i have asked on here for your opinion on this topic before, but on a specific vehicle. now i'm back in the market for a truck again. i'm reading a lot of mixed reviews on diesel and gas, and a 1/2 ton vs a 3/4 ton. here's my situation: i live in south east Michigan. id love to travel up north and camp, but my current truck wont pull that far. the new (USED) truck will also be my daily commute to work. i work about 20 mins from where i live. i can take the highway for about 3 miles if i chose to. my trailer specs are listed below. i have 4 young kids and a wife.... but we have decided we don't want an suv for me. a truck is very handy for my hobbies. what are your opinions on the ideal truck for this?????current truck is an 05 ram, 4.7L 2wdLength (ft/m) 29.58 / 9Width (in/mm) 96 / 2438.4Height (in/mm) 121 / 3073.4Interior Height (in/mm) 78 / 1981.2Length (ft/ft) 29Length (ft/in) 7Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 4450 / 2018.5Payload Capacity (lbs/kgs) 1550 / 703.1GVWR (lbs/kgs) 6200 / 2812.3Hitch Weight (lbs/kgs) 475 / 215.5

I would choose a 1 ton Dually Crew Cab with diesel engine and 4X4.Might as well go as big as possible. A truck like this will handle anything you throw at it including snow.At minimum a 3/4 ton crew cab or suburban.

A half ton will for sure accommodate your needs- no problem! A bigger truck is just a waste of money. I would probably try and find a lightly used Ford with the eco-boost.

the bear II wrote:I would choose a 1 ton Dually Crew Cab with diesel engine and 4X4.Might as well go as big as possible. A truck like this will handle anything you throw at it including snow.At minimum a 3/4 ton crew cab or suburban.I threw that out at the wife...... if I get the big ass truck, we may need to up grade our trailer!...... she didn't find that as amusing as I didMy fear with a half ton is the problem I have now...... 50 on the road, 30 up a grade or on ramps. Ill miss my ram, but I'm too iffy on if a hemi 4x4 would be much stronger then what I have

I will have to be very careful on this post that I don't offend anyone. Talking about trucks is like talking about a guys children. So with that said what you have now is a small block. Small blocks do not produce as much torque as large blocks. Torque is what's required for pulling. The more torque the easier the pull. If you have a small engine producing 300 horses and lets say 200lbs of torque a large engine producing the same amount of horse power would produce more torque and pull a weight much easier than the smaller engine. With that said a Hemi and what you have now are light years apart. Even the next engine size up from yours produces 100lbs more ft torque than the engine you have now.So I hope that clears things up for you.

You have to decide which is more important to you: a comfortable tow or a daily driver? I think it's hard to accommodate both in one vehicle.A middle of the road would be a 2500 / f250 diesel long bed, crew cab, 4x4, any brand. You live in Michigan and I know it snows there. The 4x4 is priceless when snow is deep!A 3500 / f350 dually would give you a complete trouble free tow, but does take a different mind-set to use as a daily driver. I preferred the big truck for towing (see my signature below) and rely on a small car for my daily commute to work that averages 35 mpg gas. When it comes to driving (towing), too much is really never enough. So which is more important? Safe, comfortable, enjoyable tow or white knuckle tow? Which is more important, fuel economy driving to and from work or the thrill of driving something that makes all other cars on the road eat your dust, get out of your way, don't cut you off, and actually are scared to death to see you coming? (Not very fuel efficient, but has strong advantages in other ways?)Yes, you run the risk of have the opportunity to purchase a new and bigger camper if you have more truck. But really? Is that so bad?Don't matter which brand you pick, that's personal matter, much like the type of house we all live in. But the crew cab, long bed, and 3/4 ton, diesel (and dually is better) 4x4 will do you good.

what would be the ideal truck for my situation | Good Sam Community

34 Replies

diazr2
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
I will have to be very careful on this post that I don't offend anyone. Talking about trucks is like talking about a guys children. So with that said what you have now is a small block. Small blocks do not produce as much torque as large blocks. Torque is what's required for pulling. The more torque the easier the pull. If you have a small engine producing 300 horses and lets say 200lbs of torque a large engine producing the same amount of horse power would produce more torque and pull a weight much easier than the smaller engine. With that said a Hemi and what you have now are light years apart. Even the next engine size up from yours produces 100lbs more ft torque than the engine you have now.

So I hope that clears things up for you.
hxcburrito
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
the bear II wrote:
I would choose a 1 ton Dually Crew Cab with diesel engine and 4X4.

Might as well go as big as possible. A truck like this will handle anything you throw at it including snow.

At minimum a 3/4 ton crew cab or suburban.

I threw that out at the wife...... if I get the big ass truck, we may need to up grade our trailer!...... she didn't find that as amusing as I did

My fear with a half ton is the problem I have now...... 50 on the road, 30 up a grade or on ramps. Ill miss my ram, but I'm too iffy on if a hemi 4x4 would be much stronger then what I have
fly-boy
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
A half ton will for sure accommodate your needs- no problem! A bigger truck is just a waste of money.
I would probably try and find a lightly used Ford with the eco-boost.
the_bear_II
Explorer
Aug 08, 2014
I would choose a 1 ton Dually Crew Cab with diesel engine and 4X4.

Might as well go as big as possible. A truck like this will handle anything you throw at it including snow.

At minimum a 3/4 ton crew cab or suburban.

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what would be the ideal truck for my situation

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