I'm sure you will all feel that this topic is beaten to death, but in spite of a TON of reading, I'm still not sure I understand, so I figured I'd better ask.I'm looking at a 37foot long trailer, a K-Z 329ik, which weighs 8100ish pounds empty. GVWR on it is 9500 pounds. Thus begins the issue...My current truck is a 2016 Silverado 1500, 5.3, and 3.42 gear ratio. My read is that my truck isn't big enough for this camper. I can probably get it home empty, but once stuff starts getting added to it, I'll be over weight very quickly. I've been looking at new rigs, and done the math, and on paper the new Ford F150s, outfitted properly, appear to be able to handle the weights. Again, this is on paper, according to the math. Everyone seems to say, though, that they wouldn't tow a camper this size with a 1/2 ton pickup, no matter what the math shows. So... what is the 3/4 ton going to give me that the properly outfitted 1/2 ton won't? I'd rather have a 1/2 ton, since this is my daily driver, and I think a 3/4 ton will get old quickly on the frost heaved roads of New England. Having said that though, I know that safety is more important than comfort, so if I have to put up with driving a tank, so be it. I just want to better understand the "why" of it.Feel free to use small words, and pretend I'm an idiot.... thanks!

Much bigger brakes, stronger suspension, more powerful engine. And buy a 1 ton not a 3/4 ton. When compared to the price of the truck, the price differential between a 3/4 and 1 ton is small. The two handle the same. And the 1 ton will have a higher resale value and will give you room to expand if you decide to get a 5th wheel in the future.BTW I went from a F150 to the F350 and with the notable exception of the turning radius they handle just about the same.

GET THE PROPER TOOL FOR THE JOB!Yes I was screaming it.There is a huge difference between the two vehicles.1500/150 you get likely P metric tires, lower rater frame,springs,tires,wheels.250/2500 will get you full flotaing axle, bigger brakes, LT truck tires, beafier frame. Basically a much more stable towing platform.There are a select few 140/1500s that are listed to tow your trailer, but. Yes, but, but what happens when you discover this monster trailer does not handle like you think it should and decide to upgrade to something else? Now you not only want more trailer but to handle it you need to spend big bucks on another truck. Buy a truck to handle your next trailer now.Modern 2500s ride and handle nearly as well as 1500s from 5 years ago, so you reasoning is simply not there.

What the others said. With the camper your looking at, your in 3/4 ton truck territory. That 9000lb trailer at 37' in length is like a big sail. In windy conditions you may find the tail wagging the dog. 1/2 ton trucks don't have the curb weight to control a trailer that heavy. I just traded out of a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4, cc, 5.3/3.42 truck.I had 1704 lbs of payload and a 9100 lb tow rating. It towed my 6k lb Layton very well, but that rig is 23' overall, huge difference from what your looking at. I always thought my silverado could handle another 1,000 of loaded trailer weight, but not much more. We are looking at the jayco 26bh, 7 or 7500 GVWR, over 29' long and i felt I'd be right up against my limits and i didn't like that. With my family of 4, all gear in the cab, truck bed, hitch and tongue weights, i figured i had about 3- 400 lbs of payload left, maybe less. You will likely be overweight with no gear in the trailer, or very close. What is your payload limit from the yellow sticker on your drivers door jamb?Your options are: -to disregard the payload limit, which is unwise and could subject you to legal liability if you get into an accident. (Please don't do this) - upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck that can safely handle that weight and length trailer - buy a smaller/ lighter trailer better suited to your Chevy. I'm very happy with my new 2500hd dodge and don't see myself buying another 1/2 ton truck again, so long as i can afford it. Just my .02

Just look at the PAYLOAD capacities of each truck.... You will see that what you can carry in the 150 is much less than the 250.. That is what will limit your trailering capabilities . .

Every so often you will come across a "testimonial" on this forum from someone who just upgraded from a 1/2 ton (i.e. F150) class truck to a 3/4 ton (i.e. F250) class truck, and almost universally, they describe the difference as "night and day." You might want to go look some of them up to get a more subjective feel for the difference, rather than people spouting numbers off to you.In a word you don't know what you're missing until you've experienced it. You may feel that towing with the F150 is just fine, but that's because you don't have anything to compare it to. All the behaviors like the subtle jerking, mushy feel of the suspension, bracing every time a big truck comes along, the "will it or won't it" feel to the brakes, etc., all gone with the heavier truck. You may have never been in any physical danger, but it just FEELS like you've got so much more control over the situation.

Trailer Weight vs Truck Capacity (I know, I know....)

ford_truck_guy
Nomad
Jan 18, 2017
Just look at the PAYLOAD capacities of each truck.... You will see that what you can carry in the 150 is much less than the 250.. That is what will limit your trailering capabilities . .
Camper_G
Explorer
Jan 18, 2017
What the others said.

With the camper your looking at, your in 3/4 ton truck territory.

That 9000lb trailer at 37' in length is like a big sail. In windy conditions you may find the tail wagging the dog.

1/2 ton trucks don't have the curb weight to control a trailer that heavy.

I just traded out of a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 4x4, cc, 5.3/3.42 truck.

I had 1704 lbs of payload and a 9100 lb tow rating.

It towed my 6k lb Layton very well, but that rig is 23' overall, huge difference from what your looking at.

I always thought my silverado could handle another 1,000 of loaded trailer weight, but not much more. We are looking at the jayco 26bh, 7 or 7500 GVWR, over 29' long and i felt I'd be right up against my limits and i didn't like that.

With my family of 4, all gear in the cab, truck bed, hitch and tongue weights, i figured i had about 3- 400 lbs of payload left, maybe less.

You will likely be overweight with no gear in the trailer, or very close.

What is your payload limit from the yellow sticker on your drivers door jamb?

Your options are:

-to disregard the payload limit, which is unwise and could subject you to legal liability if you get into an accident. (Please don't do this)

- upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck that can safely handle that weight and length trailer

- buy a smaller/ lighter trailer better suited to your Chevy.

I'm very happy with my new 2500hd dodge and don't see myself buying another 1/2 ton truck again, so long as i can afford it.

Just my .02
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 18, 2017
GET THE PROPER TOOL FOR THE JOB!
Yes I was screaming it.
There is a huge difference between the two vehicles.
1500/150 you get likely P metric tires, lower rater frame,springs,tires,wheels.
250/2500 will get you full flotaing axle, bigger brakes, LT truck tires, beafier frame. Basically a much more stable towing platform.
There are a select few 140/1500s that are listed to tow your trailer, but. Yes, but, but what happens when you discover this monster trailer does not handle like you think it should and decide to upgrade to something else? Now you not only want more trailer but to handle it you need to spend big bucks on another truck. Buy a truck to handle your next trailer now.
Modern 2500s ride and handle nearly as well as 1500s from 5 years ago, so you reasoning is simply not there.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Jan 18, 2017
Much bigger brakes, stronger suspension, more powerful engine. And buy a 1 ton not a 3/4 ton. When compared to the price of the truck, the price differential between a 3/4 and 1 ton is small. The two handle the same. And the 1 ton will have a higher resale value and will give you room to expand if you decide to get a 5th wheel in the future.

BTW I went from a F150 to the F350 and with the notable exception of the turning radius they handle just about the same.

Forum Discussion

Trailer Weight vs Truck Capacity (I know, I know....)

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

FW capacity

Axle capacities

Upgrading fuel capacity

Toyota Tacoma towing capacity

Cargo capacity