I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need? Other Weight Factors2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbsgear roughly 800lbstanks are empty when travelingfood/drinks 200lbs

Simple. Dry weight is worthless. You will NEVER tow it dry.You need a truck capable of handling the trailers GVWR PLUS your family, and all the stuff you would normally carry on a trip. Once you add all that stuff, which BTW subtracts from the trucks load carrying capacity. So, for instance your truck loaded ready to go weighs 7000 pounds. And has a GCWR of 11,000 pounds, that leaves you a trailer loaded ready to go no more than 4000 pounds.With five adults,or nearly adults on board you would be far better off getting a 250/2500 series truck.

I'd say either of those trucks would get the job done for you, but at the end of the day you are buying a new truck so get something that will exceed your expectations.If it were me, I'd go with a 2500hd/ 3/4 ton truck and not look back.By the way, that's one big dog!

chrisdd23k wrote:I bought w new Coachman 292BHDS Travel Trailer last summer. The TT dry weight is 6,150 lbs. Now I am looking to buy a new pick up truck to tow it, either a Ford F150 of a Chevy Silverado 1500. Both trucks have different configurations that range in tow capacity. Chevy has one that tows 9,100 lbs or 11,100 with max tow package. Ford has similar ranges including some at 10,500. How much max tow capability will I need? Other Weight Factors2 adults, 3 teenagers and a dog about 700lbsgear roughly 800lbstanks are empty when travelingfood/drinks 200lbsYour easily well above the available cargo of either 1/2 ton truck once you add in passengers and extra gear.6,150 lb empty trailer at 15% tongue weight is 922.5 lbs.700 lbs for passengers and dogs plus 922.5 lbs is 1622.5 lbs..You forgot WD hitch, that is about 100 lbs that will take away cargo of the vehicle.You virtually have ZERO cargo available to load the trailer with "gear", food, drinks or any other needed camping stuff.That is pretty much the limits of 1/2 ton cargo..The only exception I can think about is if you bought the lowest trim level F150 in a regular cab 4x2, eco boost with max tow, max payload and then you might have about 2200 lbs of cargo..But with you having so many passengers plus dogs you will need Crew cab (minus cargo), you will most likely insist on 4x4 (minus cargo), and top level trim (minus cargo)..People buy into those Max towing numbers without realizing that those numbers ARE based on the BASE VEHICLE which means Standard cab, short bed, 4x2, NO OPTIONS that do not increase payload. #1 rule is you WILL run out of tow vehicle payload before you reach any other limit..That trailer when loaded would be a much better match with a 3/4 ton..My 2013 F250 super cab 4x2 with 6.2 has 3451 lbs of available cargo.. Mine would tow that trailer with ZERO issues.. In fact, I am towing a trailer that when loaded is 6500 lbs plus an additional 15 gallon fuel tank, plus a 100 lb generator, 200 lbs of campfire wood, three bicycles and several hundred lbs of misc tools and other camping stuff in the bed of my truck..Tows nicely and I don't have to weight every potato chip I take with me :B I should also mention that a fully loaded F150 with eco, max tow and max payload CAN cost much more than a modestly optioned XLT F250.. I have seen numbers for eco F150s as much as $60K and yet my 2013 F250 was just about $42K out the door..Recently priced out a similar 2018 F250 at about $45K.. Pretty good chance that to get enough F150 to handle that trailer you will be north of $65K..

IMO, 2500 series needed. My rig, rolling down the road all loaded, I tow 6000-6500# with 900-950# on the Tongue with a 2016 1500 Max tow GM . I am at my limit with a 2000# payload. Its about payload not a tow rating. BTW, my posted dry wts are 4560# / 580# .

And what happens in two years when the kids are older, meaning bigger, and you decide you need a larger TT? Do you then dish out the money to buy another new truck?I would expect that if you do go with the half ton truck, you'll need some suspension help in addition to the weight distribution hitch to help level things out. You may also have to go to heavier tires on it.Buy a 3/4 ton truck.Bill

Advice on needed tow capacity for new pickup truck

troubledwaters
Explorer III
May 08, 2018
DallasSteve wrote:
...But - by they time you get to that much power you may be near the price of an F-250...
But, you can't get the 3.5 Ecoboost and 10 speed transmission in a F250.
DallasSteve
Nomad
May 08, 2018
Ford has some 2018 F-150s with the 3.5L EcoBoost that rate near 3/4 ton levels, including Super Crew cabs and 4X4. They can get up to about 13,000 pounds of towing capacity and about 2,500 pounds of payload. But - by they time you get to that much power you may be near the price of an F-250. Below are the official specs, at the bottom of the 35 page PDF.

2018 Ford F-150 Brochure
mosseater
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
Having played the weight game for 10 years with my F 150, HD, I can safely say I will be buying a bigger truck next time. It gets the job done, but don't be in a hurry about it. If you insist on a 1500 series truck, get the heavy duty payload package at least.
wrenchbender
Explorer
May 07, 2018
My advice to you is to go with a 3/4 ton crew cab,with a big engine.You can thank me later.
afidel
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
APT wrote:
afidel wrote:

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds

Source?

I have not seen 2018 models specifically, but I have not seen a 2009+ CrewCab Ram 1500 with more than 1500 pounds of as equipped payload from the Tire and loading sticker. I typically see 1300 while GM/Ford are more like 1700 for trucks with equipment people actually buy volume leaders, not fictitious brochure max payload models. Some higher trim/optioned Ram models are under 1100. I welcome data to suggest otherwise as the Hemi, Ecodiesel, and 8-spd trans are great for towing!

According to their calculator a crew cab, full bed, hemi powered 4x2 should have 1,630 payload. Shortbed bumps it up another 50lbs (not worth it IMHO given the reduced wheelbase, but if it's a daily it might be the right compromise). Quad cab full bed gets you 1760 with the hemi and 1880 with the 3.6, though the 3.6 drops your max tow to 7,600.
APT
Explorer
May 07, 2018
afidel wrote:

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds

Source?

I have not seen 2018 models specifically, but I have not seen a 2009+ CrewCab Ram 1500 with more than 1500 pounds of as equipped payload from the Tire and loading sticker. I typically see 1300 while GM/Ford are more like 1700 for trucks with equipment people actually buy volume leaders, not fictitious brochure max payload models. Some higher trim/optioned Ram models are under 1100. I welcome data to suggest otherwise as the Hemi, Ecodiesel, and 8-spd trans are great for towing!
mikakuja
Explorer
May 07, 2018
I also speak from experience and agree with those that have said, go with a 250/2500 series truck, you won't regret the decision. Even though you can tow that trailer with a 1500 that is equipped and set up correctly, it is still too much trailer for a 1500 IMO.
I have been through the experience personally and put many miles of near maxed out weight towing with a 1500. Most of the time it was fine, but when s**t starts to go sideways it can get nasty really fast.. The larger truck is soo much more capable in every aspect.. I actually relax while towing now.
falconbrother
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
Personally, in the 1/2 tons I think that Ford edges out on Chevy. But, in the new-ish trucks they are both capable. Of course the 3/4 ton will do "better" than any 1/2 ton. But, you go to the campgrounds and they are chock full of 1/2 tons towing all kinds of trailers, even 5th wheels. My uncle has the Ecoboost Ford and he pulls a flatbed with a farm tractor on it, including implements, up Black Mountain several times a year. I don't know what the weight is but, I have no doubt that it's plenty heavy, including hitch weight.

If your TV is also your daily driver, like mine, that is a consideration as well. My Suburban is towing a 5800 (dry). My limit is 7200. I never tow with anything in the tanks. It's just the two of us and a couple of pug dogs. The 5.3 Suburban 1500 isn't ideal. But, it does OK and get us where we're going. Setting the trailer brakes, getting the WD hitch right, packing the trailer without too much stuff up front are all things I do to make it work and feel stable. We have never had sway issues, the long wheel base handles the weight good. The 5.3 pulls pretty good. It needs RPMs on long uphill pulls to be happy. That took some getting used to for me.

I came out of a motorhome that had a 454/turbo 400 and would pull it's self and my little CRV anywhere. Big, huge, difference in how the big block and the small block plus transmission puts power on the road. Point is, you would be happier all around with a heavy chassis and a big powerful engine. But, the 1/2 tons will do it. It's almost a coin toss between Ford and Chevy, in real world applications. I like Chevy but, I would buy the Ford Ecoboost with the heavy tow package.
LifeInsideJack
Explorer
May 07, 2018
ljr wrote:
bid_time wrote:
LifeInsideJack wrote:

Additionally it's not about pulling, it's about stopping.
Every truck is tested according to NHTSA standards and is fully capable of stopping 100% of its GVWR regardless of the badge on the side.

Stopping is one thing. Keeping GVWR under control over a long, steep grade and then stopping is quite another.

I agree with both statements. But, it isn't stickers that will make a driver comfortable behind the wheel.

The freeways are fluid and situations change quickly. Steep grades, inattentive drivers, spare tires loose and coming at you will test your setup very quickly.

Buy the most truck you can afford and want to drive. You won't be mad at yourself for having something too big.
afidel
Explorer II
May 07, 2018
APT wrote:
GM: Get the 5.3L 8-spd with either 3.42 or 3.73 axle.

Ford: Get the 3.5L Ecoboost with 3.55 Axle

Both should have ample payload. While I agree that towing with a 3/4 ton would be "better", 7000-7500 pounds loaded with 1700 pounds of payload and plenty of power matches well to both those trucks. Ram 1500 has payload deficiencies.

While it was true in the past that the RAM had significantly lower payload, for 2018 the difference between the top RAM and top Silverado is only 95 pounds, if that little difference matters you probably should have bought a 2500/250 to begin with. The F150 goes to 2300 pounds even without the fleet only HD package (and you can get the bigger 36 gallon tank, the one thing I wish my Sierra had as it would mean basically never having to fill up while connected as it's rare I go more than 400 miles in a day).