New at this

You are going to get a lot of mixed answers to your questions. Some people like 4x4 but is it needed, no. I think the average tow rating on the newer trucks are around 10,000 lbs give or take a little. But the chevy and dodge fans will say no to ford. Personnaly, its what you like in a truck and what your willing to pay. Make sure you get the tow package. Some trucks (although they look like a truck) are mama grocery getters. Smaller moter, lower tow rating smaller gears, so on and so on. Im sure others will confirm and add to what i mentioned. There are some super smart yoda style individuals on here who know all the numbers and will do the difficult math to be able to tell you the mpg you will get by changing one pound of air in your tires.
good luck.

Where did you get the GVWR & Hitch weight figures ?
Do you already own the trailer ?
Are you wanting to buy a new or used tow vehicle ?

With 1/2 ton trucks or SUV's the correct towing weight limits will be governed by the truck's payload rating. Every truck will have a sticker inside the driver's side door jamb that lists, "maximum cargo and passengers shall not exceed ____ lbs.". The weight of all occupants, cargo, a weight distributing hitch (if used), and the tongue weight of the trailer should total below that number.

Typical tongue weights for travel trailers will be in a range of 10->15% of the weight of the trailer. 13% is a good ball-park figure to use for estimating. Hence, the tongue weight of a 7532 lb trailer would be estimated at 979 lbs.

an f150 will do a fine job. Get a quality weight distribution hitch, make certain that the trailer brakes equal or exceed that trailers weight.
Watch your GCWR # as a tthumbnail rating, Its easy to overload a 150 with passengers and cargo. Protect your cargo (family) and us. Make sure you can stop it as well as pull it.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
an f150 will do a fine job. Get a quality weight distribution hitch, make certain that the trailer brakes equal or exceed that trailers weight.
Watch your GCWR # as a tthumbnail rating, Its easy to overload a 150 with passengers and cargo. Protect your cargo (family) and us. Make sure you can stop it as well as pull it.

Hmmm seems like your statement that "an F150 will do a fine job" and "it's easy to overload a 150 with passengers and cargo" are in conflict. Never understood why one would buy a truck with a nice bed for carrying all the "extra" stuff like gens, firewood, bikes, etc. and then have to not be able to carry that stuff and drive around with basically and empty bed because of payload limitations.

About the only people who recommend a 1/2T TV are those that have never towed with both or are basically rationalizing their prior choice of buying a 1/2T TV for their current trailer and there are many, many posts on here of folks going from a 1/2T to a 3/4 or 1T and saying the difference is night an day in the overall handling between the two with the heavier duty TV being a MUCH BETTER alternative over their previous 1/2T TV. The opposite is MUCH, MUCH rarer, but does occur. This same trend is generally true in the gas vs. diesel area except there for TT under around 10K a properly optioned and set up gasser can be a very viable alternative to the diesel route.

IMO a 1/2T can be a good alternative, but there are a lot of variables and limitations that must be accepted that are just not there with the 3/4 and 1T options.

If one were to generalize things IMHO a 1/2T only makes sense for Hybrids, PUs, and full profile TT in the under 27' and 7000 GVWR range and even then I would question those if used a lot for the longer road trips of say 3 to 4 days travel each multiple times during the year.

Larry

I will totally agree with LarryJM.

I went from a 09 ram 1500 hemi to an 06 mega cab 2500 5.9 diesel and feel so much safer in the larger vehicle. I still white knuckle from time to time and on large bridges like the bay bridge in annapolis maryland, but there is a greater peace of mind knowing im not pushing my limit.
plus its always better to have it (POWER/TOWING/TORQUE) and not need it than need it and regret you didnt get it the first time. JMHO

go with a 3/4 ton....better to have too much vehicle, than push the limits.....and who knows, you may want to upgrade the TT someday. I'd go with 4WD, but then again, I live in the northeast

Get the half ton and then come on here asking about Timbrens, Overloads, LT tires, and other modifications to make the tow vehicle acceptable. Or, purchase a heavier duty pickup the first time. Rent or borrow the various classifications to appreciate the difference.

What size engine will the F-150 have ?..(the 5.4 is great)

Make sure you get the tow package and make sure it has the transmission cooler, and yeah if you can, get a 4X4 F-150.

I would install airbags and get the Equal-i-zer WD Hitch... Also, install a brake controller and make sure the camper has good brakes!

''You don't need a semi to pull a travel trailer''

I have a 2002 F-150 with the 5.4 engine, transmission cooler, Firestone Airbags and 10-ply tires... I bought the truck new in 2002 and it only has 68789 miles... It has been a great truck and still looks new!

I haul a truck camper and pull a pontoon boat when we go on a camping/fishing trip... I also have a 31' travel trailer and the truck pulls it great!, even on these steep mountains in Eastern, KY.

Yeah, a 1/2T will pull anything. Makes you wonder why they even make semis. Space shuttles weigh much more than any 5'er. Enough sarcasm. The F150 would probably pull it, but it won't necessarily like it. A 3/4 will handle it with ease. It will give you a nicer ride, better handling and room to handle that next TT that is just a little longer and little heavier. Just like some of the other posts, all you have to do to make the 1/2 tow somewhat equal to a 3/4 is add a few thousand dollars worth of accessories to backyard engineer a TV.