1/2 or 3/4 Ton? - Trying to decide.

3/4 tons have full floating axles?!?!? False! I have yet to own one with a full floater. A sw one ton yes. Not a gm 2500 any how.
The most recent might.....
Also, the 1500s I'm looking at, the overall low gearing, needed to pull a grade, is better than y 2500 with 4.10 axle gears. One needs to also look at trans gears, and tire Diam.
Everything else being equal, a rig with 3.42 gears and 28" diameter tires, will have same shift points etc as a rig with 3.73 gears and 30" tires, as a rig with 4.10 gears, and 32" tires.
A 3.42 geared rig with a Muncie 4 sp, has same pulling power, both low and high, as a rig with an NV 4500 and 4.10 gears. I'll take the latter, as I have 5 gears, club poo Ser shift points, vs the 4 sp combo.
Many way options, choose what is best for you.

Marty

Thanks for all the posts.... I am sticking with a 3/4 ton. I'm done.

I would never deliberately buy a 1/2 ton truck to tow a trailer of any size. A 1/2 ton will pull 7k pounds with no problem, however. There is a substantial safety margin gained by having a full floating rear axle.

Just out of curiosity, since you were talking about Chevrolet, I just went to their website and built the same truck in a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton. Both 4 door, 4wd, with a 6.5' box, LT models. I didn't add any options to either one except the max trailering package to the 1/2 ton, which gets you the rear (so called) locking differential. The trailering package gets 3.73 gears. I configured it with the 5.3L engine. I built a 3/4 ton with the same cab and packages. Since it's an HD, the "max trailering" stuff didn't need to be added. The difference in price was $2,265. The 3/4 ton truck has 4.10 gears because they are the only option in a gasoline engine. In the 1/2 ton, you can get 3.08, 3.42, or 3.73. Obviously for towing, you'd want the 3.73; 3.42 isn't going to be enough even with the stock tires.

The 1/2 ton truck comes with C load range tires even in the highest GVWR package. Honestly, that speaks for itself. The 3/4 ton comes with E rated tires regardless of whether you go with 17, 18, or 20" wheels, all of which are options for you. It would cost you about half of the difference in price between the two models to replace the factory C load range tires on the 1/2 ton truck with proper E load range tires for towing. Interestingly, no matter what size you choose, you get P-metric tires on the 1/2 ton truck.

The difference in fuel mileage between these two trucks is bound to be minimal. The difference in peace of mind in having larger brakes, a stronger transmission, higher GVWR, and E rated tires, is absolutely worth the $2,265 to me every time I hitch up. The choice is yours; either will do the job. Both trucks will pull your trailer fast enough to get you in trouble and faster than you can stop it. I would pull your trailer with either one, provided that proper tires were installed on the 1/2 ton truck. But I probably would choose the 3/4 ton truck for the many reasons discussed above. Is it overkill? I don't think so at all.

To re-iterate what Marty said get the right tool for the job. A properly equipped 1/2 ton should handle the trailer you are describing without a problem. What is properly equipped 1/2 ton include?

For the trailer you are looking at you wrote it is 5220 lbs dry. With a couple of options and loaded to camp looking at 6,700 or so, let's round up to 7,000.
With 13% of that 7,000 on your hitch that is 910 lbs, if you run as much as 15% on the hitch you are at 1,050. Let's bias towards the high side and say 1,000.

Consider the weight of passengers and payload in the truck today and 5+ years from now. If, for example, that number is 800 lbs this plus your hitch weight is at 1,000 lbs. This means you will need a payload of 1,800+. So keep an eye on the payload sticker of the pickup. You will want a package that gives you the payload needed, LT tires, transmission cooler, integrated trailer brake controller and tow mirrors. So read the payload sticker and pay attention to the options.

If you are shopping for a 3/4 ton it should be easier because the LT tires, payload and transmission cooler are probably already included with the truck.

If you end up near capacity on a 1/2 ton there is not much you can do if you decide you want a bigger trailer. So if you think you might go bigger one day this can put you in a tight spot whereas the 3/4 ton would give you room.

You can tell by my signature what worked for me. I preferred the ride, height of the vehicle, mpg and engine option available at the time in the F150. I also knew that I would not go any bigger than my current trailer.

Take it easy,
Stu

Must be why I've owned an S10, 2500, 3500 sw @ dw, class 6, ALL at the same time. Each truck/hammer/tool had a task for what I needed done. Which was better and worst. I can Gove you a list of what ea is better or worst at! My least favorite rigs, 88@89 gm 3500s, could not move rated few up a blinking measly 10% grade! Meanwhile my 96 6.5td, could get 20k lb, 7500 more than. Rating, up a 30% grade. IHC pulls 30k , up a 30% grade. My almighty max dually......24% @ 20,000 lbs. 3500 under its rating. Depending dinghy upon what you are doing, a given rig, may or may not work. I want my rigs doing 30+% at rated, or what weight I will be towing etc at. Some did, some don't!
As far as 6% freeway grades, the one with the most HP was fastest, IE max.
Any way, I'm personally look uhh ng for a 4.3 powered GM 2014+ double cab. Should tow my 6000 lb equipment trailer as well or better than my C2500 reg cab.

Marty

I have used this line before, but it is time to dust it off again.

"Alot can always do a little, but a little can never do alot."

ppine wrote:
I will never understand the concept of buying just enough truck or betting by.
I like a one ton best. It works for everything.

Well SRW not everything, and even DRW will cover even more, but there are limits.

A used Dodge Cummins Diesel

I will never understand the concept of buying just enough truck or betting by.
I like a one ton best. It works for everything.

Gulfcoast wrote:
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 2500 Diesel sure would handle it easy, but could I "get by" with a half ton Chevy 5.4? I may cross the rocky mountains one day.

(Speaking from personal experience.)

Consider what happens when you start shopping for your next RV and are forced to upgrade your TV well before it’s time. The extra you spend now could save a lot later.