ScottG wrote:
It's not what they can pull that limits them. it's what they can haul. 1/2T trucks run out of payload before towing capacity. Hight tongue weight rules them out in many heavy towing situations.
Yep - this is always the issue on 1/2 ton trucks. EVERYTHING that adds weight to the truck comes off your payload. You, your family, your dog, your gear, the hitch - it all comes off that number. So, a family of four that weighs 500 pounds total, plus a WD hitch (say 75 pounds) and some very basic travel items (cooler with beverages, a few tools, etc...) and your 1,780 in payload is now down below 1,200. Add any more gear in the bed and it gets even lower. The remaining weight needs to be able to cover 15% of your LOADED trailer weight (your tongue weight might be lower than that, but you won't know until you have it, so it's probably bot a risk work taking).
So, it all depends on how many will be travelling and what you need, but I'd want to stay below 8,000, loaded, with that rig.
Ours is 8,000 loaded. I would tow it with a properly equipped 1/2 ton if it were just me and DW. For our family of 5, however, I wouldn't try it!
