Is a Tundra out of the Question
I think we've settled on a TT, Kodiak 263RLSL Unloaded Weight 5,806 Cargo Capacity 1,794 Hitch 697 Length 31' (this much include hitch) Height 10' 7 Width 8' Fresh Water 52 Waste Water 28 Gre...
Forum Discussion
If it is just you and your wife, I think you'll be Okay if you don't load to much in the truck. Don't forget you will be using a Weight Distribution Hitch and it will off load about 20% of the tongue weight back to the travel trailer axles. So all of the tongue weight won't be going against your payload.
If ordering new, I'd get a Ram 2500 with the 6.4L as I've read they do as good on mileage as 1/2 tons or get a F150 5.0L with the Heavy duty payload package (Heavy Half). The F150 Heavy will net you between 2100 and 2200 lbs payload opposed to the 1582 lbs payload I have on my loaded XLT.
With my trailer weighing 6500 lbs "LOADED" (about 1500 lbs more than dry optioned weight), my truck accessories, gear, and family at 800 lbs, we should have about 100 lbs of payload left with a 13% tongue weight.
When I had my other F150 which had 150 lbs less payload, I just didn't fill the tanks as much as it has 84 gallon tanks.
While many like Toyotas, they aren't as solid as the big 3. I had a Titan which had the same problem as the Toyotas with the bed bouncing all over the place from rough roads. When I drove my Nissan Titan down the service road to work, I could see the bed come out at least 4" past the body on that rough road. The F150 was as solid as a single unit with no bed bounce on that road.
Also read from owners on forums that the Tundra tailgate is pretty weak and could fail when transferring heavy loads using the tailgate.
I don't have a F250 6.2L because of the fuel economy, since I commute to work. I get 18.5 mpg mixed driving the backroads to work now. My 5.0L betters even my previous midsize SUVs in mpg.
If you're after top mileage, I'd get a F150 5.0L truck since it has great standard payload. If I was going to have a trailer behind me for 6 months, either the 5.0L HD package or a 3/4 ton truck. The F150 HD has a 8200 lbs GVWR (opposed to the standard 7350 lbs GVWR), 4800 lbs rear axle with limited slip differential, 4050 lbs front axle, and LT tires and 7 lug HD wheels. Other than that it's similar to the standard 5.0L truck. That's why it's called the Heavy Duty "Payload" package as the rest of the truck is the same.
I'm not a fan of the Ecoboost that's why I didn't mention it. The 5.0L tow rating with the 3.73 locking or limiting slip axle is 9300 lbs for standard payload and 9200 lbs for Heavy Duty payload. More than enough for your trailer.
Good luck on your decision
If ordering new, I'd get a Ram 2500 with the 6.4L as I've read they do as good on mileage as 1/2 tons or get a F150 5.0L with the Heavy duty payload package (Heavy Half). The F150 Heavy will net you between 2100 and 2200 lbs payload opposed to the 1582 lbs payload I have on my loaded XLT.
With my trailer weighing 6500 lbs "LOADED" (about 1500 lbs more than dry optioned weight), my truck accessories, gear, and family at 800 lbs, we should have about 100 lbs of payload left with a 13% tongue weight.
When I had my other F150 which had 150 lbs less payload, I just didn't fill the tanks as much as it has 84 gallon tanks.
While many like Toyotas, they aren't as solid as the big 3. I had a Titan which had the same problem as the Toyotas with the bed bouncing all over the place from rough roads. When I drove my Nissan Titan down the service road to work, I could see the bed come out at least 4" past the body on that rough road. The F150 was as solid as a single unit with no bed bounce on that road.
Also read from owners on forums that the Tundra tailgate is pretty weak and could fail when transferring heavy loads using the tailgate.
I don't have a F250 6.2L because of the fuel economy, since I commute to work. I get 18.5 mpg mixed driving the backroads to work now. My 5.0L betters even my previous midsize SUVs in mpg.
If you're after top mileage, I'd get a F150 5.0L truck since it has great standard payload. If I was going to have a trailer behind me for 6 months, either the 5.0L HD package or a 3/4 ton truck. The F150 HD has a 8200 lbs GVWR (opposed to the standard 7350 lbs GVWR), 4800 lbs rear axle with limited slip differential, 4050 lbs front axle, and LT tires and 7 lug HD wheels. Other than that it's similar to the standard 5.0L truck. That's why it's called the Heavy Duty "Payload" package as the rest of the truck is the same.
I'm not a fan of the Ecoboost that's why I didn't mention it. The 5.0L tow rating with the 3.73 locking or limiting slip axle is 9300 lbs for standard payload and 9200 lbs for Heavy Duty payload. More than enough for your trailer.
Good luck on your decision
