Are You Buying All These Half-ton Claims?

CKNSLS wrote:
You can't tow maximum ratings (generally) without going over payload anyway with a half ton. So these "mega claims" that all manufacturers make are a "moot point" IMHO.

That's not just a 1/2 ton issue, that's pretty well an issue with all 3/4 ton diesels and some 1 tons.

I'll bet there are more 3/4 ton diesels towing 5th trailers resulting in them be over their GVWR than there are 1/2 tons.

spud1957 wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:
You can't tow maximum ratings (generally) without going over payload anyway with a half ton. So these "mega claims" that all manufacturers make are a "moot point" IMHO.

That's not just a 1/2 ton issue, that's pretty well an issue with all 3/4 ton diesels and some 1 tons.

I'll bet there are more 3/4 ton diesels towing 5th trailers resulting in them be over their GVWR than there are 1/2 tons.

Didn't think of that...but your probably right!

goducks10 wrote:
Which truck platform continuously posts about having issues with towing? 1/2 tons. That right there tells me that the mega tow ratings are ridiculous. And those posters aren't towing 11,000lbs, they're towing 6-8500lbs.

Closer to the money. Just back from New Zealand, where I saw several US Pickups. What was like seeing a "UFO" was a 2009 F150 actually towing a load. He was struggling, but towed a trailer with two small wool bales and a small digger

CKNSLS wrote:

spud1957 wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:
You can't tow maximum ratings (generally) without going over payload anyway with a half ton. So these "mega claims" that all manufacturers make are a "moot point" IMHO.

That's not just a 1/2 ton issue, that's pretty well an issue with all 3/4 ton diesels and some 1 tons.

I'll bet there are more 3/4 ton diesels towing 5th trailers resulting in them be over their GVWR than there are 1/2 tons.

Didn't think of that...but your probably right!

I would say for sure that is true, but I would say those 3/4 tons towing over the GVWR are still within axle and tire ratings. Loaded I have as much tire rating on the REAR axle than most 1/2 tons do empty. YES I am over my GVWR!

spoon059 wrote:

goducks10 wrote:
Which truck platform continuously posts about having issues with towing? 1/2 tons. That right there tells me that the mega tow ratings are ridiculous. And those posters aren't towing 11,000lbs, they're towing 6-8500lbs.

Sounds scientific enough to me... Guess all us "grocery getter" owners should rip off the tow hitches so we have enough weight capacity for another 2 bags of groceries...

What "issues" are you talking about?

Not saying everyone has issues, just saying type 'sway' in the search box and the majority of the post will be about 1/2 ton owners, trucks and SUV's. Out of all the post about trailer sway how many are from HD truck owners towing TT's? Hardly any.

Generally one is new and starts out with a half ton truck and is learning about proper towing equipment and how to PROPERLY adjust a WD hitch. ITS ABOUT THE HITCH. Its about the RV dealer not setting up the hitch correctly the first time. To say a half ton truck is the issue is simplistic and quite frankly false.

majorgator wrote:

I'm in the construction business and do A LOT of driving and hauling. The funny thing is (well, maybe not so funny) is that the only group of people that have consigned themselves to hauling heavy loads with smaller (ie half ton) trucks are the RV'ers. Hot shot drivers...NO. Car haulers...NO. Work trucks with cargo trailers...NO. Cattle/Livestock haulers...NO. Farmers...NO. Service trucks...NO. Small equipment haulers...NO. No other group of people consistently use small trucks for their hauling.

An interesting observation as I conclude this rant...nearly all the "1/2 ton defenders" on this thread and throughout the forum have a 1/2 ton truck in their sig line. Notably, of course, the same can be mostly said about the 3/4 and 1 ton truck guys too ;)

Agree 100%

rhagfo wrote:
So now we have a much lighter TV "Capable" of towing 12,200#. I noticed the other day, that my combination 2500 Ram and 32' 11,000# wet 5er, I have more weight on the TV tires than the 5er!!
Far less chance for the tail to wag the dog, when the dog has some stature!

I'm in that camp also and am amazed at all the funny looking Chihuahua dog TVs with those St. Bernard TT tails running around.

Larry

CKNSLS wrote:
Generally one is new and starts out with a half ton truck and is learning about proper towing equipment and how to PROPERLY adjust a WD hitch. ITS ABOUT THE HITCH. Its about the RV dealer not setting up the hitch correctly the first time. To say a half ton truck is the issue is simplistic and quite frankly false.

Exactly. Someone who doesn't know how to drive, doesn't have the right equipment, isn't set up properly and has never towed before is crying because of all of that.

None of that means that the half ton is unsafe or overloaded or on the verge of breaking... it just means that the guy towing doesn't know what he is doing.

Now that he gets into his 3/4 ton truck, still with no experience, he falsely believes that he is safer and he can "relax" more. Its people like this that scare me. They drive faster, drive closer, drive distracted and drive with arrogance... but they still don't know what they are doing. The "solid platform" of a heavier truck masks whatever problems were there before. The trailer still has sway from the incorrectly set up WDH, but the driver doesn't feel it as much because of the heavier dog not getting wagged by the tail.

I can drive. I can tow. I know the limits of my tow vehicle, and I keep my weights below Toyota's stated threshold. My WDH is properly set up, I have sufficient tongue weight. I have E rated tires and my trailer brakes are properly adjusted. I tow safely and watch the car ahead of me and ahead of him. I try to drive in the right lane so I have the shoulder incase of an emergency. I always keep track of vehicles next to me and approaching from behind. I don't talk on the phone, don't eat while driving and try to limit any possible distractions while driving. My bride handles navigation and plans out our stops and next destinations. I have never had a close encounter, because I am aware.

Putting some idiot in a 3/4 or 1 ton with all the problems he had in his half ton doesn't make him safe. Having that same idiot yacking on his phone, not aware of the length of his rig, eating while driving, distracted, unaware of road conditions, etc etc is NOT safer.

Ya-all might have an easier time convincing people they were unsafe if those 1/2-ton trucks were breaking down, flying off the road, and killing the wife and kids by the thousands. But it ain't happening that way. So it seems in real life, those life changing events aren't happening. Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda - but alas Not! I'm in much bigger danger by real life than these "Need a dually to tow a pop-up" parables.