1/2 or 3/4 Ton? - Trying to decide.
Ready for a newer truck... Jayco 25' travel trailer: WEIGHTS Unloaded Vehicle Weight: 5220# Dry Hitch Weight: 545# Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 7000# Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1780# A 250...
Forum Discussion
To the OP...lots of folks here like to spend other people’s money and don’t have to live with what they recommend. I can tell you from first hand experience that the new 1500s ride and drive so much nicer than the new 250/350 trucks. If you spend most of your time driving around town, the bigger trucks will not be as comfortable. The bigger trucks use a lot more fuel. There’s a trade off in getter a bigger truck....yes, the tow nicer and they can obviously tow more, but they aren’t the friendliest things to drive in the city.
A new 1/2, especially one with the manufacturer’s tow setup, will do fine for most reasonably sized TT’s. Check out the GM trucks with the NHT package. I’m sure Ford has something similar.
If life changes and you want a bigger trailer, then be prepared to buy a bigger truck. Trading a three year old 1500 for a bigger truck hopefully won’t set you on a course for financial ruin. If it does, you may want to rethink your desire for a bigger trailer. The assumption on the board is that everyone will upgrade to a triple axle toy hauler within 2 years of owning their first camper.
If you are concerned about the tow performance of a given combination, review the manufacturer’s specs and then cruise around camp grounds and talk to folks who have setups that are similar to what you are thinking about. The “standard” answer on this forum is that you need overkill on the truck so that you will be prepared when the trailer brakes fail coming down a mountain pass in a 40mph cross wind while having a full bladder. . Got a pop-up? F-150. Got a hard side TT over 20’? F250. Got a 25’+ TT? You need the F350 and you need a CDL and you should never tow faster than 60MPH.
A new 1/2, especially one with the manufacturer’s tow setup, will do fine for most reasonably sized TT’s. Check out the GM trucks with the NHT package. I’m sure Ford has something similar.
If life changes and you want a bigger trailer, then be prepared to buy a bigger truck. Trading a three year old 1500 for a bigger truck hopefully won’t set you on a course for financial ruin. If it does, you may want to rethink your desire for a bigger trailer. The assumption on the board is that everyone will upgrade to a triple axle toy hauler within 2 years of owning their first camper.
If you are concerned about the tow performance of a given combination, review the manufacturer’s specs and then cruise around camp grounds and talk to folks who have setups that are similar to what you are thinking about. The “standard” answer on this forum is that you need overkill on the truck so that you will be prepared when the trailer brakes fail coming down a mountain pass in a 40mph cross wind while having a full bladder. . Got a pop-up? F-150. Got a hard side TT over 20’? F250. Got a 25’+ TT? You need the F350 and you need a CDL and you should never tow faster than 60MPH.
