I may be replacing my V8 truck with something newer and more power. What do you have
 

I currently tow my 28' camper trailer with a 2006 Nissan Titan V8 4wd. Some people who tow campers claim they can't even feel the camper back there because their tow vehicle is so powerful. I can always feel my camper and sometimes it gets scary. Plus the truck, while still somewhat capable, is starting to show its age as more things are breaking down even though it only has 125k miles. Nissans dont seem to age gracefully, IMO. Anyway, let me know what truck you're towing with and if you're comfortable recommending your truck. TIA.

I'm going to qualify this with I know very little.

I think you need a GM 2500 or a Ford F250 or comparable. Your Nissan is a 1500 I'm assuming.

Bigger diesel and a spiffy transmission.

I don't care what anybody says you can't beat a dually for towing . Period . Long wheelbase and four wheels/tires in the back equals total stability . My 2001 diesel 4x4 dually tows our 25 ' 5th wheel like it's not there .

But I wouldn't touch modern diesels , they have become very complex . DEF fluid for me is a no go . But I am old school . A gas engine in a dually is a pig on gas .

What weight are you towing ? And is the truck also a daily driver ? Where are you located ? Lots of mountain towing ? With some more details I am sure the guys on here can help you out .

Had GM trucks for the last 25 years. Bought a tundra (24) last year and it has way more power and rides better than any of my previous 1500s with 5.3 and 6.2 engined trucks. Tows incredible

Just curious how much weight you towing ?

The question would be "How much money do you have?".......

I towed the racecar with both a 1/2 ton and my current duramax 3/4 ton and there was no comparison. Even with an add-a-leaf on the 1/2 ton it was night and day. With the diesel sometimes I'd look in the rearview mirror and be startled for a split second thinking somebody was tailgating. I would literally forget I was towing!!

A Ford/Chevy/Dodge 3/4-ton 4x diesel is gunna be nearly $100k if you want one that is loaded with options. The other thing is the required DEF additive gets to be a real pain in the ass. So glad mine was pre-DEF.

I'd think a gas 3/4 would prolly suit you well. I think a dually is an over kill, living where I do I see 3/4-ton trucks pulling trailers that are the size of a school bus. I'm close to the Black Oak Casino and their RV park is packed all summer so I see lots. The other thing about a dually is they can be a nightmare to drive around town with the tail end width. Your wife will never want to drive it and parking them in the Home Depot lot or the grocery store? Forget it. It's another 4' in width dam near so driveway space gets to be a nightmare unless you have property. As I recall your house has a regular 2 car DW.

New or used? Be interested to hear in what you end up with.

If up this way you are welcome to drive mine, but then you won't want a gas model....;)

21 foot Malibu wake board boat about 5k it’s like it’s not back there

I watched a video a couple of months ago by Mark Patey. He had been using a Ford E150 and wasn't happy with the range (ie: he could tow something up to the lake, but couldn't bring it back.) The video compared that truck with his new GMC electric truck which eliminated the range anxiety.
What do I know, I used to haul two horses with a F150 with the small v8. So much depends upon your experience and expectations.

i am going to chime in and say the DEF really is not a pain at all. It takes no time to fill it, and lots of gas stations have a pump now with it. The truck warns you when it is getting low and you have plenty of time to fill it. I do not know what so many people ***** about it. Anything Pre-Def is going to be getting pretty old at this point.

My 2012 F350 uses it as does my 2023 F550 based 4wd diesel Super C motorhome.

I would pick up a used 3/4 ton, a dually for a 28 foot camper might be overkill and if you are daily driving it they are more work to park. The gas powered ones will be cheaper but not as powerful. As for Chevy/Ford/Dodge whatever flavor you like.

I did read the Ram 2500 average time on the lot is something insane like 700 days, so I bet you can get a sweet deal on one.

The only way to know is to test drive and tow.

That said, drive everything. Last fall, the local lot had a used 2023 6.7L powerstroke F350 Tremor sitting there so I drove it. It's a LONG way up and down into/out of it but my goodness...endless torque and a 10 speed transmission means you never have to worry about power. The ride was drum tight and not harsh at all. Giant brakes when you want them but it is still a LOT of mass to stop. They are very serious machines.

The power of the truck doesn't really have anything to do with how it tows a trailer from a stability perspective. I tow about a 25 ft travel trailer with a 2024 F150 hybrid. The benefit of the hybrid is that you get an onboard generator to power the trailer. I'm about maxed with my trailer in this truck. I'm well below the max tow capacity, but right at payload capacity. It tows well as long as I have a good weight distribution system installed. If my trailer was any bigger or heavier, I would want a 3/4 ton truck

I have the gas 7.3 F250 Tremor (same as 350 springs, etc) and it is indeed a beast yet rides pretty nice. Plenty for a 28' camper.

I have a 6.7 Cummins with a g56. A boot 170k miles of heavy towing and my Bruce jenner is very loose…. My advice is to buy a gasser if in the cold and not primarily towing heavy (15k lbs)

I think my next truck will be a 10 year old gas Chevy.

Had a 99 ford 2500 power stroke, current 2014 ram diesel drw fun torque.
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What he said-

Diesel Dually is the only way to tow anything but new diesels suck, new trucks all suck, their engines suck, their transmissions suck, it's all junk by 100k miles.

The F350 6.7 I drove had 80K miles on it and was squeak and rattle free with power to burn. What is the newest modern p/u you've driven or owned? A lot of any car's condition (junk) is directly related to abuse and neglect.

A modern diesel HD PU truck, (3/4 ton or more), is the gold standard for towing any large/heavy trailer. Also the most fuel efficient, if you tow a lot.

Rfuerst is right that you cannot beat a dually for towing but it's not needed at all for the OP's needs. They are awesome but overkill for anything lighter than ~8k lbs. and a real biotch to park and manuever in city traffic, plus significant added maintenance costs with (6) 10-ply tires, rear brakes, etc... I'd love to have one but they really are only great if you live in a rural area and tow heavy a lot.

That's amazing because this country is absolutely filled with newer diesel PU trucks with over 200k miles towing. :cool:

I pull with a 2012 F250 with a 6.2L gas engine. The stuff I tow typically weighs between 9-11,000 lbs. The truck handles what I tow well and gets around 7-8 mpg rolling 75mph. About the only thing I can't pass is a gas station. If I was considering upgrading I'd go to the 7.3 Godzilla gas engine. Primary reasons I don't go diesel are maintenance cost versus the miles I drive my truck yearly and cost of fuel.

Where have I read that before? ;)


I guess my 76K mile LMM Duramax is just old enough for the sweet spot? I will have mine until they tear the FOB out of my cold, dead hand. Went up about 20 miles on a decent forestry road to rescue a buddy who got broke while we were wheeling. Hardly knew the S-box XJ and the featherlite were back there on the 20 miles on dirt to get to the pavement... Snow even!



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Thanks all. The rig I tow is only 7300 GVWR and the Nissan should be able to tow up to 9300.

Are you planning on getting anything heavier?

I agree with Denis, I have so many friends that tow heavy and I have 140k of trouble free miles with my 6.7 F350.

I might go to a lighter and smaller RV trailer if I can’t find a suitable replacement truck in my budget.

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The new tundras tow really well, especially with the hybrid.

Toyota quality is not what it once was.

I have a 5th wheel camper we pull as well and a stock trailer and a couple bumper pulls.

Fuel economy when towing is only a bit better than the previous generation.

I learned a similar lesson the hard way when I was still towing my boat several years ago. I had a 2013 F150 Ecoboost, factory tow rated to 12,500, towing a 9,000-ish lb 29’ boat and usually loaded down with gear. I modified it with every bolt on for towing, it had enough power to tow triple the load. But it didn’t have the chassis or wheelbase for it. When your load is bigger, longer, and heavier than your tow truck you are always going to feel the tail trying to wag the dog. I ended up “upgrading” to a 2008 F250 diesel and it was an absolute revelation. The diesel torque was great but even more so the chassis’ ability to handle the load. Simply put it didn’t feel sketchy anymore. So depending on your price range I would definitely look to a 3/4 ton diesel or gas, single rear wheel because I don’t think you need a dually for that load. Diesels are awesome but you’ll pay more to buy and maintain them, and most modern gas engines in a 3/4 ton will have more than enough power. My FIL is a contractor who routinely pulls a 30’ gooseneck 5th wheel loaded down with equipment, he had one diesel and then switched to a gas Ram 2500 and now a gas F350.

^^^ I heard from a good friend who owns a 7.3 gasser and a 6.7 diesel that the 10 speed is amazing in both trucks and he actually prefers the gasser vs the diesel which was a bit of a shocker to me. My biggest problem with the gasser is where it makes its power and torque. I feel like the thing is gonna toss a rod cranking the R's it does.

Now I'm out looking for a newer F250 with the 7.3. I just can't bring myself to pay 50K for a used truck!

The newer Ford 7.3 (godzilla) motor doesn't need high rpm to tow fairly heavy loads. Granted it was flat land but pulling about a 10k camper with mine it settled just above 2k rpm. Very relaxed feeling. My understanding is the 6.2 gas prior will run higher rpm to get it done.

FIL said he doesn’t miss the diesel, way more hassles to live with than the gas.

Depending on what I'm towing, I lock out 6. I think that puts me somewhere in the 2500rpm range at highway speed. It's getting up to that speed and the shift strategy that has my nerves a bit frazzled. Those high rpm, drawn out shifts, just don't feel right to me. I've thought about buying a 5star tune just to improve shifting. My friend said the 7.3 is very capable. I don't recall if he ever owned a 6.2 for comparison. The power and torque specs are relatively close IIRC

Towing is not just about the go , you also have to woah 😆 . A 3/4 or 1 ton has a heavier frame/axles and brakes . I agree with others it sounds like a 3/4 ton is a good fit for the OP . Gas or diesel is a personal preference .

Keep in mind emergency situations . You are tooling down the highway with 15,000 lbs of truck and trailer . You blow a tire , you have to control the rig until stopped . Or someone unexpectedly cuts you off you have to stop the rig .

Trucks are stupid expensive that's part of the reason I have held onto mine . 2001 with 190k she just keeps running well . I wish you well on your search for a replacement tow vehicle .

I have a 6.0 Ford 350 non dually and tow a living quarters horse trailer with it. No issues after doing the head gasket.
But diesels are much more expensive to maintain than gas trucks.
If I were to buy new it'd likely be the 7.3 Ford. The only issue is that they rev highish to make power, whereas diesels make it with torque.
If used, diesels ALL have their "issue". I'd stay away from 6.4 Fords, I know folks will say "mine is great" but if you talk to fleet operators they'll tell you what perusing Marketplace will confirm-they explode. Regularly. The good ones are good, the bad ones trash motors. The 6.0' s had head stud issues, its a 5k fix but fixable. The 6.4's need whole motors. Cummins? Great motor but the interior quality until very recently was junk. GM's tend to have fewer "big" problems but have their own quirks.

My mother drove a 2011 f250 with a 6.2 gasser for 400k miles. Trans was a little lazy but with some weird electrical problems and the evaporator developing a leak is what finally sidelined the truck. Currently used as a pump hoist truck.

Hell of a truck tbh.

2015 0r 2016 2500 GMC truck in 2018 in southern Newfoundland (the island - not sure if you need to differentiate) Port town where ferry lands from NS.
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Duramax/Allison combination hauling a race 911 up to St John's. Surely under 10,000 lbs. 22 days I was in that rig and that's my knowledge base. Was never an issue. I even drove on some wimpy long stretches in NS.

I think a 3500 is overkill but that's all it is - just thinking and talking.

I have a 2011 Tundra Limited 5.7 gas that tows great. I have towed a 31.5' camper with electric brakes weighing about 9000 lbs 8 hrs to Oshkosh several times. It did just fine and never felt squirrely. I also used to tow my loaded race car trailer weighing around 7k every Saturday night for 4 years. I still use it to tow my 5000 lb 21' boat all summer long. Other than the awful fuel mileage it towed all this stuff great with plenty of power to spare going 70 plus on the highways and on hills.

Pic of 31.5' camper before I got the weight distribution hitch adjusted properly.

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Race car trailer

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21' boat

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My daily is a 2016 F150 3.5 Ecoboost. 12k tow capacity, easy to self maintain and tows my 27' travel trailer with ease.

I've mentioned in other posts, my neighbor is an engineer for Ford and they have been seeing more and more 300k without a rebuild 3.5 Ecoboost trucks lately.

That said, I'd love an F250 Super Duty but just can't justify it. I'll drive the 150 until it dies.

Your tow capacity is only one factor in how a truck handles whatever trailer you tow.
I would guess most trucks run out of payload way before tow capacity. If you don't have a good weight distribution and sway setup, and you are at or near payload capacity, you are a ticking time bomb. My F150 has a 10,800 lbs tow rating and a payload capacity of roughly 1,600 lbs. I've towed my trailer short distances without the weight distribution and sway setup and it is squirrely. I have about 4,000 miles on it with the a 4 point equalizer setup and have towed in high winds, had a few panic stops, mountain passes, etc. It tows great. If my trailer were any bigger though, I'd be in an F250.


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ive got an option. Have a 2016 Range Rover Sport diesel with 134k on the clock. DEF issues addressed, tows as well as any truck. Safe, quiet torque monster, 26mpg. Yours for $16.5k

Yeah, that doesn't tow "as well as any truck." Maybe a ski boat or a U-haul trailer, not a big trailer.

When it comes to towing large/heavy trailers, you want MORE capacity than needed, not less. There is an inverse correlation between the weight of a trailer and its safety in a panic stop, etc.

As others have said a 3/4 ton should work well. I have a 2011 Chevy 2500hd 4x4 crew cab 6.0l gas and occasionally pulling a 6000lb trailer no real effort with that weight. I would not say acceleration on the highway is great but it will get there. One complaint that I have is the trucks turning radius, like a bus, the 2wd likely turns sharper. The best milage I can get is about 17L/100 or 14MPG, that's expected just because of the truck weight. And the factory electric trailer brake set up is a common problem, many remove it and install aftermarket.

What diesel service or maintenance is so much worse than any gas engine maintenance?
I've owned 2 diesel trucks for the last 25 years with nothing terrible to report.

Remember the cycle life of the diesel is going to be 3 or 4 times longer than an over worked gas engine.

The 2014 Ram 3500 diesel has the jake brake style engine braking.
That feature makes long steep down hill towing much more controlled.
You don't use the brake just lift the throttle and the loaded rig slows safely.
In fact the jake brake has 2 settings, a soft setting for hauling horses so the engine braking is gentle.
I rarely need to use the brakes with the diesel engine braking feature.

With the diesel towing 8,000 lbs with a big slide in camper still gets 11 or 12 mpg with plenty of power.

At any rate if you are towing with a marginal size truck you should consider a weight distribution hitch.
I had one on the F250 and the Ram3500, WDH really balances the load, it puts a lot of weight on your front axle and reduces rear axle sagging.
WDH should be on every heavy duty trailer hitch.

This WDH has a 30 inch hitch extension for the slide in camper, tows great.
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