Increasing Max Tow

You can improve the capability, if you know the weak links and how to upgrade, but you cannot change the rating. Only a manufacurer can change the ratings.

Where to start on upgrades, depends on the truck. Sometimes weak point is tire and wheels, sometimes cooling ssystem, sometimes suspension parts, sometimes powere steering gear, somstimes axle capacities, sometimes limits on transmissions.

People get focused on power, which is the least likely problem, since most modern pickups, SUVs, even minivans, have more power than trucks 10-20 years ago that pulled 2 to 5 times what our light vehicles are rated to tow today.

As above, one can use airbags and such to help a vehicle tow better, but the printed rating on the door sticker is what the lawyers will be pointing to if there is a wreck or a rollover.

As for MPG, my F-150 gets ~15 MPG. A friend's Chevy 2500 HD gets ~15 MPG. Another friend's F-350 gets ~15 MPG.

If I were in the market for a TV that would double as a daily driver, it would be a one-ton shortbed extended cab 4x4 model. It won't pull as much as a DRW, but it can squeeze in most places, although you have to pick your battles. Reverse and front sensors as well as cameras are a big help.

The first rule of trucks is "you can't have too much Truck".

For what its worth, the Foremost Ins. Group says accident investigations show that “… driving or towing an overloaded rig is a leading cause of RV accidents. It’s true that even a slight overload or unequal weight distribution can seriously restrict braking and steering. It can also result in sudden blowouts or breakdowns. An overweight RV often creates the danger of early failure in tires, brakes, wheels, the drivetrain and other components” .

The Z model is probably adequate but not very good performer. Since you plan to go west when you retire and change trailers, my opinion is that I would not buy anything less than a one- ton, F350, 3500 etc. Get enough truck in case you want a larger trailer.

As for a balance between capability and MPG, I don't think fuel economy should be a big consideration in the decision. Safe trouble free capability is primary for you and your family. Most trucks get about the same fuel mileage at a given speed and frontal area. Best MPG requires slower speeds.

Ron

Beaneye wrote:
Is there anyway to increase the Max Tow rating of a truck ??? Like increasing the cooling capacity of the Transmission, Airbags under rear suspension plus sway bar etc .......

Thanks

Yes, there are ways to increase the max tow capability of a truck, not the "rating". Ratings are only given by a guarantor, and if you upgrade the truck yourself there is no guarantee on the capability, so no "rating" change.

You also don't specify how much of a change so the answer has to be "yes". Changing out the rear end ring gear and pinion will increase the amount you can pull, however in order to minimize sway, you need to increase payload also. If you have a 1/2 ton truck you are payload limited so the increase might not be as large. Adding air bags, cooling and what not is all well and good, but then you have to consider heavy duty axles, brakes and frame. Chances that would make the decision unfeasible.

Depending on the desired change simply getting a heavy duty truck with the appropriate ratings would probably be more cost effective, especially if bought used.

You might be able to. You can certainly improve your towing experience. Air bags will help stability and make you more level. But they don't increase your axle rating or payload. A transmission cooler is cheap insurance to prevent premature transmission failure, but does nothing to increase towing capacity. You can do some transmission upgrades to improve shift patterns and have it run cooler, but it won't allow you to tow more. You can replace the rear differential which *might* increase capacity, but you may have to upgrade a laundry list of other things to truly increase the capacity.

Bottom line is that increasing the actually towing capacity is both expensive and time consuming. And in the long run, a bigger TV is probably not cheaper, but a whole lot easier!

"Tow Rating" is such an ambiguous term the real answer to your question is "That depends". For instance I have an F-250 with a 3.73, if I change the rear end to a 4.10 I can increase the "Tow Rating". Also, if I had the 5.4 V8 I could put in a 6.8 V10 and change the "tow rating". But that doesn't increse the payload, GAWR, GVWR or GCVWR. So what exactly do you mean by tow rating?

Comparing one 5th wheel to your TT is like eating someone's potato salad, not liking it and saying I don't like all potato salads. Not trying to persuade you into a 5th wheel but sounds like you need to look around a bit before you really decide on a tow vehicle. Assuming $60,000 is something special in a 5th wheel is not helping either. You can find all kinds of layouts with all kinds of price tags. As an example our Fox Mountain 235RL is the exact equivalent of an Artic Fox 25Y, both made buy Northwood Mfg. Only difference is our 5'er is 2'-2" shorter (235RL 27'10" vs AF 25Y 30'0"). OAL of both the 5'er and truck is shorter also. Minus another 3'6" for the placement of the king pin in the truck and now the OAL is 5'8" less than the TT and truck setup would be. Plus the 5'er has twice the outside storage the TT has by design. I would be looking at all scenarios to get a feel for what you really need or want. I would be hitting the RV lots and shows to get a better feel for what's out there.

I like the floor plans just fine in tts and they tow just fine to me. You can see my sig to see which way i went.

Not overly impressed with 5th wheels ... I was in Colorado about two weeks ago, spent three days in my sister-in-laws $60k 5th and I think I like my bumper pull just as well. We have almost as much room .. just as much storage .. sleep just as many people .. The main thing that a 5th has going for it is a bigger bathroom and taller ceilings. I've been told they pull better going down the interstate, but I've seen several campsites that you can not get a 5th wheel into. The last site I was in with my camper I could barely fit into ... So for me over all I think I'll stick with a bumper pull. As long as it has a deep long slide out.

sure, spend $500 at J.C. Whitney and make your F-150 into a F-550. I mean, what could go wrong?
bumpy