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 months, then decided we had to just bite the (financial) bullet and make a change.As I recall, our first trailer ended up being about 8500# on the scale and we were towing with half-tons.The second trailer we got was bought with a dry sticker weight of 6,000# and has a wet weight at 7200#-7300#. This trailer tows very well behind our Nissan Armada and our F150. We know that we are right at our limits with weight, so very cautious about extras that we take in the TT or TV.The wife is ready to change trailers and get one that has features we would like to have (must-haves, for her).A King Bed in most TTs means an extra slide (= more weight). Same for a tub rather than shower stall (more weight, not slide).Most of the trailers we look at that have extra seating (sofa and two recliners, two sofas and chairs, etc) also are in heavier trailers.The decision we have reached is, if we want to upgrade our TT, we are going to need to upgrade our TV. As mentioned earlier, our 8500# trailer was a white-knuckle experience and our 7300# trailer is very comfortable (relative to towing a 4-ton wind sail). Question I have is, if I upgrade the TV to 2500 (3/4 Ton) and look to purchase a trailer that will probably be as much as 8500# - 9500#, does the 3/4 ton remove the white-knuckle experience? I guess what I am wondering is, was my uneasiness with the heavy trailer an issue with the trailer in general? or was it because the trailer that heavy was being towed by a half-ton?

A properly equipped 2500 with correctly setup WDH assembly will generally speaking tow much better that a 1500 setup.

If you're buying another tv, and a large trailer is in your future, go right for the one ton, the cost is about the same as the 3/4.1/2 t are setup to ride and handle like a sedan these days, and that's no good for towing. Now that's spilling into the 3/4 t range for some reason. I'm real happy with my new 3/4 t, and it tows my tiny trailer just fine. For me, the increase in capacity means I can worry less about carrying stuff in the bed, passengers, and the weight of the trailer tongue.I towed close to 30,000 miles with my 1/2 t and it was never "white knuckle", but my tiny trailer weights 3500-4000 loaded, with about 500-550 on the tongue. That didn't leave much payload in my 1/2 t, and the rear suspension suffered for it when I also brought along a lot of gear, bottoming out more than a few times.The new 3/4 barely moves when I lower the tongue on the ball, and doesn't mind a bed full of generators, water, gas and firewood.

A 9,000 lb TT is a big trailer. Yes, a larger heavier truck will make it easier, as will an upper end expensive WDH. The larger truck will have noticeably stiffer springs, and much stiffer sidewall tires at 80 psi, which gets rid of a lot of towing squirm.Many consider 7K TT, about the max for 1/2 ton towing.Jerry

If you buy a 3/4 ton and overload it you have the likelihood of having a white knuckle experience. If you buy a 9500 lbs (dry weight) trailer you will have about 1500 lbs of tongue weight (with hitch). If you load the truck with cargo and occupants that total another 1,000 lbs., you will need a truck that has 2500 lbs of payload. Buy a truck that only has 2200 lbs a payload and you may have "white knuckle" issues. Buy a truck that has 2800 lbs of payload and you have a lot less likelihood of having issues. So, read the yellow sticker on the truck before you buy.Before making any purchases, you have to match the RV to the truck. If you don't know how to figure tongue weight, weight of cargo, occupants, etc. do your research. clicky

When you finally "think" you have enough, reality will quickly tell you, you should have gotten more! (Sure is true with ice cream!)(See my signature line).

Half-ton vs 3/4 Ton | Good Sam Community

Big1
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2017
My truck is in signture, my TT is 8,300 dry and about 10,000 loaded and my truck can tow my TT with no sweat, my payload is 2,993 lbs door sticker weight, also my TT is 36'9" in length. I have three slides and a king size bed in the front slide, I tow it with no problem, I can tow 15,650 lbs but I wouldn't want to in a 3/4 ton.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2017
After, I'm not a member of the "get a one ton" crowd. Not after three Tahoes (2001, 2007 & 2015) in a row. But my Winnie is/was easily towed by the last two and within all specs. In this case I simply believe the gent should go with the bigger truck based on weight.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Feb 21, 2017
If you are looking at a new TV anyways, along with more luxury in your next camper, I'd say take a look at a pickup truck with 5th wheel.

Some of them are INCREDIBLE inside, limited only by your budget.
aftermath
Explorer III
Feb 21, 2017
Well, it didn't take long before the "get a one ton" crowd along with "get a HA or PP" folks gave you their idea of success. It is really too hard to answer your question because there are many variables.

Not all 3/4 tons are rated the same as you know. Bigger engines, more HP, more torque and different payload capacities will all influence your decision. I am guessing that there are a number of trucks out there that will match up nicely with your new under 9K trailer.

You say that you travel light. That should increase your options but pay attention to payload numbers. My trailer as a dry weight of 5200 with a GVW of 7300. We travel down the road close to 6500. I have weighed this more than once. They say it has a hitch weight of 720 but mine is very close to 1000 pounds. Two propane tanks, two batteries and a spare tire add up quickly.

My Tundra leaves me little once I put the ball down and the wife and I get in. My experience has been very good with this combo but I am not going to tow anything larger. I also have an Equalizer hitch dialed in nicely and have never had any sway even in winds, rains and even a little snow.

A good 3/4 ton will serve you well.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 21, 2017
Years ago a truck salesman tried to talk me into one ton instead of a 3/4 for my TC. I liked my 3/4 but I should have ordered the one ton.
Cup_fan
Explorer
Feb 21, 2017
To answer your question in a nutshell, yes a 3/4 ton will make your towing experience better. My trailer is similar in weight to yours, a little over 8000 lbs. and 35 ft in length. I was towing it with a 1/2 ton Ram with the Hemi and a 3:92 gear ratio, and a 10,000 lb tow rating. This truck had plenty of power, and for the most part, I was pleased with the way it towed this trailer. The biggest issues was high winds, steep downhill grades, and rough roads. Another issue was once the truck was loaded up with firewood, coolers, etc, I often had difficulty getting the rear "squat" out of the truck once the trailer was hitched. Moving up to a 3/4 ton truck immediately eliminated all of those issues. You've got a heavier truck with a much heavier suspension, larger brakes, and larger 10 ply tires, all of which greatly improves the towing experience. Unless you just want the extra torque and power, along with the extra expense of a diesel, a gasser will do you just fine. I've got the Chevy with the 6.0 and 4:10 gears, and it towes my trailer effortlessly. It has a tow rating of 13,500 lbs for a trailer and 14,500 lbs for a 5th wheel, so plenty of weight capacity left for firewood and all of your gear, or to move up to a bigger, heavier trailer in the future. Good luck!
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 21, 2017
Forget the 2500 exists and go 3500 SRW. Mostly it is the same truck with more payload and towing capacity.
RinconVTR
Explorer
Feb 20, 2017
humblerb wrote:
RinconVTR wrote:
humblerb wrote:

Question I have is, if I upgrade the TV to 2500 (3/4 Ton) and look to purchase a trailer that will probably be as much as 8500# - 9500#, does the 3/4 ton remove the white-knuckle experience?

Heck, even with a 3/4 ton, towing a TT that large and heavy...you will feel the difference immediately.

This is the type response I have been looking for.
You're saying that the tow experience in my 1/2 ton with 7200# (very comfortable) would not be duplicated in a 3/4 ton with 9000#?
The heavier trailer feels different, regardless of the TV.
Do you have experience with both?
Does a "3/4 ton pulling 8500#" experience fall between the "Half Ton pulling 7300#" and the "Half Ton pulling 8500#" experience?
Sure seems like it would, but no experience on my end.
Lots of 3/4 tons pulling these heavier trailers.
Just curious if the 3/4 ton makes the tow experience much better?
Or are those drivers more comfortable towing than I am and I am destined to a half ton, light trailer experience?

My comments may have been taken out of context.

There is no definitive answer to say a 7200lb or 9000lb trailer pulled with either 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton will feel better or worse on the interstate. There are too many variables.

Larger trucks handle more tongue weight but that does not equal stability by default when pulling large travel trailers.

My second comment was regarding towing bumper pull travel trailers with a Hensley WDH. Both 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton trucks will feel incredibly more stable towing travel trailers with this hitch. Almost as if you're towing a 5th wheel.
chiefcamper
Explorer
Feb 20, 2017
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!
humblerb
Explorer
Feb 20, 2017
1stgenfarmboy wrote:
A half ton from the mid 90's is not the same truck in 2015, the newer trucks are huge and heavy with giant wheels and tires, for instance....my 1993 Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 weighs 6,300 with me in it and full of fuel, I would be willing to say ( don't know for sure ) a new 1/2 tone is as heavy if not more, so in this case they would be the same with exception of payload, but as far as the white knuckle stuff it would make no difference.

what year is the 1/2 tons your are using ? do you have them set up with sway bars and WDH, a 6,500-7,000 lb wet TT would tow fine with a modern half ton with all the goodies, what you are talking about is the seat of your paints feeling, not ( OH I am 250lbs over my advertised max payload ).

if you tow in the mountains, tow at 70mph, take 1,500lb of stuff in the bed of the truck, then you need a 1 ton DRW truck.

If you tow 50 miles to the local CG a few times a year and home a newer 2012+ 1/2 ton will be fine with a sub 7,500lb TT.

I tow very A heavy goosneck a few times a year 19k+ with a 93 Dodge 1 ton DRW 4x4, you don't want to take your eyes off the road as you have a feeling it will take a while to stop, to me this never goes away even when towing my 6,500 lb TT, just an observation for me.

My F150 is a 2012 and my Armada is a 2010.
As I stated, I can tow my 7300# perfectly fine with either of these vehicles.
Obviously, I have WD Hitch and Sway control at 7300#.
Where I am headed is, I felt like the 8500# trailer was way more than I was comfortable hauling (and because of the excellent assistance I received from my salesman (NOT), I was way overloaded in my half ton).
I know I can't move to that weight trailer with what I currently own.
I am not opposed to upgrading to be able to handle the larger trailer.
What I'm not comfortable with is spending upwards of $100k, only to find that the heavier trailer gives me the white knuckle experience in the 3/4 ton, as it did with the half ton.

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