What kind of towing vehicle should I get for a 26ft bnkhs

Any properly equipped truck or full size SUV with about 2000 lbs. of payload should handle it just fine.

Don't buy "just enough" to tow. Buy "more than enough" and enjoy the drive thru the canyons and mountains. A diesel 2500 or 3500 (since you can't get a gasser big block any more) will have you looking forward to driving instead of dreading it.

yillb wrote:
Maxed out means nothing, that's why it has a " max " tow rating, and a MAX weight rating, and a MAX axle rating. When you reach that number, it just means the components are not designed to have more than that much weight. I've noticed on this forum you get a lot of " 1/2 ton won't tow anything ", I would take much of it with a grain of salt.

Provide us with the dry weight, tongue weight, and then provide us with the year , make, and model of your truck. If you can, check the yellow sticker in the door, provide us with the GVWR and the RAWR , it honestly shouldn't matter if you're within one pound of the max weight rating, NOTHING happens when you reach that max weight rating, the world won't end, and you won't die. The truck will drive perfectly fine, it's literally designed to haul that much weight. Being at the low end of that scale, versus being at the high end of the scale comes with the exact same consequences if something goes wrong. you do not have a higher probability of having a bad ride because you're maxxed out, contrary to what it seems everyong, and I do mean everyone, here seems to think / say.

(GASP) Heresy!! Where's the tar and the feathers? LOL :D

I'd go with a Duece and a half....

Actually, maxed out has a lot of meaning IMHO. I would rather have too much truck than a truck that is on the edge of the max limits when going up and down some of the grades here, or when the wind is blowing, or when I need to stop quickly. The OP asked about opinions and I agree with the idea of a 250/2500 or larger. I tow a 27 foot BH with an F350 and have done so all over the US and western Canada. I am able to haul the kids toys in the back of the truck and not worry about exceeding any weight limits. I traveled with a friend towing a 25 foot with a 1500 Dodge. After a trip through Nevada, he came home and traded for a 2500 Suburban. He did not like the trailer pushing his 1500 around. Can a truck pull the weight? Sure. Will the driver enjoy it? Depends on the trip. If the TV will be used three weekends a summer and only going to tow a hundred miles in Nebraska, that may be worth the lesser truck. I can assure you, a F350 is a pain in NYC, DC, and Chicago to drive and park. Just my $.02.

Here is my experience. I work with almost all guys in their early 30's. 3 of us purchased bunkhouse travel trailers with 1/2 ton trucks. The smallest bunkhouse was a 27 foot and the other 2 were 31 feet. The lightest was an empty weight of 6600 and the heaviest was 7800.

One of us had an Ecoboost F-150 max tow, another with a 5.4L f-150, and I had a Tundra.

The 5.4L owner upgraded after about 3 or 4 trips. I made it through the fall and purchased a 3/4 ton in the spring. The ecoboost owner(27 ft trailer) held out through 1 full year of camping and just had a scare with winds while towing and upgraded this week.

All 3 of us upgraded to 3/4 ton trucks within 1.5 years of towing. This was not a case of keeping up with the Jones' either. We all live all over the country now and all came to the same conclusion. We're all military pilots and every single one of us would give you the same advice. The stress of towing at the limit and being uncomfortable isn't worth saving a little bit of money and compromising safety. Get a 3/4 ton and make towing great again!

This is the conversation I just had yesterday with my friend who traded his ecoboost in on a F-250 this week.



While I'm sure he wouldn't have had any transmission issues or anything like that, he still ended up in the same conclusion as the other 2 of us. Towing a close to 30' trailer that weighs 7k lbs with a 1/2 ton just isn't enjoyable. It can be quite stressful.

I certainly agree that it would be better to get a 3/4 or 1 ton pick-up truck as you wouldn't have many problems if you move up to a bigger or heavier trailer.

But, my Tundra and 26'9" Winnebago (less than 6,500 lbs. loaded) works very well as a rig. I've been in the mountains and covered a lot of miles. I would agree that the Tundras advertised 10K towing capacity is misleading to to the payload capaacity. But, I do travel with a couple of folding bikes in the bed along with other gear. However, it's just the DW and me in the truck.

1/2 ton trucks can be good tow vehicles, but you are limited to smaller, lighter trailers and stay under 75-80% of the maximum towing capacity.

I tow my 26 foot bunkhouse with a 1/2 ton because I bought the truck long before I bought the trailer. If I could do it all over again and knew the RV lifestyle was in my future, I would have purchased a 3/4 ton right off the bat. Yes, my 1/2 ton gets the job done even in the mountains of Montana, but it's not always an effortless endeavor.

I'll be upgrading to a 1 ton Duramax diesel just as soon as finances allow because my next rig will be a 5th wheel in the 12K pound range.

Do yourself a favor and buy a 3/4 ton right off the bat. You will appreciate it.

6000 pounds dry is reasonable for the more capable half half tons with a good WDH that has been adjusted well. I towed my TT at 6500-7000 pounds with a prior half ton. Adjustment of the WDH was key as it was anywhere from scary at 55mph or stable at 75mph.

Besides tow ratings, consider as equipped payloads when shopping for a half ton to tow an RV. Also, invest in a WDH with integrated sway control (~$500 vs. ~$300) and learn how to adjust it.

Or, nearly every 3/4 ton in the last decade will tow 6k TT with ease.

remember the good-ol days when folks put 4,000+ lb truck campers on 1965 3/4 ton SRW trucks, look what we have been brain washed to think is a deadly desaster, I am 51yrs old, been a farmer,machanic,tractor puller for all of my adult life, I have seen some things that even I think is a very bad idea, but pulling a 6-8k lb tag trailer with a 1/2 ton and a proper hitch is not even on my radar as a danger, come on guys.....have we became a society where we need to be told ( don't stick your hand under your lawn mower )



A good WD hitch, sway control, and good brakes on the TV as well as the TT.