1994 Top Gun- What Truck?
 

I know this is not the towing section, but I have a 1994 Cigarette Top Gun. I got in a wreck and totaled my 2007 Dodge Dually Mega Cap 4x4 with a 6 speed manual transmission.. I need a new truck. I think I am towing over 15000lbs with trailer and gas. I want to go with a automatic.... I think. What should I get. Dodge, Ford, Chevy? Should I stick with a manual?

I've had this discussion with friends many times (one in particular). I believe that even with the 3/4 ton GMC/Ford/Dodge you are technically over weight with that much load. TG dry is like 11/12k, ad fuel, crap on board, trailer, etc and you're usually over 15k. Best bet is to just buy a Freightliner or F650.

I don't know why you'd want to stick with manual, no benifit I can see.

one ton dually crew cab works just fine for a top gun. I prefer an automatic trans and I'm a Chevy guy.

You will get an answer for every truck brand. I will say that the longer the wheel base the better. I have a 2005 4x4 Dually Ford CrewCab Full Box. It is completely stock. Has 185k miles on it and pulls the 1993 Top Gun Great. The 2005 Ford Suspension is really good and a smooth ride. It really rides great on the Highway pulling the boat. Keeps everything nice and straight.

Sportchassis all the way

Yea! But I don't have that kind of money. I think one of the new Ford F350 Dually 4x4 with the DRW 3.73 gear ratio can tow 17,500lbs. I am having a dealer look into it for me. I am sure he will be honest.

Any of the newer 1 ton duallys will be fine, just upgrade the hitch when you get it.

Any of the 1 ton trucks from Ford, Dodge or GM will tow it just fine. The problem comes from being over weight. If the truck company says you can tow 15k on a ball mount, you have to take into consideration the tongue weight, weight of the boat, full of fuel, weight of the trailer and what ever crap you have in the boat. With a Top Gun you're probably going to exceed that limit. Like I said, the truck can pull it and usually more but you also need to stop it. And if you can't stop quick enough and plow into a car full of people and seriously injure someone or kill them, you're screwed. The first thing your insurance company is going to do is look for a way out. As soon as they see you're over weight, your policy is null and void and you're on the hook for everything. They also look at the gross combined weight limit. I don't know of a truck out there right now, besides a Sportchassis that can tow all of this legally, I don't think even a 450 or 550 can. So if you think it's out of your price range, what's an accident with no insurance coverage going to cost you? Also, not sure where you are but in California, if you tow over 10k or 10500k or are even towing a trailer capable of it you have to have a class A endorsement. Most states have a similar rule. H20 Toie knows more about this than I do, but it's a big deal. That's why three of us bought the Sportchassis.

And just upgrading the hitch won't cut it.