DutchmenSport wrote:
evanvalk wrote:
Thanks, Bulldawg, that's what I was hoping to Hear, Ed, Happy RVing.
When I read new forum threads here, I have come to the conclusion that the original poster has already made up his/her mind and is simply seeking affirmation of their decision. Here is one such example.
Right or wrong, the original poster will have to live with his choice, no matter how much warning, advise, or suggestions anyone presents here.
That being said (and hope I have not turned the original poster "off" to bad yet), coming from personal experience, I would not tow anything with a 1500 / 150 vehicle. Now granted, each tow vehicle and trailer combination are different and that's the reason anyone asks questions here, but I once owned a 1500 Suburban (Chevy) and it towed the pop-up flawless. Then when we got our first travel trailer (Dutchmen Sport), it was only 5,000 pounds. But a mere 6 months after purchasing the trailer, the transmission was destroyed in the Suburban. Engine was still great! Body was great! Tires were great! I had the transmission replaced with a rebuilt one, and it simply never drove the same again.
We sold it for our first 3500 dualy (gas) model and learned from our miss-fortune.
Now, on the other hand, automobiles and trucks have come a long way since the middle 1990's. We just took a week trip to Florida with our current trailer and back to Indiana. En route we saw some mighty strange tow vehicle-trailer / 5th wheel combinations that made, both my wife and me, shake our heads in unbelief. 1500 and 150 single rear wheel vehicles towing some behemoth trailers. I suppose those folks never read anything on RV.net. Yet, they were buzzing down the "highway of life".
We did experience seeing many trailers with a lot of fishtailing going on with some of these rig combinations. But still, the owners were buzzing down the road at 70 and 75 mph. Made us shutter in our boots watching some of this.
Another thing that amazed us was how many were NOT using any kind of weight distribution set-up.
But you know what? Those trucks were on the road pulling those trailers. So I suppose, they must be making trucks and transmissions a whole lot better these days than my 1995 Suburban!
To the Original Poster: If you feel comfortable towing a trailer with that length and with a vehicle the size you are considering, all I can say is "try it!" I hope it works well for you. BUT ... please do keep an open mind, (if) the truck begins to experience mechanical issues, do get a heavier truck the next time.
I don't disagree with you, a heavy duty truck will always be better at pulling the same trailer then a light duty truck, but it isn't necessary. It is a luxury that some can and some can't afford.
I have a problem with people who grossly exceed any limits, on any vehicle... light, medium, or heavy duty. We all see it everyday, and those people are just ticking time-bombs.
If you had a second tranny go bad on that suburban, I would have completely agreed with you, however trannys go bad everyday for many reasons. Mine went out on my 3/4 ton and I was towing nowhere near the limits of that truck (payload, tongue weight, or towing capacity)
What I have found with most newer half-tons, they are always running in too high a gear when towing. I use 1st to 4th gear in my six speed. The transmission temperature stays low and steady, the fuel consumption is not bad, and there is always enough power ready for the changes in terrain / traffic. Once I let that truck use 5th or 6th, all that goes out the window. Fuel consumption is horrible, power is lacking, and the transmission temperature skyrockets.....
I purchase winter tires for my vehicles, but a lot of others around me claim all season tires are good enough. I don't disagree with them, but I know winter tires are better, so I splurge on that luxury. I would love to have a one-ton, but it just won't happen on my budget, therefore I have to carefully load my truck /trailer to stay safe.