Why all the hate on 1/2 ton tvs

transamz9 wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:

LarryJM wrote:

Tystevens wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
Many of us have done the test by pulling the same trailer with both 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton models. Check the results and you will discover the truth. You may not believe it, but you will discover it.

Interesting, I have done exactly that, going from a 2500HD diesel to an F150 Ecoboost. Of course, my 6k# trailer is far below the limits of the 2500.

That said, the difference hasn't been as great as I would have expected. Meaning, the 1/2 ton does the job just about as well as the 3/4 ton did. Does that mean I would hook 10k up to my 1/2 ton? No, not at all. But it is all about the right tool for the job. I'm w/in the ratings on my F150, and it tows my TT comfortably and smoothly. And I have a more efficient, nicer riding, more maneuverable vehicle for my daily driver as well (not that the 3/4 ton was unmanageable as a DD, but...). So I'm quite happy with the switch.

Your experience is what I would have expected since as you admitted you were already towing a fairly light TT which I don't think anyone of the so called "1/2 Ton Haters" would question. It's when folks looking at the claimed 1/2 ton tow capabilities in the 7k and up area and start looking at these 30' multi slide trailers that when loaded up scale in the 7500 to 8500lb range with TW in excess of 1K is where all the threads looking for what can be done to improve their towing experience come into play.

As mentioned you can get ultra light trailers that are fairly long that have GVWRs under say 6500, but they offerings are much less and it seems the amenities offered are less than what a vast majority of RVers what, especially those with families.

If one wants to only look at 1/2 vehicles because of preceived ride quality, daily driver, cost, etc. they have to be willing to realize they might well have to make concessions on how big, heavy and what sort of amenities they can reasonably expect a TT to have. The issue as I see it is that this willingness to make these concessions is not considered and they want their proverbial cake and eat it too so to speak.

Larry

Larry

I agree with everything you said Larry-and I am a half-ton owner. The only thing I want to mention is that you said "perceived" ride quality. There is nothing perceived. The half-tons on the market ride better than heavier trucks-and that's a fact. I think sometimes it's the other way around-the heavier truck owners can't (or won't) admit that their trucks ride rough. And before we go there-there isn't anything else on the market (in reality) than you can tow a trailer with other than a truck, whether it's a half-ton or something bigger. I also agree that many half-ton truck owners do a VERY POOR job of matching the trailer to the truck's capability.

I would put the ride of my 2006 F350 service truck up against any 1500/150 truck built today. You would not believe how smooth and soft the ride is. BTW, I weighed it two weeks ago and it was light @ 10,800#.;)

You must have a very special truck. EVERY REVIEW I have read when comparing trucks back to back state the inferior ride of the heavier trucks. That's not to say that the ride in heavier trucks haven't improved in even the last five years, because the have and ride is better than your 7 year old plus truck-but they still ride rougher, they have to, to deal with the heavier payloads they are capable of. I have read also in the reviews they ride better with 500 pounds of cargo in the bed-but not all of us want to go out and buy 500 pounds of sand, plywood, or cement.

IMHO your an owner I mentioned in a previous post-your basically in denial of the less than pleasurable ride of your truck.