Need truck suggestions

[dbest1va]

What type of vehicle do owners use to tow their reflection fifth wheels? We just bought our new 28RL and now want to get the right truck. Thanks.

 

[Soundsailor]

What type of vehicle do owners use to tow their reflection fifth wheels? We just bought our new 28RL and now want to get the right truck. Thanks.

That's a very attractive floor plan on the 28RL. You'd probably be fine with a three-quarter ton, some here would say one ton. Our 150 series is tongue-light, I suspect the 100 series is the same so you won't need to worry about payload as much as with some Reflection models.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

IMO, get a one ton and you won't be as limited in your next RV purchase. But a 3/4T will do it.
Or are you asking about brand

 

[Joe1967]

I would suggest a 1 ton. In some states the price of the license plate tabs is based on weight after a certain point. The tabs for my 2024 F350 Lariat crew cab diesel 4x4 are only about $140 per year. With a 3/4 ton you will pay based on the value of the vehicle, which is much higher. With a single rear wheel 1 ton, you will be good payload wise for many more 5th wheels. Diesels cost about $10,000 more, but have literally twice the torque. With a diesel you can use the truck lane, which makes refueling much easier than trying to get to a regular gas pump.

 

[Dutchman2]

The 28RL GVWR lists at 11K lbs. If you use 23% to get the worst case pin weight you are at 2,530 lbs.

Only listing GMC spec’s

The ¾ ton truck Denali CC SB Duramax gets you ~2,976 payload.

The ¾ ton truck SLT CC SB Duramax with MAX tow package gets you ~3,534 payload .

The 1 ton truck SLT CC SB SRW Duramax gets you ~3,776 payload.

Payloads can vary based on options selected. Keep in minds the cargo you load into the truck and the passengers all subtract from your payload number.

The price difference from the ¾ ton to a 1 ton is not much for the increased GVWR. The ride difference in the SRW versions is hardly noticeable. Jumping to a 1 ton last year from a ¾ ton improved our towing experience and got us back under the trucks GVWR of 12,100 lbs.

Best of luck in your decision as all three brands make excellent TV’s.

Dutchman2

 

[txloser]

Depends…. For that particular trailer a newer 3/4 ton will work well and still give a reasonably good ride. I towed a very similar length and weight trailer with a 2016 3/4 ton that wasn’t as capable as the most recent trucks. Was within spec all around and towed great. If you have think you may go bigger at some point then buy a 1 ton now to avoid trading and selling later.

As for which manufacturer. I’ve got a GM and love it, but there’s currently some transmission issues floating around out there with 2020-2024 trucks. They’re few and far between, but know they exist and GM hasn’t figured out a fix yet. Just some software to slow you down before it’s more serious. I’d say the most dependable GM HD truck is a 2017-2019.

Ford, if you go diesel has the notorious CP4.2 fuel pump. Again, low rate of failures from my understanding.

I don’t much about Ram trucks, but they’re nice trucks as well.

 

[goducks14]

For that light of a 5er I'd opt for a Ford F350 7.3. The F350 will give you way more CCC than needed but allows you to upsize in a couple years like most do. The 7.3 gas gives you plenty of power without the hassle of a diesel.
Love my 19 Cummins 3500 but since Fords come out with the 7.3 if I were in the market that's the route I'd go.

 

[traveldawg]

What type of vehicle do owners use to tow their reflection fifth wheels? We just bought our new 28RL and now want to get the right truck. Thanks.

As others have suggested, at least a 3/4 ton. But having been that route I had to go with a 1 ton when I upgraded. So now I just say if you want a 3/4 ton, just up it to a 1 ton. The ride isn't much different and you have more "room to grow".

As for gas or diesel, I gave up towing with a gasser a long time ago; even for a lighter trailer. Again, lots of room for an upgraded to a bigger/heavier trailer and you won't come back here asking a question like ".... is there a way get to xxxxx without going over mountains - even the Eastern ones?...".

If going gas route (which would likely suffice even out west using lower gears) my vote goes to the Ford 7.3 V8 (like most if not all gas motorhomes).

 

[MtnGuy]

A 3/4 ton truck will work, as long as you don't get a diesel. The diesel and assorted coolers can take up to 800 lbs of payload, leading some 3/4 ton trucks with less payload then their 1/2 ton counterparts. Also, as others have mentioned, a 3/4 ton truck will limit your "future" RV purchases.

Others have commented on GM trucks, which I am not familiar with. Those and RAMs should be good choices, but I will chime in on Fords.

I have a 2017 F350 4x4 Lariat CCSB with the Power Stroke. It has been an awesome truck pulling my previous Reflection 5th wheel across the USA several times. Even with the Cargo Carrying Capicity at 3426 lbs, I was getting close the GVWR when the 5th wheel was hooked up. There were no air bags of spring helpers needed with my setup.

The truck now pulls an Imagine travel trailer. Overkill maybe, but no use getting rid of a perfectly good truck.

I might have considered the 7.3L if it had been available in 2017. Our Fire Co has a 2022 F250 with 7.3L and 10 speed for our utility truck and that does great job pulling our boats and UTV..........but there again it is not the weight and frontal area of a 5th wheel trailer. Also, some 7.3L engines in that time period had delaminated lifters, causing engine failure. I think that problem has been corrected in the newer models.

I have been totally satisfied with my Power Stroke. Just a bit of extra trouble with DEF, draining the water separator, and more expensive maintenance, but it is worth it to me. Pulling our 5th wheel up and down the Appalachians and Rockies were not a problem.


Some advantages of diesels:

You can use the "big boy" truck lanes when fueling. No problem getting in and out of those

Both the power uphill and the engine brake downhill are awesome

You do not loose power at altitude because of the turbos

Better fuel economy


The cons of diesel:

Expensive option

Heavy

Fresh, clean fuel needed

Fuel more expensive for now


From the forums I am on, I have never heard anyone say they wish they would have gotten a 3/4 ton truck instead of a 1 ton, but plenty of the other way around.

 

[Mark_270BN]

I have yet to read an effective answer to this question from a safety and ability standpoint: why can't you add the GAWRs together to get GVWR?

The reason is: it's a registration requirement. Some manufactures will allow for the purchase of a sticker with a value greater than 10,000lbs GVWR and no additional cost. Do you think that is them just being nice and giving it away? I don't, because nothing was changed mechanically. Point is, it's a mandated number to keep the vehicle in a particular class for tax/registration purposes.

Stay under the tire ratings (which at load E shouldn't be an issue), stay under the GAWR and GCWR so you can stop and it will be safe.

Now come the internet lawyers and they say: you'll be sued for being over 10k GVWR without an actual case of one to point to. Even TFL Truck had a lawyer on once and was asked this question and he found it to be highly unlikely, but of course not impossible (like a lot of things in life).

If you're worried you'll get sued, buy the 1-ton and you'll sleep better at night.