tundra then a bettER choice?

If the OP is "looking toward the future",then by all means get the 3500.

Let me say that my 2003 Tundra does a great job towing my TT. But yes, I know its limitations, and an upgrade is in the works. Someone wants a 5th wheel.....

Deleted

jus2shy wrote:

thehippie wrote:

jus2shy wrote:
OP, just to clarify what everyone is saying here, is that there are several classes of "Full-size" trucks.... *Snipped for brevity's sake*

Thanks for your Reply. How come diesel has lesser payloads? I thought they'd be more stronger.

Hi OP, as was previously mentioned by member katoom400, a diesel engine weighs significantly more than a gas motor. So for 3/4 ton pickups, their absolute weight limit is typically 10,000 lbs (for insuring and law purposes). One of the great reasons why the 3/4 ton class of truck exists is because many states have laws/legislation/insurance requirements that greatly increase the cost of owning a vehicle rated with a GVWR higher than 10,000 lbs. These increases can be in the forms of insurance requirements, or registration. Fortunately my state is not one of them. A gas truck may weigh 7,200 lbs. While a diesel may weigh 8,000 lbs. So with that absolute top limit of 10,000 lbs GVWR, you lose 800 lbs worth of payload with the diesel engine. Your gas truck will have a payload rating of 2,800 lbs while the diesel will only have 2,000 lbs of payload. This is just an example, as different manufacturers have different weights for their truck configuration, but I hope this illustrates the point.

1-ton trucks can have a higher GVWR since they don't have the law/insurance limitations of 10,000 GVWR. But, in some states, you may be required to insure these vehicles differently or register them differently because of certain laws/legislation. This can greatly increase the cost of ownership for a vehicle, so it's a good idea to research your state of residence to see if they have any sort of requirement that revolves around this. So without the 10,000 lbs GVWR limitation, the manufacturers just beef up the frame and suspension as needed when they use a diesel and maintain the greater payload rating.

I highly recommend talking to your insurance agent or doing an online quote to see how much insurance would cost between different classes of vehicles (3/4 and 1 ton). I would also recommend calling your DMV or checking your DMV's website to see if you have different registration requirements for vehicles over 10,000lbs GVWR. Lastly, I'll apologize on behalf of the other members as I'm sure they had good intentions before the thread got de-railed, but I hope you find all the information you need.

And to everyone else... Pretty sad to pull the trolling card as the OP probably didn't quite understand much about the different classes of pickup trucks. Kinda sad to see a thread de-volve into the state it's in versus discussing the merits and differences of the vehicle classes to help educate the OP / potential purchaser in the differences between the truck classes. Whatever happened to sharing wisdom versus vitriol?

thanks so much for the help. learned alot here!

I am quite open to understanding your argument but the same does not appear to be reciprocal for many of the members who tow with heavier truck.

I think if you carefully read or re-read what I said re your first remarks on this thread I was concentrating on your mention that many or at least some of us are commenting on the Tundra without ever sitting in one. Had you omitted that sentence, since you can't possibly know who has or has not sat in a Tundra, I would not have commented on your post. That was my issue (not an argument).

Towing from Canada to Florida and return is substantial. I never said you don't understand what your Tundra can do or not do. And nobody is maintaining that a Class 8 semi tractor can't tow it better but that is outside the parameters of the OP's question limiting the discussion to two specific trucks as comparison.

thehippie wrote:

jus2shy wrote:
OP, just to clarify what everyone is saying here, is that there are several classes of "Full-size" trucks.... *Snipped for brevity's sake*

Thanks for your Reply. How come diesel has lesser payloads? I thought they'd be more stronger.

Hi OP, as was previously mentioned by member katoom400, a diesel engine weighs significantly more than a gas motor. So for 3/4 ton pickups, their absolute weight limit is typically 10,000 lbs (for insuring and law purposes). One of the great reasons why the 3/4 ton class of truck exists is because many states have laws/legislation/insurance requirements that greatly increase the cost of owning a vehicle rated with a GVWR higher than 10,000 lbs. These increases can be in the forms of insurance requirements, or registration. Fortunately my state is not one of them. A gas truck may weigh 7,200 lbs. While a diesel may weigh 8,000 lbs. So with that absolute top limit of 10,000 lbs GVWR, you lose 800 lbs worth of payload with the diesel engine. Your gas truck will have a payload rating of 2,800 lbs while the diesel will only have 2,000 lbs of payload. This is just an example, as different manufacturers have different weights for their truck configuration, but I hope this illustrates the point.

1-ton trucks can have a higher GVWR since they don't have the law/insurance limitations of 10,000 GVWR. But, in some states, you may be required to insure these vehicles differently or register them differently because of certain laws/legislation. This can greatly increase the cost of ownership for a vehicle, so it's a good idea to research your state of residence to see if they have any sort of requirement that revolves around this. So without the 10,000 lbs GVWR limitation, the manufacturers just beef up the frame and suspension as needed when they use a diesel and maintain the greater payload rating.

I highly recommend talking to your insurance agent or doing an online quote to see how much insurance would cost between different classes of vehicles (3/4 and 1 ton). I would also recommend calling your DMV or checking your DMV's website to see if you have different registration requirements for vehicles over 10,000lbs GVWR. Lastly, I'll apologize on behalf of the other members as I'm sure they had good intentions before the thread got de-railed, but I hope you find all the information you need.

And to everyone else... Pretty sad to pull the trolling card as the OP probably didn't quite understand much about the different classes of pickup trucks. Kinda sad to see a thread de-volve into the state it's in versus discussing the merits and differences of the vehicle classes to help educate the OP / potential purchaser in the differences between the truck classes. Whatever happened to sharing wisdom versus vitriol?

Santa Fe wrote:
This was an absolutely exhausting thread.

Quite the trolling thread too. Its absurd to compare a Tundra to a Ram 3500. That's like comparing a moped to a dressed out Harley. You either want/need one or the other... there is little overlap between the two.

Answered on the first reply.

Santa Fe wrote:
This was an absolutely exhausting thread.

I'm plum wore out........Got tired when OP wanted to compare a 3500 to a 1/2 ton.....I'm out...too much tension.....I can get that at work.

This was an absolutely exhausting thread.

jmtandem wrote:

Thus the same reason I stated what I did....How often is the OP going to tow? How heavy is the TT he is going to tow? What kind of terrain will they do most of their towing in? A lot of variables...

And again, it was "the OP" that was asking about comparison between a 1/2 ton and a 3500 SRW truck...no one else...just the OP...I even interjected that a 2500, ie "best of both worlds" might work for him. BUT, "IF" he thinks later down the road, he may go with a heavier TT or go 5er....the 3500 SRW truck might be in his best interest to purchase to save money "down the road"....

NC Hauler,

I understood perfectly exactly what you said originally. I have no issue with anything you wrote. You clearly know your way around a
one ton Ram and it's capabilities. So do I.

If Mr. CalBar has never towed with any of the big three diesel pickups then it seems a little disingenuous of him to state that many don't know much about the Tundra's towing capabilities for towing when it is only a half ton truck, and recently Toyota reduced the tow ratings on several of their Tundra models. What kind of message does that send to potential folks that are looking for a capable tow vehicle?

At the same time Ram upped the tow ratings. I don't see how anybody can think that a Ram that can tow upwards of 30,000 pounds, almost three times what the Tundra can, does not make for a better tow vehicle. When Mr. CalBar sits in a Ram 3500 diesel with his trailer in tow, up multiple miles long grades, he will be amazed at what the Tundra really can't do. Like flatten hills and mountains, like tow at under 2000 rpm's effortlessly.

First of all I never said that the Ram 3500 didn't have higher tow ratings, exactly the opposite. I stated that they are 2 totally different vehicles that can't be compared. That does not mean that the Tundra or any 1/2 ton cannot tow within their ratings. My point was that depending on what trailer the OP had or was getting that he should not listen to all of the negative attitudes about the Tundra or any other 1/2 ton as there are advantages to towing/owning a 1/2 ton depending on your needs. As someone else posted when is enough, enough in a tow vehicle. A class 8 tractor will tow better than your 3500 so why don't you have one of those? Obviously the 3500 meets your needs and your comfort level just like the Tundra or other 1/2 ton trucks meet my needs and many others who tow trailers. My 3 or 4 trips each year, including an annual trip from Ontario to Florida for 1800 miles or so, mountains and all, is significant enough for me to know that the Tundra tows very well for my needs and as a daily driver which is what I use my truck for.

I am quite open to understanding your argument but the same does not appear to be reciprocal for many of the members who tow with heavier truck.