Help with new tow vehicle

Careful with the information on this forum.

Alot of people full time and put tens of thousands of miles on each year on their tow vehicles. And can afford to drive the big trucks daily.

I've just purchased a 2014 F150 Screw EB 4x4 W/HD payload package. My trailer weighs 6400# ready to camp. My old truck (see below), had no issues whatsoever towing it. I've put ~20,000kms towing on it, through the mountains, and it had NO issues whatsoever. However, the maintenance is getting old. Basically for what I've paid recently (brakes/tires/oil cooler lines/front end) I would've had payments covered for a year. Hence the new EB.

My truck typically sits the majority of time in the winter, but does get used occasionally for work, but I do shuttle the kids around quite often to sports/etc, during the week. The dismal mpg/ride of a 3/4 ton has also gotten old.

If you truly only plan to tow 5% of the time with the truck, you'll be hating the poor mpg of a 3/4t or 1t.

Is a 3/4t or 1t a better tool for towing, YES.

But there are lots of 1/2t that can tow your trailer properly and safely.

Oh, and another thing to consider, daily driving a 3/4t of 1t truck, is you'll never fit in parkades (height).

Yes.. I know I'll get flamed for these comments, but you need to weigh the pros/cons of each truck, and decide which pros/cons are a priority FOR YOU.

Thanks for all of your replies! I had a feeling I would get the replies that I did. It's just hard to justify buying a more expensive vehicle for towing only a handfull of times during the year.

What used diesel trucks would you reccomend?

Thanks!

Iraqvet05 wrote:
I towed the TT in my signaure (5k dry) with a Silverado 1500 5.3 last season (3.42 gear with a 4 speed) and hated it. I can't imagine pulling 6800 plus lbs with a 150 or 1500 even if it looked OK on paper.

Your truck had a very bad for towing 3.42 axle ratio along with the 4L60 tranny with a very low on power 5.3 engine so your comparing apples vs oranges to the new gen 1500 trucks.
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The problem with the 1/2 ton chey is those small 3800-4000 RAWR numbers for carrying payloads from a 10800 GVWR trailer that may weigh closer to 8000k-8500k lbs road ready. IMO the chevy will be over axle/P tire load ratings.

Now the F150HD is another ball game with a 8200 GVWR 4800 RAWR and load E tires and wheels with up to 3000 lb payload..... if you can find one

There are other used 1500 trucks out here for towing a heavy TT.
The '00-'06 GM 1500HD has a 8600 GVWR with 6084 RAWR 6.0 engine 4L80 tranny with E tires and wheels and payloads up to 3000 lbs.
The '00s 1500 Dodge Mega cab at 8510 GVWR with 6000 RAWR sits on a full 3/4 ton chassis with E tires and wheels

And of course the 3/4 ton with a diesel or a big gas engine would be a better choice for a TT that size.
Good luck

I towed the TT in my signaure (5k dry) with a Silverado 1500 5.3 last season (3.42 gear with a 4 speed) and hated it. I can't imagine pulling 6800 plus lbs with a 150 or 1500 even if it looked OK on paper.

I have knowingly towed close to my limits twice over the years. If you setup properly you'll be safe, but you'll also realize that you have limits on distance and terrain. Since you are in a position to choose your tow vehicle before you discover those limits, I'd suggest going with the 3/4 ton (250/2500) series truck. If you don't you'll be looking at this again in a couple of years.

3/4 ton truck would be better, 1/2 ton will be marginal depending on actual equipment configuration.

lpmitch wrote:
Greetings,

.....snip........
I realize that the F-150 and chevy 1500 are going to be close to maxed out pulling this trailer even with the HD trailer package. I don't want to be under gunned so to speak and I want to keep my family safe of the road. What are your experiences towing a trailer of this size with the new light duty trucks?

You are correct about the half ton models mentioned. Driving any vehicle "Close to maxed out" will not be as much fun as one well within its capabilities. Having said that, as long as you stay under the vehicles ratings and only want to tow a few hundred miles a year, the lighter duty pickup will ride better and get better mileage the rest of the time.

Definitely look at the 3/4 ton trucks to be on the safe side. If you do go with the 1/2 ton, make sure it's geared right (3:73 or 4:10 is the way I would go)

Bumpyroad wrote:

rcmiller32 wrote:
Seeing the GVWR is 10800 I would say the 250/2500 would be the smart choice. You need some extra payload and brakes the 250/2500 would give you.

that 10800 is 4,000 over the dry weight. that is a reason that one should not blindly use the GVWR as what is required to tow. see what the unit actually weighs loaded for a required capacity.
bumpy

Problem is that it appears the OP doesn't have or have ever towed this new to them TT so getting a real weight is not an option. Nothing wrong in using the GVWR but realizing that you will probably have "excess" TV (can't be bad anyway) per the manufacturer's specs in this particular case. I can see no disadvantage to having too much TV for the TT, but sure can if you don't have enough TV. Most TT (THs excluded) have CCC in the 1500 to 2500 range and 4000 is IMO an exception to the Rule and not normal.

In any event I would guess this TT is going to come in close to 9K and over 1K TW loaded and ready to go making it too much for most 1/2T's anyway.

My vote would be for a 3/4T at a minimum and once there why not just go all the way with a 1T and be done with it.

About the only time I can see one getting a TV that just squeaks by so to speak is for the weekend warriors that never go more than like 100mi from home. However, that restriction if ignored only once can make for a miserable experience and how can one predict that they will NEVER, NEVER, EVER take any trips longer than say 100mi.

Larry

rcmiller32 wrote:
Seeing the GVWR is 10800 I would say the 250/2500 would be the smart choice. You need some extra payload and brakes the 250/2500 would give you.

that 10800 is 4,000 over the dry weight. that is a reason that one should not blindly use the GVWR as what is required to tow. see what the unit actually weighs loaded for a required capacity.
bumpy