Enough Truck

P.S.-Sounds like you are upgrading the camper. Just a note; the general RV rule is your next one is just a little larger than the previous one. What about the next one? Will the 1/2 ton be capable?

I have a trailer, bumper pull, that is in your weight range.

I pull it with a Dodge 2005 model 2500 diesel. It pulls it fine as it has large brakes, we just got home from a trip in the smoky mountains.

The truck pulled the trailer up the mountain highways fine and the main thing, it pulled it down the mountain highways fine.

The tow/haul feature held the load, I felt safe coming down the mountain highways. under complete control

most people always talk about, can I pull that load easy,

but, I am more concerned about stopping the load, if for some reason you have to make an emergency stop.

Just my two cents:
what ever brand of truck you buy, I would suggest you drive a 3/4 ton and hook it to your trailer for a test run. I think you will like having a heavier truck. also the newer trucks have exhaust brakes, that exhaust brake will become your new best friend on mountain roads, so I have been told,

I do not have one on my old dodge.

remember on a 2500 you get heavier wheels, brakes, tires, frame, differential gears, steering rods, etc:

good luck with your new truck purchase.

kw/00 wrote:

NC Hauler wrote:
Do yourself a favor and use TT's GVW when purchasing a truck to tow with...no one tows a TT "dry" or "empty".....It would help a little more when selecting a vehicle to tow it with.

If your present truck tows it fine, go with another 1/2 ton...if that is all you need and you're not planning on "eventually" getting a larger heavier TT or 5er...then, as someone suggested, I'd also recommend you look at a 3/4 ton to "already have one" in case you decide to go heavier later down the road.

X2 on this...well stated

X3 That is a great post NC.

I definitely think you should go 3/4 ton. Your weight is starting to get pretty high, and you may want to get a larger trailer in the future. The 3/4 will handle the load better and longer. Just staying a few miles from home pulling on an occassional weekend?, then the 1/2 ton will probably be ok. Want to go for a long trip?, the 3/4 will be safer and more comfortable. I traded my F250 with the triton for a f250 7.3 towing a similar load to yours. Night and day difference in capability. Sure, the ecoboost or equivalent is probably a fine truck, but I can't help but think a load like this is working them hard. My current 3/4 6.7 Cummins pulls a 35' @ 9500# and LIKES IT. Yes 1/2 ton will up and down mountains for a while, but I found mine had a hard time getting out of its own way. Ever been in a city and maybe find a short entrance ramp?, have to make a quick lane change?, start from a dead stop on a hill? That extra low end torque has gotten me out of a few jams. Just sayin'. IMHO.

NC Hauler wrote:
Do yourself a favor and use TT's GVW when purchasing a truck to tow with...no one tows a TT "dry" or "empty".....It would help a little more when selecting a vehicle to tow it with.

If your present truck tows it fine, go with another 1/2 ton...if that is all you need and you're not planning on "eventually" getting a larger heavier TT or 5er...then, as someone suggested, I'd also recommend you look at a 3/4 ton to "already have one" in case you decide to go heavier later down the road.

X2 on this...well stated

Don't understand why some use "Dry Weight" when trying to pick a truck to tow a TT or 5er with. It's really not much help or "real world"...Do yourself a favor and use TT's GVW when purchasing a truck to tow with...no one tows a TT "dry" or "empty", and believe some would REALLY be surprised if they weighed their unit, when loaded..I know I was...Weight can add up quickly..

If your present truck tows it fine, go with another 1/2 ton...if that is all you need and you're not planning on "eventually" getting a larger heavier TT or 5er...then, as someone suggested, I'd also recommend you look at a 3/4 ton to "already have one" in case you decide to go heavier later down the road.

Move up to a 3/4 ton you won't regret it. You can never have too much truck.

Keep in mind, based upon the typical RVer your next RV will be even bigger/heavier so with a 3/4 or even a 1 ton you will be ready for that next RV purchase.

Just recently upgraded from a 2001 F150 5.4 to a 2013 F250 6.2 gas. We tow at Rockwood 8313SS and the dry weight is around what you are towing. Our F150 did ok but we wanted more cargo wiggle room so we looked at new F150 and F250 and ended up with a new F250 less than what we would pay for a F150 that would tow our trailer.

You can look at the F150 EB with the max tow package but those are harder to find and like I said was more expensive the the F250.

We looked for about 3 months at many different vehichles, Tundra, F150 EB (max tow), F150, F250 and even looked at a F150 that had the 6.2L in it.

Glad we went with the F250, love it towing and never looked backed.

My TT is 6000# dry and I was pulling it with an '07 Silverado 1500 w/tow package. It did fine on flat ground but you definitely knew the TT was back there. I was right at if not over the GCVW of 13,000. I ended up buying a '13 Silverado 2500 diesel a few months back and just completed a trip to the Ozarks which was 1,000 round trip and the Duramax did not even know the TT was attached, even in the hills of Branson!

If you want to stick with a gasser, I think I'd try a GM 1/2 ton HD with the 6.2 and towing package unless you're thinking of changing up to a larger RV in the future. Then, I would go with a diesel. JMHO