Hi There
We're also looking at a R31 in the next year, but since we are also RVers, we may be a little ahead of you on the truck.
I nearly didn't post this message, for two reasons. First, there are "brand wars" that get started with respect to trucks, and I want to steer clear of that. Second, although I am a long-time boater (see
http://www.ourseaspirit.com) and a long-time motor homer and fifth wheel trailer owner, I'm not currently a Ranger Tugs or Cutwater Boats owner, so I want to be a little careful about shouting out info when I'm still only a TugNut wannabe.
Having said that, we tow our 38 foot long Teton Homes fifth wheel trailer with a 2013 Ram 3500 crew cab long bed dually with the Cummins diesel engine and Aisin transmission. Our trailer weighs about 16k lbs, which frankly is probably quite similar to what a loaded R31 and trailer will weigh (10.5k lbs dry, plus options such as genset, plus trailer, plus fluids, plus belongings). The fifth wheel trailer will have more air resistance though, since it's literally a box on wheels.
If I were looking for a truck to pull a 15k+ lb load such as a R31 or big fifth wheel, my concerns would be:
1) Ability for the truck to keep the combo from accelerating down a long grade, preferably without stepping on the brakes. This requires an engine/exhaust brake. The one ton pickups all have them, but they don't all work as well as each other. We are incredibly pleased with the RAM's exhaust brake, and it was one of two reasons we chose the RAM over the Ford.
2) Ability for the truck to stop the combo in an emergency, even when the trailer's brakes fail. Note that this is all about brake size and wheel/tire size, and nothing to do with engine braking. All the one tons have good brakes, though none are as good/big as our old RV-hauler, which was a Volvo VNL-780. Still, our RAM pulls and stops the 16k lb load with ease, and handles it well on the highway too (winds, etc.). I suspect the other leading one tons would do so too, especially the duallys.
3) Having enough oomph to get going from a standing start. These days, they all do.
4) Having an engine/tranny combo that keeps the revs fairly low in top gear, for fuel economy and quietness. This is especially important if you use your truck as a daily driver around town when not towing. The RAM really shines here, since its widely-spaced tranny (the Aisin, not the base-level tranny) allows the use of a 3.72 rear end instead of the Ford's 4.10 or higher rear end. This means the RAM does 1600 rpm at 65mph versus the Ford's/Chevy's 2000rpm. And if the RAM needs to gear down from 6th to 5th because we're going uphill all of a sudden, it can do that with no trouble, and then it looks/feels/sounds like the Ford/Chevy in top gear. This was the second of the two main reasons we chose the RAM over the Ford.
5) DO get 4WD. It only takes one time for you to be stuck pulling something through slippery grass or up a slimy ramp, to teach that lesson.
6) They don't all turn the same. The Ford F-450 turns slightly better than the RAM 3500, which turns slightly better than the Ford F-350, which turns somewhat better than the Chevy/GMC. It's all to do with the amount of "wheel cramp" allowed. With its very wide front axle, the F-450 outdoes the rest. Also, shorter wheelbase will make for tighter turns. But very few people ever say "gee, I wish I'd got the shorter bed length because I have too much storage room on the truck".
🙂
7) Beyond that, it's all about comfort, looks, price, and so on.
One final thing: We got our RAM because we felt it was the best of all the compromises. But it is absolutely fair to say that because the Ford's chassis/boxes have remained the same for a decade or more, there are a lot more aftermarket accessories for Ford than for RAM. Still, we had no trouble finding tonneau covers, hitches, and so on, for our RAM.
Ok, final final thing: Dually's are best for safety and stability, but are a pain around town, making for a very wide truck. We have them, and would not tow without them. But many people do tow without them, and they seem to do just fine. Still, we're sticking with our dually.
Dan Freedman