Help with truck orientation

Personally, I think the original poster is right on in his logic. Here's the thing-you can go out and spend 50 K on a nice new 1 ton diesel pickup, and it will do the job adequately enough. Or you can spend 15 K on a decent older class 8 truck, have an in-frame engine rebuild done, and fix whatever else needs fixing, and still be money ahead. Then, you have more than enough breaking power, pulling power, a sleeper, tons of room, big fuel tanks, ect.

Like the poster said, he will probably get equal, and maybe better fuel mileage with a class 8. A 1 ton pulling that much weight is working really hard all the time. A class 8 is in its sweet spot.

OP says he's from Oregon. That means Rocky Mtn driving. That class 8 will really reduce the pucker factor going up and down those passes.

By the way, he does NOT need to get a CDL (even though it is > 26,000) unless he plans on using this rig in some sort of income producing venture. However, I do recommend hooking up with your local community college truck driving program. Most are flexible, and can custom design a short course for odd situations.

Enjoy the RV and drive safe!