Tow Vehicle Choice - New Member

Hi, My name's Mike, and I am planning on getting back into RVing. I was big into it 30+ years ago, when I had just a pickup with the camper on the back. Things have changed ALOT since then.

Im still in the process of deciding what I want in an RV, but it's quickly narrowing down to a travel trailer of the 22-26Ft variety. Im leaning towards new purchase, if I can get a good deal.. primarily because of the newer technologies, lighter weight designs etc..

I've also got to purchase a tow vehicle. The trailers Im contemplating are in the 4000-4500 (maybe a tad higher) dry weight area. Tow vehicles I've been looking at are Dodge RAM and Ford F150. I was actually seriously considering the F150 Ecoboost until I read all the issues with misfire etc... Kinda too much for me to worry about so leaning towards either F150 5.0 V8 or Ram 1500 5.7Hemi

I've been a Dodge RAM owner in the past, so leaning that way. Looking at 2012 or 2013. Having a time arguing with myself over a Max tow capacity equipped vehicle, or lesser. I can find RAMs all day that have the tow package and 3.55 gears with a GCWR of 14,000 and max trailer of 8650 and GVWR of 6800. I figure that a trailer of 4500 lbs dry might be somewhat close, depending on water capacity etc, so I've been leaning towards equipment with 3.92 rear end and a GCWR of 15,500 and max trailer of 10,150.

I understand just about anything is gonna take a pretty serious hit gas mileage wise. But, gas mileage while towing is a consideration. So, if anyone has real world experience with potential gas mileage for the combo Im describing, that would be awesome.

Given all things being relatively even between the different half tons, I guess I have a couple questions.

1) If I focus on half-ton trucks, and trailers in the 4000-4500 dry weight area, is that a good combo in terms of performance/gas mileage?

2) Should I keep my eye on the ball for a truck with the higher GCWR and max trailer as close to 10k as I can get, or is there more than adequate margin with something in the 14000 GCWR, 6800 GVWR and 8650 Max trailer? I understand if I actually reach 6800 GVWR, max trailer would only be 7200. That's kinda leaning me towards finding a vehicle that has the higher capacities, and better gearing, even though I might still be "adequate".

I should say that I will be a weekend RV'er for the next few years and once/twice a year out for perhaps a two week excursion. So, tow vehicle will be daily driver and tow vehicle. I don't want it to suck towing though, so looking for any advice.

Sorry if this was long winded, but I figured I would at least let y'all know that I have done a bit of research, not just tossing out a quick "hi" and a question that appeared to not have any thought behind it. I've read the five pages of posts in this section, but still at the fork in the road.. leaning towards higher cap, but not wanting to spend a bunch more if I don't have to.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts inputs etc.. And I hope to make this my internet home for RVing in the future.

Thanks

Mike

Tow Vehicles

19 Replies

Walaby
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
ib516 wrote:
If mpg is a concern, have you considered the Ram 1500 with the little 3.0L v6 diesel?

Yes, I have contemplated that, but didn't really want to buy a new truck.. more along the lines of 2-3 years old. And since the Tow vehicle will be a combo local driver and tow vehicle, not sure I wanted diesel for daily driving. It's still on the short list though, if I can find a great deal.

Mike
Walaby
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
Wow.. thanks for all the quick replies folks.

donn0128. I understand what you're saying. If I recall, the max GVWR of the trailer(s) I've been contemplating are in the low 7000 lb range. Talking to a friend of mine, who's been in it awhile, his TT is 4500LB dry, and approaches 6000 to 6500 loaded (if'n I recall correctly.. I could be off a bit on that). So, if I figure about 7000 loaded (max), so that puts me real close to max if I have max payload with the tow vehicle.

Im not in a hurry, so trying to do all the research I can to make a smart decision.. or at least the smartest I can. Sounds like I need to finalize the trailer, or at least the max GVWR of the trailers on my short list before I finalize the tow decision.

Thanks for the input everyone.
ib516
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
If mpg is a concern, have you considered the Ram 1500 with the little 3.0L v6 diesel?
handye9
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
Forget about max towing capacity numbers. Most often, you will run out of payload (exceed GVWR), before you reach that trailer weight and GCWR.

Average camping load (dishes, pots and pans, bedding, clothes, camp chairs, BBQ, groceris, water, etc) in 800 to 1000 lbs. If you're looking at 4500 lbs dry weight, the trailer will be close to 5500 lbs, when loaded for camping.

Average tongue weight is 12 - 13 percent of loaded trailer weight. A trailer weighing 5500 lbs, would have tongue weight around 700 lbs. A weight distributing hitch would be another 80 - 100 lbs.

You would need a truck that has sufficient payload to carry you, your expected passengers, any cargo you plan to put in the truck bed, the trailer tongue weight (all combined), and possibly have room for an unexpected passenger or cargo. You don't want to be maxed out on payload.
buddyIam
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
For the size of trailer you have listed. I think as long as you get a good load distribution/sway control hitch any of the full size trucks should do fine.

I also like the size of trailer you have picked. I haven't camped east of the Mississippi. But I have been all over the west side and lower Canada. I have found that you will not have hardly any problem with a trailer under 26'. Some places like Kings Canyon National Park you would likely want to camp above the valley. Once you get above 26' you will start to encounter roads where you are prohibited to travel with a trailer size. Also many of the campgrounds will not hold a vehicle and trailer larger than that. I have a overhead camper and a 8 foot bed, utility trailer. Places like Stoney creek campground, I have to pick and choose and then have to do a lot of maneuvering to park.

A great way to save money and camp by yourself is to camp in disbursed Camping areas. That is generally all national forest/BLM land areas. You will be on unimproved dirt roads. But they are not difficult to travel with that size of trailer and 2 wheel drive. Unless there are fire restrictions you can collect wood and build a fire. You must a permit though. To get a permit all you have to do is visit a ranger station and exhibit a shovel, rake, a bucket and answer a few questions letting you know about the liability of not maintaining a proper fire.

I love disbursed camping. It can mean the difference between 40 dollars a night and free.

You don't say how many will be camping with you. You might want to take a peak at some of the overhead campers.

A small overhead camper now. And latter if you need more space for grand children etc, a small trailer around 20 feet will give the added beds plus a second bathroom.
Merrykalia
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
We had a 5.3 Chevy and purchased a 2012 Ford EB with max tow and HD pkg. We LOVE it and we have read about others having a problem with the misfire. We had a problem, don't know if that was what it was, but took it to the dealer upon returning from a trip when the truck would kinda sputter when we were taking off from a stop. It took them about 3 minutes to reprogram and we have never had another problem with it.

As far as I'm concerned, I had much more problems out of my Chevy than I have had with my Ford and will continue to stick with them. There are so many problems with ALL the makes of vehicles now that I feel if you have a good dealer, you should just stick with them.

I get right at 20 mpg not towing and right at 10 mpg if we are towing and we tow to almost our max capacity. We have also towed a 1500 lb U-Haul trailer and got 10 mpg!! I don't think it matters what it weighs, just that something else is back there. We have plenty of payload and lots of power.

Don't rule out the Ford just because of that one problem, there are lots more of us that have had great success with them.
Tennessee_Nomad
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
The only problem I have with the half tons is the payload capacity. We carry a lot of "stuff" in the bed of the truck and you have to be careful with the half tons going over your limit. You can reach payload capacity fairly quickly with tongue weight and occupants alone. Add a little firewood, a couple of bikes, and a little of this and a little of that and there you go.
JaredWPhillips
Explorer
Nov 10, 2014
Half-ton Chevy owner here, with the 5.3 V8. I think you'll find that with any gas motor, towing any trailer (a wind-grabbing parachute) your average gas mileage will be anywhere from 8-11mpg, depending on terrain and wind.

I towed a large Toy Hauler with my half-ton, almost overloading it. I averaged 11mpg. I sold it and got a small single-axle travel trailer, weighing about 2700 pounds. I still averaged 11mpg. I settled on a mid-size 24' travel trailer weighing around 6000 pounds, and I still averaged 11mpg. (sometimes more or less with each trailer, depending on terrain and wind) That just confirmed to me that the truck didn't really care about weight when it comes to MPG; its all about wind-resistance. Each trailer had roughly the same square-front, even though they were varying lengths and weights I got the same MPG. A few thousand pounds didn't mean anything to the truck except for faster take-off or stopping. Once at cruising highway speed, its all about wind resistance.
donn0128
Explorer II
Nov 10, 2014
You shouls understand that dry weights are meaningless. No one has wver towed a "dry" trailer. Look at the trailers GVWR and pick an appeopriate tow vehicle for that load. Whether a half ton will match up with a particular trailer is difficult to determine until you find a trailer to buy.

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Tow Vehicle Choice - New Member

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