More important in TV - Weight or Wheelbase

I know the truck brand is different from what you're asking, but it's pertinent to the discussion of wheelbase. Our 1/2 ton 5.7 HEMI has the longer wheelbase (2500 frame) and I can tell you that it makes a difference. Even when big rigs blow by, truck is solid. Our TT is around 5,000 empty; truck is rated at 7,000 lbs and 1,800 payload (comes in handy when there's all six of us in the cab, plus stuff in the bed and stuff in the TT). My vote goes for longer wheelbase. You'd be better off.

I like the longer wheel base to. It’s a leverage thing I guess.
I don’t know but I’m guessing you think the 3/4 ton ride will be too rough. When not towing I run mine with 45 psi in the rear tires. It rides very surprisingly soft. Your dealer would probably be glad to deflate them for you for a test drive.
If you go with a half ton watch out for the P rated tires. They’re not nearly stout enough for what you want to do.
Hope you enjoy the new ride!

I had the opportunity to do a quasi-scientific test, and the results surprised me. I own two trucks, as you can see in my sig:
2008 Suburban 2500 - curb weight 6500 lbs
2009 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 - curb weight 5500 lbs

The Suburban has the weight advantage, but the Denali has a 14" longer wheelbase.
Towed the same trailer, back-to-back, the same day. Just a little 12' enclosed trailer, weighing about 4000 lbs.

The difference was HUGE. The Denali pulled it so much better - less bouncing and porpoising, just a much smoother tow. I was surprised how big of a difference it was.

Go with the longer wheelbase truck.

bjkb1f wrote:
TT is a Sunset Trail SS262BH. In the truck it's my wife - 125 lbs, small kids - 40 and 30 lbs and two 85 lb dogs. Putting another 100 lbs of gear/snacks in the TV would be a stretch.

I'd say we have a total of 650-700 lbs in the TV including me.

Dry weight for the TT is listed at 5423 and TW is 568. Given we don't take long duration trips, we don't pack a ton. 1200 lbs would likely be the most we ever pack.

568 TW + 60 lb battery + 50 lbs propane = 680, plus a portion of anything in the TT. So, call it 800 TW and 7,000 lbs total weight. Maybe load it a bit more front heavy to get 12-15% tongue weight.

We'd be really close on the Yukon, so I think the F150 is the way to go. The dogs are the reason I was looking at SUVs, but they've done fine in the backseat of a truck. They're old - they'll just lay on the floor and sleep.

A little confusion on what you were talking about...most refer to the length of the box...in this case the manufacture added some confusion by adding the a-frame to the length.

Most would consider this a 26' trailer and 5500lb empty is a lot more realistic.

With a gross vehicle weight rating of 7500lb and a 15% hitch weight, expect the real life pin weight to be just shy of 1000lb. Add in 100lb for the hitch plus anything else in the truck including people.

If you have one of the high payload 1/2 tons, it probably will be within limits but if you get a marginal payload 1/2 ton, you likely will be over the limits.

The weight ratio between the trailer and truck is one thing to think about I suppose. Larger brakes, larger axles, full floating axles, heavier transmission, potentially a diesel engine...also things that make a difference.

Bedlam wrote:
The ratio you are figuring makes sense, but you need to apply the tongue or pin weight to the tow vehicle and take it off the trailer to get a more accurate idea of the true ratio. Both the truck and trailer weights should be weights with gear, water and occupants.

Ok did some quick math assuming both trailers are loaded to thier GVWR

150 with 8k TT
empty 5450
8k trailer tongue weight 1000lbs = truck now at 6450
Add 600 for occupants and gear = truck now weighs 7050 (which is my trucks GVWR)
Trailer is now at 7000lbs
Ratio 7050/7000 = 101%

so 150 weighs 1% more than the TT

Ok now

350 Dually with 15k 5ver
empty 8560
15k trailer Pin weight 3000lbs = truck now at 11560
Add 600 for occupants and gear = truck now weighs 12160
Trailer is now at 12000lbs
Ratio 12160/12000 = 101%

so 350 dually weighs 1% more than the Fiver


Pretty interesting isn't it

The ratio you are figuring makes sense, but you need to apply the tongue or pin weight to the tow vehicle and take it off the trailer to get a more accurate idea of the true ratio. Both the truck and trailer weights should be weights with gear, water and occupants.

Bedlam wrote:
Getting back to the wheelbase question:

I used to tow a tent trailer with a little Mazda 4-cylinder pickup or Ford 6-cylinder Bronco II. The Mazda's longer wheelbase did make towing that trailer easier than the more powerful Ford.

At some point wheelbase seems to matter less. I had a short bed extended cab F250 that towed an 11,500 lb trailer and 8,000 lb trailer on a 28" receiver extension without issue. I never felt that the trailers were trying to push my truck around even though it was one of the shortest wheelbases offered in the F250.

I know that a heavier tow vehicle has less trailer affected movement. My F250 was loaded to 19,500 lbs GCW with either setup, so you can see I was not pulling those trailers around with an empty truck. That goes back to why a similarly sized F250 to a F150 may pull the same trailer better - The mass of the truck is less likely to get pushed around. Sorry, I'm digressing again...

I have also contemplated weigh ratios in the past also and came up with this.
Lets say I have a 5450lb 150 towing a 8k TT. The truck weight to trailer ratio is 68% So the truck is 68% of the TT's weight.
Now lets say you have a 8560lb 350 dually pulling a 15k fiver.
That truck to trailer ratio is 57% so that 350 dually weighs 57% of what that 15k fiver weighs. So in reality the 150 should get pushed around less than that 350 dually does pulling that 15k fiver around.

Hey I agree on getting the right tow vehicle that is why I stated he should go for the HDPP 150 for less $$$ than the 250. Ever since the new body style superduty they don't deal on them like previous years. The 150 HDPP will give him upwards around 2400lbs of payload with a crew cab 157" wheelbase which is more than any crew cab diesel 250 would be. The 250 wheelbase on the 6.75 beds is 160" so in those regards it pretty dang close. Also he can get 18mpgs in the city and 20s on the highway which the 250 gasser would never come close too. I have the same truck with max tow not the HDPP as it wasn't needed in my case towing about the same trailer as he will be and it is as solid as my ol 1 ton dually with a 14k fiver on the back of it was. Most on here just think half ton and rule them out but there are soooo many configurations of them you just have to get the correct one.

I ended up buying a 150 with max tow pkg. Bought a new 2018 in October and got about 10K off, maybe a little more. I looked for the F150 WDPP but could not find one short of ordering it. When you order a new HDPP I think the final price will be close to a F250. That was my dilemma. I was trying to avoid the F250 if I could.

Anyway, I think we made the right choice. Now have 6000 plus miles on the F150. Over 2000 of it towing to the Keys, sometimes in some pretty stiff wind. Tows and handles great. Went across the 7 mile bridge in Marathon with a 30 MPH crosswind. Obviously we slowed down for that bridge but was pleasantly surprised how well it did. We do have Michelin Defender tires on it. Don't know what it will do in the mountains but I think it will be fine.

I agree with others my decision may not be for you, a F250 will give you growing room and has some advantages ( disadvantages too ) , but we are within specs and don't plan on going to a bigger TT. ( famous last words lol )

Getting back to the wheelbase question:

I used to tow a tent trailer with a little Mazda 4-cylinder pickup or Ford 6-cylinder Bronco II. The Mazda's longer wheelbase did make towing that trailer easier than the more powerful Ford.

At some point wheelbase seems to matter less. I had a short bed extended cab F250 that towed an 11,500 lb trailer and 8,000 lb trailer on a 28" receiver extension without issue. I never felt that the trailers were trying to push my truck around even though it was one of the shortest wheelbases offered in the F250.

I know that a heavier tow vehicle has less trailer affected movement. My F250 was loaded to 19,500 lbs GCW with either setup, so you can see I was not pulling those trailers around with an empty truck. That goes back to why a similarly sized F250 to a F150 may pull the same trailer better - The mass of the truck is less likely to get pushed around. Sorry, I'm digressing again...