Purchasing A RAM 3500 Dually For RV Towing

ByChristine Updated on

After we decided on and put in an order for our 2018 Jayco Pinnacle 37MDQS fifth wheel, we had to buy the right truck.

When going through the process to arrive at our 2016 RAM 3500 Dually we were essentially faced with three questions: what manufacturer to go with, what size truck to get, and where to buy it from.

Kevin did all of the research, presented the options and what he had learned, and guided us toward making the right decision. The following is a summarized version to give you insights when making a similar decision!

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The Age Old Question: Dodge/RAM, Ford, or Chevy?

A white 2016 RAM 3500 Dually is parked in a snow covered parking lot.

Though all manufacturers have their pros and cons, here is our personal opinion on how we chose between them.

We nixed Chevy almost from the get go. We weren’t comfortable with the payload which seemed lower as compared to the others. Making sure we had enough payload and room to spare was crucial.

We had a great experience owning our Chevy Trailblazer but it just didn’t seem like the right fit in a truck.

Dodge spun off RAM back in 2009. Dodge now makes cars while RAM makes trucks. We looked at older Dodge trucks but because they fixed some things along the way in later model years and we want to keep this truck a long time we decided to go newer and look at RAM trucks.

Both RAM and Ford trucks were contenders. Payload is about the same on both. We test drove both of them a couple times.

The Ford admittedly had a smoother more comfortable ride. But the RAM was a bit smaller and to us it felt easier to drive and maneuver.

It also has a better turning radius. Kevin was also happy there was an option for an upgraded transmission in the RAM. So for us personally, the RAM was the right choice!

Go Big Or Go Home? Which Size Truck To Get

Then there is the question of truck size: 1500, 2500, 3500, or 3500 dually. We knew due to the size of fifth wheel we had chosen that 1500 and 2500s were out of the question.

It wasn’t until Kevin did research that the dually became the clear winner over the single rear wheel 3500.

We wanted to make sure the truck had enough payload to handle all of its passengers and cargo plus the heavy pin weight of the trailer.

It was important to feel confident in not only its pulling ability but also its stopping and turning ability. The truck should be stable in all conditions.

How Far Would We Go To Find The Right Truck?

If the price was right we were willing to go essentially country wide to get our truck. We would more than make up for the cost of getting there and back. Of course, cheaper and closer was preferred.

Local dealerships couldn’t get us a truck with the right options for a good price. Local private sellers weren’t offering what we wanted either. So Kevin widened his search and kept a look out.

When the right one popped up in Ohio Kevin was the first to send an inquiry. Because he was flying in from out of state they agreed to hold it for him. The price was amazing and it was exactly what we needed and then some.

Kevin flew to Ohio, picked up the truck, and drove it all the way home in preparation for picking up our new fifth wheel.

We have definitely been happy with the truck we got, the price we paid, and our experience with it over the years. It will continue to pull our home to the sites of many adventures to come.

What To Read Next

If you haven’t bought an RV yet, you may be interested in how we decided to purchase our fifth wheel, and the inspection and pickup process.

Christine is the co-founder of Never Stop Adventuring, and an avid traveler who started traveling the world as a child growing up in a military family. She even lived in Germany for numerous years. Since then she has been to 48 U.S. states, 17 countries, and traveled the U.S. in an RV for over 7 years.

With her 3 kids, the adventures continued family travel style. She has planned and coordinated travel with kids for the last 10 years and shares family travel tips and tricks, destinations, costs and even the mistakes so you can be empowered to take your own family trips with confidence!