New to the camping world and I purchased a 2010 34' Flagstaff that weighs around 7000#. I am needing to purchase a new truck. I will be pulling it maybe 6-10 times a year pretty close to home (200 miles) mostly but once a year a two week journey on longer trips (1k-2k miles). I have had various opinions of trucks to buy from a 250/2500 with diesel to 250/2500 gas but others say 150/1500 is sufficient as they now have towing capacity around 10k as long as you get sway bar, load balancing hitch, etc. Couldn't I get a 150/1500 and if i didn't like the ride to add another spring in the rear? I am looking at gas mileage in the larger truck to be around 12 mpg with normal driving just tooling around home for 90% of the time and with a smaller one, I can get around 20 or more. Thank you for your time and assistance.

You will get a lot of "good honest" advice here. Listen carefully, it is all about weights. Do not assume or go with someone saying "you will get by with"We have learned a lot from people here. I will just guess here because I do not know your numbers but I think the 150/1500 might be pushing your luck.Listen to the ones here that have towed a lot of RV's with a lot of vehicles.

What "smaller one" can you get around 20mpg or more driving around town??

Our Passport 2910BH weighs in loaded at 6900 lbs. We camp locally about the same as you and also do one long trip a year. I used to have a Ram 1500 with 2500 lb. helper springs and rear sway bar added. They made the truck handle better, but it struggled when it got into the mountains even with the 5.9 engine and 3.92 gears. When I weighed it I was almost 2000 lbs. over the GCWR even when under the max tow weight. I would have kept the Ram if we only made short trips but, since we travel long distances We moved up to an F350 Diesel SRW to fit our needs. If I were you I would be looking at a 3/4 ton for your application. It's the right tool for the job and you won't be maxing out the capabilities of your truck, and have an acceptable safety margin. The make and model are up to your personal preference as they all make nice trucks. Gas vs. Diesel is something that should be considered with where you will be primarily traveling, ie. mountains vs. plains. At the end of the day, you want to have "the right tool for the job", not the tool that's just "good enough to do the job". Good Luck with your search.

Where the half-tons fall short with a 7000 lb. trailer is the available payload. After you add the tongue weight, the WDH, and fill it with gas, you won't have any capacity left for passengers and gear in the truck. FWIW, my old technology 5.4 V8 in a 4x4 F-250 is getting me 13 mpg in town and 15 mpg, unloaded, on the interstate. 10 mpg with 5000 lb. on the ball. Newer 3/4 ton should be better. Fuel consumption difference between the 1/2 ton and the 3/4 ton at an assumed 20K miles per year is around 300 gals./yr.. I guess you'll have to decide if the extra $1K/yr. is worth the shift to a bigger truck.

On paper a properly-equipped 1/2-ton may get the job done, but it will struggle to do so. And a big problem with 1/2-tons is the payload capacity or lack thereof. A crew cab 1/2-ton loaded with kids and gear runs out of payload real quick.You'll be much happier with a 3/4-ton Diesel.

buying new truck, assistance needed | Good Sam Community

Racine96
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
I pull a 27 ft Rockwood which is similar to Flaggstaff, with my 1500 Chevy with Towing Package, 9,600 max trailer, it is about 7000 loaded. It does well but personally would not try to pull anything larger.
USSCV66
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
RetiredSFC 97 wrote:
The question has been answered and a truck bought it appears, but I will still put my 2 cents in.

I bought a 97 Dodge Ram 1500 in 98 before I ever owned a camper. It was going to be used just as a driver and occasional hauler of minor things.

I bought a camper 4 years later. While it will pull my small 19N Mallard, if I would have known I was going to be a TT owner, I would have went with a 2500, and the 360 engine versus the 318 (5.2 liter) 1500. Now in my opinion I'm stuck with the smaller TT unless I buy a newer/larger truck to pull it around with.

I used to always have 3/4 ton trucks and my dad used to say I was overkilling things, and I told him then you never know if you may need one.

Well dad rest your soul, you were wrong on that one. LOL

Thus the reason we bought the camper first, then the truck. didn't want to be limited on what we wanted to buy, but then again, i didn't want to buy too much either. I get around 12 kickin' around town, 14 maybe 15 on the road, but only about 8-9 pulling the 6800# TT
RetiredSFC_97
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
The question has been answered and a truck bought it appears, but I will still put my 2 cents in.

I bought a 97 Dodge Ram 1500 in 98 before I ever owned a camper. It was going to be used just as a driver and occasional hauler of minor things.

I bought a camper 4 years later. While it will pull my small 19N Mallard, if I would have known I was going to be a TT owner, I would have went with a 2500, and the 360 engine versus the 318 (5.2 liter) 1500. Now in my opinion I'm stuck with the smaller TT unless I buy a newer/larger truck to pull it around with.

I used to always have 3/4 ton trucks and my dad used to say I was overkilling things, and I told him then you never know if you may need one.

Well dad rest your soul, you were wrong on that one. LOL
USSCV66
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
Crawfordville wrote:
If you don't mind me asking - how many miles does your new to you 2010 GMC 2500 have on it? We've been looking at used 2500s and it seems that very many of them have incredible high mileage - over 100k for a couple of years old.

We were searching for trucks with 60K or less, but got this one with 38K I think is what it had. It was only one in several hundred miles with what we wanted on it.
wrenchbender
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
Go with a 3/4 ton or better oil burner.You can thank me in 2 yrs.
ashnic
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
We purchased a 2012 2500HD Sierra 6.0/ 3.73 combo this past August to pull our 6800# Starcraft TT. Love it. Pulls and drives excellent. Alot happier over the older 1500. Enjoy!
Crawfordville
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
If you don't mind me asking - how many miles does your new to you 2010 GMC 2500 have on it? We've been looking at used 2500s and it seems that very many of them have incredible high mileage - over 100k for a couple of years old.
JordanH
Explorer II
Dec 03, 2013
Congrats on the new truck, I've been towing my tt with a 09 Ram 1500 and I'm looking forward to getting a 350/3500 series truck. My father and grandfather both have GM 2500's one gas, one diesel and both are awesome trucks.
TomG2
Explorer
Dec 03, 2013
Happy Trails! Having towed with three half tons and three different three quarter ton pickups in the last few years, I can assure you that you made the best choice. It may cost a little more in gasoline, but the smiles will be priceless.
USSCV66
Explorer
Dec 02, 2013
just wanted to follow up. I purchased a 2010 GMC 2500. even though it rides a little rougher than my older Tahoe, it is because of the extra sturdiness of the truck. I am VERY happy to have purchased a 3/4 ton vs the 1/2 ton. I also got the Reese sway control bar and load balancing. If i would have gotten a smaller truck, it may have pulled it, but i don't think it would have been as easy as this one pulls it. I only got the GMC is because it was the only one that found used close around with all the stuff i wanted. if it is going to be for long trips, the bride wanted something nice (leather, heated seats, dual climate control).