Weight and Truck
Have a 1989 Fleetwood Taurus travel trailer. Weight is 6500. Need to get a truck. Can someone tell me what the minimum I should be looking for. I read all about tongue weight, etc. I have in my drivew...
Forum Discussion
Ideally a 1/2 ton would do the trick and it may though it is borderline. For sure a 3/4 ton pickup with a gas V-8 and 4.10 rear end is going to have no trouble towing and stopping with that amount of load.
Even with the 1/2 ton don't try to go with the smallest engine and high rear end gears. And read the fine print. Ford for example changed its V-6 engine so it produces more horsepower with ethanol but a lot less horsepower (inadequate for towing) without this fuel.
Take the time to download the towing guides from the Ford, Chevy, and Ram websites. They provide all the information you need in terms of towing capacity with the different models, cab configurations, rear end gears, and engines.
Also get the "tow package" which will provide an inexpensive upgrade of the alternator, radiator, transmission cooler, and trailer hitch, and is a lot less expensive to buy this way than it is to add these items on later. If a trailer braking controller is available as an option get this added in as well. With some 3/4 ton trucks like those from Chevy this is standard with the tow package.
Even with the 1/2 ton don't try to go with the smallest engine and high rear end gears. And read the fine print. Ford for example changed its V-6 engine so it produces more horsepower with ethanol but a lot less horsepower (inadequate for towing) without this fuel.
Take the time to download the towing guides from the Ford, Chevy, and Ram websites. They provide all the information you need in terms of towing capacity with the different models, cab configurations, rear end gears, and engines.
Also get the "tow package" which will provide an inexpensive upgrade of the alternator, radiator, transmission cooler, and trailer hitch, and is a lot less expensive to buy this way than it is to add these items on later. If a trailer braking controller is available as an option get this added in as well. With some 3/4 ton trucks like those from Chevy this is standard with the tow package.
