Consumer Reports 2013 Truck Review - RV-Dreams Community Forum

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Consumer Reports 2013 Truck Review

mesa48 · RV-Dreams Community Member

I have a 2007 Chevy 2500HD Duramax diesel. It has 105,000 miles on it and it is absolutely the most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. It still has the original brakes on it and tow a 5er all the time. Just got home from a one month 3,000 mile trip with nary a problem. This is my second Duramax and I have never had a serious problem with either one of them not even a minor problem.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Marilyn,

First of all, welcome to the RV Dreams forums. This is a good site on which to do research and ask questions, and there are no "dumb" questions to ask. The only "dumb" ones are those not asked in order to get a proper answer.

With regards to Consumer Reports, any reporting/rating entity's reports should be taken with a grain of salt. I never trust any of them, including CR, Better Business Bureau, and others.

Now, to the trucks. Before choosing a truck, you will be better served to know the GVWR (Gross Vehicular Weight Rating) of the trailer you want to buy. (GVWR is generally the weight of the trailer with your personal belongings and clothes, any water you want to carry around, and the weight of the LP in the LPG tanks.) The 3/4 ton trucks like you mentioned may not be heavy enough to safely tow a trailer like you are describing, considering the 36-foot fifth wheel.

When looking at trucks, you want to know what the GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicular Weight) ratings are for the trucks. Like the trailer, you also need to consider its GVWR with passengers, pets, cargo and full tank(s) of fuel. When you have both of those GVWR numbers, you are generally good to go so long as the combined weights of both truck and trailer do not exceed the GCVW of the truck.

Some other considerations, with both trucks and trailers, are the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) and the weight capacity of the tires on each as well. It can be easy to have good enough truck weight capacity, but be overweight on an axle or a tire. For that reason, a lot of RV'ers prefer to have their trucks and trailers weighed on a wheel by wheel basis to see if any one axle or wheel is overweight.

Also, you will find that diesel trucks will tow easier and handle more weight than one with a gasoline engine.

If you look at the signatures of the participants of the forums here, a lot of times they will specify what truck and trailer they have, if their RV is a trailer of some kind. I think you will notice that the largest majority of them will have either Ford F350's or GM and Dodge 3500 series trucks, with most of those being trucks with dual rear wheels. Not only do they help carry more weight, they are also more stable in handling and in crosswinds.

A good many of the folks on most of the forums that I participate on will have the belief that one can "never have too much truck," but that it is also very easy to have "too much trailer" for the truck. Safety is a big factor with just about everyone.

With all the above said, it is also generally advised for those considering the purchase of a truck and trailer to be sure and choose the trailer first so that one can get a truck that will safely handle that size of trailer.

Terry

Delaine and Lindy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Can't speak for the competition, but I have owned 7 GM HD Trucks, 2500HD, 3500HD's and a 4500. I have only been back to one dealership, and that was with the Chevy 4500, the reasons was caused by Circuit City, installing a XM radio. The only time with any of the other HD's was for Oil and fuel filter changes. I never pay any attention to Consumer Reports. I do recommend GM HD Trucks. I do not care for the DEF system, but never had a issue with either the 2011 3500HD or the 2012 3500HD.

As Terry said, you need to know the GAWR, the 3/4 tons can pull the load, and with DRV's with disk braking system do well stopping. But if you intend on staying within the weight ratings, you could have issues with Pin Weight, even with a 36' Mobile Suites. Other brand 5th wheels in many cases don't have the pin weight like Suites.

I just retired from Rving and was Blessed to own several different GM HD Trucks, and a MDT, Freightliner M2. I don't think you can have to much truck but, you can have to much trailer... Get the weight on the 5th wheel you intend on buying, before buying the Truck, it will save you money.. Good Luck with your choice. Happy Trails....

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't know where the authors at CR got their information but they were totally off base on all 3 trucks.They should be ashamed of themselves!!!

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

EggerMar,

Welcome to the forum. We have a GMC (see signature) and love it. When we were shopping we talked to a son who is a firefighter who is also a car/truck nut. They know Trucks and most of 'em drive them. I know its a stretch but you might stop by your local station with a batch of cookies and ask if you can ask some questions.

Good luck,
Sherry

WestWardHo · RV-Dreams Family Member

PS, Thats pretty funny, truck advice from ME!!

Sherry

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

My advice it to NOT BUY ANY TRUCK until after you choose your trailer. Too many people think they have found the trailer they want, or think they have, then buy a truck that will not work with the trailer they end up with. It is a very expensive mistake to make. I am talking with a person right now about the Dodge one ton they bought....It simply will not tow (legally) the trailer they decided they now want....despite what the salesman told them.

DO NOT believe what any truck salesman tells you about the truck. Look at the manufacturers towing guide and determine for yourself what the towing capabilities of the truck are.

Again, do not buy a truck until AFTER you have purchased the trailer.....

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Consumer Reports pits an Item from the same manufacturer against itself..

GE against Hotpoint

Whirlpool against Kenmore

Or in the case of Trucks.........A ford cummins against a dodge cummins engine

LG against bosche

its kinda like the Better Business .........if the business is current and a member it gets a high rating no matter how many complaints.....but if your not a member your ratings will stay low no matter how many Kudo's

But this is my own opinion from being in the service industry and seeing it as a fact.........

-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Sunday 10th of March 2013 01:36:02 PM

PIEERE · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jack Mayer and the rest who said; Buy the trailer first!!!

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you buy the truck first.......it will cut down on which trailer choices you have unless you plan on buying a twin axle commercial Semi Tractor.......of course if you buy one of these RV Extreme is where you will be shopping!!

There are so many choices of RV units (hundreds) out there each having different weight and towing characteristics....and probably only 12 choices for tow Vehicles

AS far as consumer Reports please thumb through the magazine and notice who the biggest advertiser is in that section.....If you where the magazine would you bad mouth the advertiser that just paid you a very large sum of money to place these ads in your magazine. probably not, you would favor them so they would place another ad by steering customer base there way

EggerMar · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lucky - Consumer reports does not accept advertising. I appreciate everyone's input and advice. Will definitely buy the RV first as suggested Going to the fall 2013 RV show . I'll let you know

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

I just pass along our experiences for reference:

We had a 2006 Chevy 3500 Duramax / Allison which pulled a big, heavy, 5’er for 6 years. 100,000 miles with zero repairs or issues. Towing included pulling the rig to Alaska and another trip up through Canada to the Northwest Territories and the Arctic Ocean. I only say this to reference the hard towing work the truck performed.

We now have a 2012 3500HD Duramax / Allison. 20,000 miles, zero issues or repairs thus far. Just finished a great trip through the mountains out west. My wife’s opinion of the truck: – “Pulls like an Ox, rides like a Caddy.” (And it’s quiet.)

We’ve had extremely good service from both GM products which earn their living towing.

The GM Duramax / Allison combo has over 10 years of history and is a proven combination. Ford has 2+ years on its new engine and transmission. Dodge is a much newer offering.

Like Jack said, make sure the truck you’re going to purchase is big enough for the trailer.

Bill