Why all the hate on 1/2 ton tvs

Terryallan wrote:

Dreenn wrote:
Like the title says I have read many posts that basically suggest that towing a 30ish foot Tt with a 1/2 ton truck is wrong and your going to Indanger your family and anyone around you on the road that said I have a few questions

I just bought a 30foot Tt dry weight is 5200 loaded is 7500 I believe by the manufacture sticker I am towing it with a 2014 gmc 1500.

I looked up max tow rating on my gmc in the manual and used my window sticker for refers to what was equipped it said max was 9600 pounds now looking at my door sticker I don't see 9600 pounds anywhere on it am I missing something?? Or is my truck rated to tow a lot less then what the manual says

Sorry for the poor grammar typing on my cell phone

No your truck is rated to tow what the manual says for your configuration. And setup correctly. It will tow it's max with no problems. You will not see the 9600lb on the door sticker only the GVWR of the truck. Also no manufacturer limits the trailer length, only the weight.

Thing is, in answer to your question of why the hate. Fact is "many" especially those on this web site want over kill. Partly because they towed with a poorly setup vehicle, and it didn't do too well, So they over compensate with an over kill truck, rather than spend the time to get their setup right. Over kill is good but not necessary.

You and I are in the same boat. My TT is 31'. It has a 7200 GVWR, but only weighs about 6000lb. My TV is a F150 145" WB, 4x2, with a tow capacity of 8000lbs. I spent a good deal of time getting my hitch setup right. So good in fact that I have -O- sway. I even have -O- sway with OUT the sway bar installed. (I use it anyway) Big trucks pass me, and they do not move me around. Wind, unless it is a VERY strong wind doesn't push me around either. I am WELL within ALL my weights. As you will be. So take your time, and get the setup right, and you will have no problems.

YES! exactly. And thank you. The op could tow that trailer with a 69 Ford Galaxie 500 or a '49 Caddy Coupe.

The Nattering Nabobs of Negativity towards 1/2 tons are way to influential here. They think towing anything larger than a 10 ft U Haul with anything but a one ton Dually is madness and will result in mass roadway mayhem. (apologies to Spiro Agnew)

Okay so that is slightly overstated but not by much. Remember that whatever numbers are published on weights/capacities have at LEAST a 1.5 times safety factor built in. (and probably higher) ie if it says your truck can carry 2000 Lbs, the REAL design factor is at Least 3000 lbs.

The one place I would pay attention is the load rating on your tires. Add those figures up and see what they are.

But go out and TOW it, and give it several trips in different conditions, get used to the way it handles and see how you feel. The 1/2 ton owners here who tow all the time got it right.

There really is a big bias here towards bigger and bigger TV's and many vocal persons who insist it is a safety issue. I believe that is nonsense and that there are absolutely NO facts to support that claim. This misinformation is like a Virus, it keeps getting spread by more and more people who I believe are just regurgitating what they have heard or read somewhere.

And I think you have it right many of them started with a poorly set up rig and didnt really know how to drive a trailer and thus know what to expect.

And unfortunately some of those same folks have shouted down those who disagree on this subject leaving people like the OP wondering "Why the Hate"?