a daily driver into Downtown Los Angeles to my office and to visit my customers throughout the LA area. I could always find a place to park it. Even at some of the luxury hotels it was fun to come out and see my truck parked out front next to the Bentleys, Porsches and other exoctic cars. The parking valet had to park it there because it wouldn't fit in the basement parking garages.
It was fun to drive up the ramps in the parking structure for my office. The weight of the truck causing the ramps to shake and loud exhaust would set off car alarms as I drove to the top level to park.
Besides a providing a smoother ride, the 8ft bed allows needed room to carry extra items- generator, gas cans, firewood, chairs, and we carry a mobility scooter broken down into 6 pieces.
The crewcab provides room for passengers, dogs or more stuff.
-- Edited by The Bear II on Thursday 25th of August 2016 09:38:24 AM
No, don't believe they make one.
-- Edited by Glenn West on Sunday 28th of August 2016 01:34:49 PM
You do realize that was a joke ... right?