Pulling with 1/2 ton

TurnThePage wrote:
In reference specifically to half ton towing, why do people say, "use the max trailer weight?"

Some trailers have 3000 lbs of cargo capacity (Who's going to use all that?!). Some have under a 1000.

Even with excessive amounts of tools, backup parts, winter supplies, summer supplies, extra battery, solar panels, various added accessories, food, 50 gallons of water, grill, camp stove, camp table, camp chairs, cast iron pots and pans, and assorted other sundries, I can't seem to get over about 1500 lbs of stuff in my trailer.

I don't think you will find a trailer that can be towed by a 1/2 ton with 3K carrying capacity. 1500 seems more the norm (and I've been looking at this lately).

In reference specifically to half ton towing, why do people say, "use the max trailer weight?"

Some trailers have 3000 lbs of cargo capacity (Who's going to use all that?!). Some have under a 1000.

Even with excessive amounts of tools, backup parts, winter supplies, summer supplies, extra battery, solar panels, various added accessories, food, 50 gallons of water, grill, camp stove, camp table, camp chairs, cast iron pots and pans, and assorted other sundries, I can't seem to get over about 1500 lbs of stuff in my trailer.

For what it is worth here are my thought!

Getting others feedback on their experiences never hurts. Then again ignore the ones that simply say 3:42 gears are not enough, I wont pull anything with out a diesel and lastly the guy that can pull anything with his Honda!

Like others have commented - use the max trailer weight not the dry weight.

I run a 1/2 ton Chevy Silverado, 3:42 gears, 5.3L, and all of the towing options pulling a Jayco 23BHM that has a max weight of 6250lbs.
I try not to exceed 75% of the vehicle tow capacity.

Why 3:42 gears - there are in the middle, not stump pullers and not mileage gears! I can pull the mountains - I might not be able to blast up them at 65MPH but I can get up them!

I have towed at max capacity and for me it was not a comfortable experience.

Find a capacity calculator on-line. Run your own numbers and make up your own choices.

I found a calculator that calculated all of the capacities based on your particular circumstances. It told me that how many lbs I was under or over the manufactures weight limits.

Happy Camping 7 Safe travels!

tls5150 wrote:
Thank you all for the responses!! My 1/2 ton is rated to pull 9,400. Was considering the new 1/2 Silverado with max tow package rated at 11,300. It is just DW and I nothing unusual as far as packing except two bicycles just struggling on what to do

As you can see the answers are all over the radar. For the most part everyone likes what they tow with. I've towed with 3/4 tons, 1 tons, 1/2 tons.....all the same 7000 pound trailer. All of them towed fine. Actually the 1/2 ton was '99 Suburban 4x4 with 5.7 and a tow package and it towed the best overall compared to the other rigs. Likely cause it had the best power. It was real stable, though not as stable as the 1 ton. That 1 ton thing towed like a train with a car on rails. And as mentioned, wind is the big enemy to 1/2 ton rigs. And I don't mean a cross wind, I don't think there should ever be an issue with cross wind if your lash up, suspension and tires are correct. I mean a head wind. I tow with a diesel and a head wind means nothing to me. Doesn't slow the truck a bit or make the engine louder. It just uses more fuel. With the gas engine'd rigs I had, head winds were maddening

Desert Captain wrote:
So what is "odd"? :h

We both had rigs that towed well at or near our payload limits. What was your alleged towing capacity? I'm guessing Ford told you it was 9K# or more but we both know better.

:C

What is odd is that you say 6500lb "is all it could handle" which, to me, implies that anything more and the rig becomes unwieldy or unable to pull efficiently yet I'm pulling 1000lb more than that and find it all very manageable. Not saying you are wrong or anything just observing that our separate experiences are so disparate.

I can't even remember what the tow rating is but I know it was way more than I'd ever want or need.

martinto wrote:

tls5150 wrote:
Thank you all for the responses!! My 1/2 ton is rated to pull 9,400. Was considering the new 1/2 Silverado with max tow package rated at 11,300. It is just DW and I nothing unusual as far as packing except two bicycles just struggling on what to do

GMC Sierra 1/2 ton 6.2L with Max Tow Pkg. 28 ft. TT loaded for a cross country trip out west...weighed in 7000 Lbs +/-. No problem pulling or braking. If truck is maintained to near spec level and you know it’s limitations, the set up and pulling of a properly loaded rig will allow you to travel safely.

It’s just me and my wife, and two small dogs. BTW...looked for my truck for over 6 months...found a 2016 Texas Edition Sierra in Charlotte NC, 90 miles north of our house. Crazy thing, we retired to S.C. from Houston, TX,, and end up with a Texas Edition Sierra located in NC. I guess it was meant to be!

tls5150 wrote:
Thank you all for the responses!! My 1/2 ton is rated to pull 9,400. Was considering the new 1/2 Silverado with max tow package rated at 11,300. It is just DW and I nothing unusual as far as packing except two bicycles just struggling on what to do

GMC Sierra 1/2 ton 6.2L with Max Tow Pkg. 28 ft. TT loaded for a cross country trip out west...weighed in 7000 Lbs +/-. No problem pulling or braking. If truck is maintained to near spec level and you know it’s limitations, the set up and pulling of a properly loaded rig will allow you to travel safely.

Sorry everyone I failed to mentioned we had to sell out a few years ago due to moving to Houston and had no storage, since then we moved to Austin and are trying to get back into camping

am1958 wrote:

Desert Captain wrote:
My SCab F-150 was rated for 8,600 max tow but my 5,600# 22' TT was alll that it could handle - it towed well but I was near or even at my max payload almost every trip.

:C

Odd... My SCrew F-150 EcoBoost has towed a 6500lb dry/7500 loaded Bullet Premiere 31BHPR, (31'), with a measured tongue weight of 940 putting me pretty much at the limit of the advertised payload just over 17000 miles in the last 4.5 years without incident. I've taken it through the Blue Ridge Mountains a few times and have no problem on the hills and sometimes, when windy - high wind warning to be accurate, the F-150 sway control kicks in which is a very benign incident where I usually just re-engage cruise and carry on.

So what is "odd"? :h

We both had rigs that towed well at or near our payload limits. What was your alleged towing capacity? I'm guessing Ford told you it was 9K# or more but we both know better.

:C

For best results keep the trailer GVWR within the tow rating.
Forget dry weight.