Half-ton vs 3/4 Ton
We have been towing a travel trailer for about 6 years now. Like a lot of Newbies, our first trailer was WAAAYYY too heavy for our TV and for us as newbies. Had white-knuckle experiences for about 6...
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Just to give you some numbers. My trailer has a GVW of 9500lbs and a listed hitch weight of 965lbs. The dry weight is somewhere around 7400lbs. My truck (2500hd) has a cargo capacity (yellow sticker) of 2853lbs. So with a 15% hitch weight (rather than the posted weight) that's around 1500lbs. 2853-1500 = 1353lbs. Four people in the truck, another 850lbs still leaves me just over 500lbs for "stuff".
I have never come close to this because we never have had that many people in the truck but we will this spring as we are going to a wedding in Ohio. I have no issue as I know the trailer will be somewhat lighter, for instance it will have no water on board and it is just too new to have much stuff in it yet! So I feel very comfortable with this truck. The total length of the TT is 35'10'' (hitch to bumper) so obviously a WDH and sway control is very helpful.
I originally towed it home with a 1500, it pulled it fine but the ride was bouncy and it just did not feel all that safe but I didn't have time to upgrade yet! I used to drive fire trucks for a living they go fast! Driving a 80,000lb ladder truck at 65 mph, you want it to stop when you hit the brakes! Everything these days can get up and go, it's the stopping power that is far more important to me. The 250/2500 series have better braking power something that seems to be overlooked by many when they are just concerned with how much they can pull.
Stay safe everybody!
I have never come close to this because we never have had that many people in the truck but we will this spring as we are going to a wedding in Ohio. I have no issue as I know the trailer will be somewhat lighter, for instance it will have no water on board and it is just too new to have much stuff in it yet! So I feel very comfortable with this truck. The total length of the TT is 35'10'' (hitch to bumper) so obviously a WDH and sway control is very helpful.
I originally towed it home with a 1500, it pulled it fine but the ride was bouncy and it just did not feel all that safe but I didn't have time to upgrade yet! I used to drive fire trucks for a living they go fast! Driving a 80,000lb ladder truck at 65 mph, you want it to stop when you hit the brakes! Everything these days can get up and go, it's the stopping power that is far more important to me. The 250/2500 series have better braking power something that seems to be overlooked by many when they are just concerned with how much they can pull.
Stay safe everybody!
