3.5L V6 of 5.0L V8
I recently bought a 37 ft. Grand Design Reflection TT that's 8600 lbs dry with 11,000 GVWR. I can't imagine any scenario in which I'll load it down to the full 11,000 capacity. My beloved Ford Explore...
Forum Discussion
Some of this comes down to how often and far you will tow.
- If you only go to a nearby park 50 miles away a couple times a year, it's level ground and prefer the 1/2 ton truck, you will be at or slightly over the limits but it should be fine.
- If you will be towing a lot or in the mountains, the durability of a 3/4 or 1 ton truck will pay off in the long run both in comfort while towing and durability.
The manufacturers have duty cycles and with the 1/2 ton at the max loading, I'm betting the duty cycles assumed are a lot less than with a 3/4 or 1 ton. So push it to the limit once in a great while you won't see much in the way of issues but push it to the limits regularly, expect a problem child of a truck if you go with the minimum truck.
- If you only go to a nearby park 50 miles away a couple times a year, it's level ground and prefer the 1/2 ton truck, you will be at or slightly over the limits but it should be fine.
- If you will be towing a lot or in the mountains, the durability of a 3/4 or 1 ton truck will pay off in the long run both in comfort while towing and durability.
The manufacturers have duty cycles and with the 1/2 ton at the max loading, I'm betting the duty cycles assumed are a lot less than with a 3/4 or 1 ton. So push it to the limit once in a great while you won't see much in the way of issues but push it to the limits regularly, expect a problem child of a truck if you go with the minimum truck.
