Selecting Tow Vehicle for Travel Trailer
Hello everyone... I have scoured many forums reading about the same question I am asking, but always have different weights and sizes, so I am going to try to get advice that is specific to my situat...
Forum Discussion
There isn't always a right answer because, technically, you are within the towing limits of most 1/2 ton trucks these days. You have to decide for yourself based on your personal situation as to whether the 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton is a better fit.
I do have a few thoughts though:
* If you decide to go with a 3/4 ton, skip it and just get the 1 ton. They only cost a little more and you get more capacity.
* Forget about towing fuel efficiency. You aren't towing enough to take that into account and the difference between comparable diesels or gas trucks isn't much. If it helps, you could expect around 10 mpg towing with a diesel and around 8 mpg with gas. Since diesel costs so much more these days, your towing fuel COST will be pretty similar.
* I had an F150 Ecoboost and now have a 2013 F250 diesel. As you would expect, the F150 got better unloaded fuel economy and was a better daily driver. The F250 tows much better. You have to decide how much you're towing vs not towing and how much you value the extra towing stability from a 3/4 ton.
* My F250 weighs 2,000 pounds more than my F150 Ecoboost did. That's a TON (literally) more weight to keep the trailer in check.
Having said all that, I would strongly lean towards the 3/4 or 1 ton. A 37' long TT is loooong by TT standards, and you *WILL* encounter strong cross winds towing east-west through the U.S.
I do have a few thoughts though:
* If you decide to go with a 3/4 ton, skip it and just get the 1 ton. They only cost a little more and you get more capacity.
* Forget about towing fuel efficiency. You aren't towing enough to take that into account and the difference between comparable diesels or gas trucks isn't much. If it helps, you could expect around 10 mpg towing with a diesel and around 8 mpg with gas. Since diesel costs so much more these days, your towing fuel COST will be pretty similar.
* I had an F150 Ecoboost and now have a 2013 F250 diesel. As you would expect, the F150 got better unloaded fuel economy and was a better daily driver. The F250 tows much better. You have to decide how much you're towing vs not towing and how much you value the extra towing stability from a 3/4 ton.
* My F250 weighs 2,000 pounds more than my F150 Ecoboost did. That's a TON (literally) more weight to keep the trailer in check.
Having said all that, I would strongly lean towards the 3/4 or 1 ton. A 37' long TT is loooong by TT standards, and you *WILL* encounter strong cross winds towing east-west through the U.S.
