Best year for used truck to pull 5th wheel?

I'll be pulling a 40' 5th wheel and can't afford a new truck. My local shop says 2006 5.9 is the way to go but most of those have almost 200,000 miles so I'm not sure. I am thinking that 2012 is about as old as I want to go. Any suggestions?

 

Welcome to the forum.

These are all good trucks and I would not hesitate to buy a 200,000 miles truck for a pull vehicle. A lot of users have put 300,000 miles or more on them as long as you do the recommend maintenance on them.
Here is a link to the Turbo Diesel Register New diesel User buying Guide this should help you a lot.
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/content/440-Turbo-Diesel-Buyer-s-Guide

Jim W.

 

The biggest problem with a 2006 is finding one, high mileage or not. I bought mine off ebay several years ago and never looked back, lol. How much weight are you going to be pulling?
- Ed

 

Need to plan on 15,000# hopefully not much more than that.

 

The brakes and searing are much better on the 3rd gen and I think your are right to go with no older that that. There are some good buys on the early 4th gens but you have the issues of the emission systems. If you use it mostly for towing there wont be as many problems. The people that have emission problems is short drives and no loads. I personally would look at new ones first to get a baseline. I don't know what's important to you, a Laramie or a base truck. You might be able to find a new tradesman for about the same price as a used Laramie. If you want an auto trans the 4th gen with the 6 speed auto is much better that the older 3 speed with an overdrive, witch you might have locked out most of the time when towing. Pre 2013 will not have Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). The DEF systems are better, engine internals stay cleaner and more power and better MPG. If its possible to remove the emissions on a 2010-2012 in your area you can get the benefits of the cleaner engine and more power and better MPG and no DEF. What I have found is clean low mile 5.9 (pre 2007.5) are more money that the equivalent 6.7. Just seen a 2006 auto with 17,000 mi asking $37,500. I had a 1997, a 2005, both manual trans. My 2011 (emission deleted) is auto is by far the best of them all. Some will say you can not get emission delete tuners any more, they are available and easy to get, no one is advertising them as such, so you need to know where to look.
DRW or SRW? I towed my 40' toy hauler with my 2005 SRW and had no problems, I did need to go with a bigger tire to keep from overloading them, and I added air bags in the rear. But really a DRW would be a better choice for that large of trailer. My 2011 is a DRW and I will probably stay with a dually now, but I don't use it as a daily driver.

 

Considering the weight, sail area and size of the camper being towed, I would feel more comfortable with a dually. In this case, comfort is synonymous with safety.
- Ed

 

Hbarlow, probably the best authority on towing to ever be on the tdr, would tell you to get a dully.

 

In my opinion I believe a 2005 DRW with an NV5600 6 speed is your best bet. Not just because I have one, but because a late 05, 06 and up have the G56 DMF 6 speed, which can be costly to replace the clutch. Automatics have had there issues, unless you get one with the Aisin 6 speed.

 

The OP said he didn't want to go any older than a '12 model.

Nick

 

Dually for sure, question is older than '06 or newer than '13?

 

I can tell you that my 2012 pulls our 5er with ease. I am beyond satisfied with my truck. A thought if I may. If you find one with 4.10 gears, IMO, you will be really happy with it.

 

I agree with that, the NV5600 is a great manual trans, and you can find them, but 200K miles is probably the best you'll find. Look at my sig, and notice the 04.5 I sold my brother, it now has 160K miles and is going strong, I miss that truck.

 

Its not a dually, but still a good buy https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/251150-2004-5-Ram-SLT-diesel-4X4-long-bed
The only difference that year between the SRW and DRW was the extra tire/wheels. The rear axle width might be a little different for the extra wheels. but the frame, brakes, and axles are the same.

 

Why dont you just buy my 2004 dually? 147,000 miles, new tires, flatbed with boxes, ex brake, leather, locking hubs, upgraded brakes, 6 speed manual trans...

 

Too bad they quite making the NV5600. How was your G56 on your 07?

 

Still have it, but have spent a fortune on it so far, with the SMF, Trany rebuild (supposed to have been an in inspection) and cooling system I designed, using another TDR member's initial setup. You'll be able to see and hear the system at May Madness.