What if...

I used to feel the same way about diesels until I got one(a stinky rattly diesel). Now I wouldn't drive anything else, daily or towing.

Thanks everyone for your comments (except the asinine smart-aleck ones...you know who you are!) ;) No really thanks to all who took the time.

I understand that the F150 is really not enough truck for a treller this size. I also realize that there ain't that much difference in size or price when compared to a 3/4 ton. I honestly just like the F150 better than the 3/4 offerings out there. I drive one everyday for work and just think it's great.

So I began my hunt for a gasser 250 or 2500 Ram online today. Not much to choose from (only 2 within 75 miles of my zip that aren't plain-Jane).

The camper is the biggest I'd prolly ever buy and may end up on a seasonal lot in the long run so it may be moot anyway. but IF I were to get it and find a 3/4 truck that suits me, I'd be a happy camper (pardon the pun).

P

djgarcia wrote:
At the minimum, what would I need as a tow vehicle if I bought this trailer:
Heritage Glenn 312QBUD. With a GVWR of 9751#

Not looking to start any wars but I want a decent daily driver so I love the F150 Ecoboost but realize an 3/4 ton truck would be better. But I don't really want a diesel either. I am a Ford guy but am liking the Ram models too.

In order to make the right RV choices, tow vechicle, trailer, 5th wheel, class A,C, I think you need to sit down with your family and have some discussions about what your RV plans might really look like. How often do you plan on RVing? Once a yr., once a month, only weekends, month long trips or longer. How far will your RV trips be from your home base? Where are the places that you really want to visit? What parts of the country do you want to visit? Are there a lot of mountains? deserts?
Once you start to answer all these questions, you will have a clearer and more realistic basis from which to make your choices.
IMHO, don't compromise the choice of your RV just to say a few bucks, buy one that will make RVing comfortable and enjoyable for your family. Buy the biggest truck you can afford. I drive a 1 ton Dodge truck with a 6 spd. manual tranny around town and don't find the truck difficult to drive. The driving comfort level difference between a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 ton driving around town is not a real issue. But when you are towing your trailer, the size of the truck makes a big difference. Personally, I get better milage (12 to 13mpg) towing and 19mpg. solo with a diesel and my 2004 dodge engine is as quiet as a gas engine. :) Just my 2 cents:)

I've agreed with Mr. Garcia on topics before - and I'll have to do so again here. My trailer isn't nearly as big as the one you're contemplating and, towing in the mountains, I was not happy with a ½ ton gasser. I now use my 2500HD CC DuraMax as a daily driver to work and back – even get it into the old parking deck at the hospital. It gets 15.5 MPG doing that, 20-21 MPG highway not towing, and about 13 towing. As previously stated, it’s a much more relaxed towing experience… especially in the mountains of GA, SC, NC and TN. It will be the tow vehicle when we head out west with a fifth wheel next year, too (yeah retirement!). Consider a smaller trailer or a more capable tow vehicle for safety's sake.

Seeing how I have a TT that's virtually the same in weights, I'd have to agree. Tongue weight will be the killer. I have a 2500HD with the 6.0. I have plenty of "truck" but a little lacking under the hood sometimes.
We just spent two weeks camping at Myrtle Beach, I can't say I saw ONE 32 footer with 2 slides parked beside a 1/2 ton.
Just saying.

downtheroad wrote:
So buy that F150 Eco that you want. But, make sure you order it with the HD towing package and especially the HD Payload option.

Also, nice looking trailer, but no recliner(s). They sure are nice.

The F150 HD has a 8200 GVWR with 4800 RAWR with 16" load E tires. The std cab has up to 3120 lb payload and the super cab has 2770 lbs payload. Both truck will handle that particular trailer fine.

The other F150 trucks with 'max tow' package has a small 4050 RAWR with P tires and may not have enough springs/tire and wheel capacity for the load.
Get the Ecoboost with the 8200 GVWR F150 and enjoy the ride.

I've got a very similar trailer and my family of 5 takes some very long trips. That said, for me, my Ram 3500 SRW Diesel with a Propride hitch is the only way to go.

Plenty of payload and a very relaxed towing experience. I wanted to cover all the bases and have plenty of margin.

That's 8500-9000 pounds loaded with a family of 4+ gear and 1100+ pounds of tongue weight. The only "half ton" crew cab I would recommend is the HD paylaod F-150. You run out of receiver limit on that. Every other half ton crew cab has payload limitations for a family and 1100-1200 pounds of trailer tongue weight. The 2014+ GM twins with 6.2L/NHT may be close to be enough payload and plenty of power. Neither of those are likely to be found on any local dealer lot. Pricing will be similar to the 3/4 ton gasser for same equipment, so then it's about still about ride/handling/styling/unloaded fuel economy/availability. At this point you are probably ordering a 2015 F-150 and we don't know much about the details yet.

But any 3/4 ton gasser would be good off a dealer lot. Ram's 2500 with rear coil springs and 6.4L has has stellar reviews all around.

IMO no less than a 3/4 ton diesel. Only reason I say 3/4 ton diesel is because they generally have lower payloads than 3/4 ton gassers but more than most 1/2 ton gassers. If it were me I'd get a 14 Ram 2500 6.4 with 3.73 gears. 3000lbs +/- for payload. That TT will be in the neighborhood of 8500lbs when loaded. I tow 9000lbs with my 12 Ram 2500 CTD. It's well worth the extra $$$ for the diesel option for me as I tow on mostly hilly and mountain roads. If I towed on flat land most of the time or only went out 4-5 times a year then I'd have a gasser. That's a big TT by TT standards and it'll move a 1/2 ton around pretty easy. At almost 36' long that's 8' longer than my 5'er. No way would I want 36' and 8500lbs behind a 1/2 ton truck. Especially if I was new to towing big trailers.

I'm a GM guy so I can't help with the Ford equivalents. Since you live in NC with it's foothills I'd want a 3/4 ton. In the GM the 6.0 gas engine with 6 speed auto and 3.73 gears would fill the bill. My 6.0 has 4.10's and handles 13,500 easily.

I don't know about smaller engine as I was always a big block guy until I got down sized by the government. Since it looks like you'll be traveling with more than just the DW I'd go for the 8' bed and bigger gas tank. Of course tow package, posi-trac, 4x4 and love the extendable/foldaway electric mirrors. From there you can just keep adding whatever you like, (make sure to ask the DW also).

At the minimum, what would I need as a tow vehicle if I bought this trailer:
Heritage Glenn 312QBUD. With a GVWR of 9751#

Not looking to start any wars but I want a decent daily driver so I love the F150 Ecoboost but realize an 3/4 ton truck would be better. But I don't really want a diesel either. I am a Ford guy but am liking the Ram models too.

In order to make the right RV choices, tow vechicle, trailer, 5th wheel, class A,C, I think you need to sit down with your family and have some discussions about what your RV plans might really look like. How often do you plan on RVing? Once a yr., once a month, only weekends, month long trips or longer. How far will your RV trips be from your home base? Where are the places that you really want to visit? What parts of the country do you want to visit? Are there a lot of mountains? deserts?
Once you start to answer all these questions, you will have a clearer and more realistic basis from which to make your choices.
IMHO, don't compromise the choice of your RV just to say a few bucks, buy one that will make RVing comfortable and enjoyable for your family. Buy the biggest truck you can afford. I drive a 1 ton Dodge truck with a 6 spd. manual tranny around town and don't find the truck difficult to drive. The driving comfort level difference between a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 ton driving around town is not a real issue. But when you are towing your trailer, the size of the truck makes a big difference. Personally, I get better milage (12 to 13mpg) towing and 19mpg. solo with a diesel and my 2004 dodge engine is as quiet as a gas engine. :) Just my 2 cents:)