What truck for my new 16,000 lb 5th wheel?

Hey friends, I'm currently on the hunt for a truck.

I recently won a Bighorn Fifth-Wheel with a gross weight of 16,000 lbs on awc brokerage website(awcbrokerage.com) and it arrived two weeks ago. I was super excited, but then I realized I can't tow it with my CRV (I know, I should have done my research beforehand). We plan to move it infrequently, as we live in it full-time in South Florida.

Now that I need to get a different truck, I'm reaching out for advice. What kind of truck do you all use? SRW? DRW? 4x4? 4x2? 350, 250, 3500?... you name it!

THANKS A MILLION! :)

Oh Boy, here we goooo....lol

For 16K lbs, you'll definitely want a 350/3500 series truck. Dual rear wheels (DRW) would be ideal for stability, especially if you're new to towing heavy loads. Single rear wheels (SRW) can work if you're careful with weight distribution, but DRW gives you more margin for error.

As for brand... well, that's where the real arguments start! 😆

Only a Ram...I used to have a Chevy and we could not go anywhere:) Just kidding, any of the Big 3 will pull your Big Horn. I prefer a Dually just because its more stable, in my opinion. I had a Chevy 3500, DW wanted a new truck, so she bought a Ram. We are obviously not brand loyal. I am more best price loyal.

For Florida's flat terrain, you might get by with SRW, but if you ever plan to travel to mountainous areas or deal with crosswinds, DRW is worth the extra cost.

As a diesel mechanic, I'll chime in with some technical advice:

1. Payload capacity is more important than towing capacity for fifth wheels. Check your door sticker.

2. Diesel vs gas: Diesel will handle the weight better, especially in mountains, but costs more upfront and in maintenance.

3. Transmission temp is your enemy. Make sure whatever you get has a good cooling system.

For 16K lbs, I'd recommend at minimum a 3500/350 series with the diesel option.

We have towed our BH3575el (GVWR 16K) with combined weight of 24,500 lbs for two years with our 2015 RAM 4x4 SB CC 3500. We load heavy as we lived in it for over a year. It has been to Arizona and back to Washington twice with extended travel along the way. We are quite happy with the setup. We have been in high wind several times, and over lots of mountain passes.

The dually makes a huge difference in crosswinds - we had a SRW before and the difference is night and day.

Since you mentioned budget is a concern, I'll share my experience:

I tow a 15,500 lb fifth wheel with a 2008 Ford F-350 SRW (6.4L diesel). Yes, I know people hate on the 6.4L, but I bought it cheap ($15k) with 120k miles and have put another 50k on it with proper maintenance. The key is:

- Regular oil changes (every 5k miles)

- Watch the EGTs when towing

- Delete the DPF if you can in your state

For occasional towing in Florida, an older SRW could work if you're careful.

Don't overlook the importance of the hitch setup! We have a similar weight fifth wheel and went with a:

- B&W Companion hitch

- Airbag suspension helper

- StableLoad suspension enhancers

This combo on our 2017 Chevy 3500 DRW makes towing feel almost like there's nothing back there. The hitch makes a bigger difference than I expected in ride quality.

After 12 years full-timing with various setups, here's my advice:

1. Buy more truck than you need - your next RV will likely be heavier

2. DRW is worth it for safety margins

3. Consider the cab size - you'll spend lots of time in it

4. Diesel is better for frequent towing, but gas can work for occasional moves

We've had both SRW and DRW, and for 16K lbs, I wouldn't consider SRW unless it was only moving a few times a year.

Fellow Floridian here! Since we don't have mountains, you can get away with less truck than these mountain folks are suggesting. I pull a 15,700 lb rig with a 2015 F-250 SRW (gas) without issues.

Key points for Florida:

- No mountain grades to worry about

- Watch bridge weight limits (some older bridges have low limits)

- Summer heat is hard on transmissions - add an extra cooler

If you're only moving a few times a year, SRW gas could save you $$$.

Let's talk numbers:

Your 16K lb fifth wheel will have:

- ~3,200 lb pin weight (20% of total)

- Need truck with at least 3,500 lb payload capacity

Most SRW trucks max out around 3,000 lbs payload, which is why everyone recommends DRW. My recommendation:

1. Weigh your actual rig (not just GVWR)

2. Calculate actual pin weight

3. Then shop for trucks with at least 20% margin over that

I'm in a similar situation (new to heavy towing) and found these resources helpful:

1. Fifth Wheel St website - tow rating calculator

2. RV Tow Check app

3. CAT Scale app for weighing

After running the numbers, I realized even some 3500 SRW trucks wouldn't have enough payload for my rig. The math doesn't lie!

WOW! 🤯 You all are amazing! I've learned so much from this thread.

Based on your advice, I'm now looking at:

- 3500/350 series trucks

- Preferably DRW for safety margin

- Diesel for longevity

- 2015 or newer for emissions system reliability

I really appreciate all the detailed responses. This community is incredible! I'll update when I make my purchase. 🚛💨