Chev 2500 or 3500 HD Silverado - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Chev 2500 or 3500 HD Silverado

RodandGeorgia · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hey everyone. Firstly, thank you so much for all the information you provide. For a greeenie who barely knew what a toad is (it's green---right!), you really have helped us.

Ok, know you guys are tired of hearing "what truck do I get" questions. It's complicated and need to make sure we are planning right so we don't get into trouble (well with me who knows).

We have picked our 5th Wheel:

Going to buy a 2012 KZ StoneRidge 36RLB

Unloaded V Weight is 11,560 lbs

Dry Hitch Weight is 2,110 lbs

Dry Axle Weight is 9.450 lbs

Net Carry Cap is 2,440 lbs

GVWR is 14,000 lbs

38' long

Will a 2011-12 Chevy 2500 HD Silverado Turbo diesel do the job? Here are the numbers---hope this is what ya need from me. Have not bought a truck yet, so assume we will stay within all payload restrictions.

Truck per http://www.trucktrend.com

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD REG Cab, long box

Trailer towing maximum with fifth-wheel hitch (lb / kg)

2WD w/ 6.0L (4.10 axle): 14700 / 6668
2WD w/ 6.6L (3.73 axle): 17800 / 8074
4WD w/ 6.0L (4.10 axle): 14400 / 6531
4WD w/ 6.6L (3.73 axle): 17500 / 7938

Would the 2500 2wd, 3.73 take care of us? Know that more is always better. Thanks to all. See ya in OR.

Rod and Georgia

Dog Folks · RV-Dreams Family Member

Please consider the one ton in a dually. It will not cost much more and make a big difference in stability.

Beside the more truck you have, the less it "works" to do the job.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Well, you know how an opinion compares to an a&&h&&&, everybody has one. In my opinion, go with a 3500, in somebodies brand, no matter which one. I use an F250 and often wish I had a 350. The problem is, both 250 and 350 (select brand) have the exact same running gear from engine to transmission. In most of them, even the differential is the same. Difference comes in on suspension. I do feel the bearings are marginally better and possibly the brakes are somewhat larger. I have not had an instant of trouble with my 250, and it pulls like a beast. I did have to add Timbrens to the rear, to get the truck and trailer to sit level and have been happy with them.

The argument rages on the requirement for a dually. In that instance, it is to each his own. I have towed my rig somewhere near 60K miles and just last Monday had my first flat towing (on right rear). Thank goodness for Good Sam ERS. With that said, the tires were at about 55 to 65K miles and were over 5 years old. It was time, so I replaced them with another set of Michelins. Everyone says that duallys are useless on wet grass or a bit of mud when unhooked, or unhooking.

It all comes down to the primary use of the TV. Lots of use solo may tend to be slanted to a 250. Most use towing, might lead one to a 350.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

I would suggest the one ton dually.

RodandGeorgia · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you all for taking time to respond. Can't tell you how blessed we are to have you all..

Our plans are to buy a used Thousand Trails (21 day stay) + other resort plans, travel coast to coast and all in between visiting 200 million places. Didn't know that there were so many aspects to consider when we started out thinking about this.

I've been on the net for a couple of weeks learning a lot about trucks and in my newbe head came up with, "ya I think it (2500) would work with this lighter 5th wheel but do you really want to cut it that close? And, do you want to put up with the extra problems a lighter truck would cause you---on the road for 3-5 years?"

You all gave great info, 53 Merc wrote what my gut was telling me--"I'm doen it but I wish I had..."

Ok. We'll be looking for a 3500 in the next 8 months or so. Part of my wish, for a 2500, was to save us some $. Maybe we can find a slightly heaver preowned 5th wheel, we love, that will cost less. Could shift the cost over to a great 3500--please notice I didn't start a truck war by saying what brand biggrin

Take care all. God Bless. Rod and Georgia

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

Technically the 2500 can pull it but it does not have the stability of the 3500 dually.
The weight isn't that bad, but the overall length combined with the height on a windy day could be tough on an already maxed rear suspension.
With a 12500 gross, I feel that I'm borderline on the stability issue.

RodandGeorgia · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you Jim. Stability wasn't something I thought of..because I've been focused on being able to pull the 5er. It's good of you to mention this and makes me really consider a dually---another piece of the puzzle biggrin . Take care. Rod and Georgia

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have seen a lot of people buy a campground membership before they start out, then regret the purchase. Most people recommend waiting a year, then making a decision on an expensive purchase like that. Look at a Good Sam membership which gets you 10 percent off, or look at Passport America, which has a myriad of campgrounds all over the country. Most of them give half off on first day (except on weekends or holidays) and is WAY less money. Like 45$ a year. YOu can honestly pay for the membership in a week of travel.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Another reason for the 1-ton truck with duallys would be that should you decide later that you want a new, perhaps heavier, fifth wheel, you wouldn't be forced into buying a new truck as well. If you get one to start with, you would be ready if you trade up on the trailer.

Terry

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

RodandGeorgia wrote:
" . . .Stability wasn't something I thought of..because I've been focused on being able to pull the 5er. It's good of you to mention this and makes me really consider a dually---another piece of the puzzle .

Ron:

That is a key point you acknowledged – any of the 2500HD / 250 trucks would “pull” the StoneRidge. That’s never the problem with the new diesels – “power.” It’s all about controlling and stopping the trailer. Even with the relatively light StoneRidge it is still a long rig with a lot of “moment” that can be placed on the truck by wind and other road factors. You will find the new trucks have an outstanding “exhaust brake” (actually a turbo restrictor – brake) that is superbly integrated with the Allison transmission to slow and control the trailer. The 4 rear wheels provide so much more road contact and lateral stability than the single rear wheels. Just do.

You didn’t mention the trailer but having had a KZ product for almost 6 years now I can tell you the factory service and support has been outstanding. We have been extremely pleased with our KZ product and the way KZ, in Shipshewana, treated us long after the sale. We trust you will have the same support if ever needed. Let me know if you ever need any information about the factory people.

Bill

RodandGeorgia · RV-Dreams Community Member

Bill and Linda, thank you. We have been looking a 5ers for some time now. Going through all the mental, emotional and knowledge stages of going from a regular life to FT . Wow, had no idea that it was this involved. You guys, and all of the members, have been so helpful with sharing their experience and knowledge. What a gift!! Can't imagine someone doing this without all your help.

Good to know about KZ. Floor plan was great. This model was great inside Weight was great and most importantly it will take a King bed--just bought a King I Comfort Memory Foam. Would let it go, but the newer KZs provide room for it.

We are about 11 months out and we are going through the stages of getting ready.

Thanks to all.

Rod and Georgia

Future 3500 DRW

road of happy destiny · RV-Dreams Family Member

blankstare Not all that sure of the dually being needed. I do agree with having a a 1 ton though. Was at the GS Rally in Phoenix this Spring and listened to a semminar about dually's. The speaker put some info out there that made a lot of sense. I was wanting to buy a 1 ton dually with an extra gas tank. And he pointed out to me that with the dually I would have to deduct the wieght of the tires from my total weight. Also that extra gas tank and gas would also add a heafty amount of weight. All that extra weight from the dually and that extra tank would all have to be deducted. And I worked with a freind as park hosts this winter that wished he had never bought a dually. Plus my DW tells me she doesn't want to drive one especially because we won't e able to go through the pull throughs like McDonald's, the bank and the pharmacy. But good luck

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

road of happy destiny wrote:
Plus my DW tells me she doesn't want to drive one especially because we won't e able to go through the pull throughs like McDonald's, the bank and the pharmacy. But good luck

Not really true,I drove my dually through all 3,just couldn't use drive through car wash's

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

road of happy destiny wrote:
The speaker put some info out there that made a lot of sense. I was wanting to buy a 1 ton dually with an extra gas tank. And he pointed out to me that with the dually I would have to deduct the wieght of the tires from my total weight. Also that extra gas tank and gas would also add a heafty amount of weight.

Plus my DW tells me she doesn't want to drive one especially because we won't e able to go through the pull throughs like McDonald's, the bank and the pharmacy. But good luck

Paragraph one: Check the weight capacities of identical trucks, one with single rear wheels and one with dual rear wheels and see if the GVWR for each is identical or whether the DRW truck has a higher weight capacity than the SRW, thus offsetting the need to deduct weight for the extra tires. For instance, a 2010 Ford F350, two wheel drive, SRW has a GVWR ranging from 10,000 to 11,200 lbs, depending on cab type and equipment configurations. The 2010 F350, two wheel drive DRW has a GVWR ranging from 11,800 to 13,000 lbs, depending on cab type and equipment configurations.

Paragraph two: It may just be me, but I'm wanting to go camping, not cruising through drive throughs. Even now, at nearly 66 years old, I'd rather go inside than use a drive through. I've found that the service is faster. Not saying this would be a problem with your family, but if one gets used to towing a trailer and forgets the heights involved, one might forget that one has a trailer behind them and wipe out stuff. I've seen a video of someone with a fifth wheel taking down the roof of a bank drive through.

Terry

RickandJanice · RV-Dreams Family Member

RodandGeorgia wrote:

...."Our plans are to buy a used Thousand Trails (21 day stay) + other resort plans, travel coast to coast and all in between visiting 200 million places. Didn't know that there were so many aspects to consider when we started out thinking about this...."

Be careful when shopping for "used" Thousand Trails memberships. There are several plans that have been sold over the years and each one has different conditions and limitations. You really want review the conditions the original buyer signed that address selling the membership. When we purchased ours several years ago, we were told that should we ever sell it, the only parks the buyer would be able to use were those that were available to us at time of purchase. Thousand Trails has added approximately between 20 -25 parks since we purchased and all are available to us but if someone purchases our membership, they would not have access to these newer parks, only the original 49 that we originally purchased.

We really enjoy the Thousand Tails parks and look forward to using them more often when we go full time within the next year or so. However, they are not for everyone so really recommend you visit a few first and maybe even take advantage of a "free weekend" sales presentation. Also check out other parks first, especially if you have not camped much in private owned parks.

-- Edited by RickandJanice on Sunday 13th of May 2012 05:37:02 PM

-- Edited by RickandJanice on Sunday 13th of May 2012 05:37:43 PM

rvingft · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lots of reasons why, and engineering explanations as to mechanically why....

One ton dually ... in a nutshell,
you want the stability when a tractor-trailer going 15+ MPH faster than you blows past.

It WILL make a difference

RodandGeorgia · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you for the info Rick and Janice.

My inlaws had a TT membership and I have spent a lot of time a Pacific City Or, Bend OR and Florance OR and some in Calif. I really liked them, HOWEVER, I wasn't the one pulling a 5er. When it comes time, we'll read all the fine print because they do offer many contracts and in todays world it's buyer beware.

I do have 2 questions about TT. We are planning to buy a 5er about 34-38 feet long and we will be traveling around the coast from OR to Maine seeing the country (one of the reasons we want a TT Platinum plan) Based on your experience, do you think that we would have any trouble with a 38' 5er in the TT/Naco systems?

Can't really see us going beyond 38 feet.

Also, understand that, with this plan, we can make res 120 days out (no res of a specific space). Have you had any consistant problem making a res because the TT location was full?

Thanks again to both of you---and to all for sharing their knowledge. Yeeee haaaa. Rod and Georiga in Sisters OR.

Come and see the world famous quilt show, second week in July. There is a Good Sam just out of town.