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My wife and I are thinking about becoming full-time RVers but on a limited budget. I kind of have my heart set on a Titan because they’re so well-made, reliable, roomy/comfortable and, in general, nice to drive. With our budget, I’m looking at an older one. Probably’06-‘08.
Where things get complicated for me is that my wife really wants a good-sized 5th wheel (I do, too, actually) and although we can find what we’re looking for in our price range, most of the ones were looking at are around 10,000 pounds (which I know exceeds the Titan’s capacity). I really don’t want to go with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup from one of the “big 3” because I don’t think there’s anything in our price range unless it’s REALLY old and that’s going to have a LOT more problems. (Even if I could afford one that was 10 years old or so, I still have serious doubts about reliability and maintenance and repair costs relative to a Titan.) Plus it’s not going to be nearly as nice to drive around once we’ve parked and unhitched the trailer.
Sorry for the long preamble but my questions are...
1. If I made “all the right upgrades” to beef up a Titan and really max out it’s towing capacity, how much higher do you think I could go beyond the rated 9800 pounds? (I should add that I will drive as gently as possible.)
2. What would “all the right upgrades” be? Transmission cooler upgrade? Air bags? Upgraded brakes? Is it possible to have the frame reinforced?
3. Am I just asking for trouble, here? I’m sure I’ll be putting more stress on my Titan and that will lead to some problems, but are they really going to be worse than the problems I can expect from an old American pickup?
Where things get complicated for me is that my wife really wants a good-sized 5th wheel (I do, too, actually) and although we can find what we’re looking for in our price range, most of the ones were looking at are around 10,000 pounds (which I know exceeds the Titan’s capacity). I really don’t want to go with a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup from one of the “big 3” because I don’t think there’s anything in our price range unless it’s REALLY old and that’s going to have a LOT more problems. (Even if I could afford one that was 10 years old or so, I still have serious doubts about reliability and maintenance and repair costs relative to a Titan.) Plus it’s not going to be nearly as nice to drive around once we’ve parked and unhitched the trailer.
Sorry for the long preamble but my questions are...
1. If I made “all the right upgrades” to beef up a Titan and really max out it’s towing capacity, how much higher do you think I could go beyond the rated 9800 pounds? (I should add that I will drive as gently as possible.)
2. What would “all the right upgrades” be? Transmission cooler upgrade? Air bags? Upgraded brakes? Is it possible to have the frame reinforced?
3. Am I just asking for trouble, here? I’m sure I’ll be putting more stress on my Titan and that will lead to some problems, but are they really going to be worse than the problems I can expect from an old American pickup?