Need help picking out a used truck to tow

GRRV2015 wrote:
We are considering buying our first travel trailer, and I could use some help figuring out the tow vehicle needs.

We are looking at a Keystone Sprinter (278BHS). The overall length is 31'8", weighing 7000 pounds, and 785 at the hitch. The fresh water tank is 81 gallons. As far as gear, we will have 2 adults and 2 kids, with occasionally 2 kids' friends to join. Not sure what all that adds up to, but I'm guessing 1200 to 1500 to be safe. So I suppose we are looking at about 8500 total, maybe a bit less.

We do not have a tow vehicle, and would like to find an used pickup that will work well. If possible, I'd like to keep the budget around $8,000 to $12,000, but since I am new to pulling an RV, I don't want to skimp here, or wind up with something that will be pushing it or worse, be unsafe.

So the main question is for any suggestions on what we should be looking at (F150/1500 or bigger?), 2x4 versus 4x4, maximum reasonable milage for a used truck, etc. I am also wondering whether a shorter truck (standard cab, short bed) would be easier to manuver than a longer truck (new to towing and want to keep it easy to handle). Also, does a hitch sway bar or other hitch equipment make sense for us?

Thanks in advance!

Not to be sour grapes but for your first TT that is biting off a lot more than you can chew..

81 gallons of fresh water will add about 650 lbs to the mix.. empty trailer weights are notoriously low to start with so that 7,000 lbs empty is most likely 7,500-7,800 and the tongue is most likely north of 825-850 to start with..

2 adults and 4 children, you will be packing pretty darn heavy also..

I am thinking you are way out of 1/2 ton range.. Pretty hard to find a new 1/2 ton with payload above 1,700 lbs on a dealer lot let along finding a used one for 8K-12K..

Have you ever camped before?

Perhaps before jumping into camping by dumping so much money into it up front you might wish to consider renting for a camping trip..

If you don't listen to anything I post at least do your homework..

Your homework below..

Totally ignore those vehicle towing ratings, Thats right forget about those crazy ratings.. You need to concentrate on the available cargo or payload of the tow vehicle..

On newer vehicles there is a tire loading info sticker which tells you in no uncertain terms the absolute max cargo weight your vehicle can carry..

Older vehicles you may need to weight the vehicle and subtract the empty weight from the GVWR to get the cargo.. Some vehicles will have the empty weight and the GVWR posted on the door post.

Payload is an important number since you, passengers, fuel, anything you put into the back of the vehicle and YES the tongue weight is all considered payload of the tow vehicle.

So as an example say you have typical 1/2 ton truck with crew cab long bed 4x4.. It has a payload of 1,700 lbs.. Manufacturer states 8,200 towing capacity.

You have 2 adults for 300 lbs.

4 younger children for 300 lbs.

Put four bicycles, assorted kids toys, small gen, some lawn chairs for say 150 lbs..

30 gallons of fuel about 230 lbs..

That is 980 lbs of weight.. This leaves you 720 lbs for the trailer tongue..

But wait.. you will need weight distribution hitch.. figure 100 lbs for that you now have 620 lbs left for the tongue..

Now the tongue weight should weigh 10%-15% (ideally you want the upper range of 13%-15% on the tongue for best towing) of the trailer weight so we will now work backwards to find the max trailer weight you can haul..

To figure that out you take to leftover payload and DIVIDE that by .1 for 10% or .15 for 15%

at 10% that would be 6200 lbs LOADED NOT DRY.

at 15% that would be 4133 lbs LOADED NOT DRY..

As you can see, there is no way the example vehicle can tow a 8,200 trailer since you will run out of available payload..

I looked up a 2015 year model. The weights you listed are dry weights. They typically include the weight of only those items that are standard equipment. Options (AC, etc.) weight is not included. Dry means no liquids on board. If you simply fill the fresh water tank that will add over 600 lbs alone. I know you don't have to but you do want some.

The GVWR is a better number to use for determining a tow vehicle. The GVWR of that trailer is almost 9900 lbs.

I have towed trailers in that weight range with a Chevy 2500HD 6.0 and I would not want to attempt to tow that with any half-ton. You will almost certainly exceed the payload rating of any 1500 series truck when fully loaded.

If those are dry weights then you'll be in 3/4 ton territory once loaded up, mostly because of the tongue weight and low payloads of most 1/2t trucks. Keep it empty and travel with the family in another vehicle you might get away with a 1/2t but it won't be fun. Why limit yourself. Get the 3/4 and take what/whom you want with you.

In any case a WD hitch will be a must. Something with built in sway (Equil-i-zer or Reese dual cam etc) would suit best.

Lots of good feedback, thanks. I should have mentioned that the truck will probably not ferry the people, just me, the RV, and gear. Second car for everyone else.

GRRV2015 wrote:
What would you consider low miles? Just curious, but why long bed and extra cab?

Less than 100K miles, long bed because I haul stuff, extra cab/quad cab because you will have passengers.

I think you will want a crew cab, which will give good wheel base, with just a standard bed. If you use the truck in the winter, with snow, a 4x4 would be nice.

It would be best to get a 3/4 ton, for that size trailer. It would allow for hauling more gear, fire wood, etc. in the bed as well.

Miles don't mean as much, as it is more how the previous owner cared for the truck. You will want a strong V8 for towing power. A GM 6.0,8.1, or Ford V10, maybe a Ram 5.7.

Good luck in your search,
Jerry

What would you consider low miles? Just curious, but why long bed and extra cab?

Here are a few averages that you can use to estimate your payload requirements.

Average tongue weight is about 12.5 percent of what the loaded trailer weighs.

Average trailer load (dishes, pots and pans, camp chairs, BBQ, bedding, groceries and water, etc) is about 1000 lbs.

Payload is the truck's capacity to carry weight, it is used up by the weight of everything and everybody, you put in or on the truck. That includes aftermarket accessories like bed caps and tonneau covers, people, cargo, pets, weight distributing hitch, and trailer tongue weight.

Weight distributing hitch is required, and, due to trailer length, sway control would be strongly recommended.

If the numbers you have listed, are unloaded weights, your could be looking at 8000 lbs loaded with a little over 1000 lbs tongue weight. The WD hitch would add another 100 lbs.

You would need a truck with enough available payload to support 1100 lbs of trailer weight, plus the weight of your family, plus the weight of any guests and cargo in the truck.

Normally, 2 X 4 will have more payload because it weighs less than the same truck with 4 X 4.

With 30+ feet of trailer, you do not want something with a short wheel base.

With 4 - 6 people, plus cargo, plus 1100+ lbs trailer weight, you're in the neighborhood of heavy duty 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton trucks. Heavy duty 1/2 ton is extremely hard to find. If you find one on a used car lot, it will be well used.

Your search will go faster, if you just start looking at 3/4 ton crew cab trucks, or 3500/350 series vans (watch the payload on the vans).

Welcome to the forum. If we have anything here, it is answers and opinions. You will have to chose what is right or wrong, and works for you.

I would shop for a low mileage cream puff 3/4 ton, long bed, 4x4, extra cab, gas or diesel pickup.

I would buy a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch to tow with.

Enjoy the shopping and bargaining.